I thought it might be fun to share like a weekly top 10 of songs I’m listening to each week. It can be a new feature on my blog. The music won’t always be new songs, it will be very eclectic. Here’s what I’m listening to this week. I have been listening to a lot of Kpop, including some awesome amazing English covers from talented amateur youtube performers. Check them out below!
1.) Goblin – OST – Beautiful (Crush)
Ok so Goblin is one of my favorite Kdrama, like in the top 3 for sure. This is the opening song, and there are dozens and dozens of English covers of this song. Someone should make like a US version of this drama, and use one of these covers for the opening song lol. But I know it’d never be as good as the Korean version, but then I could get more of my friends and family to watch this show because it’s so good. Le sigh – lol. I seriously kinda want this song to be like my first dance wedding song. It’s nice and slow, and most of the lyrics until the last verse are appropriate. Even then, the last verse, although it is sad, especially if you’ve ever watched Goblin, even still taking it away completely from the context of Goblin, you could analyze the lyrics to be like either, you need someone when you have a sorrowful day, their love gets you through those days, or well sadly, life is cruel and in the end, you will be parted from those you love, because one of you will pass away first, leaving the other person with only memories, and since it’s the last verse, it could be after a long life together. Thus even though it’s sad, still symbolizes a life full of love and memories together. And the first few verses – depending on whose cover you’re listening to, have lines like “It’s a beautiful life. I’ll be the one to cherish you. Now and forever girl I’ll stand by you.” which definitely could apply to a wedding. And it’s just so beautiful – I tear up every time I hear this song.
So first I want to share with you the original korean version because if it wasn’t for that version we wouldn’t have any of these covers. Here is the original song from the Goblin Kdrama:
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0cs6ciCt_k[/embedyt]
Next, I just found this English cover version on youtube when I was searching for the other cover(s) I’d been listening to, and this one has almost 11 million views… His lyrics are different than the covers I’d been listening to this week. He’s very talented. Check it out. This cover is by Daryl Ong. I just subscribed to his Youtube Channel.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUo9WMPmEpE[/embedyt]
And onto the English versions which I’ve been listening to all week. So good.
I started with Eric Nam’s cover here.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dx-BBq4LQu0[/embedyt]
Then I discovered this beautiful duet with Eric Nam X Somi which is my favorite cover of this song.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KIyxXrZbdE[/embedyt]
And this very talented young Korean girl. Her English pronunciation is good and her voice is so emotional. Her lyrics are also a little different and I really like it!
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogLCIVGc1eg[/embedyt]
And this version by another Asian girl. Her voice is so pure and strong too. Her lyrics are a little bit different, sadder I think.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpZl2FMqG4g[/embedyt]
2. Goblin OST – Stay With Me
So why not another Goblin song to take the number 2 spot. Again let’s start with the original Korean version. The English covers just can’t compare for me, the original one is so much better. I love the girl’s voice, and the guy’s voice is so deep, and they both have so much emotion and great chemistry singing together. Perfection.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcKR0LPwoYs[/embedyt]
And now some English covers, Because it’s always fun to have a version to sing along with:
This girl has that cutesy high pitch mariah carey thing going on.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDGc7Ch1ICk[/embedyt]
This next cover is by Ysabelle Cuevas – I am a fan of a lot of her Kpop covers, especially some BTS covers which I’m going to be sharing shortly. I think she has such a unique voice. Kinda deep and raspy for a girl. She also sings some parts in Korean. I can’t tell if she is Korean with a hispanic name, or half and half, or hispanic, in which case she’d be singing in 2 non-native languages. My favorite cover by her is The Truth Untold. I have listened to it probably 20 times. lol.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxTVvkgV7LQ[/embedyt]
This version is by Jason Chen. Uhm why is his dog walking on his computer desk? lol. I like this version but it’s only about like 30% English, and the other 70% korean.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUxWN0cDSms[/embedyt]
