I first heard to the album Sailing, by AKMU, when it came out, at a time when I was burned out by work. Something about it just spoke to me and I fell in love immediately. I’ve always loved traditional folk music and sea shantys, and Sailing is full of those influences (not surprising given that most of it was written when Lee Chanhyuk was serving in the Marines). I loved that they took a risk with the sound of the album as a whole and I think it paid off beautifully.
“Fish in the Water” off Sailing is one of those songs that I can listen to on an endless loop. From the first time I heard it, it grabbed my attention. I think I skipped back to re-listen two or three times before moving on. Music is like that – even if you don’t fully understand it, the feeling is conveyed just from the emotion in the voices and the music is enough. I love how music can be powerful despite itself and speak a universal language.
There are probably a dozen or so songs like “Fish in the Water” that have stuck with me. Songs like this are special because they don’t need to be special. Sometimes they grab me at the first listen, sometimes it’s after barely paying attention. Music is often connected to a memory or a time or place for me, but some songs transcend that, and while I may associate them with something, they also are what I reach for when I need a moment of comfort.
So I wanted to ask you all a question: what are the songs that comfort you? It can be anything – dance music, classical, a weird remix, a live cover – whatever it is that grounds you. I’m not looking for artists or albums, but single tracks that, if you were given five minutes to clear your head, you know would do the trick.
Oh yes! ’39 has that very English folk sound that I love. My favorite artist, Frank Turner, did a whole album which was basically his love letter to England, and the track “Rivers” has the same vibe as well, though less sad than ’39. All his work has strong folk influences, but he really pulls it out a lot more on that album and I would not be surprised if ’39 was an influence.
Fabulous question! and got me thinking. My loop song of choice changes with the seasons (and with my recent discovery of k-indie, my playlist has changed considerably). But if you had to push me to think about one piece (little longer than 5 minutes) that I have returned to over the years repeatedly, it would be from the forms of music I am most familiar with. I have played this song a few thousand times: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eP7_nNVbsHI (chota khayal – Mushkil Karo Asan – in puriya dhanashree – starts at about the 2.25 mark)
I like it – strike that, I love it – for various reasons: I love it as a student of the form, and as a fan of Ashwini Bhide, one of the finest contemporary artistes of hindustani classical music in our generation. Her taans are well paced, very difficult to replicate, she even covers up her mistakes with more beautiful embellishments, as a true artiste would. There’s a lot to learn from the piece, technically.
I also love the raga – Puria Dhanashree – which is similar to raga Pantuvarali in the Carnatic classical tradition, which happened to be my grandfather’s favourite raga. He would make me sing the Carnatic equivalent of this raga all the time when I was growing up. So this brings back memories of that. The raga evokes the mesmeric combination of plaintiveness and calm and it feels like something has washed over you and cleansed you.
Finally, I love this bandish / piece for the lyrics, the opening words of which roughly mean, “please ease my troubles”. It’s a pleading to a higher being. I’m not at all religious. But sometimes, you’re just bogged down by so much, you feel like things might have been easier if you were a believer. And if you were a believer, you could have given yourself some peace of mind by singing words like these.
I love this, and I love how it has so many layers of meaning for you. I’m not super familiar with classical hindustani music – my parents are from India, but neither of them is very musical (though my mother does love her old hindi songs that she is always playing for me off youtube when I’m home).
This is beautiful and so very unique; there are so many layers to unpack even in the sound alone. I have always had a fondness for Indian music and the way it’s so different from what I’m used to. The sounds are always feel so alive to me. Unfortunately most of my experiences with Indian music have been through western lenses, which is always a watered down version of the original. But you’ve piqued my interest and perhaps I shall find the time to go learn more. Thank you so much for sharing!
Glad to know this got you interested! Happy to share recs if there’s anything specific you want. A lot of film music is based on classical music, so you have probably been exposed to some sounds already!, and you’re probably not the noob you thought you were. 🙂
Thank you! I may take you up on that. I am familiar with Ravi Shankar and his daughter, Anoushka’s, music. But that’s about it as far as my classical knowledge.
