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Happy Listening: Snowed In With You

A few posts back I was mentioning how mesmerized I was by the decor at Anthropologie. Well, while I was there I was also captivated by this little number that came on their playlist. Regardless of how chilly it was out that day, the atmosphere inside melted all of that away. I hope all of you are staying warm and spending today with a special someone… or someones. :)

Happy Holidays everyone!

Over The Rhine - Snowed In With You

Winter Love

{photo from not siskel on Flickr}

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Happy Listening: Dream A Little Dream

While everyone is carolling to Christmas tunes this week, listen to a heart-warming and sweet song for inspiration…

Sissel - Dream A Little Dream Of Me

{photo by Adam Baker on Flickr}

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Happy Listening: Wonderful Tonight

Having grown up in Hong Kong, I listen to a lot more Asian music from local, Taiwanese, Japanese and Korean artists. As the music industry is very influenced by Western music, we get a lot of covers and remixes. They are often very different from the usual mainstream pop culture.

Here is Hong Kong’s recent up and coming singer, Khalil Fong’s cover of the classic, Wonderful Tonight, originally by Eric Clapton. It’s really grown on me, and I think the lyrics and tune are beautiful.

Khalil Fong - Wonderful Tonight

{image from Conny Lundgren from Flickr}

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Happy Listening: So Nice

Here’s a little samba tune that just makes me feel so cheery :)

Bebel Gilberto - So Nice

{photo by ShotgunxSerenade}

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Happy Listening: Eight Days a Week

One thing you’ll realize very quickly about me (and perhaps you already have) is that I am a huge fan of covers. So here I go again with a song that was originally released by The Beatles in 1964, Eight Days a Week. I grew up listening to The Beatles thanks to my dad and I am forever grateful. Their songs stand the test of time as being some of the most charming and moving out there. Other versions of this song have been recorded, but this West Indian Girl version is by far my favourite. It’s tender and feels like warm sunshine when I listen to it. If you want something light-hearted and fun to add to your playlist, this is the one!

West Indian Girl - Eight Days a Week

always fun

{photo from Michele Ronja on Flickr}

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Happy Listening: Falling In Love at a Coffee Shop

Sweet and vulnerable.

Landon Pigg - Falling In Love at a Coffee Shop

...at a Coffee Shop

{photo from thealphafemale on Flickr}

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Happy Listening: L.O.V.E

Since Nat King Cole’s original version, there have been so many, so many covers for this song. But this one by young Singaporean artist, Olivia Ong, is my personal favourite :)

Olivia Ong - L.O.V.E

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Olivia’s voice is innocent and soothing. This interpretation is accompanied with very simple music, which is what makes it suitable and sweet to play at a wedding.

{photo by annaluxx from Flickr}

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Happy Listening: Sea of Love

Remember how I mentioned that I’m a Cat Power fan? Well that got me thinking that one of her songs deserves a post. And since her full-length version of How Can I Tell You wasn’t available, I decided to mention another cover: Sea of Love.

Cat Power - Sea of Love

You may recognize it from the 2007 comedy/drama film Juno. It’s the scene where… wait, I’d rather not spoil the ending for those of you who haven’t seen it. If you haven’t seen it, get on it. And if you haven’t heard this song yet, you’d better get on that too. Let’s just say as soon as this song chimed in during that scene, my cheeks were soaked with tears. (It only lasted a minute though, I swear).

Juno still

{photo from OregonLive.com}

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Happy Listening: How Can I Tell You

I’m not usually a sucker for commercials, especially not diamond commercials (too dramatic for me). But I am kind of a sucker for Cat Power. And when I heard her singing for this 2006 commercial by DeBeers titled “Morning Surprise”, my heart went all warm and fuzzy.

Morning Surprise, 2006

Ever since I have been trying to find the mp3 from that commercial. I realized it was a cover of a song called How Can I Tell You, originally sung by Cat Stevens, but apparently the Cat Power version was never released, so… it basically doesn’t exist anywhere in full.

And so for the past 3 years I have remained very sad over this, until through my dedicated searching this past week I found a version by Liz Durrett. Hooray! An updated acoustic version by another talented female vocalist. Durrett’s voice is much more haunting in comparison to Power’s, but both speak honesty and tenderness. I adore the soft xylophone in the background. It adds a lullaby-like quality to the track. Enjoy!

Liz Durrett - How Can I Tell You
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Happy Listening: Come Away With Me

This song is just flat-out dreamy. Norah’s smooth, lulling vocals get me every time.

Norah Jones - Come Away With Me

with the clouds

{photo from sara*teresa on Flickr.}

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