And this version is so good too, it has a duet and full English rap version too. Also great chemistry and high production values, just like the original! This is probably my favorite of the covers. The lyrics are completely different from any of the other covers. The girl’s voice is so good. She could be a professional singer, seriously.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MU8yN98HWs[/embedyt]
I can’t tell if this is the exact same version as the one above… I think so… It has the rap and the girl’s voice sounds very similar. Which means someone is stealing/plagarizing and since I dunno which one is the real artist’s youtube channel, I’ll just put both of them here and let you decide. This one has many more views and subscribers, so I’m assuming that this is the real version.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLAAYJiGZyI[/embedyt]
And while doing this blog post and seeing what other covers of this song are out there, I found this young man, and it might be my new favorite version of this song (aside from the original of course). Were you as surprised as me when he started singing? I wasn’t expecting such a deep and powerful voice.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oo9fhiDiIEY[/embedyt]
I don’t know about this next cover. Completely different lyrics. I do like that it’s a duet. And they even tried to recreate the official music video from a visual sense. But I feel like their timing is off or something. Or maybe it just lacks the emotion of some of the others. Something doesn’t “sound” quite as nice in this version. I like the rap parts which very few of the covers have.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaMVDppkzHk[/embedyt]
This girl is not very popular, with only 500 views, but I really like her voice. She claims the song is too high for her, but I think she did a great job.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0UFHPdGVNY[/embedyt]
And another talented young woman also with only 500 views
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTwf4g5zcFU[/embedyt]
And this last one, is not English, but I accidentally stumbled across it. It’s a Tagalong version. She does a great job even though I’ve no clue what the lyrics actually are. She has a beautiful voice.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nD9PxhtPQCU[/embedyt]
3. Regular – NCT 127
I discovered this song, and this band, a few weeks ago and can’t stop listening to it. It’s so good! By the way it’s in English so even if you don’t like Kpop, you might like this one!
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gj-VU9oK2Yo[/embedyt]
4. We Go Up – NCT 127
This one sadly isn’t in English, but it’s still good. Very catchy. I feel like the chorus parts could be a one direction song LOL. These boys are way cuter than 1D though and they’re more edgey – with lots of rap parts.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LV1Es22E0RI[/embedyt]
NCT 127 is just so cute. They seem to have a lot of chemistry and a lot of fun together which makes them fun to watch on or off the stage. Here are some more candid interviews. And most of them speak like PERFECT English, without even an accent. These interviews are in English.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54WNkruOIJY[/embedyt]
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6UErI23gY8[/embedyt]
Cute right? lol. For having just found this band, I’m already a big fan. I hope they do more English versions too in the future!
5. Monster – Henry
I also just discovered this guy. This video is a year old now with over 4 million views. It might be one of my favorite Kpop songs ever. It’s so good. I prefer the English version because obviously I can understand the lyrics and sing along. But the Korean one is good too.
It’s very interesting how different the lyrics are. It completely changes the whole meaning of the song. In the English version the character singing is a good person in love with a person who treats him poorly. Lying to him, leaving him, hurting him, not listening to him, etc. In the Korean version, the character singing is trying to apologize to someone he loves (and who has been loyal to him) for having hurt them (maybe physically? that’s the vibe I get, but it could be emotionally too) and begging her to forgive him and take him back. So it’s completely flipped from the English version.
I have no idea which version is the original one. They are both by Henry, and neither of them are covers. If i had to guess though, I’d say the Korean version was probably first. He has a great voice. The first time I discovered this song I think I played it about 6 times in a single day lol.
Here are both versions of the song below. Which one do you prefer? I love both of them so much!
