The best korean singer- Bae Ho , who struggled with disease

 Bae ho died at 29years old due to chronic renal failure but he looked like 40~50years old in this picture depicted because the disease he suffered made his face and body swollen seriously.

Bae ho released 50 hit songs and 200 other songs during 6 years, but his golden ages were just three years.

 One day, Bae ho became drummer under the influence of his uncle who was a bandmaster, at that time Bae ho became popular very much because he sang songs drumming at the same time.

He went all over the country taking buses or trains singing and drumming, and he skipped even meals many times and drank the cheap alcohols and smoked the cheap cigarettes. So those kind of habits couldn't help but lead to ill health of him.

 The debut song of Bae hoe is "returning triangle" , which was composed by Bea sang tae , who finally found out him as a proper singer after trying to search for long time.

 Due to his illness,  Bae ho's mother tried to dissuade him from singing.  but He successfully recorded "returning triangle" after only a one hour.

 Since then,  When he was at the peak of popularity , His condition became worse, and he practiced the song " a fog shrouded jangchundan park"  in the hospital and released it.

 At that times, Bae ho was a third large taxpayer among korean singers and earned money very much to the extent of being able to buy ten apartment one month.

  When He buy her mother a two-story house, he used to say "I can become popular only when I am sick, but I am not for sure if I can become popular like this days If am healthy guy."

 Suffering from chronic renal failure, he repeatedly said to people around him that he was going to die at the stage.

 One time when he appeared on television,  he was so weak that the MC of the show had to help him stand up but he coughed the blood during singing.

And one day when he sang at the oscar theater,  he fell down and got out of there, but he came back in wheelchair and resumed the song.

 He tried to heal his disease attempting many therapies including both of oriental, western medicine, and finally he decided to be at rest.  but the mass media wrote the distorted article articles spreading rumor of death.

 Bae ho was selected as one of great singer among 10th singers, but he gave notice he could not be in television but he was compelled to sing three songs on television. At that time, he wore a long coat to hide ascites, but MC forced him to take off his coat and to sing,  Three fellow singers helped him finish in tears, And the audience also cried.  Bae ho went to hospital and thanks to his fiancee he finally stood his own foot, and walked.   but because of prediction of death, he behaved coldly toward her on purpose and let her leave.  and after two days from then, he died.

he was 29 years old and it was at 7 November, 1971.

 After one week of his death, released was his posthumous songs "The last leaf"  and "Farewell at midnight".

 Recently, the one of jazz groups in france,  began to shed new light on Bae's arts. 

  -returning triangle-

returning triangle -click to listen

- Who does cry? -

Who does cry? - click to listen

The famous korean singer-Song Chang Seek

 The singer I wanna introduce you is "Song Chang seek".  When he was in university, his major was Classic music,  and he debuted as a twin-polio. but When he joined the army, He began to think about the direction where he had to go,  He thought there was no unique folk song in korea.  Most folk songs of korea were just imitations from America in his opinion. So He decided to invent the way to which Korean folk song goes after.  So He released the first experimental song " A man palying the flute" combining korean classical music and teuroteu.   This song was folk song characterized by korean traditional scale and got out of imitating it used to be.  He finally created his own unique world of music.

 There are many humors carried with lyric poem in his songs.  And there is no certain way to sing for him.  Every time he sings we can find many different things in it changing beats, scale, as if he sings  jazz.  I think his songs have reached to the state of liberation.

The fist song I like to recommend you is "We are"(Wu-lee-nun).

We are (version 1) - click to listen

Version 2 - click to listen

The lyrics of this song is as follows.

" we are" ("wu- lee-nun")

"We are a pair of lovers that can find each other even if being in the dark place without light.

We are....We can feel each other only using tiny gesture.  

we are...

We are.... We can say each other with silence without any sound.

We are.....We can know everything contacting eye each other.

We are a pair of lovers.

We finally did meet each other after waiting a long time.

