K-pop band 10cm’s Kwon Jung Yeol has contributed to several famous K-drama original soundtracks. Among his most famous songs are Queen Of Tears’ OST “Tell Me It’s Not a Dream” and Lovely Runner’s OST “Spring Snow,” which have won fan hearts like never before.
10cm debuted in 2010 with two members: Kwon and Yoon Cheol-Jong. The indie K-pop band’s popularity from its debut prompted early recognition, as they snagged the Discovery Award at the 2010 Mnet Asian Music Awards. Later, Yoon Cheol-Jong left the group in 2017, and Kwon continued to promote music through the name 10cm.
Here, we explore the best 10cm songs, from K-drama OSTs to collaborative tracks that listeners will cherish as evergreen gems.
‘Americano’
10cm’s K-indie track “Americano” was the band’s first viral hit that perfectly captured the South Korean youth’s united love for ‘Americano.’ The track received over 1,719,333 downloads on the 2011 Gaon Chart, showing the listener’s interest in the new K-pop band’s music.
The last decade of Korean music has seen the release of a few genres that have caught popularity worldwide, including K-indie ambient cafe songs. Americano seems to be one of the first tracks to adopt this trend.
The lyrics of the song are simple yet depict the urban youth in a few lines when 10cm sings: “When you’re with a pretty lady smoking and drinking tea/ When the menu is too complicated to choose from/ When you don’t have money after paying rent and substituting it for a meal/ When you’re eating dessert after a bowl of Jjajangmyun/ Ame, Ame, Ame, Ame, Ame/ Americano- I like, I like, I like.”
‘Sorrow’
The 2012 track “Sorrow” was a precursor to 10cm’s long list of melodic gems that would come later. The song’s minimal yet groovy tune hooked listeners to the urban pop genre. Within weeks of its release, it ranked 3 on the Gaon Digital chart with over 2,830,335 downloads. Along with its popularity in South Korea, the song also received over 8 million streams on YouTube.
Sorrow’s lyrics also touch a chord with listeners when the pop band sings, “Don’t stop me and my love for you\/ This heart that goes crazy by just looking at you/ Who would know? There might be someone else next to you/ Wearing a wedding dress/ I’m scared that you will meet/ A man that is better than me.”
‘Stalker’
10cm’s growth in the Korean music industry has been relatively steady. Hits like “Stalker” helped the band stay afloat, competing with globally popular music groups. “Stalker” was released in 2012, two years after the group’s debut, as one of the non-album singles.
In “Stalker,” 10cm shows their vocal prowess. The song’s barely there acoustic arrangement perfectly matches Kwon Jung Yeol’s poignant singing, making it even more heart-wrenching. The song’s lyrics feel quite personal where 10cm talks about an ordinary boy’s unrequited love, crooning: “but it’s impossible/ Liking someone who shines/ If there is a standard/ I don’t understand but I have nothing to say/ Because I’m a quiet person with glasses.”
‘Phonecert’
10cm’s “Phonecert” proved that the band’s diverse music can range from heart-piercing ballads to feel-good indie tracks that instantly flutter one’s heart. “Phonecert” became the band’s happiest track. The 2017 track could put a smile on listeners’ faces with its bright tune and catchy lyrics.
After its release, the song clocked over 2,500,000 downloads on the Gaon chart, peaking at number 18. The song’s official music video also garnered over 28 million views since its release on YouTube, making it one of the singer’s most streamed tracks on the video platform.
At the essence of “Phonecert,” 10cm represents every lover boy ready to put on an entire concert for his beloved inside the comfort of the listener’s home. The love song lists all the sweet things that 10cm wants his loved one to remember. In “Phonecert,” smitten Kwon Jung Yeol sings, “A moving song only for you/ A corner that will only make you laugh/ I’m gonna make your heart flutter/ So much that you can’t sleep/ The time is now shout out loud.”
‘Tell Me It’s Not a Dream’
2024 has been a crucial year for 10cm’s global recognition. The singer’s original soundtrack for the Netflix series Queen Of Tears, “Tell Me It’s Not A Dream,” gained popularity worldwide. The song’s heart-touching lyrics and Kwon Jung Yeol’s honey vocals became a sentimental part of the show’s storytelling.
The soundtrack was released with a video of the main cast featuring Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Ji Won. Since its drop, the soundtrack has amassed 1.6 million streams on YouTube. Compared to its international popularity, the song did not become an instant hit in South Korea but ranked 100th on the Circle Digital Chart.
‘Spring Snow’
10cm’s latest OST, “Spring Snow” for the K-drama “Lovely Runner,” has gone viral for all the ‘right’ reasons. His latest original soundtrack encapsulates the drama’s touching love story perfectly. Within a week of its release, the song received over a million streams on YouTube.
In “Spring Snow,” 10cm hypnotizes listeners by singing, “Cause I’m falling slowly love with you/ The long-awaited/ You are spring/ ‘Cause I’m falling slowly love with you/ Even if it gets erased again/ All my life is you.”
Besides the above-mentioned tracks, 10cm’s other much-loved songs include- “Drawer” (Our Beloved Summer OST), “For Love” (Our Blues OST), “The Way to Lose You” (My Demon OST), and “But It’s Destiny” (Crash Landing On You OST).
