[OST Corner] Into the Fantasy

by DaebakGrits

I’ve said it numerous times before: The King: Eternal Monarch is my ultimate guilty pleasure drama, and I love it with the same embarrassed affection of a pet owner whose dog starts gyrating against pillows whenever guests come over. So while it holds a special place in my K-drama loving heart, I often find myself shaking my head and sighing over its flaws — of which there are many. The OST, however, is not one of them.

Instead, the OST has some serious bangers, which should come as no surprise if you take a cursory glance at the list of heavy hitters who loaned their voices to this soundtrack. (I mean, Gummy — GUMMY! Need I say more?) But even if you ignore the artists’ names and simply enjoy the songs in the order of their arrangement, the 35 tracks take you on a journey to a “Another World” — one more arguably more fantastical than the drama itself.

Obviously, when I listen to this soundtrack, I’m reminded of the parts of the story and cinematography that continue to resonate with me, but in my opinion, the mark of a good fantasy OST is one that not only complements its drama, but is also capable of telling its own independent tale. And The King: Eternal Monarch’s OST does that really well, especially through its lyric-less titles that flow seamlessly into each another. The OST boasts (what sounds like) a full orchestra on most of its tracks, and the ensemble of classical instruments has the power to evoke a variety of emotions, both within a single song and over the entirety of the soundtrack. Some songs are simple and melodic, evoking sadness or romance through a piano solo or duet with a violin. Other songs swell into something grander as the percussion section comes in, evoking images of warriors and battles. Occasionally, there’s even an electric guitar for the heavy hitting moments.

The whole soundtrack is, for lack of a better word, epic. And when I feel like I need to escape into my imagination, The King: Eternal Monarch’s OST is like an old friend that opens a door in my mind and beckons me to enter “Into the Fantasy” of my own personal world of magic and romance.

 
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