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfeEwt5_jsQ[/embedyt]
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQ3EVAR5EA4[/embedyt]
6. Play it Cool – Monsta X & Steve Aoki English Version
This song has such a great beat, as to be expected from Steve Aoki. This is the first time I’ve heard of Monsta X, but I love them, they’re all so cute! 🙂 Great dancers and singers too.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7IXKQzmpK4[/embedyt]
7. Waste it On Me – BTS & Steve Aoki
And then since I heard that great Kpop Collab, I had to re-watch Waste it On Me. I remember hearing this song on Sattelite Radio Hits 1 last year, and liking it, but it wasn’t til a few weeks later when I looked up the video that I realized it was BTS and a Kpop song. (kinda one of the sad things that happens to digital radio, you don’t have DJ’s for most of the stations so you don’t hear who the songs are by anymore. – But I also don’t like Talk radio and the commercials and so on, so overall I think Sattelite Radio is amazing. I cancelled my subscription recently which actually is what has led me to exploring more music on my own this week. There are lots of alternatives to get your music, such as spotify, pandora, youtube, amazon music, google music, apple music, the list goes on and on. But I think this was the first ever English Kpop song I’d heard, especially one so popular on American radio stations. The music video is so funny too!
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIv16itYi_0[/embedyt]
8. TXT – Cat and Dog
Ok excuse me while I geek out for just a minute…. I literally just now as I type this… just now… discovered there is an English version of this song… It’s not a cover… it’s the real deal. OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am freaking out right now. I can’t handle this cuteness!!!!!!!!! I just discovered the original Korean version a week or two ago… and now THIS!!! They just put the English video up 4 weeks ago and it already has almost 7 million views. I am geeking out soooooooooooooooo much. This should actually be number 1 on my list, because it’s that good. It’s SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :squeals:
Ok though after watching it… I still have no idea what they’re saying like 30% of the time lol. Maybe it’s too fast and their accents are throwing me off a little. Or maybe some parts of it are still in Korean? lol. Maybe it’s just me? My hearing isn’t that good anyways. I still really like it though 🙂 I came on here just to share the Korean version with ya’all, so I was so shocked to see an English version. Even if I can’t understand a third of what they’re saying lol.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvO17uPanBY[/embedyt]
Here’s the original Korean version.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaKrke1EL1A[/embedyt]
9. Eyes, Nose, Lips – Taeyang Originally, and Lydia’s Answer, and some covers.
So this one actually has a REALLY interesting story behind it. Taeyang was dating his manager (I don’t know if Lydia is his manager or if she’s just doing an English cover of the manager’s version of this song… but I digress… for the purpose of this blog post, let’s just say they’re one and the same…) Taeyang then cheated on her with another famous Kpop artist. Taeyang regretted his bad decision and wrote this song to try to apologize for his behaivor and hopefully get back together with his manager. His manager then released a cover of his song, which she changed the lyrics, and posted it to youtube and got more views and more positive feedbacks than Taeyang, basically telling him to screw off. Some comments said things like “When the manager sounds better than her band”. And then the song became very popular because of the sad drama/history behind it and spawned a lot of covers, including an English cover by Eric Nam and this really great Korean duet on some show that must be similar to American Idol, like a Korean version, that has even more views than Lydia’s version. All I can say is, the story is crazy, and the song is good. I love all the versions, but I think Lydia’s is my favorite. Check out all the versions below.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bjm920Fyo34[/embedyt]
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRs_B_O2ZbU[/embedyt]
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5IlECpDJ-g[/embedyt]
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxMvQkcdPl8[/embedyt]
10. BTS – Truth Untold ft Steve Aoki
I hinted at this song up above when I shared some of Ysabelle’s covers of Goblin’s OST. So I thought it only appropriate to end with this song. It may be the saddest song of all time. First, the original Korean by BTS.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JVytJm8X2g[/embedyt]
And now Ysabelle’s Cover, it’s so good. I love her lyrics and her voice.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugYWg9d_dTE[/embedyt]
There’s also this cover by Emma Hesters. It has a lot more views, I suspect part of the reason why is because she’s a pretty blonde girl. Although she does have a lovely voice too. I just prefer Ysabelle’s version more, but my grandma likes Emma’s voice better and disagree’s with me which one is better. What do you think?
