1 week Ago By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
Do you know what makes a Korean drama great and memorable? The original soundstrack or OST. Take Queen of Tears as an example. The scene where Baek Hyun-woo simply lends his umbrella to Hong Hae-in and indirectly confesses his desire to marry her, the K-drama OST “Tell Me It’s Not a Dream” played when Hae-in found herself smiling after that declaration of love.
In Goblin, even the simplest act of strolling under the falling maple leaves in Canada, the track “My Eyes” made the moment more whimsy and romantic as Ji Eun-tak and Kim Shin bantered playfully. These highest-rated K-dramas amassed millions in hours of viewership, gaining popularity not just in South Korea but also in the world. But it’s not just through the compelling storyline and the characters and how they were played that earned these K-dramas traction.
Again, it’s the OSTs that play at the right time and tie all these elements together. So when South Korean indie band 10CM, fronted by Kwon Jung-yeol, sang “Tell Me It’s Not a Dream” and “My Eyes” live during his Asia Tour “Closer To You” at the Newport Performing Arts Theater last August 31, it evoked a memory—that fluttering feeling when watching these shows. 10CM made everyone as if they were part of K-dramas through his songs.
It was a chance to relive those memorable K-drama moments and feel a connection to the stories and characters they love. Jung-yeol immediately transported his fans to the world of Seo Dal-mi and Han Ji-pyeong in Start-Up with “Where is Dream” and Goblin with “My Eyes” as his first two songs. The concert’s vibe is much like 10CM’s style—laid-back, warm, and intimate.
The fans can appreciate on a deeper level Jung-yeol’s soft yet raspy vocals as it envelopes the theater. Despite his songs being written in Korean, the Korean lyrics and romanized version and English translation were flashed to the screen, much like a karaoke, so that fans could sing along to the tracks and be closer to 10CM. Known for their introspective and heartfelt songs about relationships and personal reflection, 10CM also spotlighted old and original songs, such as “Love in the Cafe (Milky Way)” and “My Ultimate First Love” evoking nostalgia further.
Having been in the industry for 15 years, K-drama OSTs undoubtedly helped propel 10CM’s musical journey further from alternative and indie scenes to the mainstream. The band seamlessly showcased their songs featured in K-dramas as well as their own music releases, such as “Drawer” in Our Beloved Summer, “Sleepless in Seoul” and “Do You Think of Me.” Although this is 10CM’s first concert in Manila, this is not the first time they performed in the country.
10CM shared the stage with Filipino singer-songwriter TJ Monterde before in his concert “Sariling Mundo” last March 2024 and performed at the Wish 107.5 Bus together as well. This time, TJ joined 10CM again with his hit song “Palagi,” which also happened to be Jung-yeol’s favorite.
“I love this guy. I love his voice, his music and his style,” Jung-yeol said after their performance. TJ shared with the crowd that he is a fan of 10CM and used to send Jung-yeol direct messages on Instagram.
“Last year, I was so surprised he messaged me because he loves my song ‘Palagi’ and he just wanted to meet me. “So man, being on stage with you, with 10cm, is a dream come true,” TJ expressed. In turn, Jung-yeol said they had a present for TJ, which was a song titled “TJ Monterde” he just wrote in the waiting room before the concert started.
TJ was so surprised to have his idol write a song about and for him. TJ also performed his original song “Tulad Mo,” which he wrote for his singer-songwriter wife KZ Tandingan. The romantic lyrics along with his smooth vocals captivated the audience more so when got closer to the crowd.
So when Jung-yeol returned, he got jealous of how they screamed for TJ. Fans were brought to Hotel del Luna managed by Jang Man-wol through the soundtrack “Lean on Me.” The concert continued with more 10CM original songs about falling in love, such as “Gradation” and “Just 10 Centimeters.
” Jung-yeol unveiled the story of his childhood with “Stalker,” which is about liking someone who shines but he cannot do anything so he will just only look. Back to the K-drama OSTs, Jung-yeol revealed he did not expect the fan’s reception towards their song “Spring Now” featured in Lovely Runner. They also played “But It’s Destiny” from Crash Landing On You, reliving the romance between the star-crossed lovers from North and South Korea.
As the show neared its end, Jung-yeol said playing in Manila was a dream come true. “Thank you everybody, thank you for everything. Manila, handsome and awesome, see you next time!” 10CM concluded the most expensive solo concert in the world with their signature tracks “Phonecert” and “What the Spring??” as their final two songs.
The fans demanded and shouted for an encore, to which they happily obliged with the trending and quirky “Tiramisu Cake” and “SSeudam Sseudam.” As Gen Zs would say, the vibes at 10CM’s Manila concert were immaculate. With the fans seated and minimal distractions from their phone screens, the music brought by 10CM was much appreciated.
In an era where such moments of genuine engagement are lacking, the show became a refreshing experience to be cherished. It allowed the audience to fully immerse themselves in the music, connect with the band and rekindle their emotions tied to their beloved dramas. Image credits:.
