Hearing IU always reminds me that spring is on the way. Commonly called South “Korea’s Sweetheart,” the 30-year-old singer-songwriter and former teen singer, born Lee Ji-eun (이지은), explains the meaning of her stage name as “You and I become one through music.” Today’s song comes from her 2014 EP of covers of folk/rock ballads made popular in the ’80s and ’90s, A Flower Bookmark. The song was written by Kim Chang Wan and originally recorded with his punk-rock band Sanulrim (산울림, meaning Mountain Echo), which was a hit in 1984. Kim also is featured on the IU cover version. Although the IU version was not released as a single, it was featured in an SK Telecom commercial and was often played in cafes, grocery stores, and everywhere in Korea in 2014 and still today. The original version was used in the zeitgeist drama Reply 1988 (음담하러 1988)
6. “Sugar” by Paper Route is the finest love song the band wrote on an album full of love songs, despite the hard times the band faced.14. “Untouchable” (Taylor’s Version)* by Taylor Swift. This cover of a Luna Halo song sounds much more romantic sung by a young girl, dreaming about the seemingly unattainable.
15. “This Is Heaven” by Nick Jonas
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“Without You” by Tyler Ward ft. Alyson Stoner is a beautiful acoustic ballad. Stoner’s harmonies are quite nice.25.
“I’m on Fire” by Bruce Springsteen. If you can get past the creepy first line, it’s a pretty sexy song.