In Europe and the US, the song was a footnote. But in China, the Philippines, Thailand, and Indonesia, it was an anthem. It defined the "sentimental ballad" genre in Asian pop culture. To this day, when the opening piano chords strike in a karaoke bar in Manila or Bangkok, the room stops.

MLTR’s music is characterized by its "clean" instrumental arrangements, sweet melodies, and relatable lyrics about love and heartbreak. This formula proved remarkably enduring: