CloseUp Summer Solstice 2013

Event: Close Up Summer Solstice 2013
Genre: House, Pop, Electro Dance
Year: 2013

Mood: 12-hours of party time!

It's rare to have foreign acts in bundles arrive and perform in our part of the world.  From 4PM to 4AM on April 27, 2013, SM Mall of Asia Concert Grounds will have its hands full when Afrojack, Alex Gaudino, Apster, Cedric Gervais, Dev, Jumpsmokers, and a DJ set with the guys from Cobra Starship combine to put on one hot show! Local artists Sandwich, Sponge Cola, and Urbandub are also tapped to represent local music.

Details:
"CloseUp Summer Solstice 2013"

Stay ft Mikky Ekko by Rihanna

Album: Unapologetic
Year: 2013
Genre: Pop, Adult Contemporary

Mood: Sexy and Slow

From the introduction up to the last beat, allow this song to caress your ear buds and take you into a relaxing trance with its slow beat and cool vocals.  Mikky Ekko's voice is very appropriate for this song.  He compliments Rihanna's voice quite well.

Lyrics:
"Stay ft Mikky Ekko"

Stolen Away on 55th and 3rd by Dave Matthews Band

Album: Stand Up
Year: 2005
Genre: IndieRock

Mood: Wasting the day at the beach

This is my anti-stress medicine.  The song just creeps up from your music device, through your earphones, and into your ears injecting you with cooling and calming doses to soothe your mood.  The song features a catchy beat happily supported by a mellow jazz instruments, typical of DMB style.  This is such a great song and i am happy to be sharing this with you.

Lyrics:
"Stolen Away on 55th & 3rd"

Pumped Up Kicks by Foster The People

Album: Torches / Foster The People
Year: 2010
Genre: Indiepop

Mood: Trippy and Happy, like the characters on the album cover

You know that a song has a catchy beat when you end up whistling its beat in the middle of the day unconsciously, only realizing that the last time you heard it was yesterday.  Pumped Up Kicks is one of those songs that you can't help but get addicted to because of its rhythm and melody.  I truly enjoy this one.

Lyrics:
"Pumped Up Kicks"

Just Say Yes by Snow Patrol

Album: Up to Now
Year: 2009
Genre: Synthpop

Mood: Positivity, Trippy, Dreamy

Just Say Yes is an absolute gem by Irish alternative rock band Snow Patrol.  It is so special because this is the first time this band has ventured into a sound quite different from what they normally produce, yet the result is quite good.  Snow Patrol took a risk which obviously paid off.  I love it when that happens.  Go ahead and take that risk!

Lyrics:
"Just Say Yes"

Paris by Friendly Fires

Album: Friendly Fires
Genre: Synthpop
Year: 2008

Mood: Jumpy, Optimism

When this song was released, I was indeed eying a stint in the City of Lights.  For me, this place broods romance, passion, creativity and promise.  To be able to live in a city like this is a dream of many, and this song reinforces this desire.  Get hooked by its catchy bridge and motivating lyric.  Weirdly, this song did not gain much popularity.  Take a listen ang ask yourself, "why dint it?"

Lyrics:
"Paris"

Those Sweet Words (Doctor Moon Remake) by Norah Jones

Album: Feels Like Home
Year: 2004
Genre: House, Easy Listening

Mood: Smooth and Relaxed

I love it when remade songs turn out even better than the original one.  Those Sweet Words is a classic song in its own right but the remake by Doctor Moon just blows my mind because it has the perfect blend of smooth beats, cool vocals, and catchy lyrics.  You will definitely enjoy this one!

Lyrics:
"Those Sweet Words (Doctor Moon Remake)"

Young Folks ft Victoria Bergsman by Peter Bjorn and John

Album: Writer's Block
Genre: Indidepop
Year: 2006

Mood: Happy and Trippy

One of the most popular indiepop songs to date, Young Folks is a lively song with a catchy beat and a head-bopping sound.  Its been 7 years since this song first aired on the airwaves yet it still does not fail to put its listeners in a good mood.  This song is an anti-depressant and it guarantees to pick you up when you are feeling down.  Use caution when using this song, however, for over dosage can lead to neck aching and eardrum fatigue.

Lyrics:
"Young Folks"

Electric Feel by MGMT

Album: Oracular Spectacular
Genre: IndiePop
Year: 2008

Mood: Trippy and Happy

My discovery, love, and addiction for indie songs is credited to this song.  I was hooked the moment i was introduced to MGMT.  As I was listening, I couldn't help but feel confused and wondered with I was hearing through my head phones.  Where was the usual bass-blasting beats from rock songs? Where was the mellow-dramatic rhythm from sentimental songs?  Where was the upbeat tunes from hip-hop and R&B?  This was a totally new genre for me and I'm glad i discovered it.

This song is to be used when your day seems long, when your engulfed in a trance wondering about the future.  May this song bring you life! Happy listening!

Lyrics:
"Electric Feel"

Swimming in the Flood by Passion Pit

Album: Manners
Year: 2008
Genre: IndiePop

Mood: Tranquility and peace

The one thing I like about indie produced songs is they have a very unique sound.  Swimming in the Flood is a very good example of that. At first listen, it seems like its another run-of-the-mill album track to fill up the roster of the compilation.  But once you get into the song, it proves itself worthy of attention.  It soothes you in a tranquil state of mind with its slow and mellow rhythm and cool vocals.  

