[Music and Dramas] What can I say, English matters
by Guest Beanie
Chicago Typewriter
By @kayedrama
Before I’m a drama person, I’m a music person. I listen to quite a large range of music, from Debussy’s “Clair De Lune” to Swift’s “Look What You Made Me Do” to The Beatles’ “Across the Universe.” From my years of being a music enthusiast, I’ve realized why certain types of music draw me in and why some don’t: In my book, melody is what moves the heart; lyrics engage the brain.
My first K-drama was Autumn Fairy Tale. The music I associate with this drama and remember so distinctly is the flute “Main Title.” (Yes, that’s what the humming sound in the melo scenes is called.) Even after almost two decades and never once rewatching the drama, I can hear that sound in my head and all the angst my grade-school self felt all those years ago come rushing back. That’s the power of a single OST used to the best of its advantage.
Autumn Fairy Tale
A few years later, another K-drama hit ensnared me with its very apt use of music, and it became the first Korean song ingrained in my brain: Byul’s “I Think I Love You.” Tell me you didn’t just sing that line. The theme from Full House was the first non-English song I researched to learn the Hangul, the meaning of the lyrics, and memorized the romanization for. Even with that titular one-liner, you can pretty much imagine how the entire song details the bickering between Ji-eun and Young-jae, and how they slowly fall for each other and cover it up with even more bickering. And the angst intensifies when this song plays while Ji-eun waits at home for Young-jae, especially with the translated lyrics on the screen:
I think I love you~
I think that’s what it is
’Cause I miss you, whenever you’re not around
I can’t do anything
And I keep thinking of you
Whenever I realize this, I think
I’m falling for you~
I didn’t know, but now I need you
Suddenly, deep in my heart
I can see where you’ve settled
Full House, “I Think I Love You”
I credit the high retention of the lyrical song to the English line: “I think I love you.” Don’t get me wrong, I totally dig English-less Korean songs like Lee Seung-gi’s “Losing My Mind” (My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho), Standing Egg’s “I’ll Pick You Up” (Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-ju), and Ailee’s “I Will Go to You Like the First Snow” (The Lonely Shining Goblin).
But English being my first language, I can’t help but pay attention to SALTNPAPER’s “Satellite” (Chicago Typewriter), Midnight Youth’s “Golden Love” (Uncontrollably Fond), or Savina & Drones’ “Glass Bridge” (Bride of the Water God 2017) first when watching a drama.
Or the same can be the case for the English parts of songs like Lyn’s “My Destiny” (You From Another Star) and Yoon Mirae’s “Always” (Descended From the Sun).
Chicago Typewriter, “Satellite”
But this same familiarity can also be troublesome, as was the case when I recently watched Boys Before Flowers last month and kept tripping on one line. There was a song heavily used called “Because I’m Stupid,” which goes:
혼자 다시 또 crying for you
혼자 다시 또 missing for you
Baby, I love you, I’m waiting for you
Melody moves your heart, but it takes it up a notch when your brain understands the words and connects the music to what’s happening on the screen. Almost no subtitled dramas translate the background songs in addition to the dialogue—not that I’m complaining; subtitlers are angels from heaven! Music in itself is an international language, and not understanding the words does not hinder admiring the beauty of the music, nor does it stop our feet from grooving to the rhythm. English lyrics used in K-drama OSTs often elevates the experience for me, but it’s a double-edged sword as well. Used sparingly, like salt and pepper in a dish, it can be an emotionally enriching tool.
The Best Hit, “Dream”
In the hands of a less adept drama, however, it can stick in your head in a bad way. Take for example the infamous T-Max’s “Paradise” (Boys Before Flowers) and Changmin’s “Moment” (Heirs), which you can’t un-hear once you’ve heard. But sparing and effective use of English in OSTs are plentiful, like Circle’s blood-pumping “Alive,” Fight My Way’s straddling-the-thin-line-of-friends-or-lovers theme “Ambiguous,” The Best Hit’s aspirant’s anthem “Dream,” and Suspicious Partner’s blossoming spring love song “How About You” to name a few.
