2024 Manga Adaptations (January - June)
The Most Popular Songs from Asian Dramas
Hello everyone! This is my first article, so I’m not sure if this will turn out to be interesting, but thanks for reading! Anyways, this article is about the most popular songs from Asian dramas, some of them are old, some of them turned into the most selling singles, karaoke hits etc, and some of them are just the songs that I love and recommend, which means that I will provide a list of my favorite songs. I fell in love with most of them after hearing them in the dramas that I used to watch, so they have a special place in my heart. I am sure almost everyone has a song which represents a scene and the feelings attached to it from a favorite drama.
Please feel free to share with everyone the ones that you consider to be your favorites, or the ones that you heard for the first time and liked. So let’s begin.
Hana Yori Dango
"WISH" by Arashi & "Planetarium" by Ai Otsuka
I don’t think there is a person who hasn’t watched this drama. Or… is there actually someone like that? In that case please do something about it! Hana Yori Dango began broadcasting in 2005 and it is based on manga "Boys Over Flowers" by Yoko Kamio. It remains one of the most popular Asian dramas ever and Inoue Mao won the Best Actress award while Matsumoto Jun won the Best Supporting Actor award at the 47th Television Drama Academy Awards.
The opening theme is "WISH" by Arashi, an upbeat, cheerful song while the insert theme is "プラネタリウム" (Planetarium) by Ai Otsuka, which is a rather melancholic song, used for the saddest moments in the drama (ah, the feels again).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XqiAvnD_pE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOuDZIgiMRU
Hana Yori Dango 2
"Love So Sweet" by Arashi & "Flavor of Life" by Utada Hikaru
This is a 2007 sequel which proved to be even more successful. Oguri Shun won the Best Supporting Actor and Rookie of the Year Awards while the drama was proclaimed as the Best Drama at the 52nd Television Drama Academy Awards and 10th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix.
The opening theme was once again sung by Arashi, titled "Love So Sweet" which is another catchy song, while Utada blew everyoneaway with her vocals in "Flavor of Life", the insert song which is the best-selling ringtone of all time in Japan. It is a bitter-sweet, upbeat song with strong lyrics, and one of my favorite songs ever, do not miss to listen to it! The ballad version of the song was used in the drama, and it is as amazing as the original.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aildX6Jg6K8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ta0vEnki9E
It Started With a Kiss
"Say U Love Me" by Jason and Lara & "Practical Joke" by Wang Lan Yin
This is a 2005 Taiwanese version of Itazura na Kiss, which was enormously popular in Taiwan! Lin Ariel is an amazing actress and even though I’m not a fan of the bad-boy-abuses-a-dumb-girl theme, I used to like this drama back when I was a teenager because I simply cannot resist tsundere guys. The opening theme "Say U Love Me" is sung by Jason (王威登) and Lara (梁心頤). The song is catchy. The ending theme is sung by 王蓝茵/ Wang Lan Yin and it is called "Practical Joke" (E Zuo Ju/惡作劇); it is an upbeat ballad which is a real earworm.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jki4AIuHMgY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHJDfdD59_U
1 Litre of Tears
"Only Human" by K
Oh yes. If you haven’t watched it, then you’ve probably heard that it is a real tear-jerker. Based on a diary by a real girl who died of an incurable disease, nobody would expect anything less. The theme song "Only Human" is sung by a Korean singer K, and it is a tear-jerking (of course) ballad.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDZKvLp3Hlw
Hana Kimi
"PEACH" by Ai Otsuka
Also known as Hanazakari No Kimitachi e or Ikemen Paradise (For You in Full Blossom), it is one of the first gender-bender dramas I watched. Even though I’m not a fan of this genre, this is special. It probably shares the first place with Hana Yori Dango in terms of popularity, and I remember it as hilarious. The theme song is "PEACH" sung by Ai Otsuka, and people find it either unbelievably annoying or amazing. I thought it was irritating at first until it wormed itself inside my head, and I couldn’t stop humming it for some time. Ai’s voice is not for everyone, but that is why it is so unique and this song can be described with one word: fun, just like the drama itself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoRt3TNHY8U
Zettai Kareshi
"Okaeri" by Ayaka
Absolute Boyfriend is a romantic comedy which I love, even though I find it a bit sad (there is a happy ending though… in a way). Well, at least you can enjoy Hayami Mokomichi’s amazing robotic body and the hilarious situations in which the main characters find themselves. The theme song is "Okaeri (Welcome home)", sung by Ayaka who is known for her strong voice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nlh5YC_TD1U
Last Friends
"Prisoner of Love" by Utada Hikaru
This is another gem by Hikki, this time used in Last Friends (ラスト・フレンズ), a drama about friendship and daily hardships. It is a great and realistic drama, and the lyrics of the song fit the theme perfectly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6QjKT1A2pI
Kamisama Mou Sukoshi Dake
"I for You" by LUNA SEA
Kamisama Mou Sukoshi Dake (or God, Please Give Me More Time) is a 1998 romantic drama which deals with a very sensitive issue. Having in mind the time of its broadcasting, I find it very interesting. Kaneshiro Takeshi did a wonderful job, just like Fukada Kyokoi portraying a girl dying of HIV. The theme song is "I for You" by legendary rock band LUNA SEA. It’s a beautiful ballad, check it out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFsU7jfCP3Q
Watashi ga Renai Dekinai Riyuu
"Sit! Stay! Wait! Down! / Love Story" by Namie Amuro
Watashi ga Renai Dekinai Riyuu (The Reason I Can't Find My Love) is an average romantic drama, but the theme song is probably one of the best ballads ever sung by Namie. In my opinion, it is even better than her classic "Can You Celebrate?". The opening theme is "Sit! Stay! Wait! Down!" which is a funky, catchy song, and no, this song is not about a dog, and no, there is no bdsm in this drama, but yes, it sounds rather perverse which is why I like it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8n5AaUlgRKo
So that’s it for now. The original article was too long so there is a lack of diversity. However, you can look forward to the second article! Do not forget to share your opinions and thanks for reading! See you soon, xxx