Lyrics:
"Swimming In The Flood"

Pursuit of Happiness by Kid Cudi

 
Album: Man on the Moon: The End of Day
Year: 2010
Genre: Trip Hop

Mood: Feel good or pick-me-upper

When I'm feeling down or things seem like they're not going my way, I turn to this song to comfort me.  Best lyric in the song that I can relate to is:

"Imma do just what I want lookin’ ahead no turnin’ back
if I fall if I die know I lived it to the fullest
if I fall if I die know I lived and missed some bullets"

If i can have a song to best represent my outlook in like, this would be it.  My friends, we can not please each and every one in the world.  What we should keep in mind is we should please the most important person that matters: yourself.  Enjoy this one folks!

*PS. If you are not a fan of this slow shit, Steve Aoki did a remix of this song.

Lyrics:
"Pursuit of Happiness featuring Ratatat and MGMT"

Out of My Mind by Techy Romantics

Album: Touch
Year: 2009
Genre: Indiepop, Chillectro

Mood: Sweet and conservatively sexy

I'm a proud Filipino.  This band is a proud product of the Philippines.  In terms of editing, composition, and sound, their songs are something to be proud of.  In other words, we should all be proud of Techy Romantic's sound.

Out of My Mind is their first major single. It reached massive audiences not only locally but overseas as well.  I listen to this song on Sundays, taking the advice of the lyrics.  I also use this as a sleeping pill because of its relaxing beat and smooth vocals.  Nice looking video, too.

Lyrics:
"Out of My Mind"

I Would Do Anything For You by Foster The People

Album: Torches
Year: 2011
Genre: Indie

Mood: Its steady, soft-sounding rhythm will put you in an easy mood

With millions, maybe even billions, of songs recorded through the course of time, it still amazes me that new and original rhythm is created every now and then. I may be wrong but for me, this one is brand new.  Its beat is mellow yet it won't bore you.  This song is best used when you just got pushed by the guy behind you at the train station during rush hour, or when you need a cool tune when your laying on the beach.

Lyrics:
"I Would Do Anything For You"

Far Away From You by Chicane

Album: Somersault
Year: 2007
Genre: House

Mood: Getting ready for a gym workout

Everybody in the music world knows who Chicane is.  Not every body back home, however, knows Far Away From You.  The song offers a not-so-usual Chicane vibe, which maybe explains why this song is not as popular compared to his classics.  Still, this song deserves the limelight for its mellow yet jumpy beat, cool lyrics, and its catchy rhythm.  Give it a try. Maybe you'll like it too.

Lyrics:
"Far Away From You"
 

You Can Be The One by Late Night Alumni

Album: Of Birds, Bees, Butterflies, Etc.
Year: 2010
Genre: House

Mood:  Sets up the tone for a relaxing night out

Made popular by their hit "Empty Streets", Late Night Alumni deserves more recognition with this beautiful track, You Can Be The One.  This track came to me as a background song in a scene in the movie Crazy, Stupid, Love [2011].  Late Night Alumni was serenading the actors in the movie with this smooth sounding hit.  If I hear this song in a club, it will be very difficult not to have a damn good time.

Lyrics:
"You Can Be The One" 

Closer Than This by St. Lucia

Album: St. Lucia
Year: 2012
Genre: Easy Listening

Mood: Chill, baby

Nowadays, retail stores have more than just eye-grabbing displays. They also use music as their marketing tool.  It definitely worked on me when I heard this beauty inside a popular clothes shop.  I whipped out my phone and use SoundHound to tell me its lyrics.

I use this song when I'm going for a long drive. The lyrics are easy to sing along to which is perfect for me because I always sing along to the speakers in my car, especially when I am alone.  I hope you folks enjoy this one as much as I do.

Lyrics:
"Closer Than This"

Safe and Sound by Capital Cities

Album: Capital Cities
Year: 2011
Genre: IndiePop

Mood: Happy

Whether you hear this in a club or you have it blastin' away in your earphones while running on the treadmill, this song will definitely liven up your spirits.  It encourages head bopping so be cautious of the person in front of you. It has nice lyrics too!  This one is my personal alarm clock tune.

Lyrics:
"Safe and Sound"

Overjoyed by Matchbox Twenty

Album: North
Year: 2012
Genre: Alternative

Mood: Chill, but with conviction

I have yet to hear a song that has the title "Overjoyed" that i do not like.  Jars of Clay and Stevie Wonder recorded songs that bear the title and boy were they damn good songs.  Now Matchbox Twenty produces a song with this title and they do it justice as well.  The rhythm is mellow and the tempo is slow.  Its words are easy to listen to and you wouldn't be able to resist yourself from singing along to it. 

The songs talks about a guy who is in love. He serenades his girl with sweet words and promises, and reassures her that everything is going to be fine.  Boys, be careful before you start dedicating this song to your girl because if you cant live up to the song's lyrics, she's going to hate you and this song!  This is one of those songs that is a treat to listen to when you are all happy and in love and its a pain in the ears when you are angry and heart-broken so use it carefully.

Lyrics:
"Overjoyed"

Without You (New Version) by Empire of the Sun

Album: Walking on a Dream
Year: 2009
Genre: IndiePop


I listen to this song when I am on my way home from a long night out.  This is the time when my ears have been blasted to its limits by loud music and conversation. It helps soothe my insides and it calms my nerves. A much needed mood-setter to tuck me in to bed.

Lyrics:
"Without You (New Version)"