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0ycjuNCiyE[/embedyt]
There’s a lot more covers of this song also on Youtube.
This one by Michigopyon doesn’t have nearly as many views, only 20k, but I think her voice is really soft and sweet.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yABzzTg7Krs[/embedyt]
The lyrics to this one are different. Her voice is deep and unusual too.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59Nc0D1gJ2c[/embedyt]
Another one with completely different lyrics. I like when people write their own lyrics instead of just using Ysabelle’s lyrics, although Ysabelle’s is still my favorite. It’s neat to hear other people’s works.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zakP3Wjy1WA[/embedyt]
I really like Joytastic Sarah’s version and her lyrics that she wrote seem to fit the song super well – She has a lovely voice too.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LP-LP75p8rw[/embedyt]
This one by a girl group is interesting… I like the lyrics they wrote. I always wondered why Ysabelle’s version changed sandcastle to “mess of thorns” 3 syllables. Sand Castle is also 3 syllables and closer to the original korean version which uses the korean word for Sandcastle. I also also thought (and sing when I sing along) that the line after “Don’t smile at me” should be “Lie to me” instead of light on me – although light on me is the same as the korean version, but Lie to me just sounds better in English – even though its in English in the korean version too. Anyways this is a great cover 🙂 Props to these ladies.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOQIAj3JNP4[/embedyt]
And some more covers:
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lAQGxggS-8[/embedyt]
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t68_PCzfUPI[/embedyt]
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pdn42tke_tQ[/embedyt]
Men are even getting in on covering this one –
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7alGNQQJS8[/embedyt]
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hJZQE27DSI[/embedyt]
I did not know the story behind this song. I had never heard of this Italian story. Recently also a map has been discovered, and it was at one time a real city. La Cita De Smeraldo. It may be the true story that led to fairy tales such as Beauty and the Beast. There was a duke who fell in love with a gardener’s daughter, and bore a child out of wedlock. Because he was born out of wedlock, the duke sent the child to a far away place. The child was also rumored to be extremely ugly, and wore a mask at all times and locked himself away in his castle. One day a girl breaks into his garden and steals a flower. He is very angry and so he wears a disguise and follows the girl and discovers that she is very poor and stealing flowers to sell in her village in order to survive. He immediately feels bad for the girl, and he again locks himself away in his castle in order to research new flowers that will sell for a higher price that he plans to give to the girl. But the girl never returns to his garden. After some time, the boy returns to the village and discovers that the girl has died. He feels regret for never telling her his true feelings, but because he was ugly, he felt that the girl could not accept him as a man. He returned to his castle where he died alone. A very sad, and apparently true story.
I tear up every time I hear the song “Truth untold” by BTS or all of the English covers of this song that exist. But now that I know the legend behind the song, it makes it even sadder. The Smeraldo flower no longer exists in this world – the secret of how to grow the flower passed away along with the man in his castle. You can easily see the similarities to beauty and the beast. Belle’s father stole a rose from the beast’s garden. The beast was ugly and hidden away in a castle, but he wanted to reveal his true self to Belle once he fell in love with her. And the fading magical flower. Disney’s version of beauty and the beast has a happy ending, but I’m sure there are versions out there more true to the original Italian legend. Just like in the original little mermaid, the mermaid turns to seafoam in the end. I still prefer that sad version over the Disney version. I have always deeply loved sad stories, even as a child, and still to this day as an adult. They touch my heart so deeply. That’s why I love Korean Dramas so much. They should make a Korean Drama about the legend of Smeraldo.
So that’s what I’ve been listening to this week. Check back next week to discover more great music. What are you listening to these days? Or maybe you’re creating your own Kpop covers. Leave us a comment below with a link to your favorite videos and maybe we’ll feature them in an upcoming post.
