What does your current playlist look like? If you're dying to find new catchy tunes to listen to, I've got you. Who knows, you might just find your next favorite song today!
I'll be honest: I haven't used my Spotify account in a long time. I prefer listening to YouTube playlists even though the ads can get in the way of a great jam. I simply don't think that paying for a premium account is worth it when I listen to the same songs anyway.
Over the years, I discovered soundtracks that grew on me and became my favorites. I enjoy listening to them on repeat, and I realized that I come back to these same songs whenever my current mood calls for them.
Let me share with you the best original soundtracks I've listened to, along with my favorite albums.
1. Goblin (Guardian: The Lonely and Great God)
This OST never gets old. It's great to listen to while you're on the road or just chilling out. I'm beyond giddy that this rom-com Korean drama is now available on Netflix!
Goblin's songs will make you feel happy, wistful, sad, and in love. Sad love.
I don't understand most of the lyrics, but the show used their soundtrack so effectively that the songs simply bring back all the feels when you listen to them. It's the reason why I play the whole soundtrack over and over again.
They say that songs evoke memories much like scents do. And the personal memories I've associated with Goblin's soundtrack has made me even more fond of this K-drama.
2. Your Name (Kimi no Na wa)
I listen to Your Name's soundtrack when I need a boost. There's just something energizing about the songs from this Japanese animé film.
Though the lyrics are foreign to me, that doesn't stop me from being able to enjoy them. And I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who's able to concentrate on work better when they're listening to songs they can't sing the lyrics to.
I love the boppy "Dream Lantern" and "Zen Zen Zense." While the more mellow songs like "Theme Of Mitsuha," "Sparkle," and "Nandemonaiya" make me feel quite nostalgic.
One of my favorite musicians, Sungha Jung, covered three songs from this soundtrack and his "Zen Zen Zense" arrangement is a personal favorite of mine.
P.S. Your Name is now on Netflix!
3. The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
When I was about 12 years old, I was obsessed with The Princess Diaries movies. I alternated between watching parts one and two every night and I memorized all the lines in both films.
Aside from the story, I also enjoyed the soundtrack of the second movie so much. When I listen to the songs, they bring back happy memories. The OST screams early 2000's, with tracks from Lindsay Lohan, Kelly Clarkson, Avril Lavigne, and Jesse McCartney.
I adored Julie Andrews and Anne Hathaway so much that I actually sent them fan mail. I remember writing on white bond paper with a blue pen and putting Winnie the Pooh stickers on my letters. Peak childhood!
In fairness, my devotion did not go unnoticed because Julie Andrews' agency sent back a signed photo of her a few months after I snail-mailed my letter. It's now one of my most prized possessions.
4. Twilight
I can feel your judgment all the way here. Before you scroll past this — or worse, expel yourself from my blog — let me tell you why I like Twilight's original soundtrack.
Full disclosure: I became a fan when I was in junior year of high school, right around the time this film came out. I've read the series, too. But probably like you, I don't rave about it now.
I was surprised to discover that the first film's soundtrack is good. My personal favorite is Iron & Wine's "Flightless Bird, American Mouth" — even though the lyrics still don't make sense to me.
Other songs worth listening to are "Supermassive Black Hole," "Decode," "I Caught Myself" when you're feeling angsty, and "Leave Out All The Rest" when you're feeling emotional.
Incidentally, "Bella's Lullaby" introduced me to one of my favorite pianists, Yiruma, because his piece "River Flows In You" was meant to be used as the lullaby.
5. Hamilton
One of my colleagues bugged me for months to listen to the original Broadway cast recording because she thought that it was right up my alley. She was spot on. Heck, I even learned to rap the lyrics!
You basically get the whole story just by listening to the recording — the life, work, and death of Alexander Hamilton. Thankfully, the musical is now available on Disney+. I can confirm that it's even more exhilarating, raw, and very much emotional in the best way when you actually watch the whole thing.
This masterpiece encouraged a new generation to appreciate Broadway more — me included.
6. Meteor Rain (F4 album)
This was my first favorite album, and I've grown to love every single song in it. It was released in 2001, but I believe the first time I listened to it was in 2003. I am a huge fan of F4, more so when their TV show Meteor Garden was airing.
I had asked my mom to buy me a cassette tape of their Meteor Rain album, which I treasured so much. I remember one night, I plugged in our cassette player and listened to the whole tape with headphones on while reading the Star Studio Magazine F4 special.
I relied on translations to understand the Mandarin lyrics, but they've been so ingrained in my young mind that I can still sing to the songs until now.
It was my first introduction into fangirling and fandoms, and I never turned back since.
7. Metamorphosis (Hilary Duff album)
Metamorphosis is such a nostalgic album for me! I first listened to this when I was a grade schooler. I also had friends and classmates who were fans of Hilary Duff during her Lizzie McGuire days.
I love listening to the whole album, but my favorites are "So Yesterday," "Anywhere But Here," and "Why Not."
8. Fearless (Taylor Swift album)
I adore Taylor Swift's music, but sometimes I miss her country days. My favorite album of hers is Fearless. I've been fond of it since it was released in 2008 and I've associated some good memories with it.
This whole album is a jam, but my favorite TSwift songs are "Blank Space" and "Delicate." I'm convinced that I can recognize Taylor's voice almost anywhere. She's the singer-songwriter-musician I respect the most (yes, even with all the drama) simply because she's excellent at her craft.
I am ecstatic that Taylor re-recorded Fearless, with additional songs from The Vault! A lot of people my age grew up to her songs from this particular album and listening to them again, now sung by an older Taylor, is such a nostalgic experience.
9. Folklore (Taylor Swift album)
This is Taylor's 8th studio album, and I found my new favorite song here: "the 1." I've never listened to another whole Taylor Swift album since Fearless came out, but I actually took the time to listen to Folklore a few hours after it was released. Now, it's one of my go-to's.
All the songs in this record sound dreamy and her lyrics are very poetic this time around. When you listen to this album, you'll feel the love, happiness, longing, angst, and regret that her songs convey, without being over the top.
Folklore is definitely an album you can listen to anytime, but it's especially perfect during rainy days and long drives in the night.
Will you give these soundtracks and albums a listen? If you do, drop me a line and let me know which songs you enjoyed the most!
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