I would have never known about this song if I hadn't binge-watched Crash Landing on You in December 2019. Performed by Kim Kyunghee of the pop-rock K-pop band April 2nd, the song was released on February 16, 2020, as part of the drama's OST album. My interest in the show even led me to visit its Bernese Oberland filming locations during a family trip to Switzerland in summer 2023.
Sigriswil by Kim Kyunghee, South Korea, 2020
Lyrics
The verses of the song were written specifically for the characters Yoon Seri and Ri Junghyuk from the South Korean drama Crash Landing on You. It's a story about two people segregated by a boundary and political issues. They met through unexpected circumstances and in the process, fell in love. They eventually separated because they were bound by their countries' political beliefs. But just like most love we know, it knows no boundaries; they were reunited at the end. An integral part of their story began and ended somewhere in a tiny village in Switzerland called Sigriswil.
The lyrics are in English, and a part of the song is written in an unknown language that kept popping up on online forums. A few suggested it might be Romansh, a dialect spoken in the Swiss canton of Graubünden. I have also seen someone suggest it could be Bärndütsch, another Swiss German dialect primarily spoken in the canton of Bern. Another source mentioned that a recent interview with the lyricist revealed that they're just made-up words, but that doesn't make sense. Some even mentioned it to be Japanese or Portuguese, but I beg to differ. It would be more relevant to use something closely related to the title, which is a place in the Bernese Oberland region of Switzerland. This song was co-written by the singer in collaboration with Nam Hyeseung, a renowned music director in South Korea.
Melody
The song is set in common time at a steady 74 beats per minute. The beat is barely noticeable until the vocals join in the melody. You can feel its intensity rise as the chorus unfolds. It peaks during the bridge and final chorus and eventually fades back out towards the outro. It has a moderately slow tempo befitting the energy of the song.
Instrumentation
There wasn't much information online about who played the instruments accompanying Kim’s vocals, but some sources said that he himself used a synthesizer on his music productions. If he was joined by his band members to record this song, then one could deduce that Moon Daekwang played the guitar, Moon Woogun handled the bass, and Cho Sungyeol was on the drums. They are known in the field for delivering stunning television drama OSTs. The percussion featured in this piece is quite subtle, more to anchor the song than to drive energy. The string and piano instrumentation help to carry the melody. A dreamy synth pad sound provides a harmonic foundation.
Dynamics and Voice Timbre
The intro contained voices resounding like angels whispering in your ears. The dynamic of the song progresses from quiet to a moderately higher tone between the verses and bridge, but when the singer reaches the chorus, he turns it up a few knot, leading into the climax. His ethereal vocals definitely match the theme of the lyrics. He possesses a light, airy, and soft voice. Upon hearing the song, I found myself slipping back to when I descended down the Lauterbrunnen Valley from Mürren on a tandem paragliding experience. This is that kind of song. It is calming and relaxing, just like the birds-eye view of the waterfalls and mountains towering in the backdrop. I would dare to compare it to Ed Sheeran’s I See Fire. Only with a lesser energy. Though it is just my humble opinion.
(A still image of a valley taken from the Sigriswil Hangsbrücke, one of the filming locations of CLOY, R. Olson, 2023)
Conclusion
Though the song did not garner any nominations or awards, unlike the other OST on the same album, it was still recognized by the local and international viewers alike. Its distinctive style separates it from the more common and expected song variety produced in South Korea. The drama was rated as number one in viewership of all time on their local station, TVN. It also hit a record as the second-highest watched drama in South Korean history. Both South Korea and Japan made musical adaptations of the show. And according to Entertainment Weekly, it is included in the list of the best K-dramas to watch on Netflix in 2025. It was so popular with viewers from around the globe that a surge in tourism at the film locations in South Korea, Mongolia, and Switzerland was noticed. So as long as there are viewers of this drama, the song Sigriswil will always ride on its coattails. The song's message and composition were deliberate choices that influenced how the story unfolded. It served as the opening and closing title for the drama.
Kim Kyunghee, South Korea
Cast of Crash Landing on You
Works Cited:
Basbas, Francisca. "Introducing: Korean indie band April 2nd on the stories and emotions
behind their latest EP 'somewhere between you and me'."Bandwagon, 26 Nov. 2021
I really enjoyed the detailed descriptions you shared from your analysis. Right from the start, the melody and rhythm was, as you mentioned, unpredictable, yet the tune flowed so freely into a beautiful setting. The haunting, bittersweet piece that aches with nostalgia and fragile hope. Much like the unpredictable nature of their love story, you won't quite know where it takes you, yet when you're there, you're there. The song goes so well with the beautiful surroundings of the show. The melody and chorus sound very similar to Queen's "Radio Ga Ga" to me- https://youtu.be/azdwsXLmrHE. I've never seen this show, yet now I am very inclined to watch it. I can't imagine how gorgeous it was for you to visit Switzerland! What an incredible experience!!! That will be on my bucket list one day!
Hi LaRene! Thank you for your awesome feedback! And for introducing me to "Radio Ga Ga," it does have some similarity to the chorus, just a little faster than Sigriswil. You must go visit when you are ready! I highly recommend a stop in Lauterbrunnen, as it is considered the inspiration for the elven valley of Rivendell in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. When J.R.R. Tolkien visited the valley in 1911, I'm sure he was in awe just as much as I was with the towering mountains and lots of falls!
I really enjoyed this. It's not my usual style but I appreciate the emotionally evocative melody. The dynamics give it such character, especially at the crescendo (the peak of the song). And I agree with you about the timbre of their voices being light, airy, and soft. It's so appropriate for this piece. The video also fits the song perfectly! Light and airy, but also deep and emotional, like water. Thanks for sharing this!
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I really enjoyed the detailed descriptions you shared from your analysis. Right from the start, the melody and rhythm was, as you mentioned, unpredictable, yet the tune flowed so freely into a beautiful setting. The haunting, bittersweet piece that aches with nostalgia and fragile hope. Much like the unpredictable nature of their love story, you won't quite know where it takes you, yet when you're there, you're there. The song goes so well with the beautiful surroundings of the show. The melody and chorus sound very similar to Queen's "Radio Ga Ga" to me- https://youtu.be/azdwsXLmrHE. I've never seen this show, yet now I am very inclined to watch it. I can't imagine how gorgeous it was for you to visit Switzerland! What an incredible experience!!! That will be on my bucket list one day!
ReplyDeleteHi LaRene! Thank you for your awesome feedback! And for introducing me to "Radio Ga Ga," it does have some similarity to the chorus, just a little faster than Sigriswil. You must go visit when you are ready! I highly recommend a stop in Lauterbrunnen, as it is considered the inspiration for the elven valley of Rivendell in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. When J.R.R. Tolkien visited the valley in 1911, I'm sure he was in awe just as much as I was with the towering mountains and lots of falls!
DeleteI really enjoyed this. It's not my usual style but I appreciate the emotionally evocative melody. The dynamics give it such character, especially at the crescendo (the peak of the song). And I agree with you about the timbre of their voices being light, airy, and soft. It's so appropriate for this piece. The video also fits the song perfectly! Light and airy, but also deep and emotional, like water. Thanks for sharing this!
ReplyDeleteHi Gavin! Thanks for your kind words! I still appreciate you commenting on my blog, even though the song isn't your style. Have a wonderful day!
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