Music Recap: July through September 2018

Hey everyone! So something that I’ve been doing for years now is making playlists for every three months of new songs/albums that either come out or that may have been out for a while and I’m just discovering now. There are some cases where I’ve known the song but end up putting it in the playlist because I never saved it before. At the moment I keep two playlists for these three month intervals: one is for KPOP (and some Japanese) songs while the other is everything else. You can find each playlist below.

July - September KPOP playlist

July - September Non-KPOP playllist

Let me explain a little on how I'm going to do this. I'm not going to go through every song or album just ones that are my favorite or that I think people should give a listen to - keep in mind I'm not some music expert it's just been a big part of my life since I was, like, 10. There will be some songs or albums where I say more about them and other may only have a sentence it just kind of depends on the song and my feelings towards it. Also please keep in mind that at the moment I listen to more KPOP so there will be more songs on that playlist in general therefore more from there on my recommendations.

I’ll start with my non-KPOP playlist, which usually ends up being significantly shorter than my KPOP one, oops. If it's a whole album I'll state it as so and also say what my favorite song it on that album. The songs will be written as Song/Album Title - Artist. I also try and keep them in chronological order of when I added them to the playlist.

1. Body - Loud Luxury: This is by far my favorite song off of this playlist. The singer of Loud Luxury sounds so like Ansel Elgort that every time this song comes on shuffle I think it's him. The entire song just has such a fun vibe, it's a song that makes you feel excited.

2. High Hopes - Panic! At The Disco: Brendan Urie never makes a bad song and he really knows how to write an anthem. This song will make you want to somehow take over the world and do everything you ever wanted to do.

3. Psycho - Post Malone ft. Ty Dolla $ign: I honestly do not know why I like this song as much as I do, it's just so catchy and the feeling is so chill is the only way I can think to describe it.

4. Whenever - Kris Kross Amsterdam ft. Conor Maynard: Conor Maynard's voice reminds me of Justine Bieber for some reason. Anyways this is another one of those songs that is just upbeat and kind of makes you feel like jumping.

5. If You're Over Me - Years & Years (KEY Remix): Now while this technically is featuring a KPOP artist since it's him featuring on this song I'm going to place it here. I do love the original song as well, it's very upbeat and Olly Alexander's voice brings back memories from when I was obsessed with their first album. Honestly if you've never heard the originally you would probably thing that KEY was part of the original song.

6. Thick and Thin - LANY: Somehow a LANY song always ends up in my playlist they're a group that I think everyone should give a chance. This song is one of their more mellow ones compared to their others, but it's still amazing.

7. TOOTIMETOOTIMETOOTIME - The 1975: I've been waiting for so long for more music by The 1975, they will forever be on of my favorite bands of all time. Their first album was my most listened to album the year it came out. This song is perfect in every way, I love it so much, I can't even explain it.

8. Bloom - Troye Sivan (Album): I've been waiting for a new Troye Sivan album for forever it seems. I loved Blue Neighbourhood so much the entire album was full of my favorite songs. This one is pretty much no different. There are some songs that I like more than others of course. My My My! and Postcard (feat. Gordi) are my two favorite off of this album. My My My! I think has that classic Troye Sivean Youth-esque vibe while Postcard is more mellow, not sad, but has a deeper sound that really shows the deep emotions that the words are saying.

Now for my KPOP recommendations! Like I said there is a bit more of these compared to the above list.

1. SUNSET - Kim Donghan: I remember when I first heard this song I immediately got obsessed with it. The music video is also so pretty. JBJ is a group that I never really got into but I know quite a bit of their songs because of them playing on Spotify, so I'm happy their members are at least making their own solo stuff.

2. This is Not A Love Song - Eric Nam: This is another song that I immediately became obsessed with when I first heard it. I think I kept it on repeat in my car for over a week. Eric has one of my favorite voices from a solo artist and this song is perfect for it.

3. Cereal - Crush, Zico: Crush is one of my favorite artists of all time. When I first heard this song I wasn't too sure about it to be honest but after a second listen I was hooked and it's actually one of my favorites, obviously if it's on this list. The video is also.... something else.