Music is powerful. Music unites us. Music gives your brain what you need to think and your heart what you need to feel at the same time. Music is more than sound. It’s happiness, gloom, connection, memory. They say a picture is worth a thousand words; in dramas, we can say music is worth a thousand scenes.
Uncontrollably Fond
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- [Music and Dramas] How an OST can save a drama
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- [Music and Dramas] Remixing the past and finding clarity through fusion sageuk OSTs
- [Music and Dramas] The joy (and efficiency) of dramatic musical cues
- [Theme of the Month] Our relationship to music and dramas
- [Theme of the Month] Challenge! Revisit an old drama
- [Theme of the Month] How have your K-drama tastes changed over time?
- What’s your dramaland catnip? Tell us your stories!
Tags: Theme of the Month
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1 rentenmann
September 18, 2017 at 8:54 PM
Thank you for your viewpoint. I don't know much about music in the technical sense (never played an instrument, but most/all of my grade school friends were in marching and concert bands for school; I was the kid at football games that was only there to see the band play!), but I know what moves me. So many you've mentioned moved me, for better or worse. "Satellite" is still a spine-tingling experience, as is Circle's "Alive" track. Heck, I even watched Secret Garden from first listening to the OST on a subscription streaming service! Thanks again for the fun read.
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kayedrama
September 18, 2017 at 11:53 PM
Thanks for your kind words! ? I haven't watched Secret Garden but I believe you, I've watched most of Kim Eunsook's work and they all have amazing OST! ?
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kayedrama
September 19, 2017 at 5:54 PM
This looks so funny with all the ! ? I SWEAR I DIDN'T WRITE IT LIKE THIS. But the site clean-up happened so what can we do. 😂Hahaha. 😂
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lorepottter
September 19, 2017 at 9:56 AM
"Alive" thank you, finally someone mentioned that song, is perfect for a perfect drama.
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kayedrama
September 19, 2017 at 5:52 PM
Circle is perfection indeed ❤❤❤
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2 michykdrama
September 18, 2017 at 9:02 PM
Haha this is so true. I may have started learning korean, but the English parts of the song do resonate harder, in good ways (like in Satellite) like you said, but also bad-
Moonlight Drawn by Clouds OST "Love is Over" really drove in the fact that it was a tragic moment for the leads by the repeated lines:
"Love is over, love is over, love is OVER!"
I remember it drove many people batty because we all were like:
NO! Love is NOT over! ???
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Pomme
September 18, 2017 at 9:24 PM
Omg so true! I remember trying to concentrate on the sad scene, but end up laughing in the end because of the "love is over"?
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Dl
September 19, 2017 at 9:21 AM
But that's part of the enjoyment...For the song to trigger a reaction like that where you're screaming at the screen and throwing pillows, THAT is pulling at your heart strings too. Because I can understand "Love is over", it forced me into the depths of despair for our OTP's situation so that I have to mentally claw my way out of it to scream "NO!". It's electrifying when a show can do that to you. Yeah, it's an emotional rollercoaster so it hurts so goooood. Thank goodness this is all fictional. :)
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3 Kip
September 18, 2017 at 9:03 PM
That's an awesome title picture ???? Haha almost immediately clicked without even reading the title! Off to read now ?
