Storytelling in Song: “Come, People of God” feat. in Queen Seondeok
Promo for TV series Queen Seondeok (Mishil is 3rd from left) Introduction: Like most South Korean historical TV dramas, the 62 episode epic The Great Queen Seondeok (선덕여왕, 2009, MBC) has an immersive soundtrack, which greatly contributes to the impact of its storytelling. Diverse music accompanies each hour-long episode, and supports an extensive dramatic range, enhancing moments of laughter, bouts of crying, and expertly choreographed battle scenes. More than just a backing track however, Queen Seondeok ’s soundtrack at times takes center stage, reaching beyond the show to touch on the contemporary concerns and feelings of its Korean audience. For this post, I’ll be looking at one song in particular from Queen Seondeok OST , which seized my attention when I first saw the show a few years ago: “Come, People of God,” or alternately, “The Sun, Blinds Moon.” We’ll see how it both accompanies and adds to a crucial moment in this Kdrama — marking a turning point right before the climax —
