In my previous roundup of some of the best songs from Boys’ Love series and movies, I presented you with a dozen tracks. That still seems like a good number that allows for a diverse range of musical styles so get ready for the next dozen.
The BL genre has an embarrassment of riches in its musical offerings. Not only are there great composers, like the legendary Thai songwriter Boy Sompob, the vast majority of its actors and actresses are also talented singers. Indeed, there are instances of the entire main cast of a BL joining up to deliver not just an ensemble rendition of its theme song but every member also contributes a solo.
That’s not surprising when you learn that many BL actors got their start as singers and only later crossed over to the acting side of performing. Some of them use their singing talent to put on great shows at fan meetings, BL conventions, and other public events that emphasize their BL acting fame. Others have a split career where their concerts are major events in their own right without any overt connection to the singer’s dramatic persona.
However they do it — as BL actors who sing or as singers who star in BLs — we’re grateful that they showcase their musical abilities for us. Let’s have a listen to another twelve selections from BL original soundtracks!
There are links for each series where I was able to find “free to view” links.
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Tale of a Thousand Stars
TOTS is one of the most beloved series in the BL genre. It is a story of second chances … second chances at love and second chances at life itself.
Tian is the jaded and dissolute scion — with a failing heart — of a rich and powerful family. The haunting khlui (bamboo flute) melody of this song evokes his hope to find redemption and become worthy of the priceless gift that has given him an unexpected chance to live.
Filmed in the gorgeous northern highlands of Thailand, the cinematography and scenery are stunning in this moving story about finding purpose and forgiveness through giving the best of one’s self for the sake of others.
Performed by Gun Napat / From the series Tale of a Thousand Stars
How Could I Live Without You?
This drama takes us into the mysterious dark side of the imagination. Kim Ji Woong — currently one of the biggest K-pop idols as a member of ZeroBaseOne — plays a vampire who needs the blood of a particular human to survive. But there are other needs in life, as well, and Seo Bin’s character falls in love with his dangerous paramour. Soon it will be he who needs Ji Woong to survive.
The simple accompaniment is perfect for this exquisite song. It showcases the purity of Seo Bin’s magical voice and the message of enduring love.
Performed by Yoon Seo Bin / From the series Kissable Lips
Would You Mind?
This drama stars a brilliant singer, William, whom we will meet below. However, the theme song is sung by a T-pop idol and BL actor, Daou Pittaya, who doesn’t even appear in the series. This isn’t uncommon in BLs; there is a lot of crossover between actors and singers and the soundtracks reflect that.
This version isn’t the OST release (which has Daou solo and is also great) but I really like it. Here, Daou harmonizes with two of his friends — Marckris and Copper — who are T-pop idols with the mega-group BUS. It’s a live rendition and the group effort matches the theme of the series, which is about a boyband. Proving that the Asian music industry is a small world, Copper’s younger sister is Chiquita, a major K-pop idol in the girl group Babymonster.
Performed by Daou Pittaya, Marckris, and Copper / From the series ThamePo Heart That Skips a Beat
Truth in the Eyes
This song has a distinctive Asian sound overlaid on its Western pop music base. The singers are two of the stars of the series and both have careers as solo vocalists as well as actors
The series that it comes from is a typical rom-com but with a large cast, inviting the viewers in to a group whose relationships explore romance as well as the bonds of friendship. It’s charming and focuses on healthy relationships, both romantic and platonic.
Performed by Pond Navarit and Phuwin Tangsakyuen / From the series We Are
Cry for the Star
This drama, like Tale of a Thousand Stars, is also about second chances although it’s setting and story are completely different. Suansoon is transported into the past, where he attempts to change fate and save his beloved from tragedy.
The song is written and performed by Boy Sompob, who is renowned in the BL genre for his beautiful OST songs and his ethereal voice. Many fans will automatically choose a BL just because Boy composed the soundtrack for it.