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kayedrama
September 19, 2017 at 6:33 PM
Chicago Typewriter is my fave of all dramas that aired completely in 2017 (so far) ❤ New dramas are welcome to challenge such perfection as CT ❤
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CatchMine_ID
September 21, 2017 at 2:11 AM
aaaaaah all the Satellite feelings come back, and also Come With Me, Time Walk! I fell for those three most from CT! Kindly check my fmv for that three songs <3
https://www.youtube.com/c/catchmineid
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kayedrama
September 22, 2017 at 7:16 AM
OMG I'm crying like a baby rn and I'm about to go to work! Lovely vid! was that your voice? I fell in love with Seo Hwiyoung all over again! Pure perfection ♥♥♥
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4 Kip
September 18, 2017 at 9:18 PM
The Boys Over Flowers OSTs you mentioned bring back memories haha. Sure they were all cliche and overused, especially Almost Paaaaaradise, but that didn't stop me from internalizing the tunes and the sounds of the words as much as I could at the time, although I can't recall them all now. Indeed though, the English lyrics tend to stay with me because it's something I can connect to and understand. Even/Especially if it's a lot sappy eg Healer's Eternal Love. Now if that isn't a song that gets me going Oh my love, I'm all yours ??. Thanks for writing ??? This whole article was such a pleasure to read!
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5 yjgclone
September 18, 2017 at 9:25 PM
I studied piano before I went to college (I stucked on Grade 4 piano pieces due to acads) but let me just share my experience with Autumn Fairytale's Reason, which was where the Main Theme was based on.
On our recitals, the teachers encourage us to play classical music or folk songs. We practice these pieces months before and know it by our hearts. But when I tried to ask if I can play Reason, she did not hesitate. After the recital, everyone was asking for a copy of the score.
It wasn't a hard piece but feeling it is definitely difficult especially the drama was the first Korean drama that breakthrough on our local Primetime TV.
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6 WishfulToki
September 18, 2017 at 9:27 PM
English lyrics are like a double-edged sword: yes, my brain is more engaged when I can understand the lyrics, but sometimes they are just grammatically wrong. I love the songs, but I always cringe when I hear 'This is love story' (Legend of Blue Sea), or 'Falling you' (Goblin).
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pari
September 18, 2017 at 9:50 PM
Second that. The completely wrong English makes me wonder why did they even use English. But sadly, the only songs which have stayed with me from the K-dramas are English ones (even with their flawed sentence structure). Till date my ringtone is "There is a little story song" of the Bubblegum.
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kayedrama
September 22, 2017 at 7:30 AM
The completely wrong English makes me wonder why did they even use English
- I replied to this but it got deleted so here goes:
It's about money. Kdrama and Kpop is SK's most prolific export business. Inserting English in songs makes it pop more to people's ears (outside of SK, which are mostly English-speakers and even non-English speakers are familiar with words like Almost Paradise, I think I love you) and thus they insert it. I want to mention it the article too, but it'll sound too technical.
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kayedrama
September 19, 2017 at 5:57 PM
There was a line that got edited out in this article (prolly I was too harsh though I tried not to be lol 😂)
There are a lot of cringey English in songs that I really wanted to list but I only added this one being the last cringey drama song I watched (Plus I didn't want to add so much negativity)
Yes, much as I like Stay with Me, that Falling You bit is a tad bit 😡. Oh, and This is love story And the insane amount it was played on LotBS.. Hm.. Just stick playing Yoon Mi-rae's song pls. Or the water-inspired score 😡
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xhuizini
September 19, 2017 at 8:38 PM
this is love story - that crack me up when I first heard it on tv, even tho I've yet to watched lotbs at that point. Happy to know I'm not the only one to cringe at that.
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7 alert
September 18, 2017 at 11:07 PM
You had me at Salt n Pepper's Satellite! And thank you for the youtube video. It brings back all the feeeeeelsss!
Being a non-Korean watcher who relies heavily on subtitles, I learned to appreciate English songs in Kdramas, but at the same time, I really enjoy beautifully-done translations of Korean songs. Case in point: SG Wannabe's Writing Our Stories (Chicago Typewriter OST 3). I mean, I can still feel the bittersweet feelingsss listening to the song and the lyrics are all:
I will write our stories here
Please dust it and read it sometimes
Someday when I meet someone who asks about my love,
I will say it was all you.
I honestly think it is a beautiful song and it will stay with me for a very long time. #thankskdrama!
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earthna
September 19, 2017 at 7:12 PM
That song still makes me cry.