Like thundering destiny, did we meet each other.  Oh~ oh~

At his moment~ We finally meet.

Like this... like this.... like this.....  We are a pair of lovers.

We are....We do not feel lonely even if being in the windy plain.

We are.....We can feel too enough only holding each other's fingertip.

We are.... we are......   we do not feel cold during a long winter nights.

We are...  We do feel too enough having only one flaming mind.

We are.. we are a pair of lovers.

We have been each other for countless days.

We are sharing precious light like life.  Oh~  Oh~.

At this moment ~  We are the one.~

Like this~ like this~ like this~  We are a pair of lovers.

Like this~ like this~ like this~~"

Other songs I recommend are as follows

"Rain Falling Outside The Window"

Rain falling outside the window - click to listen

"The snow of night"

The snow of night - click to listen

"hunting whale"

hunting whale - click to listen

"Ganadara "

Ganadara - click to listen

The famous korean singer -CHO YOUNG PIL

CHO YOUNG PIL is a famous singer born in korea at 1950's.  He was a very popular singer not only in korea, but also japan and china.

A world-famous acoustic engineer Tony Maserati highly appreciated CHO YOUN PIL.

Tony Maserati is known as a artist who was in charge of sound technicians for Destiny's Child, Beyonce,  The Black Eyed Peas , Alicia Keys, John Legend, Lady GaGa .

 He said "I thought I was a man familiar with K-POP, but When I heard the songs of CHO YONG PIL, I was shocked. I found out many things quite different from what I had expected in K-pop.  CHO YOUNG PIL has a excellent ability of producing and a high musical maturity.  His music included various sounds of whole world.  The music in chinese-speaking countries is not easy to understand and unfamiliar, but in K-POP, there are common things easily understandable like swedish,  english pop.."

The song I introduce is "Kilimanjaro's Leopard" released at 1985

Kilimanjaro's Leopard - click to listen

The lyrics is as follows

" (monologue)

Have you ever seen a hyena looking for decayed meat wandering in the foot of a mountain, the Hyena only looking for decayed meat of animals?

I'd rather be a Leopard not a hyena,  I'd rather be a leopard which love to climb the top of the mountain and die there snowfield due to hunger and cold.

 Being great after sleeping one night, being down at heel after sleeping another night,

I am at rest in the dark corner of  the earth for a while.

I am nowhere else in the middle of city lights filled with ambition.

I don't care about being thoroughly abandoned like this alone in the middle of the city.

Because there was a man named Gogh who was more unfortunate than I am .

(singing)

 I cannot come like wind, and go away like dew , isn't it?

I shall leave a trace saying I was here,  even if I vanish away like smoke,

I must blaze up like twinkling light.

Don't ask me why I tried to climb up for such high limit.

I don't care there's no one aware of a lonely man's burning soul.

 (monologue)

 Even though there 's no things comfort me when I feel empty and lonely in life in this world,  People says It's love make the world looks like beautiful place.

 They don't know how much the love makes man alone, to the such extent the love itself to be.

You told me you like a cricket, I love cricket too,

You told me you like a lilac, I love a lilac too.

You told me you like night, I love night too.

And I do love my youth that sometimes looks splendid, sometimes lonely, and looks like glass full of or  sometimes empty of.   Here's to my youth, Cheers!

(singing)

The love is lonely because We put our destinies in it.

We are lonely, it's because of putting the whole things in it,

Demanding whole things including love and dream.

It causes loneliness to demand whole things.

The love is a heartbreaking passion making farewell visible.

What is there in the end of the passion?

No matter losing everything, the love shall be unregretful.

Only if to do so,  We can say we loved.

(monologue)

No matter how deep night it will be, I shall be a wisp of light.

No matter there will be a barren land,  I shall be a sound of clear water.

No matter a strong storm will sweep plants and trees, I shall be a invincible tree.

The twenty-first century longs for me, that's why I live now.

(singing)

Is that cloud or snow?  The high place, Kilimanjaro.

I am going to go to the mountain today again,

It'll be OK for me to be one part of the mountain shaking hands with loneliness I meet .

la la la la~  la~  la~

And I'd like to link others sung by Cho yong pil.

Please, Enjoy.

-The red dragonfly released at 1981-

The red dragonfly - click to listen

-I miss  very much the girl with Short hair -   released at 1979-

I miss very much the girl with Short hair - click to listen

-The teahouse at the winter-

The teahouse at the winter - click to listen

-Oh my friend-  Some chinese asserts this song originated from china, but it's not true.     'Oh my friend' was released by Cho ,at 1983. 

Oh my friend -click to listen

 -The woman out of window-

The woman out of window - click to listen

-Oh my poor lover!-

Oh my poor lover!- click to listen

-The scratch-

The scratch - click to listen

-Where are you nightingale?- At The public performance in japan

Where are you nightingale? - click to listen

-The tragic love- 

The tragic love - click to listen

The korean old pop 1970's -"what should I do?"

  It is necessary to know the history of Korean music if you want to understand the feelings of the Korean first.

Korea has adopted a western style democracy, which focuses on human rights as the main source of economic stimulus,  but of course, the roots of Korean feeling is a Joseon Dynasty.

 The Joseon Dynasty was a country with an emphasis on the ideological view.  It was a society in which every young people must show respect of elders especially parents, and loyalty to country was highly emphasized.  Of course, most countries like china, korea, japan in far east asia emphasized those virtues but korea was more severe than the others.  That's why even japan was surprised when they combined korea with japan.  The confucian ideas of korea cannot be imitated by japan.

 However, Such practices of  Koreans, led to side effects to the development of a new culture to come in korea.

Because Korean people was unfamiliar with ideas such as individualism from western society.  So  at the first time, most artists just tried to imitate superior 's way to satisfy the needs of society.  However, We can see signs of some changes in the 1970s. Since Many Music bands comprised of students of the University was formed from then on and they began to have voices. And broadcasting stations in Korea, began to broadcast the contest program to show their activities every year.

 I'd like to introduce one song in it. The name of the band comprised of students from Seoul National University was "sandpebbles". Lee Su-man was one of the members of this band, who is the president of the entertainment company SM  leading to K-pop today.

The theme of song is "what should I do?"

What should I do? -click to listen

The korean woman singer with unique vocal sound -"the end of long wandering" sung by Kim Tae-Young .

 At this column, the singer I introduce is a woman named Kim Tae-young, who's famous for unique vocal sound.  I like her very much, because of her own style.   Frankly speaking, I think most woman singer I know in korea don't have unique point I can say, because they have tendency to imitate the way the public want.  so they repeatedly produce music sound like same things.   

Kim Tae-young debuted as singer with production soundtrack named MBC "General hospital".

The song I want you to listen is "the end of long wandering"

The end of long wandering - click to listen

The lyrics of this song is as follows.

"Holding your hands, and lowering my head.

I was asking your forgiveness with crying.

At the end of wandering, The person I finally found

was you still waiting for me.

I know , I have heard a lot that you

had hard times because of me.

I know, How many deep wounds of you

My fault of the moment did cause.

Now I will give you back the loves I didn't

to you waiting for only me.

Devoting my whole things, in the midst of my love

I will put you at rest.

Holding my hands, hugging me,

you comforted me saying 'forget it, since you came back."

with emaciated face and smile,

you wiped my tears.

I know , I have heard a lot that you

had hard times because of me.

I know, How many deep wounds of you

My fault of the moment did cause.

Now I will give you back the loves I didn't

to you waiting for only me.

Devoting my whole things, in the midst of my love

I will put you at rest. "

It's a very beautiful song, I strongly recommend you listen.  Thank you. 

Understanding korean music - "the white butterfly" by Kim Jung Ho

 First of all, I'd like to introduce myself. I was born in suncheon ,south korea.
Despite I am very poor at speaking english, but I like to communicate with other people using english.
 Recently, most people around the world are familiar with korean culture.  More and more people begin to feel interest in korean music and film and others as time goes on.  but I think their interests are somewhat superficial since those are primarily focused on appearance of phenomena.
 I am not chauvinist at all, but I want to introduce korean spirit with a deeper introspection.

 At the very first beginning, I'd like to explain korean mind using korean music.   Most people like to listen K-pop.  but I think the major k-pop cannot express the genuine feeling of korea because they are also influenced by American culture.  So it's very difficult for most people to figure out the unique spirit of korea.

 I am going to write blog as regularly as I could.

The first music I want to introduce is very beautiful song.   The theme is "white butterfly". and the singer is "Kim Jung Ho" .
He was born at 1952 and died at 1985 because of tuberculosis.



His song recently was remade as a movie OST. so I recommend you to listen both original version and New version.
                             
 New version - click to listen

                               
Old version - click to listen
                             
The words of a song "white butterfly"

"uhm - Do not think the past.
 uhm - Do not long for, one who may depart.
 Because the petals wither away,  Do not be sad.
 When it comes time, it will bloom again. so Do not be sad.

uhm~ uhm~ uhm~

uhm~ where did he go, the lost traveler.
uhm~ where did he have to go. the white butterfly looking for.
Because the petals wither away,  Do not be sad.
When it comes time, it will bloom again. so Do not be sad.
uhm~ uhm~ uhm"

understanding the korean culture and music

  I believe that humankind is originated from middle east according to the holy scriptures, 

So Any culture has tendency to be influenced by distance from middle east, it is a matter of degrees.

The nearer the middle east,  the more crude the culture.   

For example, the ancient scripts of middle east, such as the arrow headed characters(cuneiform) , look like more crude than english alphabet letter because the united kingdom is more far from middle east.  And we can figure out that the alphabet letter looks soft and curvaceous.  it doesn't mean that alphabet letter is more superior than the letters of middle east.  It just shows us the elapsed time they took.   

  The same phenomena we can see on the other case.  The letters of korea and japan are more curved and soft than chinese characters,  just because they are more far from middle east than china.

This rule applies to the music,  There are many curves and softness in the korean traditional music. They are so unique that korean people feel difficulty to get it through to the foreigner's head simply.   

 In Every cultures including korea,  there are many unique things for strangers not to be understandable.  We used to call that nuance.  Not only in culture but also in languages, some words of the korea are difficult to be translated into english, That's why there are so many versions of the bible translation because Hebrew words are not simple to be translated by using one or two expressions.  Similarly, some terms of korean music are nearly impossible to get through perfectly in one-to-one correspondence basis.   The best way to get the knack of is just ,to begin with, to enjoy it.     

        

Then, I 'd like to introduce the beautiful traditional korean music named "oh-nuh-la".   This simple and beautiful song helps us grasp well the ambience of korean culture and also helps focus on the kernel of unique point. and This songs lyrics is Middle-ages Korean Language. So it's different with modern Korean.  So I do not understand the meaning totally like you even though I am korean.  It's very funny.  isn't it?

click to listen

ONaRa ONaRa AJu ONa∼
GaDaRa GaDaRa AJu GaNa∼
NaNaNy DaRyeDo Mos NoNaNy∼
ANyRy ANyRy ANy NoNey∼

 And I want to introduce the korean traditional musical instrument named "Dae-gum", which is made of Bamboo.  It seems like flute similar with ones of china and japan  but Dae-gum has more wide sound range from lower pitch to piercing shriek.  So it can make a variety of sound. 

The secret is in its structure,  most flute or pipe in the world only has two kind of hole, the embouchure and finger hole.  but Dae gum has one more hole in it name "cheong gong"

The "cheong gong" is covered with the inner layer of a reed. And it helps player make a variety sound by vibrating.   Player needs to change the inner layer once in a while because it depends on condition of Cheong gong to make a clear sound,  and it can easily get dry,  and tear. 

Let 's enjoy the playing Dae gum 

click to listen-1

click to listen -2

The famous korean folk singer - Kim guang seok

  Kim guang seok was born at 1964 and died at 1996.   He only used guitar singing songs.

And He tried to show the public the meaning of life through music, so Many people loved him.

His music lead us to the feast of normal life reminding how beautiful and sorrowful it is.  Most singer like to sing about love and ambition but he liked to sing about ordinary life carried by common people.   His music can be characterized by sadness overall.  I can seldom find shallowness or gaiety but weight of life in his music.  So Thanks to his music, We can easily focus on wonders of life ignored by people themselves.  Young people did not like much his music because they tried to find things making life far nicer than Old people used to be, pursuing  brand new like rap or hip hop.  but his many fans went to his performance and enjoyed his music in the unique concert hall, which is so small fans had to crowd together in the confined space sitting knee to knee.    The crowd looked like seekers of truth at that moment. and Kim guang seok accomplished 1000 times performances as a great record.

 but Finally, Kim guang seok took a decisive knock delivered by the legendary musical group 'Seo jae ji and boys'. whom I plan to introduce someday.   Unfortunately,  He was in despair, took his own life.    

 As time goes on, ironically kim guang seok is more popular than ever today.  Korean people are feeling sick and tired of hearing brand new music.  and They have realized the important things the music should go toward and there were philosophies making common people like us be great in his music.

 The music I 'd like to introduce among his music is "A private's letter".  This music help you understand the military service of south korea.  As you know the korea is divided nation.   So Every young people in korea must enlist as soldier like israel .  When the young receive the notice of military service, he feel sorrow thinking leaving home and beloved friends.

-A private's letter-

A private's letter - click to listen

The lyrics "A private's letter" is as follows.

-A private's letter-

"The day when I went to the training school by train and left the home.

When I bowed deeply to the parents and get out of a door,

There was something regretful in my mind  and everything even a single plant and friends' faces

look new.

From now on,  I start my life of youth all over again.

My friends , when I go to the military, Please write me letters.

not to make me forget happy days we shared.

By the time the train arrived, We held our hot hands together .

The farther the train whistled in the distance,

The faster your images faded away little by little.

From now on,  I start my life of youth all over again.

At the first time I cut my hair short, It looked funny but

My image in the mirror gradually make me feel sorrow and grief to the heart.

If I climb the back hill, I wonder if my village be visible.

When the sound of trumpet spreads in the dark night,

I fold a private' s letter and send it.

From now on,  I start my life of youth all over again."

The second song continuing is "Around thirty years old"

Around thirty years old - click to listen

-Around thirty years old-

The lyric is as follows

"The day die away again
Like cigarette smoke I exhale.

Into my tiny memory
What do I put for a living.

going away more and more
is my youth that stay forever I mistook.

My mind is getting emptier
I cannot find anything anymore.

The season will come back
but Where is my love leaved.

It was not me to let go.
It was not me to go away.

Being out my of mind
is the love that stay forever I mistook.

The day die away again
I am living everyday saying goodbye.

I am living everyday saying goodbye."



Please enjoy kim's other songs listed as follows.

-Forgetting mind-

Forgetting mind - click to listen

-In the street-

In the street - click to listen

-where the wind blows in-

Where the wind blows in - click to listen

-write the letter on the cloudy fall' sky-

Write the letter on the cloudy fall's sky -click to listen

-I loved but-

I loved but -click to listen

The korean musician who caused a huge sensation -seo jaji

 Nowadays, teen music is prevailing in korea,  There are too many idols of countless teenagers.

but By the time 1980's , korean people had few or no cultures matching with teenagers.  The main cultures only aimed at more than 20years old, and teenagers had no choice but chose one of those as a representative showing their needs.  but that situation suddenly changed within the next decade with the advent of a innovational singer "Seo tai ji" at 1992.