4. Oh My! - Seventeen: Seventeen never disappoints me and this song has one of my favorite choreographies by them. I'm also living for Seokmin's voice in this song, he's my favorite vocalist. When this was first released I remember it making me so happy and upbeat, even listening to it now it's makes me feel very fuzzy and happy.

5. Rise Up - ASTRO (Album): It's so hard for me to pick a favorite off of this album but I think I'll have to go with Always You and Stay With Me. This whole album is just so deep sounding and emotional. ASTRO deserve so much love, they're all so talented.

6. for you - Hui (Breakers finale): If this song doesn't make you emotional just from his singing then please either watch his performance or just look up the lyrics. Hui is another one of my favorite vocals in KPOP, they're just so smooth.

7. NEW KIDS: CONTINUE (Album) - iKON: I didn't think they could top their last album but this is the perfect follow up album. It's quite similar but different enough where you aren't bored. My favorite songs are definitely Cocktail and Freedom. Freedom honestly reminds me of something I would've listened to at like Warped Tour way back in the day (lmao), it just has the same vibe which I really love. This whole album is so amazing, please listen to it. I also just need to say that B.I is one of my favorite song writers.

8. Candy (so good) - The Rose: This song reminds me so much of The 1975 I think that's one of the reasons why I love it so much. Aside from that it's a really good, it gives off that same vibe a The 1975 song would, very chill but upbeat.

9. I am WHO - Stray Kids (Album): This entire album is amazing. There is not one song that isn't good. 3RACHA are amazing at creating songs and I think that's why their songs are just so amazing and why they as a group have so much charm. My favorite song on here is, without a doubt, 갑자기 분위기 싸해질 필요 없잖아요 Awkward Silence it's so vibrant and the use of Felix's voice towards the end with the little fun ad-lib parts is absolutely genius, especially between Changbin and Jisung's rapping, just amazing. The choreo is also so fun and cool it fits the song so well.

10. What's going on - Triple H: I know this is from their first album but just heard it over this summer and fell in love with it. The vibe is amazing and I think it's one of their best songs.

11. BDZ - Twice: This song is one of those songs that makes you want to jump around and just have so much fun. It also kind of makes you want to fight against whatever may be holding you back but in a fun way. (Did it take anyone else a moment to realise that BDZ stood for bulldozer or was that just me? lol)

12. We Go Up - NCT DREAM: This was the perfect song for the time it came out and as Mark's last comeback with them. It embodies the end of summer vibes of not really wanting it to end but you know it's inevitable. Jeno and Jaemin as a rapping duo are amazing, they deserve to have their own unit like Donghae and Eunhyuk of Super Junior to be honest. NCT J&J where you at? (LMAO)

13. Countless - SHINEE: I will always love any SHINEE song, I'm just happy this one didn't make me cry. I think this song fits Autumn really well with the twinkly sounds? I'm not sure how else to explain it but hopefully you know what I mean.

14. Thumbs Up! - Pentagon (Album): I don't even have struggle to pick what song is my favorite from this album because it is their title song, Naughty Boy. It's super catchy and the dance is so fun, it's another of those songs that I have to play when I'm in the car because of how much I love it. I'm not going to be bitter and say that E'Dawn would've made it even better, but really let's not get into that.

15. Black Swan - Monsta X: I was so mad that I found out this song came out like almost two weeks after the fact. I don't usually watch teaser stuff because I like to be fully thrown into new releases so I think that could be why, also because of school and work. ANYWAYS, Minhyuk, Hyungwon, and Kihyun own this song and it might actually be my favorite Japanese release of theirs to date.

16. Trivia: Just Dance - BTS: It took me like a whole two months to listen to this after it was released but like they added four or five new songs why did they have to go and make a whole repackage album, I just don't get it. Of the new songs this one has a very addictive quality and I think it all has to do with J-Hope's voice because I felt the same was with MAMA. I want to honorable mention Trivia: Seesaw because I actually do like it but I prefer it live, which happens sometimes.

I'm excited for all the new releases that the end of this year is going to bring us! The summer months definitely had some amazing songs and albums so I can't wait to see how their topped this Autumn and Winter. What was your favorite song this Summer?