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wandergirl
September 20, 2017 at 6:49 AM
Love seeing my fellow Chicago Typewriter fans fangirling over the soundtrack!
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alert
September 20, 2017 at 7:38 AM
I miss fangirling The wig with everyone! The CT thread was really alive those days.
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earthna
September 21, 2017 at 6:42 PM
Hehe. The wig.
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wandergirl
September 22, 2017 at 5:26 AM
Omg yes that wig. It deserves to win its own award. 😂
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8 Jia
September 18, 2017 at 11:14 PM
Such a beautifully written piece!
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kayedrama
September 19, 2017 at 6:34 PM
Thanks Jia! ❤
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9 PakalanaPikake
September 18, 2017 at 11:49 PM
Thanks for your thoughtful essay, kayedrama!
In thinking of music that added another dimension to my understanding and enjoyment of a Kdrama, one notable example stands out. In episode 15 of OH HAE-YOUNG AGAIN, Foley artist Park Do-kyung plays two tapes for plain Hae-Young that were recorded by Dad of him and his sister singing, with Soo-kyung playing the piano. The first is to the melody of "Grandfather's Clock" [labeled "Baek Il Mong - Do Kyung" - at age 6, so Noona was 14]. The second is a beautiful, melancholic piece that Soo-Kyung sings and accompanies on piano that starts out "Mother and noona..." - These recordings break my heart. Moments like this are why I watched OHYA all the way to the finale.
Discussion in recap thread 19, PakalanaPikake June 21, 2016 at 9:45 PM
http://www.dramabeans.com/2016/06/oh-hae-young-again-episode-15/
I posted the English lyrics to “Grandfather's Clock” because they were so apropos to premonitions that Do-kyung had been experiencing, and the sense that he was going to die a lot younger than the 90 years Grandfather lived in the song. The translator in me prompted me to ask what the Korean lyrics meant, and a kind Beanie posted them. Surprise, surprise! The lyrics to “Baek Il Mong” (“Dayream”) by Korean folk duo Twin Folio [classically-trained Song Chang-sik and medical student Yoon Hyun-joo] were completely different from the original. They dealt with not loving someone more, and a sandcastle being washed away. The latter tied in with the theme of impermanence that Do-kyung's father espoused, and which had made such a strong lifelong impression on the young boy.
"Baek Il Mong" lyrics / "Daydream" - KissAsian
You, who have come to me like a dream
on an early spring day...
I thought it would last forever.
The sand castle full of happiness.
It got washed away with a wave.
You may leave me.
You may forget about me.
I will have this one heart, only you.
I regret those past day.
I couldn't give you more, more love.
The dream I can't wake up from.
The dream I can't wake up from.
The daydream, I will love you forever.
That beach on that summer night.
The sand castle full of happiness... [cut to Doc Park & DK's consult with Yoda-like shrink]
I regret those past days.
I couldn't give you more, more love.
Another translation:
"Baek Il Mong (Daydream)" - Do Kyung -- Viki
[song from film 'C'est Si Bon']
On an early spring day, you came to me like a dream
I knew this would last forever
[the sandcastle filled with happiness]
Got swept away by the waves
It's okay if you leave me, it's okay if you forget me,
For me there is only one
That I could not love you more, more, more,
Those past days, I regret it.
A dream I cannot wake from, daydream.
...
I will love you forever.
That summer, that beach, that happy sand castle [cut to consulting shrink's office]
...
That I could not love you more, more, more,
Those past days, I regret it...
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10 kayedrama
September 18, 2017 at 11:49 PM
Omg I'm supposed to be sleeping soundly in this hour but I woke up bec of heavy rains, checked fanpost, then noticed there's a new music article and I was like: Sounds like the one I wrote and even had CT as the cover pic And its really mine lol ? I though it's never gonna get posted ? Thanks, DB! ?
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sriracha
September 19, 2017 at 6:24 AM
Great article! I especially love your last line, "In dramas, we can say music is worth a thousand scenes." ❤️
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kayedrama
September 19, 2017 at 6:38 PM
Thank you! ❤ I feel kinda poet-ish as I made this while listening to tons of OST 😊
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11 neseli
September 19, 2017 at 12:00 AM
I'm really happy that DB introduced new segment and specially grateful with this theme of the month Music and Dramas.I'm not actually a music person. Yes, every once in a while a particular song in a drama might catch my attention or sound pleasing to my ears and keep it in my collection, but that's about it.Other than that, I hardly pay attention to the OST of a drama or keep obsessing over it after the show's over.But this theme of the month has significantly changed my habit.I've been searching and listening to all the songs mentioned in the articles and have discovered some hidden gems as well! So many thanks to you and all other guest beanie as well as DB for turning me into a regular music listener.
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kayedrama
September 22, 2017 at 7:34 AM
I'm glad you're now a "regular music listener"! Thanks for reading, bud ♥
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12 Geraldine
September 19, 2017 at 7:13 AM
The last para is so well written :):) I wish i could write like you~
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kayedrama
September 19, 2017 at 6:40 PM
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kayedrama
September 19, 2017 at 6:41 PM
Thank you! Just continue writing. PS I love your name, one of my besties irl has the same name! 😊
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13 Ahj ❤ ❥ ♡ ♥ ღ
September 19, 2017 at 7:23 AM
What a lovely post! Very entertaining to read. For me lately I've been loving hearing English songs being used to Sageuk, it is so refreshing!
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14 ohhaeyoung
September 19, 2017 at 9:58 AM
Aww I loved that final line...that's exactly what it is to listen to K-drama OSTs, they're worth a thousand scenes <3
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15 lizj58
September 19, 2017 at 10:31 AM
I absolutely loved the Goblin soundtrack (which, incidentally was almost half in English)
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realraul23
September 20, 2017 at 7:49 AM
Me too..such beautiful music and..so poignant..one of my favorites are Stuck in Love by Kim Kyung Hee...
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kayedrama
September 22, 2017 at 7:36 AM
Goblin OST is gold ♥ I will be forever listening ♥
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16 kdrama
September 19, 2017 at 1:29 PM
Years ago when I began my addiction to K-drama I sent a
request to Publisher/Distributor "YA Entetainment" requesting they subtitle the music in the dramas and they did. It does make a difference when you can understand and relate it to the storyline. Still love watching no matter what
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17 Lilly
September 19, 2017 at 3:24 PM
Everyone must share the experience at least once
heh heh
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzJVoqW4GEA
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xhuizini
September 19, 2017 at 8:36 PM
it's effective. It's now stuck in my head LOL
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18 kat kat
September 19, 2017 at 4:28 PM
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19 earthna
September 19, 2017 at 7:08 PM
Goodness me. I click on the link for Main Title and hear I am sobbing in a corner. I haven't seen the drama for a loooooooong time but yeah, hearing the OST brings back all the memories and the pain! I've always thought of music as memories instead of just songs. They get associated to special memories so the feelings come back as soon as you hear them.
I totally agree about the English though. Seriously. I love Chicago Typewriter to bits but that darn OST. You know that feeling that you just want to jam to that song but your brain's so bothered by English that do not make sense? Same for Bride of the Water God! I did subtitles for that drama in viki and the lyrics drove me crazy (And yes, at viki, we put subtitles for the lyrics as well :D).
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earthna
September 19, 2017 at 7:15 PM
*clicked **here I am
My typo game's going strong.
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20 urnaa
September 19, 2017 at 7:46 PM
Totally get the Autumn tale music. i have many favorites too.
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21 Rainbow Unicorn
September 19, 2017 at 8:17 PM
Such a wonderful post Kaye ! You totally captured the feelings of every non-korean speaking/understanding beanie about the English OSTs ! there is this "Yay I can understand this & it has amazing music too" moment... and the immediate cringe if the grammar sucks. Your BoF example was perfect for that.. As if almost paradise wasn't grating enough! Lol
and yesss! SaltnPaper is <3 <3
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22 xhuizini
September 19, 2017 at 8:34 PM
melody is what moves the heart; lyrics engage the brain -- thank you so much for this. THis is what I'm going to tell my non k-drama friends when they ask why I like listening to kdrama ost's even tho I don't understand it.