One of the last events I went to last year before COVID hit was a performance at the Symphony here where they did a fusion of western music and Indian classical music. One of my best friends designed the costumes for the classical Indian dancers who performed to Stravinsky’s The Firebird, and incorporated tabla; they also performed some original music by Indian composers. It was a really lovely program.
That sounds nice! Ravi Shankar is a great introduction, and usually how most western audiences have discovered ICM. But, of course, there’s a lot LOT more 🙂
And yes there’s a lot of experimentation happening too – which is very cool. I’m not up to speed with all of that, as I am still learning and discovering the more conventional aspects of the form, but I love it that boundaries are being pushed, and people are doing more with ICM.
I won’t subject you to much, but if you like percussion, and have heard the tabla, here is a glimpse of how percussion is used in the Carnatic tradition, where after accompanying the main artistes in their performance, the percussionists have a “conversation” with each other through their instruments, and then all the artistes eventually come together to wrap it all up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4q3G5-d7x4
I love tabla even though I don’t know much about it. That performance I went to last year actually did the “conversation” you mentioned, and I remember absolutely loving it. I meant to look into the form more, but alas life got in the way.
I remember when I was little I always loved seeing the aunties play the tabla at mehndis and wished I knew how. My mother can’t carry a tune to save her life, and doesn’t sing (and it’s better for everyone that way). Though her sister was apparently a wonderful singer when she was young, so apparently that gene just skipped her.
Is it weird that the tabla performance you sent me kind of reminded me of Dolly Parton and how she literally used her acrylic nails to create the beats for “9 to 5”? It’s not the sound that is similar, per se, but the creativity used in the creation of the music. I love how music can be so innovative like that, finding the unique sound in any object.
But yes, I’m definitely looking up more of this – I think my Spotify algorithm is already confused by my eclectic tastes, but I love screwing with it even more with new types of music.
Just to clarify – these instruments are the mridangam (the long quasi-cylindrical wooden one) and the ghatam (the earthen pot). The tabla is a different kind of instrument with two drums. 🙂
I haven’t heard the Dolly Parton piece you mention! I will check it out!
Enjoy discovering more on Spotify 😀
there are several tracks I turn to when in need of comfort, but as I read your post one just popped into my head, so here it is
Jung SungHa – Fanoe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C82fJlYHEmY
Ohhh, I really like this! It’s so calming and yet it feels like there’s so much movement within the music. It reminds me of spring for some reason. I think I will need to explore this artist more, thank you so much for sharing!
(I love AKMU, have been in love with their music since 200% came out, I think, six years ago now? I love that they really do keep experimenting and growing, which is what all the best artists do.)
you’re welcome 🙂
He’s a fingerstyle guitarist, he started very young so you can find videos of him at 10-year-old covering famous song.
I like to listen to his songs but also watching his videos, he smiles in such an honest and simple way when he plays, his love for music is palpable 🙂 . Also his way of playing several chords is just like magic.
He released many albums of instrumental covers but also original tracks he created 🙂 .
The link I shared is from his YT channel so you can start from here ^^.
If you’re a fan of “Your name” movie, I’d recommend to check the three covers he made 😉 , as for Ghibli he also made a few covers if you’re a fan of them .
I really like both of these! These are both artists that I’ve been wanting to explore more, so perhaps I will do that this weekend. “Picture” is so lovely and you can really feel the emotion in it. And I have been a fan of Gaho from his OST work but never got a chance to dig into his discography, but now I think I’ll be doing that this weekend. Thank you so much for sharing!
Do let me know if you unearth any gems! I, too, have yet to go as deep into their discographies as I would like.
Today and Rainbow (My Ahjusshi OST) are two others I enjoy from O.WHEN.
Most of the other songs I’ve heard from Gaho are his OSTs. I don’t think he has an album yet–a few singles and maybe an ep.
My favourite singer is Luciano Ligabue, an Italian artist (he’s poet, singer, composer and even has directed a couple of films). He always have one song for each of my moods. When I’m mad with the world because I’m stressed with work I’d listen to his rocker songs or when I need some comfort I would listen to his ballads. He does something I love as he interconnects his songs. For instance, a catching phase in song 1 appears seven years later on song 2. A character in song 3 is the one he talks to in song 4.
It’s hard for me to choose just one song, but this is probably the one I’ve listened more on a loop. It’s called “Leggero” , “Light” in English https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeXNpEVOa0w
This is a very bad translation into English of the chorus:
And you feel the veins
Full of what you are
And you stick to the life you have
Light, in the best outfit,
Without forward or back, without destination.
Light, in the best outfit,
In your head a bit of sun and a song in your mouth.
Thank you for sharing! I don’t know anything about Italian music beyond the occasional opera, but you’ve piqued my interest. I really like his voice and this song is lovely. Do you have any other song recommendations, or albums to start with? I am definitely interested in looking up more of his music. He reminds me of my favorite singer, who is British, who makes music that he calls Folk Punk Rock, and this feels like it falls into that same category.
He’s amazing. His voice is amazing.
His latest album is a 7 songs album + collection of 77 of his hits. This could be too much, hehe.
This album: Il giro del mondo. It’s from 2015 and it’s a compilation of all his songs, mostly recorded alive in the tour that took him around the world. It’s 36 songs.
Now the songs I would recommend:
– Certe notti (it was chosen the best Italian song of the 90’s)
– Ho messo via
– Tu sei lei
– Sulla mia strada
– L’odore del sesso
– I ragazzi sono in giro
– Urlando contro il cielo
– Un colpo all’anima
– È venerdì, non mi rompere i coglioni.
– Ti sento
– Tutte le strade portano a te.
Please take time to look for translations of the lyrics, because they are real poems.
I’ve been listening to his songs today all day long thanks to you 🙂
Thank you so much! I will definitely be looking for these and looking up the lyrics. I found a playlist on Spotify that also seemed like a jumping off point, but it’s always better to have a real person’s input for where to start.
That’s fair – I have like three CDs in my mom’s car and they are always on a loop when I’m home. (The Bends by Radiohead, Nevermind by Nirvana, and Ten by Pearl Jam – I’ll always be a grunge girl at heart.) And when I first discovered my now favorite artist, Frank Turner, I don’t think I listened to anyone else for like three months.
But I’ve put on a playlist of his music as I’m just having a lazy day reading and doing nothing and it’s been very pleasant to have on. I tend to do deep dives when I find a new artist but I like to just play a lot of random songs to get a feel for their music at first. I started with the songs you recommended, and I really liked them.
SnarkyJellyfish
February 4, 2021 at 7:20 PM
Day Four
I first heard to the album Sailing, by AKMU, when it came out, at a time when I was burned out by work. Something about it just spoke to me and I fell in love immediately. I’ve always loved traditional folk music and sea shantys, and Sailing is full of those influences (not surprising given that most of it was written when Lee Chanhyuk was serving in the Marines). I loved that they took a risk with the sound of the album as a whole and I think it paid off beautifully.
“Fish in the Water” off Sailing is one of those songs that I can listen to on an endless loop. From the first time I heard it, it grabbed my attention. I think I skipped back to re-listen two or three times before moving on. Music is like that – even if you don’t fully understand it, the feeling is conveyed just from the emotion in the voices and the music is enough. I love how music can be powerful despite itself and speak a universal language.
There are probably a dozen or so songs like “Fish in the Water” that have stuck with me. Songs like this are special because they don’t need to be special. Sometimes they grab me at the first listen, sometimes it’s after barely paying attention. Music is often connected to a memory or a time or place for me, but some songs transcend that, and while I may associate them with something, they also are what I reach for when I need a moment of comfort.
