The 10 Best K-Drama OSTs Of 2017 That We’ll Never Forget
2017 was host to more superb dramas than I think we were prepared for: gripping narratives delivered with expert performances, romance so beautiful we couldn’t look away, and thrillers so intense we couldn’t look! But what would those truly engaging and memorable moments be without their original soundtracks?
Below is a superlative list of the best drama soundtracks from 2017; we’re not suggesting you download these songs immediately then hug a pillow while remembering all the great drama moments we’ve waved goodbye to this year. But if you’re in need of a new alarm clock song, karaoke favorite or just something to study to, we’ve got the OST for you!
Best study playlist — “Fight My Way” OST
01. Dumbhead – Arie Band
02. Good Morning – Kassy
03. Fight for My Way – Heo Chek of SuperKidd With 2morro
04. Ambiguous – BTOB
05. Night Is Gone Again – Ryu Ji Hyun
06. I Miss You – Cha Yeoul
What makes for a great study playlist? Chilled out tracks mixed with exciting, fast-paced, and up-tempo music for writing sprints and aggressively powering through that to-do list? Well, you came to the right place! The “Fight My Way” OST combines relaxing tracks to help keep your cool for fast-approaching deadlines with tracks you can match to your typing speed and finish that paper before the weekend!
Most hated by the single and lonely — “Because This Is My First Life” OST
01. Star Figure – UJi
02. Everyday – Haebin (gugudan)
03. I Want To Love – Melomance
04. Marriage – MoonMoon
05. This Life – Moon Sung Nam
06. Shelter – Song Hee Jin feat. Lee Yo Han
07. Tomorrow – Ryu Ji Hyun
08. Can’t Go – Ben
This soundtrack is uplifting, bright, and just twinkling with romantic duets and soulful ballads! Definitely songs for the newly in love or in a relationship; “Star Figure” by UJi emits that heart fluttering excitement that comes from a first kiss or a smile from your crush. These songs might even prove to cheer you up if you’re single and lonely, but they’re generally songs you might want to avoid.
Best karaoke songs — “While You Were Sleeping” OST
01. When Night Falls – Eddy Kim
02. It’s You – Henry
03. It’d Be Good – Roy Kim
04. I Love You Boy – Suzy
05. Your World – SE O
06. While You Were You Sleeping – Brother Su, SE O
07. Lucid Dream – Monogram
08. Today I Miss You – Davichi
09. Maze – Kim Na Young
10. Come To Me – Lee Jong Suk
11. If – Jung Joon Il
12. I’ll Tell You – Jang Da Bin
13. Would You Know – Lee Jong Suk
14. Words I Want To Hear – Suzy
What’s your go-to karaoke song? If you haven’t got one, what have you been doing with your life? It’s okay, the “While You Were Sleeping” OST has you covered! Bust out any one of these truly stunning ballads, and your co-workers will be none the wiser. You’re a Karaoke ninja!
Most star-studded singer lineup — “Hwarang” OST
01. Anywhere – Han Dong Geun
02. Even If I Die, It’s You – V & Jin (BTS)
03. Dream – Bolbbalgan4
04. I Can Only See You – Wendy & Seulgi (Red Velvet)
05. Become Each Other’s Tears – Hyorin
06. God’s Skill – Yang Yo Seob (Highlight)
07. God’s Skill (Acoustic Ver.) – Kim Ju Na
08. I’ll Be Here – Park Hyung Sik
09. Memorizing a Spell – Jun Woo Sung (Noel)
10. Our Tears – Park Seo Joon
11. Don’t Leave Me Alone – Jung Dong Ha
12. Hwarang Spirit (Opening Title)
13. Cloud Of Love (Main Theme)
14. Bright Waltz [Instrumental]
15. Sad Cliff [Instrumental]
16. Sea Of Crying [Instrumental]
Jin and V from BTS, Wendy and Seulgi from Red Velvet, Hyorin, Park Hyung Sik, Bolbbalgan4! Do you feel your heart racing just listening to that lineup? Then again, what can we expect from a drama as star studded as “Hwarang”?
Most moody — “Goblin” OST
01. Stay With Me – Chanyeol, Punch
02. Stay With Me – Chanyeol, Punch [Instrumental]
03. My Eyes – 10cm
04. Hush – Lasse Lindh
05. Beautiful – Crush
06. Beautiful – Crush [Instrumental]
07. Beautiful [Drama Version]
08. You’re Pretty – Eddy Kim
09. Who Are You – Sam Kim
10. I Miss You – Soyou
11. The First Snow – Jung Joon Il
12. I Will Go To You Like The First Snow – Ailee
13. Wish – Urban Zakapa
14. And I’m Here – Kim Kyung Hee
15. Winter Is Coming – Han Soo Ji
16. Stuck In Love – Kim Kyung Hee
17. Heaven – Roy Kim , Kim EZ (GGot Jam Project)
18. Love – Mamamoo
19. Round and Round (Never Far Away) – Heize (feat. Han Soo Ji)
20. Round and Round (Never Far Away) – Han Soo Ji [Drama Version]
21. Round and Round (Never Far Away) – Heize [Instrumental]
22. I Will Go To You Like The First Snow – Ailee [Live]
Heize’s “Round and Round” made that infamous, often parodied scene from “Goblin” the moodiest, most dramatic scene in dramas this year. Full of emotion, highs and lows, songs for long winter walks when you’ve got a lot on your mind, and songs for those moments when you just have to pull a sword out of your lover’s chest, it’s got it all!
