This week on our re-minted v/m section, we’ve got five songs coming from some of our favorite East-Asian artists.
We’ve collected a playlist of musicians from China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. Each one reflects not only a unique talent but also a perfect pairing for each moment of the day.
Let’s sonically explore each one and take a journey around the globe.
New to varied/mix?
v/m is a newsletter designed around themed playlists & short-form writing.
We gather five songs that we’ve discovered or rediscovered and organize them to mirror the progression of a day: morning, noon, afternoon, evening, and late night. We provide background and lyrical insights to enhance your listening experience and highlight moments that can be elevated with the music.
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時には母のない子のように / ‘Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child’
Carmen Maki
真夜中詩集 －ろうそくの消えるまで－ ‘Poems In The Midnight: Till The Candle Goes Out’ (1969)
Our day begins with the beautiful and calming sounds of waves hitting the shore.
Carmen Maki’s melodic, soothing voice is a great way to start the morning.
Born Maki Annette Lovelace (what a fire name), she’s renowned for being the first female Rock artists in Japan and being a pioneer in (Japanese) folk music.
A sombre and retrospective song, Maki may be confronting society’s or the family’s pressures as both a young woman and an artist. Conflicted by the constant choice of individuality and being a member of a given society/family unit, Maki is honest in her having to deal with and manage both. And this song is a testament to the fact that it is okay be unsure, to want to be alone sometimes.
At 17, let alone as we get older, does anyone know what they want or how to feel? Sometimes you want to stare at the sea in silence and sometimes you want to yell loudly. Carmen Maki makes us feel alright and reminds us these feelings are normal.
가나다라마바 /‘Ganadaramabasa’
Kim Jung Mi
Now (1973)
Psychedelic, funky, feeling great music. Grab your coffee, take the first sip while starting this song.
This is so catchy because it is essentially the Korean alphabet song. Ga na da ra ma ba sa (가 나 다 라 마 바) are some of the Korean language consonants. It's a love song to Hangul, the Korean language, and is sung by Jung Mi as a riff on the childhood teachings.
This is an appreciation for childhood: the sounds, noises and tunes we make that inform and make up the very language we use to feel and experience life, emotions, music.
This reminds us of our own childhoods and makes us wonder/realize that we should include learning tunes in our folk understandings. Fun song to add to the playlist.
薔薇と野獣 / ‘Bara to Yajū / Rose and the Beast’
Haruomi Hosono
Hosono House (1973)
As day turns into night in our journey, we have next this extra funky and playful tune. Great for when getting off work and/or riding a bike to meet some friends at your local bar.
Haroumi Hosono is a Japanese folk/pop/rock legend and his music is known around world. He has worked with many Japanese pioneers in the electronic/folk space and has produced many an anime and movie soundtrack.
Fun facts:
Haroumi produced the marketing theme song for Nausicaä of the Valley of Wind, a film which we just mentioned in our last v/m:‘Movie Medley’.
Haroumi who was occasionally credited as Harry and album name Hosono House inspired singer Harry Styles to name his own album Harry’s House.
Overall, this feel good banger will set the tone for your evening proclivities. Add it to your funky house party playlist.
知己知彼 / ‘Know Yourself, Know Your Enemy’ to the tune of ‘Know Who You Are At Every Age’ by Cocteau Twins
Faye Wong
王菲 89-97 32精選 - Faye Wong ‘89-’97 32 Selections (1998)
At first listen, you might yourself thinking the similarities between the two songs are uncanny. Cocteau Twins songs are notoriously hard to understand and Faye Wong doesn’t make it easier. After translating the lyrics it’s revealed to be not a cover but rather, an entirely different song set to a lively and more upbeat tune of “Know Who You are at Every Age”.
Faye Wong, the acclaimed Chinese singer, collaborated with the Cocteau Twins in the 1990s, building on her admiration for their unique sound. Her rendition is easily one of the best pastiches of the Cocteau Twins of all time. Slightly more layered and almost orchestral sounding, Wong’s alluring sincerity leads us into a retrospective evening.
The title is also a reference to the Sun Tzu adage from Art of War:
Know the enemy and know yourself, and you can fight a hundred battles with no danger of defeat.
知己知彼，百战不殆。
Faye Wong is a great addition to any dream pop-y playlist and you should definitely check out her amazingly varied discography.
尘梦 /‘Dust Dream’
鳳飛飛 (Fong Fei-Fei)
三部情曲 - Three Love Songs (1981)
Taiwanese singer/entertainer Fong Fei-Fei's lovely voice feels like a boat ride off into the sunset. Dust Dream is exactly the type of music we’d like to have as the soundtrack to our dreams.
Known as the Queen of Hats, Fei-Fei is recognized as having a lasting impact on Taiwanese culture and music. Not only is her discography extensive, but she also starred in numerous films and tv shows.
Lovely sounds for winding down. End your evening with Fong Fei-Fei’s romantic love song.
Thanks for reading & listening!
As always, we appreciate you taking the time to listen, read, and explore with us. Music is a journey, and we’re glad to have you along for the ride. We hope today’s playlist not only adds a little rhythm to your day but also sparks a few new discoveries along the way.
Until next time, keep your mind open and that curiosity alive.
With your paid subscription you get access to ExtendedPlay, our deep cut playlist. Each EP edition contains handpicked tracks that go beyond the chosen theme for hours of immersive listening.