So I wanted to ask you all a question: what are the songs that comfort you? It can be anything – dance music, classical, a weird remix, a live cover – whatever it is that grounds you. I’m not looking for artists or albums, but single tracks that, if you were given five minutes to clear your head, you know would do the trick.
Love,
February
beffels
February 4, 2021 at 10:06 PM
This doesn’t answer your question at all but when I heard that song it made me think of Queen’s song ‘39, which is lovely but always makes me sad.
SnarkyJellyfish
February 4, 2021 at 10:42 PM
Oh yes! ’39 has that very English folk sound that I love. My favorite artist, Frank Turner, did a whole album which was basically his love letter to England, and the track “Rivers” has the same vibe as well, though less sad than ’39. All his work has strong folk influences, but he really pulls it out a lot more on that album and I would not be surprised if ’39 was an influence.
pickleddragon
February 4, 2021 at 10:27 PM
Fabulous question! and got me thinking. My loop song of choice changes with the seasons (and with my recent discovery of k-indie, my playlist has changed considerably). But if you had to push me to think about one piece (little longer than 5 minutes) that I have returned to over the years repeatedly, it would be from the forms of music I am most familiar with. I have played this song a few thousand times: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eP7_nNVbsHI (chota khayal – Mushkil Karo Asan – in puriya dhanashree – starts at about the 2.25 mark)
I like it – strike that, I love it – for various reasons: I love it as a student of the form, and as a fan of Ashwini Bhide, one of the finest contemporary artistes of hindustani classical music in our generation. Her taans are well paced, very difficult to replicate, she even covers up her mistakes with more beautiful embellishments, as a true artiste would. There’s a lot to learn from the piece, technically.
I also love the raga – Puria Dhanashree – which is similar to raga Pantuvarali in the Carnatic classical tradition, which happened to be my grandfather’s favourite raga. He would make me sing the Carnatic equivalent of this raga all the time when I was growing up. So this brings back memories of that. The raga evokes the mesmeric combination of plaintiveness and calm and it feels like something has washed over you and cleansed you.
Finally, I love this bandish / piece for the lyrics, the opening words of which roughly mean, “please ease my troubles”. It’s a pleading to a higher being. I’m not at all religious. But sometimes, you’re just bogged down by so much, you feel like things might have been easier if you were a believer. And if you were a believer, you could have given yourself some peace of mind by singing words like these.
SnarkyJellyfish
February 5, 2021 at 6:14 PM
I love this, and I love how it has so many layers of meaning for you. I’m not super familiar with classical hindustani music – my parents are from India, but neither of them is very musical (though my mother does love her old hindi songs that she is always playing for me off youtube when I’m home).
This is beautiful and so very unique; there are so many layers to unpack even in the sound alone. I have always had a fondness for Indian music and the way it’s so different from what I’m used to. The sounds are always feel so alive to me. Unfortunately most of my experiences with Indian music have been through western lenses, which is always a watered down version of the original. But you’ve piqued my interest and perhaps I shall find the time to go learn more. Thank you so much for sharing!
pickleddragon
February 5, 2021 at 7:57 PM
Glad to know this got you interested! Happy to share recs if there’s anything specific you want. A lot of film music is based on classical music, so you have probably been exposed to some sounds already!, and you’re probably not the noob you thought you were. 🙂
SnarkyJellyfish
February 5, 2021 at 10:32 PM
Thank you! I may take you up on that. I am familiar with Ravi Shankar and his daughter, Anoushka’s, music. But that’s about it as far as my classical knowledge.
One of the last events I went to last year before COVID hit was a performance at the Symphony here where they did a fusion of western music and Indian classical music. One of my best friends designed the costumes for the classical Indian dancers who performed to Stravinsky’s The Firebird, and incorporated tabla; they also performed some original music by Indian composers. It was a really lovely program.
pickleddragon
February 6, 2021 at 12:45 AM
That sounds nice! Ravi Shankar is a great introduction, and usually how most western audiences have discovered ICM. But, of course, there’s a lot LOT more 🙂
And yes there’s a lot of experimentation happening too – which is very cool. I’m not up to speed with all of that, as I am still learning and discovering the more conventional aspects of the form, but I love it that boundaries are being pushed, and people are doing more with ICM.