 Only when He appeared, teenagers could begin to enjoy privileges raising their voices against seniors.   and since then they have been holding a dominant position in the music industry of korea and seniors never take it a back.   but his music was welcomed not only by teenagers but also by seniors from 20 to 50 years old overall.

 At that time seo tai ji's music was so popular that even spies from north korea had to memorize the lyrics of his songs to accomplish their mission successfully.

 The debut album of him was "I do know" , in which Seo tai ji performed his musical world with style of rapping.  Even though korean people knew the rap music came from America at the moment but were not quite familiar with it until "I do konw" album.  

 The second album showed people how to treat metal music combined with korean traditional musical instrument.  That was first attempt no one did not dare to do.   Especially, the song "hayeaga" can shows you that.

 The 4th album successfully performed the hip pop music.  and then suddenly announced his retirement at just 25 years old.  and The group "seo tai ji and boys" was disbanded.

but Recently, he resumed activities as solo singer. 

The picture as follow shows how shocking announcement of his retirement was to teenagers.

-I do know-

I do know -click to listen

-hayeaga-

Hayeaga - click to listen

-Christmalo.win-

christmalo.win -click to listen

The Korean Rocker Lee Seungcheol

 Lee Seungcheol was born at 1966 in korea.  He debuted as a member of "The resurrection".

He entered it under the promise of providing a sound system at high cost, because they had no sound system,  Lee sungcheol asked mom to buy it for him at cost equivalent to the amount of her annual income as a teacher in school.    and he became a main vocalist in the 'Resurrection'.

At the debut time, because of his unique costumes and make-up, he was known as a Boy George of the korea.  but when he released his first solo album "Don't say goodbye" at 1988, unfortunately  he stopped his activities due to issue of drugs in the same way Boy George did at the same time.  and At 1990, resumed his activities with album "Part 2", "The sunset and me", but soon after reaching his peak, he stopped it for the same reason. 

 To recover the lost reputation, he joined the movie as a actor and volunteered fighting drugs.

And finally he made a comeback successfully.

 When Russia performed the closing ceremony of Sochi winter Olympic and Introduced korea as the next winter Olympic host country,  Lee sungcheol performed his song as a representative of korea. 

The first song I introduce is "Don't say good-bye"

Let's enjoy.

Don't say good-bye-click to listen

"Don't say good-bye"

The lyrics is as follows.

"Don't make any sound.

Our love could fade(fly)away

Please don't move.

Our love is getting weak.

Don't say anything

someone is listening to our love

Don't come near

our love is drifting apart.

Don't say good-bye,

I'm looking at you.

But my eyes are full of tears,

I can't see you.

Don't say good-bye.

we don't know yet what farewell is.

Don't make any sound.

Our love could fade(fly)away

Please don't move.

Our love is getting weak.

Don't say good-bye,

I'm looking at you.

But my eyes are full of tears,

I can't see you.

Don't say good-bye.

we don't know yet what farewell is.

Don't say good-bye.

we don't know yet what farewell is."

-Malri Flower-

Malri Flower-click to listen

The lyrics of  Malri Flower is as follows.

"How many more do I have to endure.

 I am wandering in the deep darkness.

 I wonder if there is any dream I want.

 I can't withstand any more

 Even keeping my eyes opening and letting a sigh

is hard for me.

Would I be found fallen?

I am afraid.

Since you are in the world I should go now,

though My life might be looked small facing down my adversary

and trying to coming back.

I can go from now on with you.

I will give you back  your dreams left carefully,

to help us forget unhappy days we should undergo.

Since you are in the world I should go now,

though My life might be looked small facing down my adversary

and trying to coming back.

I can go from now on with you.

I will give you back  your dreams left carefully,

to help us forget unhappy days we should undergo."

-The west sky-

The west sky-click to listen