Korean Melodies for the Soul

I want to start off by saying that I've been a fangirl of K-pop groups since 1996. This personal playlist is by no means denigrating the glorious music of H.O.T, Sechs Kies, Seo Taji and the Boys, S.E.S, Fin.K.L, DBSK, SNSD, Big Bang, 2NE1, EXO, Blackpink, Twice, BTS, GOT7, etcetera, etcetera. I listen to everything except death metal because it gives me symptoms of misophonia.

But, sometimes, the most lucrative branch of music overshadows genres that hold so much value -- that operate on a separate level from dazzling choreography and perfect faces.

It's music that washes away the millions of little stings that come from an ultra competitive society where comparing one to others is an obsession, and keeping up with your peers is an act of survival. It's music that lets you close your eyes and escape when you're riding the long train ride home. It's music that allows for a tear to seep through the veneer you've so carefully constructed to not feel totally inadequate or anxious.

These are some songs that took me away, gave me peace, and allowed me to chill out while I worked in Seoul and during the pandemic.

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1. Zion.T - Eat: The self-care anthem of 2015, this song radiates soothing vibes as Zion.T tells the exhausted career woman in the music video and me to take out this song and eat it like chocolate or a morning apple.

I used to listen to this song on days when the students I taught were especially tired and ornery. The stress they exuded onto me was absorbed and dissipated by Zion.T's beautiful voice.

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2. Baek, Ye Rin - Maybe It's Not Our Fault: One of my go-to songs for when I have insomnia, Ye Rin's voice gives me tingles like an ASMR video. Her diction is sufficiently mumbled to allow me to fall into the rhythm and slide off into sleep. However, the lyrics are lovely -- it's about how one shouldn't take someone they love for granted. Something we're all guilty of, unfortunately.

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3. Sun Woo Jung Ah - Run With Me: This song helped me survive the strangely traumatic month of March this year when it hit me that it's been a full year since I've been on campus to teach, had happy hour with friends, walked around without a mask on, and most heartbreaking of all, a whole year where 500k+ people died unnecessarily.

Listening to this song gives me catharsis. It allows me to cry in the privacy of my room and be able to smile at my loved ones once I'm done. Sun Woo Jung Ah sings to me and tells me to let it all out, but then to return, stronger than ever.

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4. HyukOh - Comes and Goes: One of my favorite songs to vibe to, HyukOh Band combines a laid back aesthetic with a distinct sound that calms me when I want to empty my mind and escort out the constant anxiety that plagues me. I listened to this song multiple times while I was planning out my novel because it kept me from overthinking.

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5. Busker Busker - Yeosu Night Sea: This is another song that allows me to empty my mind and expel the anxiety that lives rent-free. Yeosu is a city located at the very bottom of South Korea, and its ocean is supposedly beautiful at night. That's what I imagine when I listen to this song -- walking at night along the beach after a couple shots of soju and feeling freer than a bird.

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6. Kim, Dong Ryul - Etude of Memory: When my mind wants to escape to rose-tinted nostalgia because the present is too real I listen to this song. The song brings the drama with its slow soft beginning to its explosive climax. Dong Ryul Kim's voice is one of a kind. Clear, powerful, and constant. He's been singing for almost three decades and his voice is exactly the same.

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7. Kim, Yuna - Days Without Tears [Mr. Sunshine OST]: Another song that gives me catharsis and allows me to cry, Yuna Kim's voice is perfect for this song. Because of her voice, the song aches and allows me to transfer whatever sadness I'm feeling into the mood of the song. Also, it helps that it's my favorite song from my favorite Korean historical drama, so the release comes quickly and gives me courage to find my center again.

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8. Beenzino - Aquaman: Beenzino's 24:26 album is one of my all time favorites, and Aquaman is one of the best songs to come out of it. Beenzino's raps are often about everyday life, and he presents his witty verses so smoothly that it allows me listen without trying very hard. A perfect end of the workday song to help you chill out and vibe.

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9. Crush - Don't Forget (ft. Taeyeon of SNSD): I guess technically I am including a tiny bit of K-pop into this list since Taeyeon is the lead singer of super girl group, SNSD, but since she's a feature and the focus is on Crush's voice, I beg you to overlook the fact that I contradicted myself.

Everything about this song is peaceful and comforting. Crush's voice is smooth and sentimental. Like Etude of Memory, this song allows me to fall back into memories that are a bit shinier than they actually are and helps me escape reality for just a little bit.

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10. Sondia - Grown Ups [My Mister OST]: This beautiful song contemplates adulthood and what it means to live. While the overall message is sad, there's still hope in the melody and Sondia's voice. I listen to this song when I'm very tired or disappointed and after several plays, it allows me to get sleepy. This song reminds me that life is comprised of moments and that the answers I'm looking for could be found tomorrow.