I won’t subject you to much, but if you like percussion, and have heard the tabla, here is a glimpse of how percussion is used in the Carnatic tradition, where after accompanying the main artistes in their performance, the percussionists have a “conversation” with each other through their instruments, and then all the artistes eventually come together to wrap it all up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4q3G5-d7x4
SnarkyJellyfish
February 6, 2021 at 9:58 AM
I love tabla even though I don’t know much about it. That performance I went to last year actually did the “conversation” you mentioned, and I remember absolutely loving it. I meant to look into the form more, but alas life got in the way.
I remember when I was little I always loved seeing the aunties play the tabla at mehndis and wished I knew how. My mother can’t carry a tune to save her life, and doesn’t sing (and it’s better for everyone that way). Though her sister was apparently a wonderful singer when she was young, so apparently that gene just skipped her.
Is it weird that the tabla performance you sent me kind of reminded me of Dolly Parton and how she literally used her acrylic nails to create the beats for “9 to 5”? It’s not the sound that is similar, per se, but the creativity used in the creation of the music. I love how music can be so innovative like that, finding the unique sound in any object.
But yes, I’m definitely looking up more of this – I think my Spotify algorithm is already confused by my eclectic tastes, but I love screwing with it even more with new types of music.
pickleddragon
February 6, 2021 at 7:23 PM
Just to clarify – these instruments are the mridangam (the long quasi-cylindrical wooden one) and the ghatam (the earthen pot). The tabla is a different kind of instrument with two drums. 🙂
I haven’t heard the Dolly Parton piece you mention! I will check it out!
Enjoy discovering more on Spotify 😀
Kudo Ran
February 5, 2021 at 8:36 AM
there are several tracks I turn to when in need of comfort, but as I read your post one just popped into my head, so here it is
Jung SungHa – Fanoe
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C82fJlYHEmY
(and loving Akmu btw 😉 )
SnarkyJellyfish
February 5, 2021 at 6:17 PM
Ohhh, I really like this! It’s so calming and yet it feels like there’s so much movement within the music. It reminds me of spring for some reason. I think I will need to explore this artist more, thank you so much for sharing!
(I love AKMU, have been in love with their music since 200% came out, I think, six years ago now? I love that they really do keep experimenting and growing, which is what all the best artists do.)
Kudo Ran
February 5, 2021 at 11:28 PM
you’re welcome 🙂
He’s a fingerstyle guitarist, he started very young so you can find videos of him at 10-year-old covering famous song.
I like to listen to his songs but also watching his videos, he smiles in such an honest and simple way when he plays, his love for music is palpable 🙂 . Also his way of playing several chords is just like magic.
He released many albums of instrumental covers but also original tracks he created 🙂 .
The link I shared is from his YT channel so you can start from here ^^.
If you’re a fan of “Your name” movie, I’d recommend to check the three covers he made 😉 , as for Ghibli he also made a few covers if you’re a fan of them .
pickleddragon
February 6, 2021 at 12:46 AM
Jeong Seongha is SOOOO good! I am addicted to his YT channel! and what is lovely to see is how he’s evolved as a musician over the years.
snowy
February 5, 2021 at 5:20 PM
Ugh I love that album.
I have several comfort songs, but these are the two that come to mind at the moment:
Picture by O.WHEN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5ElueJKKTU
Stay Here by Gaho
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GHvBqysNHg
SnarkyJellyfish
February 5, 2021 at 6:34 PM
I really like both of these! These are both artists that I’ve been wanting to explore more, so perhaps I will do that this weekend. “Picture” is so lovely and you can really feel the emotion in it. And I have been a fan of Gaho from his OST work but never got a chance to dig into his discography, but now I think I’ll be doing that this weekend. Thank you so much for sharing!
snowy
February 6, 2021 at 12:53 PM
Do let me know if you unearth any gems! I, too, have yet to go as deep into their discographies as I would like.