Performed by Boy Sompob / From the series Absolute Zero
Re-move On
Next up is a fun song with a quirky video, starring a very popular pair, Fourth and Gemini, who have worked together on several projects. The series is a rom-com with the ever-popular storyline of everyone being confused about who has a crush on whom exactly? Enjoy the video but note that it’s a humorous fantasy MV, not scenes from the series at all (although Fourth and Gemini do star in the series)!
Fourth and Gemini both have singing careers in addition to their acting pursuits.
Performed by Fourth Nattawat and Gemini Norawit / From the series My Love Mix-up!
Last Twilight
This OST music video is by the T-pop group LYKN. Its lead singer is mononymously known as William and we’ll meet him again below.
The series is a tearjerker. The “last twilight” in the title comes from the abrasive lead’s approaching total blindness. With just an estimated three months before he loses his sight entirely, will the love developing between him and his caregiver blossom or die along with his vision?
Performed by LYKN / From the series Last Twilight (All episodes are there but the playlist is not in the correct order so you will need to manually select episodes)
Closer
Once more, we return to the shadowy world of vampires. And why not? Anne Rice proved to us that drinking blood is as intimate an act as anything else that two people can do together. Here we have the tale of a vampire who fights to protect his beloved human not just from his bloodthirsty fellows but from himself as well.
The singer is one of the stars, Fluke, who plays the human with irresistible “golden blood.” The song conveys the feeling of being unable to resist not only golden blood but the attraction of a love that feels destined to be.
Performed by Fluke Gawin Caskey / From the series My Golden Blood
Why Don’t You Stay?
Jeff Satur is well on his way to becoming as legendary as Boy Sompob for composing BL soundtracks. In addition to his talents for singing and composing, he’s gained accolades for his acting skills as well, particularly for the recent non-BL blockbuster The Paradise of Thorns.
This song is from a BL series that has a film noir feel, set among the mafiosi of Thailand. Jeff plays a supporting role in it.
Performed by Jeff Satur / From the series KinnPorsche
Not Jealous
Rockers will like this one. It has a harder edge than the ballads that are typical of BL series (not surprising, they are love stories, after all).
The story is a complicated mess of conflicting attachments and interests, such that the characters indeed could use a love mechanic to sort it all out so everyone could live happily ever after.
Performed by Prom Ratchaphat / From the series Love Mechanics
Believe That True Love Is Real
Gun has a fantastic voice for songs like this and it’s no surprise that he’s a popular singer in Thailand. He has also starred in a couple of BLs as well as been featured as an actor in non-BL dramas.
The song comes from a “blue shorts” series set in high school and the leads deal with coming-of-age issues. They try to figure out who and what they are and how their relationships — love, romance, bromance, and friendship — are supposed to work. And perhaps more importantly, will those relationships endure as they grow up?
Performed by Gun Achirawich / From the series Make It Right
When I Was Your Man
This last song isn’t actually from a BL but it’s what I call “BL adjacent.” The singer is William Jakrapatr, who starred in the very popular BL series ThamePo Heart That Skips a Beat last year. I’m pretty sure we haven’t seen the last of him in the BL genre. He’s a very talented actor, has a huge following among BL fans, and supposedly is in pre-production of a new BL with his onscreen partner Est.
He shot to fame in music rather than acting as the lead singer of the T-pop group LYKN. They performed the title track for a BL series Last Twilight, as seen above. In addition to his work with the band and acting, William has a flourishing career as a vocal soloist. I think his performance of this song, written by Bruno Mars, is phenomenal.
Performed by William Jakrapatr
That’s a wrap for now. I hope you enjoyed these songs. I look forward to talking with you next week about the wonderful series Cherry Blossoms After Winter.
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Watch these videos below before upcoming stories about them so you can avoid spoilers and participate in discussions in the comments section.
When possible, we include links where you can watch the videos for free (click here to read our story all about how and where to watch Boys’ Love content).
BL series and movies in upcoming stories
| Story date |
Series or Movie |
Episodes |
Where to watch |
| June 17 |
Cherry Blossoms After Winter |
8 episodes, average of 24 minutes each |
Youtube
Viki
|
