Part of the reason I love doing what I do here is that I get exposed to so much great music, so many talented artists who put themselves out there for the world to see - not just as Asian Americans - but as musicians, singers, songwriters, activists - people who have a story to tell, a point to get across, a portrait of what they've felt and what they've been through.
In that way, probably even more so than film this year, the combination of music and images kept on taking me to another place -- and I loved going there. I loved seeing Asian American faces intertwined with each unique style - these palettes of colors and beats from hip hop to slow jams, mainstream to indie, pop to acoustic, all with their own place and their own setting - and hopefully - giving us a view of what's coming next.
This definitely isn't an all inclusive list, just what I liked and what I vibed too, or what came around my way. Feel free to add on or just enjoy the ride.
Sleep By Deep Foundation f/ Jay Legaspi
Lovely to Me (Immigrant Mother) By Taiyo Na
Keep Pushin By Kero One
Black Wedding By Meg And Dia
Addicted by Kawehi
Feel By Marie Digby
Closer - Ne-Yo (KNY Remix) By Vudoo Soul, Taiyo Na, Magnetic North, Alfa, G*LEE, Marie Choi, and SiC
Leave Me To Dream By Heather Park
Careless by Mud
Wicked Smile By Cast of Thousands
Fetish By Far East Movement
Come Back To Me By Utada
Not One For Words By After School Special
Won't Even Start By David Choi
Bitter Heart By Zee Avi
Got What It Takes By The Upstarts
Pushed Aside, Pulled Apart By Lyrics Born
HI-808 By Blue Scholars
Rapper-O's By Dumbfoundead
Date An Asian By Jen Kwok
Words That Define By Big Phony
Mike Relm vs Zoetrope By Mike Relm
Here's To You By Good Asian Drivers
Lipstick By Nylon Pink
The Year In Music Videos By Asian American Artists
Monday, January 11, 2010Labels: 2009 In Review