E Ji-ah's Song Picks

Not everyone's climbs upward on their first step. And just because there are others who draw their starting line somewhere further down the road or maybe closer to the top, it does not mean that life is unfair. It is the rule of the game that you will tumble down from that higher point if you do not put in as much effort in a shorter time. That is why actress E Ji-ah has been running full steam on screen since taking on the lead role in MBC TV series "Taewangsasingi" with her debut. She knew the burden on her shoulders were as big as the jumpstart she had taken in her career.

The character Lee Seo-jung she plays in SBS drama "Style", is someone who is ready to explode with E's preparedness. She will run, fall over, fight, be stepped on by her boss' designer shoes, have her face pinched and even fall into the water. You may be sick of the character who always creates trouble and puts on a sad face often when accused wrongly but the energy and effort E puts into every scene unhesitantly to try to become that character is refreshing. We can at least be sure that she does not pick a role which will make her look as pretty as a flower.

The more interesting moments are when the E reveals her real self for very short moments outside the screen. She keeps her private life within her personal space and is someone who has a unique sense of sincerity and vibe about her. That is why the five songs she has valued for a long time are not all that mellow or cheerful. The E who ran around as if she was the daughter of the sun, revealed to us an unknown side to her through songs she spent the long nights listening to. If it is still light outside, spare them for listening later when it's darker.

1. Bjork "Post"
To some, she may be a person of queer taste who will appear on the red carpet with a swan wrapped around her, but to others, she is the most special musician in the world. The artist from Iceland, who went solo in 1988 after debuting as a member of band Sugercubes, has since established a style which is all her own. The East and West, the past and future, and angels and demons coexist within her music. The first song E recommended was "Army of Me" from her second album "POST". Its music video was famous for being directed by Michel Gondry who helmed film "Eternal Sunshine". "It's a song which satisfies my fantasies. Bjork's voice, which would seem tender and yet is strong, is impressive but the dramatic structure of the song gives it a new feeling everytime I hear it." Like her explanation, the music video too is odd but is full of interesting images you will not be able to keep your eyes off.

2. Fiona Apple "Tidal"
Many people like Fiona Apple's version of The Beatles "Across the Universe". But inside her album, she is someone who has much more depth and is more sorrowful. This singer songwriter who debuted at the age of 19 took three Grammy awards with her first album. The unhappy memories of her life which includes incidents such as the separation of her parents and her own brutal rape, created the aggressive yet unique sadness about her. She halted her career for a while after 1999 but her fans, better known as the 'Apple Cult', came together to support her and put pressure on her record company, resulting in the release of her third album in 2005. E recommended "Sleep to Dream" from Apple's debut album "Tidal". She expressed her affection for the song saying, "It's suitable for late-night listening but I also listened to it a lot while driving alone."

3. Smashing Pumpkins "Mellon Collie And The Infin..."
"Mellon Collie And The Infin...", containing 28 songs, is considered the most monumental album of Smashing Pumpkin who was one of the two most defining and most acclaimed bands, along with Nirvana, of the alternative rock era. Their emotional numbers received much love in particular, earning them praise as 'the alternative of alternative'. But the group then disbanded in 2000 after internal fighting and struggled to resurrect in 2007 with their new members. Guitarist James Iha, who did not rejoin the newly-formed Smashing Pumpkins, has been establishing a career of his own as the musical director for film "Linda Linda Linda". "I really like the songs around this time. I was so into 'Here is No Why' in particular that I even learned to play the bass part. I like Billy Corgan's voice but the song is even more beautiful for its overall atmosphere."

4. Madeleine Peyroux "Half the Perfect World"
Madeleine Peyroux, who debuted in 1996, is a promising jazz vocalist who is often compared to Billy Holiday, the top jazz singer during her time. She has a tone deep for her age and is brilliant at interpreting songs. Her third album "Half The Perfect World" contains remixes of pop numbers. Of them, E likes "Blue Alert" in particular. Peyroux re-sang the song originally by Lenard Cohen, a famous Canadian singer-songwriter and poet. "It's a great album to listen to right before falling asleep. It's calming and sweet yet is atmospheric. The attractiveness of Peyroux's voice is that it has the ability to make the listener feel relaxed. 'Blue Alert' is perfect to listen to with candles lit."

5. Nine Inch Nails "Year Zero"
E's last recommendation was "Zero Sum" from the godfather of the industrial rock group Nine Inch Nails' 2007 album "Year Zero". One of the members dreamt of the world coming to an end while on tour and set it as the theme to the album, which gave each of the songs an epic poem-like feel. Trent Reznor, the key to the band, was evaluated as having passed his prime starting in the 1990s, reestablished his position as an important player in the genre after seeing back to back success with 2005 album "With Teeth" and "Zero Sum". "I like their heavy and passionate music they played in the past but I also really like their recent albums which give off a vibe of transcendence. It actually goes really well with cooking too."

Reporter : Yoon Hee-Seong nine@10asia.co.kr
Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@asiae.co.kr