2020 Music Awards
Not all awards could get a full post. Thankfully, I made this award for several great artists, songs, or albums that deserved awards. In fact, perhaps my favorite song from 2020 only get its award here.
Top Producer of the Year: Edenary
Honorable Mentions: FRANTS, Miyavi, Sachet-Parampara, Yoo Young-Jin
The four-member production team consisting of Leez, Eden, Buddy, and Ollunder (sometimes having a fifth unofficial member in ATEEZ member Hongjoong) has slowly built a reputation for constantly delivering some of modern music's best songs. Eden and his friends have built the KQ entertainment sound, all the while constantly maturing it without any sideway- movements (minus the summer ATEEZ releases). Meanwhile, Leez and Ollunder have made Dreamcatcher one of modern K-Pop's most acclaimed acts. They also have started to work with Golden Child and BTOB, expanding their sights. Finally, they are gaining more attention than most other producers, giving them a good chance to shape their musical future.
Top Instrumental Album of the Year: Hyrule Warriors - Age of Calamity
Honorable Mention: Ghosts of Tsushima
Age of Calamity and Ghosts of Tsushima basically tied for this spot., but I gave the edge to Age of Calamity simply due to its sense of fun ambition. The music on Age of Calamity was epic and powerful, but it never let the stakes take it away from the fun. Decisive Battle against Calamity Ganon is a great example of this, being epic (perhaps one of the year's best songs overall), but never losing that playful video game-ness.
Top Vocalist of the Year: Dimash Kudaibergen
Honorable Mention: Satoshi Fujihara
Dimash already was the best vocalist alive before 2020, but 2020 cemented him further as a modern legend. To his talented voice, he added a strong level of emotional pathos in his new version of Beloved, while continuing to build his name for epic vocal performances. The high-note at the end of Across Endless Dimensions might be his best vocal moment yet.
Top Classical Pop Song of the Year: Lucy - Flare
More experiment than a song, Lucy's Flare takes forever to grow. Still, it is a slow ride, getting better in every further second. Lucy have shown their willingness to try knew things, and where they go next will be worth watching. In the end, Flare is fantastic.
Top Instrumental Song of the Year: Tsushima Suite
Scratch the title, Tsushima Suite is not the top instrumental song of the year only, it is The best song of 2020 overall. A five-movement classical suite composed fully to the core, Tsushima Suite is a masterpiece. Despite a structure based in western culture, the eastern and Japanese instrumentation choice builds an amazing atmosphere. Easily the best track (or tracks) on the Ghost of Tsushima album, this is a modern masterpiece. The final few seconds of the Seiiki section might be the greatest musical moment of the year. Credit to Ilan Eshkeri and Shigeru Umebayashi for creating this masterpiece.
Wow, those instrumentals are stunning!
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked it! Often times I feel instrumental songs are overlooked, and thus I had to spotlight them. Interestingly, Age of Calamity and Ghost of Tsushima are games. Game music is thriving.
DeleteYou know you have an impeccable taste in music! I cannot believe that you are really showcasing the hidden dragons inside of instrumental songs. Your awards are by far one of the most prestigious I've ever seen. Not just of pure quality but of amazing technical achievement.
ReplyDeleteThis is just impeccable. I'm glad LUCY won and Dimash's throne will never be replaced (well it would take 100 years though). EDENARY is well deserved for that Producing win, although you could also have a Producer of the Year, Non-Vocals. Just kidding. Anyways, this is better than the GRAMMYs.
Ooh, instrumental producer of year is a good award. If I remember, I may do that for 2021!
DeleteLucy and Dimash are excellent. Though I hope that within his (and my) lifetime, Dimash is overthrown as the best living vocalist (someone better comes in as a rival), no matter how unlikely.
Thanks for the praise StillBangtan!