Most heart fluttering — “Strong Woman Do Bong Soon” OST
01. You’re My Garden – Jung Eun Ji (Apink)
02. Heartbeat – Suran
03. Wonder – Standing Egg
04. Pit a Pat – Kim Chung Ha
05. Double Trouble Couple – Mamamoo
06. 사랑에 빠진 걸까요 – Vromance
07. Super Power Girl – Every Single Day
08. Because Of You – Park Hyung Sik
This soundtrack has everything you want from a romantic drama OST; every scene between the two leads was sweet and uplifting and these tracks match perfectly. Jung Eun Ji, Suran, Kim Chung Ha, Mamamoo, and more. Suran’s “Heart Beat” especially gives off first love feelings.
Most relaxing — “Suspicious Partner” OST
01. Why You ? – Seenroot
02. How Do I Say It? – O.When
03. The Same Day – Ra.D
04. How About You – CHEEZE
05. Eye Contact – Kim E-Z of Ggotjam Project
06. Breathing All Day – Bumkey
07. I’ve Got A Feeling – Ki Hyun of Monsta X
08. The Memory of That Day – Kim Jong Wan of NELL
09. Silly Love – Yoo Ha Jung
10. 101 Reasons Why I Like You – Ji Chang Wook
This is a great soundtrack for long train journeys, lounging on the porch or in the garden, drinking tea, or taking a nap during the day. Add “How About You” to your candle bath playlist or hum along to “Silly Love” by Yoo Ha Jung on a country walk when spring finally rolls around.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNRGW0eb9-w
Best alarm clock songs — “My Shy Boss” OST
01. Is This Love – Hong Dae Kwang
02. Memory – Ben
03. One More Step – Sandeul (B1A4)
04. Isn’t She Lovely – Park Bo Ram
05. Because Of You – Kim EZ
06. You – Ryu Ji Hyun
07. Standstill – Park Si Hwan
08. 01:00 PM – Various Artists
“Because Of You” by Kim EZ and “Is This Love?” by Hong Dae Kwang especially, will gently tug you out of sleep without jolting you awake and irritating you for the rest of the day. Stretch out those tense muscles, take a breath of fresh morning air, and squint into the sun that’s filling your room. It’s a new day, and these tracks are just right to accompany you through the best day!
Most rapped soundtrack — “Man To Man” OST
01. Take Your Hand – VIXX
02. Destiny – Part Bo Ram & Basick
03. The Reasons – Huh Gak
04. Full of Wonders – Vromance
05. Open Your Mind – Mamamoo
06. Temperature of Tears – Soul Latido
Korean music is no stranger to the featured rap artist, but pretty much every song on this soundtrack has a rapped section, even “Open Your Mind” by Mamamoo, which starts out as this romantic ballad and then bam! It’s a rap. Not that I’m complaining, because these songs perfectly fit the cool, charismatic style of the drama and its protagonist.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow02No8NKKA
Biggest tear-jerker — “My Wife Is Having An Affair This Week” OST
01. If We Listen To Love – Park Won
02. Mistake – Park Won
03. Mr. Trouble – 2BiC
04. That Kind of Night – Urban Zakapa
05. I Love You – Dalchong
With exception to “Mr. Trouble” by 2BiC, which, by the way, is a great song to cheer you up after all the crying, this soundtrack is a total tear-jerker. Maybe it’s because we know the plot of the drama and the emotional struggle of the male lead, or maybe it’s the emotive lyrics or the depth of the artists’ performances of the songs. Whatever the reason, this OST is bound to leave you reaching for the tissues.
So that’s it folks, what did you think? Have you made a playlist including them all already? Let us know in the comments what songs from dramas in 2017 got you dancing!
Check out the nominees for Best Soundtrack in the 13th Annual Soompi Awards below (introduced by Oh My Girl‘s Hyojung and YooA), and don’t forget to vote!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtYKDnKQhlw
MizWest is an English Teaching Assistant with way too much time on her hands. When she’s not watching dramas or shaking it to K-pop, she’s studying everything Korean culture with a view to move out there some day soon!
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