WANKEN - The blog of Shelby White » Songs for Singing http://blog.wanken.com A blog dedicated to showing great design, photography & music as inspiration. Sat, 31 Jul 2010 02:03:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Songs for Singing + The Panic Division http://blog.wanken.com/2010/06/the-panic-division/ http://blog.wanken.com/2010/06/the-panic-division/#comments Mon, 21 Jun 2010 19:02:50 +0000 Shelby White http://blog.wanken.com/?p=3579
  • Songs For Singing + The Knife
  • Songs for Singing + The Sounds
  • Songs for Singing + Passenger
  • Songs for Singing + Francis and the Lights
    • ]]>     Songs for Singing + The Panic Division
    When I was first turned onto The Panic Division, I couldn’t get enough. The band has this electronic, synthpop sound that just pulls me in. The sound is almost like a hint of David Bowie with a dash of the 80s. That may not be the most descriptive so feel free to share your take. Also, beware of listening to these tracks on Youtube, you may be completely thrown off. The amazing sound that I know them as is ruined by a sound that seems all too similar to many other bands out there today.

    If you’re in the mood for more beat-filled tracks, check out the last song called Legacy.

    The Panic Division – Here We Go
    [See post to listen to audio]
    The Panic Division – Broken Wings
    [See post to listen to audio]
    The Panic Division – Legacy
    [See post to listen to audio]

    Related posts:

    1. Songs For Singing + The Knife
    2. Songs for Singing + The Sounds
    3. Songs for Singing + Passenger
    4. Songs for Singing + Francis and the Lights

    ]]>     http://blog.wanken.com/2010/06/the-panic-division/feed/ 1     Songs For Singing + The Knife http://blog.wanken.com/2009/11/songs-for-singing-theknife/ http://blog.wanken.com/2009/11/songs-for-singing-theknife/#comments Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:50:13 +0000 Shelby White http://blog.wanken.com/?p=1792
  • Songs for Singing + The Sounds
  • Songs for Singing + Head Like A Kite
  • Songs for Singing + Passenger
  • Songs for Singing + Bon Iver
    • ]]>     Songs For Singing + The Knife

    The Knife is one of those musical duos that never gets old. The duo is Olof Dreijer and Karin Dreijer Andersson. They are based in Stockholm, Sweden and have made music together since 1999. The most interesting part about The Knife is that their sound varies appreciably. On one hand you have fun, relaxing tracks and on the other you have deep, dark and mysteriously strange. I don’t plan on posting those tracks for the sake of maintaining this as a ‘Songs for Singing’ post.

    The first track up is ‘Heartbeats’ followed by three others. For clarification, ‘Heartbeats’ was written by The Knife then later covered by fellow Swede José Gonzales. The Knife was at first concerned about letting José cover the song, but changed their minds upon the realization that the extra exposure could bring positivity to the label in the form of funding.

    The Knife – Heartbeats from the Deep Cuts Album

    [See post to listen to audio]

    The Knife – Girls’ Night Out from the Deep Cuts Album

    [See post to listen to audio]

    The Knife – The Captain from the Silent Shout Album

    [See post to listen to audio]

    The Knife – Pass This On from the Deep Cuts Album

    [See post to listen to audio]

    Related posts:

    1. Songs for Singing + The Sounds
    2. Songs for Singing + Head Like A Kite
    3. Songs for Singing + Passenger
    4. Songs for Singing + Bon Iver

    ]]>     http://blog.wanken.com/2009/11/songs-for-singing-theknife/feed/ 5     Songs for Singing + Loch Lomond http://blog.wanken.com/2009/08/songs-for-singing-loch-lomond/ http://blog.wanken.com/2009/08/songs-for-singing-loch-lomond/#comments Mon, 17 Aug 2009 17:50:20 +0000 Shelby White http://blog.wanken.com/?p=1060
  • Songs for Singing + Head Like A Kite
  • Songs for Singing + Bon Iver
  • Songs for Singing + Empire of the Sun
  • Songs for Singing + Passenger
    • ]]>     Songs for Singing + Loch Lomond

    Loch Lomond, a stunning effortless combination of symphonic chamber pop with raw, melodic acrobatics, employs the use of harmonic vocals, mandolin, theremin, bass clarinet, and other percussion minutia to foil the fascinating voice of lead singer/multi-instrumentalist Ritchie Young. Just the power and range of his voice was enough to lure me into the music.

    Click here to view the embedded video.


    Via SongsForEatingAndDrinking

    Click here to view the embedded video.


    Via SongsForEatingAndDrinking

    Related posts:

    1. Songs for Singing + Head Like A Kite
    2. Songs for Singing + Bon Iver
    3. Songs for Singing + Empire of the Sun
    4. Songs for Singing + Passenger

    ]]>     http://blog.wanken.com/2009/08/songs-for-singing-loch-lomond/feed/ 0     Songs for Singing + The Sounds http://blog.wanken.com/2009/07/songs-for-singing-the-sounds/ http://blog.wanken.com/2009/07/songs-for-singing-the-sounds/#comments Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:16:45 +0000 Shelby White http://blog.wanken.com/?p=965
  • Songs for Singing + Francis and the Lights
  • Songs for Singing + Passenger
  • Songs for Singing + Bon Iver
  • Songs for Singing + Head Like A Kite
    • ]]>     Songs for Singing + The Sounds

    Since all of the previous Songs for Singing have had male vocals, it was time for a change.

