As we have also started to deal with Asian music in Asian Movie Pulse lately, a list that features movie soundtracks was a must. In the entries that follow, we have collected 50 films' scores that have stayed in our minds and have made us happy, sad, or simply to enjoy ourselves while listening to them. From anime to musicals, from cult to art-house and from dramas to comedies, here is a list with 50 works that define the movies they were included at least as much as their visuals.
*Some movies never had their soundtracks released but we felt that the songs included deserve a mention here. By clicking on the titles you can read our reviews of the films, by clicking on the song titles you can listen the tracks from YouTube.
1. 9 Souls (Toshiaki Toyoda, 2003, Japan)
Dip create intense background music that follows rock and alternative paths, with each of the tracks pointing directly to the scene it was used. As a bonus, Maki Asakawa sings “Chiccha na Toki Kara“, a shake-like song that is part of the most memorable scene in the film. (Panos Kotzathanasis)
2. A Bittersweet Life (Kim Jee-woon, 2005)
Kim Jee-woon's landmark gangster crime thriller may be bookmarked with philosophical statements narrated by Lee Byung-hun in the first and final scenes, but in between it all, it is filled with an equally landmark soundtrack, which has since stood the test of time. Lee shadow-boxing with his own reflection, set to a melancholy composition using piano and violin, still remains one of the best final scenes committed to celluloid. Though he had been scoring films for a while then, it really was “A Bittersweet Life” that propelled musician/composer Dalparan into the higher echelon of Korean composers, a spot he still occupies. (Rhythm Zaveri)
Highlights: Romance- Yuhki Kuramoto, Fairness
3. A Moment of Romance (Benny Chan, 1990, Hong Kong)
Once you have watched “A Moment of Romance” it is impossible to think of it without recalling the amazing award nominated soundtrack that helps lift it from cliche to the realms of the classics. For the band “Beyond” it is their finest hour, with power ballads complimenting the on-screen emotion and a theme song performed by Shirley Yuen that will haunt you for days. (Ben Stykuc)
4. A Petal (Jang Sun-woo, 1996, S. Korea)
A truly iconic movie and a truly iconic song, presented here by Woong San. The introduction of the movie where the protagonist, Lee Jung-hyun sings the song is one of the most memorable scenes of modern Korean cinema. A soundtrack was never released but the track is included in the album “Tomorrow”
5. Akira (Katsuhiro Otomo, 1988, Japan)
Shoji Yamashiro's minimal and at the same time extreme and outworldly music is filled with avant garde and experimental sounds, and accompanies the film perfectly, heightening the aesthetics Otomo wanted to give to each scene. The original soundtrack included just 4 tracks (Kaneda, Tetsuo I, Tetsuo II, Akira), which contain a mix of music and Japanese dialogue from the film
6. All about Lily Chou Chou (Shunji Iwai, 2001, Japan)
Shunji Iwai's teenager drama about an internet cult following the fictional rockstar Lily Chou-Chou is a goldmine of melancholic feels. The soundtrack arranged by Takeshi Kobayashi is released under the album title „Kokyu“ and features the singer Salyu, who started a real career based on her performance in the film. Her identity stays mysterious though, as she keeps her real name and background hidden. Salyu's angle-like and fragile voice paired with pieces of Claude Debussy contributed to the big success of “All About Lily Chou-Chou“. The artist continues to release music until present day. (Alexander Knoth)
Highlights: “Houwa“
7. An Elephant Sitting Still (Hu Bo, 2018, China)
There were many things said about the sadness floating the image of late Hu Bo, who left his masterpiece unfinished shortly before committing a suicide, but one may say that the soundtrack by the Chinese rock-band Hualun supports the unbearable feeling of fleetingness present in the film. The film is pretty much itself a road towards the unavoidable end and the music helps the notion get going, as the post-rock compositions emphasize Hu's scrutiny of Chinese shittiness of life. If happiness were not to exist, Hualun's music surely provides with such a perception. (Lukasz Mankowski)
8. August in the Water (Gakuryu Ishii, 1995, Japan)
If there is one film that depicts the fascination of the New Age present near the end of 20th century, this is Sogo Ishii's “August in the Water”. The sounds of orion literally drops from the sky, this is to say, they burn the soundscape with this exquisite, yet disturbing, ambience. Courtesy of Hiroyuki Onogawa, a rare gem of Japanese soundtracks in late 90s.
9. Beat (Kim Sung-soo, 1997, South Korea)
A beguiling tale of wayward youth at the onset of the Asian Financial Crisis, “Beat”, for the most part, revels in the anxieties and impossible pressures facing young people to lead an honest life. But what sets this film's soul on fire is its brooding, burning soft rock instrumentals, punctuating its cast's desperate experiences as life continues to knock them down at every hurdle. Every lick resonates with a burning intensity, igniting a powerful contemplative energy which not only grounds the film as a product of its time – with its Hong Kong-heavy stylistic influences – put propels the listlessness of its characters into the stratosphere. (Jamie Cansdale)
Highlights: 껍대기속의 순수, 정우성,유오성,임창정,고소영 주연
10. Better Days (Derek Tsang, 2019)
Just like his debut feature, the music of Derek Tsang's “Better Days” also plays a key part of its overall success. Comprising of more traditional pieces along with a unique experimental sound, the film would probably have not been the same without Varqa Buehrer's music. (Rhythm Zaveri)
Highlights: 林俊傑 JJ Lin – 我們很好 Better Days, Better Us- Jackson Yee
the soundtrack for Jangwha Hongryun 장화홍련 is one of a kind as well!!
Indeed it is