Yes, I am four years late watching the Korean drama The Secret Life of My Secretary.
But so are many people, as the romantic K-drama has become one of the must watch shows out of South Korea if you enjoy a good love story, as well as a drama that is known for the superb music on its soundtrack.
Songs that, of course, are mainly of the usual K-pop flare, but that also feature several tracks from well-known western singers.
Including Irish singer songwriter Damien Rice whose song ‘The Blower’s Daughter‘ was used on The Secret Life of My Secretary, Episode 5 right at the beginning of the episode as we see Jung Gal Hee (played by Jin Ki Joo) running to find her boss Do Min Ik (Kim Young Kwang).
We are left to wonder why the normally dorky Jung Gal Hee is suddenly dressed up and looking stunning, and apparently meeting with Do Min Ik in a hotel until the end of Episode 6.
That is when we learn about the mix up that caused Gal Hee to leave her evening with friends, and rush off to find Min Ik.
Damien Rice’s ‘The Blower’s Daughter‘ was released long before The Secret Life of My Secretary. Way back in 2002 on the singer’s debut studio album O, which went on to become a hit for the indie artist as well as being critically acclaimed.
It was a song I played the hell out of when it was first released, but with ‘The Blower’s Daughter‘ always being the standout song from the album, as it is just so desolately beautiful.
A song that you know was written about someone the singer was in love with, but someone that would never be his:
And so it is
The shorter story
No love, no glory
No hero in her skyI can’t take my eyes off you
I can’t take my eyes off you
I can’t take my eyes off you
I can’t take my eyes off you
I can’t take my eyes off you
I can’t take my eyes
Even if he couldn’t take his eyes off her.
Something that, in that opening scene of The Secret Life of My Secretary, Episode 5 also makes sense at the time because, while Do Min Ik believes he is meeting with a woman that is the heir to a major cinema chain, in reality he is meeting with his lowly secretary.
And, while we know even in Episode 5 it won’t be long before Do Min Ik genuinely isn’t able to take his eyes of Jung Gal Hee, at this point we also know there will probably be some heart ache coming up for both of them.
Especially as, when it comes to Min Ik and his inability to recognize faces, he cannot take his eyes off Gal Hee, as she is the only one he can see.
Listen to Damien Rice’s ‘The Blower’s Daughter‘ as heard on The Secret Life of My Secretary, Episode 5 in the video, and on the singer’s O album.
The song’s music video, by the way, features scenes from the 2004 film Closer, as the song was used in that film’s trailer.
You can watch The Secret Life of My Secretary on Viki.