My Eccentric Taste in Music

Ever since I was a child, I've had a fondness for music. During my early years, my preferred genre was rap music. My first favorite rapper was Vanilla Ice with his song "Ice Ice Baby," and I later developed a liking for other rappers like Eminem, P. Diddy, Nelly, and others. It's amusing that even though I couldn't understand their lyrics due to the rapid pace and slang, and English not being my first language, I still enjoyed the music. Even now, when I listen to those rap songs, there are still some words that I miss, even though I understand English better now.

Photo by C D-X on Unsplash

I also developed an affinity for rock songs, even though I couldn't fully understand them due to the impassioned manner in which the songs are sung.

I enjoyed pop songs as well, ones I could understand. However, in my early 30s, my inclination shifted towards songs that were neither local nor in English. I started enjoying Korean, Thai, and Chinese songs—songs I had no chance of understanding unless I studied the language.

My interest in Korean songs began when I got hooked on watching Korean dramas. There was one Korean series whose songs I particularly enjoyed. The first Korean songs I liked were "Vis a Vis" and "Goodbye My Love" by Melo Breeze, used as the official soundtrack of "Smile, You." "Losing my Mind" by Lee Seung Gi, the OST of "My Girlfriend is a Gumiho," also captivated me.

Unlike many people who enjoy Korean songs because of beautiful Korean idols, I developed an interest in Korean songs through the dramas I watched.

I don't know if it's just a coincidence, but every time I watch a foreign drama with a good storyline, I often end up liking its soundtrack, such as "คิดมาก (Think a lot)," sung by various artists from different countries, the official soundtrack of the Thai movie "Friend Zone."

There are many songs whose lyrics I can't understand, but I thoroughly enjoy listening to them during my relaxing moments.

I still don't know the reason why, even if I don't understand the lyrics, I feel happy when I listen to these songs. Perhaps there's no language in music. Maybe, even if you don't understand the lyrics, as long as the voice and pronunciation of the words are pleasing to the ears and accompanied by a good beat, you can't help but like the song.

I often use these songs when I'm doing something, perhaps because, since I don't understand them, only my ears are engaged, and I truly enjoy them, making sure they don't disturb whatever I'm working on.

Next time, I'll share the shows I've become fond of watching, their themes, and what I've noticed about these foreign movies that made me like them.