Also, my student feels came back listening to main title and i think i love you, especially I think I love you-- its one of my favorite songs, I have the guitar version of it on my phone.
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kayedrama
September 22, 2017 at 7:24 AM
Hahaha yes! Two of Song Hye Gyo's classics Autumn and Full House are part of my grade school/high school life too. :) Thanks for reading! :) :D
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earthna
September 24, 2017 at 11:01 PM
I still have the whole ost album of Full House on my phone.
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23 Clover
September 19, 2017 at 9:00 PM
Beautiful post kaye.
Im not a music person, but we hv similarities in two of OST you mentioned above. Its the opening melody of Autumn Fairy Tale and the OST of Full House. But im gravitated thru the former the most.
Its fascinating how a melody can contain so many emotions, and whenever or wherever i heard it, i feel myself transported back in time. It contains a wistful thinking, longing, courage, yearning, despair, sadness, and quiet hopes. Its just beautifully haunting.
Its not necessarily tied with the drama, but it conveys the love story between the two fake sibling perfectly. Without words, it illustrates their feelings thru its high and low times.
Its one powerful, memorable melody that suits that legendary drama. Its legend itself.
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24 mintful
September 20, 2017 at 5:08 AM
Very nice! I do agree english lines are more memorable, Simply because I understand it. (oh when will my brain NOT sing almost paaaaradiiise by just seeing the word? Is it a curse?)
This also reminded me so many dramas has such great OSTs. Some are nice on its own while others make you remember hundreds of scenes and flood your heart with feels all over again.
And also, English used in Korean shows kind of makes me confused as in I don't know which one is actual English word and which one is made up 😂 same goes with its grammar sometimes hahha
(I thought skinship was an actual english word. Now I know better 😂)
With grammatically wrong english lyrics, seemed like they used Korean sentence structure and then just replaced the words, hm? I noticed the confusion with grammar pattern from my Korean language partner. But I don't know why they don't check it with someone who would know better esp that the song is released to the world. Oh well. Maybe that's one of the reason it's catchy? Hahaha
They say a picture is worth a thousand words; in dramas, we can say music is worth a thousand scenes.
Such a beautiful conclusion 💕 thank you for the nicely written article 😀
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alert
September 20, 2017 at 7:51 AM
Translation from one language to another is one tricky business. If translate it literally, it might miss the meaning and the whole points, if translate it based on meanings, it might alter the context altogether - which sometimes happened in drama translation and reason why certain Korean lyrics make no sense when being translated to English - even though it might be beautifully written in Korean. I remember struggling trying to translate my first language (not Korean) into English, especially literary works like poems, since English tends not to have similar expression than those that we have in ours.
Saying that, I truly appreciate the efforts put by those kdrama/ lyrics translators - they are the unsung heroes who work extra hard to ensure that we understand what's being said. Especially those who put extra care when translating the songs.
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earthna
September 24, 2017 at 11:04 PM
I downloaded Satellite Love from melOn and it actually came with Korean lyrics. They made more sense than the English one so I kinda wished they just went with the Korean one.
And yeah, translating lyrics is a pain. Korean language doesn't use pronouns much and it's really confusing especially for lyrics.
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25 wandergirl
September 20, 2017 at 6:48 AM
I love how you mentioned all three of my favorites: SALTNPAPER’s “Satellite” (Chicago Typewriter), Savina & Drones’ “Glass Bridge” (Bride of the Water God 2017), and CHEEZE's "How About You" (Suspicious Partner). These three just pull all the feels any time I hear it from my Spotify playlist.