    For those who haven’t heard this band already, I introduce to you The Sounds, an alternative rock group formed in Helsingborg, Sweden in 1999. The band consists of Maja Ivarsson (vocals), Felix Rodriguez (guitar), Johan Bengtsson (bass), Jesper Anderberg (keyboards) and Fredrik Nillson (drums). They have released three albums from 2002 to 2009: Living in America, Dying to Say This to You and Crossing The Rubicon respectively.

    They are truly an amazing group but may not be for everyone; only one way to find out, turn up the sound!

    The Sounds – Midnight Sun

    [See post to listen to audio]

    The Sounds – No One Sleeps When I’m Awake

    [See post to listen to audio]

    The Sounds – Painted By Numbers (From Dying To Say This To You Album)

    [See post to listen to audio]

    Related posts:

    1. Songs for Singing + Francis and the Lights
    2. Songs for Singing + Passenger
    3. Songs for Singing + Bon Iver
    4. Songs for Singing + Head Like A Kite

    ]]>     http://blog.wanken.com/2009/07/songs-for-singing-the-sounds/feed/ 2     Songs for Singing + Passenger http://blog.wanken.com/2009/05/songs-for-singing-passenger/ http://blog.wanken.com/2009/05/songs-for-singing-passenger/#comments Wed, 06 May 2009 17:01:15 +0000 Shelby White http://blog.wanken.com/?p=592
  • Songs for Singing + Francis and the Lights
  • Songs for Singing + Head Like A Kite
  • Songs for Singing + Bon Iver
  • Songs for Singing + Empire of the Sun
    • ]]>     Passenger

    More than once I’ve been tempted to put this band in a Songs for Singing post but kept putting it off for a reason. Some bands you almost just want to keep to yourself, but this one–from the first time I heard them–fits Songs for Singing much too well to not share. So here we are, Songs for Singing and Passenger.

    The band is based out of Brighton, UK which definitely contributes to why these guys are amazing. Mike Rosenberg leads the band by singing very quirky, poppy, sensitive songs telling humorous stories of wasted lives and stalking. These are great songs to work and sing to so hit the jump and turn up your volume!

    Songs for Singing + Passenger

    Passenger – Table for One

    [See post to listen to audio]

    Passenger – Do What You Like

    [See post to listen to audio]

    Songs for Singing + Passenger

    Passenger – Night Vision Binoculars / Walk You Home

    [See post to listen to audio]

    Passenger – Things You’ve Never Done

    [See post to listen to audio]

    Related posts:

    1. Songs for Singing + Francis and the Lights
    2. Songs for Singing + Head Like A Kite
    3. Songs for Singing + Bon Iver
    4. Songs for Singing + Empire of the Sun

    ]]>     http://blog.wanken.com/2009/05/songs-for-singing-passenger/feed/ 1     Songs for Singing + Empire of the Sun http://blog.wanken.com/2009/03/songs-for-singing-empire-of-the-sun/ http://blog.wanken.com/2009/03/songs-for-singing-empire-of-the-sun/#comments Fri, 27 Mar 2009 19:42:03 +0000 Shelby White http://blog.wanken.com/?p=474
  • Songs for Singing + Head Like A Kite
  • Songs for Singing + Francis and the Lights
  • Songs for Singing + Bon Iver
  • Santogold – L.E.S. Artistes
    • ]]>     Empire of the Sun
    Without a doubt, Empire of the Sun – Walking on a Dream is one of the most intriguing and inspirational albums I’ve heard in the past two years. From the start of this post till now, I’ve listened to ‘We Are The People’ three times. Their dreamy electro pop style is extremely catchy; check out their videos below. Simply amazing outfits and sets–very culturally influenced.

    Keep in mind these are Songs for Singing. Open the lyric sheets, turn up your volume and start the song!

    Empire of the Sun – We Are The People

    Click here to view the embedded video.



    Empire of the Sun – Walking On A Dream

    Click here to view the embedded video.



