[OST Corner] Nobody is Perfect: Exploring the Imperfections in Music

Nobody is perfect
You were barely standin’
Standing with failure under your feet
…
Even if you fall down, you can stand up
I’m back on my way

For me, memorable OSTs tend to fall into one of three categories. First are OSTs that are inextricably linked to the K-drama they accompanied. The song is the show, the show is the song, and one cannot exist in my mind outside of the other. Second are OSTs that surpass the K-drama they were written for. Sometimes this means the show was terrible and the song deserved better; other times it simply means I never watched the show and found the song elsewhere.

Finally, the third category are OSTs that fit into both of the previous categories at once. These songs still bring up vivid memories of the K-drama in which I first heard them, but they also have a special place in my heart that’s only marginally related to the show itself.

“Nobody is Perfect” from Unlock the Boss falls into that very special third category. In the context of the show, this is the song that plays when the going gets tough and our heroes need to kick things up a notch to get through it. It’s that ray of hope in the darkest hour, the one last push when they’re backed against the wall and running out of options.

Most strikingly, however, this song plays when what seems like our heroes’ greatest triumph is undercut by their most devastating failure. One they can’t just bounce back from or fix — but they’ll have to find a way to keep moving forward anyway.

Outside of Unlock the Boss, “Nobody is Perfect” has become one of my fight songs, so to speak. When I need a burst of energy or a reminder that I can push through whatever obstacle I may be facing, it’s one of the first songs I turn to. And when I’m having a bad day and it happens to come on shuffle, I take a deep breath and remind myself that yes, I can get through this.

Sometimes that reminder is accompanied by Chae Jong-hyeop’s brilliant smile and memories of a show I greatly enjoyed despite its imperfections. But other times, it’s the song itself — with its infectious beat and inspiring lyrics — that keeps me going.