Some of my other top picks that bring back memories of their respective shows:
- Seo In Guk's "Flower" and Lee Sera's "Relieved", both from Tomorrow with You
- Suran's "Step Step" from Jealousy Incarnate
- Ahn Hyeon Jeong's "You and Me" from W
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Klike234
September 20, 2017 at 4:09 PM
Step step! That song was neat!
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26 Ally
September 20, 2017 at 12:19 PM
Great little essay, @kayedrama! I need to watch more kdramas so I can hear more kmusic. Because that’s exactly how I remember scenes, through the music.
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27 Auntiemame
September 20, 2017 at 2:23 PM
Exactly! This is the reason the songs are translated on Viki versus the professionally translated sites.
My opinion has always been that the music/songs may be an adjunct to or comment about the dialog, which ultimately enhances the scene and enriches the mood.
Thank you for sharing your perspective.
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28 Klike234
September 20, 2017 at 4:07 PM
Very wonderful viewpoint. I especially love how CTW's satellite is being appreciated in most posts . That song was awesome in Every scene. It's unfortunate the drama didn't do too well rating wise because it made me - who isn't Korean, want to be a patriot. But blooming memories doesn't get much mentions though. It was also lovely too
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29 lolita
September 20, 2017 at 6:13 PM
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30 lolita
September 20, 2017 at 6:16 PM
@kayedrama, this is lovely! Thank you for all the wonderful references. By the way, I replayed SALTNPAPER's "Satellite" nonstop for like 2 months. Also, I feel like music also relies on the skills on where is placed. It needs the right moment, the right atmosphere within an episode to be that much more of an impact. One great example is BEN's "Misty Road" at the end of Moonlight Drawn by Clouds's ep. 06 ... or the union of Heize's "Round and Round" + Chanyeol and Punch's "Stay With Me" at the end of Goblin's ep. 2 ... To me, both the song and the placing of the song within the context of the episode, create the magic! :)
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31 rowanharper
September 20, 2017 at 7:48 PM
What you said about melody engaging the heart and lyrics engaging the brain reminded me of one of my favorite guilty pleasure movies, Music and Lyrics.
Specifically this scene where the main charecters and attempting to write a song together and discussing just that.
Sophie Fisher: A melody is like seeing someone for the first time. The physical attraction. Sex.
Alex Fletcher: I so get that.
Sophie Fisher: But then, as you get to know the person, that's the lyrics. Their story. Who they are underneath. It's the combination of the two that makes it magical.
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32 celest4
September 20, 2017 at 8:53 PM
"I Think I Love You"
You're spot on. I sang that line as I saw it lol. Even now, many many years later I still have this song in my playlist
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33 miselpo
September 24, 2017 at 10:33 PM
Lovely post @kayedrama and thank you for bringing Uncontrollably Fond. Its English songs are some of the best things in kdrama, paired with picturesque cinematography trully elevated my UF watching experience.
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34 Koala Cruz
September 26, 2017 at 6:43 AM
You're right that it helps a lot if one understands the lyrics. I totally agree. But a soundtrack — with or without lyrics — if not properly injected or used in a scene can ruin the whole thing.
I sometimes wish that dramas can have a main theme that has a number of variations to suit the moods OK, this is a biased comment — loved Lovers in Paris when they have Moon River as stitching theme. Loved it even more when they use the music to help create the atmosphere of the scene — had it stacatto for the funny scenes, slow on those melancholy scenes, romantic with just the strings. And they were mostly instrumental!!
I have nothing against having a number of popular songs in the OST — actually I love it if there is one that I can understand and relate to. HA! that brings me to A Little Braver, Golden Love, Across The Ocean all from Uncontrollably Fond. Fitting songs that are reflective of the mood, situation or state-of-mind of the character; they are catchy; and i understand them. (Ya, I must admit though that it has become a habit to get the English translation of the songs that I love — to know that they are trying to say, to say the least.
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35 klmeri
September 26, 2017 at 10:00 AM
Lovely. I agree most especially with your last sentence!
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