    Empire of the Sun
    Empire of the Sun

    Related posts:

    1. Songs for Singing + Head Like A Kite
    2. Songs for Singing + Francis and the Lights
    3. Songs for Singing + Bon Iver
    4. Santogold – L.E.S. Artistes

    ]]>     http://blog.wanken.com/2009/03/songs-for-singing-empire-of-the-sun/feed/ 7     Songs for Singing + Head Like A Kite http://blog.wanken.com/2009/03/songs-for-singing-head-like-a-kite/ http://blog.wanken.com/2009/03/songs-for-singing-head-like-a-kite/#comments Mon, 02 Mar 2009 18:28:16 +0000 Shelby White http://blog.wanken.com/?p=413
  • Songs for Singing + Bon Iver
  • Songs for Singing + Francis and the Lights
  • Santogold – L.E.S. Artistes
  • Creative Gap
    • ]]>     Head Like A Kite

    Head Like A Kite is Dave Einmo, joined by drummer Trent Moorman, and in the studio by a cast of musical friends. Their combined efforts result in a blend of progressive, instrumental, poppy electronic music. Head Like A Kite debuted in 2006 with the Pattern 25 release, Random Portraits of the Home Movie, an album built from samples of Super-8 home movies from the 70’s. What a great band to add to the Songs for Singing collection, check out a song and live performance below.

    Head Like A Kite – No Ordinary Caveman

    [See post to listen to audio]

    Click here to view the embedded video.

    Click here to view the embedded video.

    Images via Head Like A Kite and Video via Songs for Eating and Drinking.

    Related posts:

    1. Songs for Singing + Bon Iver
    2. Songs for Singing + Francis and the Lights
    3. Santogold – L.E.S. Artistes
    4. Creative Gap

    ]]>     http://blog.wanken.com/2009/03/songs-for-singing-head-like-a-kite/feed/ 2     Songs for Singing + Francis and the Lights http://blog.wanken.com/2009/02/songs-for-singing-francis-and-the-lights/ http://blog.wanken.com/2009/02/songs-for-singing-francis-and-the-lights/#comments Fri, 20 Feb 2009 05:32:16 +0000 Shelby White http://blog.wanken.com/?p=382
  • Songs for Singing + Bon Iver
  • Santogold – L.E.S. Artistes
  • Cataldo
  • Poster + Depeche Mode + Cepia
    • ]]>     Click here to view the embedded video.

    Francis and the Lights. There really isn’t much background information on this band which is great, because it leaves it up in the air as to how the band was started. Deciding whether or not they were very good was hard at first. There is so much energy being pushed out by the dancing that its hard to listen to the music. Every move to the beat is as if he is conducting the whole video.

    Francis and the Lights – Striking

    [See post to listen to audio]

    Francis and the Lights – A Modern Promise

    [See post to listen to audio]

    Yes this may literally be bordering the line of a song for singing, but it fits greatly with the new and fresh songs that I intend to group into the Songs for Singing category.

    The Bottom line: Francis and the Lights is intriguing. Their 80’s, Prince, Soul sounding music simply rocks. Check out some more of their songs onMuxtape.

    Related posts:

    1. Songs for Singing + Bon Iver
    2. Santogold – L.E.S. Artistes
    3. Cataldo
    4. Poster + Depeche Mode + Cepia

    ]]>     http://blog.wanken.com/2009/02/songs-for-singing-francis-and-the-lights/feed/ 2     Songs for Singing + Bon Iver http://blog.wanken.com/2009/01/songs-for-singing-bon-iver/ http://blog.wanken.com/2009/01/songs-for-singing-bon-iver/#comments Sun, 18 Jan 2009 23:48:50 +0000 Shelby White http://blog.wanken.com/?p=314
  • Santogold – L.E.S. Artistes
  • Cataldo
  • Poster + Depeche Mode + Cepia
  • Marcus Eaton Trio
    • ]]>     Songs for Singing + Bon Iver

    Everybody likes great music––I’ve been gathering a lot of new music lately and have some great songs to share. I will be putting these songs in future posts with a “songs for singing” tag so they can be searched.

    Bon Iver (pronounced: bohn eevair; French for “good winter”) is a greeting, a celebration and a sentiment. It is a new statement of an artist moving on and establishing the groundwork for a lasting career. He––Justin Vernon, the head of the band––is also one of my favorite musicians/singers because of his uniqueness in vocals and the vocal range he uses.

    Vernon’s music was recorded while living in a remote cabin in the woods of Northern Wisconsin for three months and slowly began to fill his days with twelve-hours of recording music. The end result of his attempts is his current album, ‘For Emma, Forever Ago’. The beauty of Vernon’s music is that he uses old recording equipment, giving it a crisp and raw feel that really makes the music what it is––edgy, awesome, and relaxing.

    These two videos were recorded as Take Away shows for La Blogotheque (you’ll need to translate their page unless you can read French).

    Bon Iver – Flume

    Click here to view the embedded video.


    Bon Iver – Lump Sum

    Click here to view the embedded video.


    Check out Vernon’s new EP on the band’s website here. Lastly take a look at the handwritten type on the album art. Nothing says original better than beautifully handwritten type. I still haven’t figured out what the photo is of though? Snow on the window seal? Any ideas?

    Related posts:

    1. Santogold – L.E.S. Artistes
    2. Cataldo
    3. Poster + Depeche Mode + Cepia
    4. Marcus Eaton Trio

    ]]>     http://blog.wanken.com/2009/01/songs-for-singing-bon-iver/feed/ 2