Over at Bicoastal Bitchin, they've got a great guest post from our friend, singer/songwriter Dawen, who has put together a list of his favorite songs by Asian American artists from the last year: Dawen's Favorite Asian American Songs of 2010.
It's a nice mix of genres and artists, from YouTube favorites to mainstream(!) pop. I love Dawen's take on fellow singer/songwriter Jane Lui and her song "Goodnight Company," the title track from her latest record -- one of my favorite albums of the year:
10. October: Jane Lui - "Goodnight Company"There's a lot of music on the list I know and love, but like the list Dawen came up with last year, it's got a few tunes I've never heard of, and they're really nice discoveries. (Holy crap, watch the music video for Connie Lim's "Sugar.") It was a pretty momentous year for Asian Americans in music. I hope this is just the beginning of great things to come.
There were puppets, a trip to Switzerland, and at the start of the fall, a brand new record. "Goodnight Company", which kicks off Jane Lui's album of the same name, showcases some of the best songwriting happening today. Those who decry the lack of melody, development and musicianship in today's music need look no further than Jane's latest effort. In the title track, Jane invites us into her musical world, with her great vocals, piano playing, brass arrangements (love that tuba) and other musical surprises. Listening to Goodnight Company is like enjoying a satisfying performance of a classic Rogers & Hammerstein musical. From her re-harmonized version of "Edelweiss" to the gravity of "Long Ago", Goodnight Company is a trove of gems. Preorder a physical CD/DVD of the album, which comes out January 11th.