Today and Rainbow (My Ahjusshi OST) are two others I enjoy from O.WHEN.
Most of the other songs I’ve heard from Gaho are his OSTs. I don’t think he has an album yet–a few singles and maybe an ep.
Eazal
February 6, 2021 at 1:13 AM
My favourite singer is Luciano Ligabue, an Italian artist (he’s poet, singer, composer and even has directed a couple of films). He always have one song for each of my moods. When I’m mad with the world because I’m stressed with work I’d listen to his rocker songs or when I need some comfort I would listen to his ballads. He does something I love as he interconnects his songs. For instance, a catching phase in song 1 appears seven years later on song 2. A character in song 3 is the one he talks to in song 4.
It’s hard for me to choose just one song, but this is probably the one I’ve listened more on a loop. It’s called “Leggero” , “Light” in English https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeXNpEVOa0w
This is a very bad translation into English of the chorus:
And you feel the veins
Full of what you are
And you stick to the life you have
Light, in the best outfit,
Without forward or back, without destination.
Light, in the best outfit,
In your head a bit of sun and a song in your mouth.
SnarkyJellyfish
February 6, 2021 at 9:26 AM
Thank you for sharing! I don’t know anything about Italian music beyond the occasional opera, but you’ve piqued my interest. I really like his voice and this song is lovely. Do you have any other song recommendations, or albums to start with? I am definitely interested in looking up more of his music. He reminds me of my favorite singer, who is British, who makes music that he calls Folk Punk Rock, and this feels like it falls into that same category.
Eazal
February 6, 2021 at 9:47 AM
He’s amazing. His voice is amazing.
His latest album is a 7 songs album + collection of 77 of his hits. This could be too much, hehe.
This album: Il giro del mondo. It’s from 2015 and it’s a compilation of all his songs, mostly recorded alive in the tour that took him around the world. It’s 36 songs.
Now the songs I would recommend:
– Certe notti (it was chosen the best Italian song of the 90’s)
– Ho messo via
– Tu sei lei
– Sulla mia strada
– L’odore del sesso
– I ragazzi sono in giro
– Urlando contro il cielo
– Un colpo all’anima
– È venerdì, non mi rompere i coglioni.
– Ti sento
– Tutte le strade portano a te.
Please take time to look for translations of the lyrics, because they are real poems.
I’ve been listening to his songs today all day long thanks to you 🙂
SnarkyJellyfish
February 6, 2021 at 10:14 AM
Thank you so much! I will definitely be looking for these and looking up the lyrics. I found a playlist on Spotify that also seemed like a jumping off point, but it’s always better to have a real person’s input for where to start.
Eazal
February 6, 2021 at 10:41 AM
I’m totally subjective about Liga.
I once had one of his albums in my car CD and listened to it on loop for three whole months 😅
SnarkyJellyfish
February 6, 2021 at 11:32 AM
That’s fair – I have like three CDs in my mom’s car and they are always on a loop when I’m home. (The Bends by Radiohead, Nevermind by Nirvana, and Ten by Pearl Jam – I’ll always be a grunge girl at heart.) And when I first discovered my now favorite artist, Frank Turner, I don’t think I listened to anyone else for like three months.
But I’ve put on a playlist of his music as I’m just having a lazy day reading and doing nothing and it’s been very pleasant to have on. I tend to do deep dives when I find a new artist but I like to just play a lot of random songs to get a feel for their music at first. I started with the songs you recommended, and I really liked them.
DancingEmma
February 6, 2024 at 8:58 PM
Such a gorgeous song. The harmonising and arrangement are lovely. I would love to see them perform live.