Wow!~ I have to say, it is quite nice to see such a large collection of Korean bands that actually know how to play their instruments – and do it well (as opposed to another 5-person dance-troupe boy/girl-band K-pop group). I was also impressed to see how many females were in this list as drummers, […]
Tag: rock
YB: I’m a Singer Playlist and Songs
YB (aka YoonDo Band – 유도현 밴드) is Korea’s TOP rock band. They gained fame during the 2002 World Cup where they performed rock rendition of Arirang and their own World Cup anthem “Go Korea!” Since then, YB has made 12 records, toured Europe, and was invited in 2007 to play on “the stage” at […]
Rock on Korea! The Greatest Korean History Lesson You’ll Ever Learn: Shin Joong-Hyun and the Origins of Korean Rock
** Video updated: 5.13.2014 Rock music took off in Korea in the 1960s and became the foundation for Korean pop music. In a sense, Kpop as we know it today, is a legacy of the earlier days of Korean rock and roll. Today Kpop stars who are better dancers than singers dominate the local music […]
Key to Korean #7: Check your Motivation, it’s what drives you
Why do you want to learn Korean? Is it to get a girlfriend? To get a job in a Korean company? To go to school in Korea? To pass an exam? To speak with your in-laws? To understand Kpop? Chances are, if one of these is your primary motivation to learn Korean, then your progress […]
Korean Rock: Pia (피아) Covers Cho Yong-Pil’s (조용필) “Hello”
Pia is a high-energy rock band that is always a hit at rock festivals and on rock contest TV shows. They have quite a unique sound and have gradually become one of my favorite rock bands in Korea. Cho Yong-Pil is a Korean pop music legend. Born in 1950, he’s been actively making music since 1969. […]
Rock on Korea! Indie Bands (Review and Featured Artists)
I recently stumbled across this TV program on Arirang TV (Korea’s English-only broadcasting channel). **Video updated: 5.13.2014 I do NOT like Arirang TV for a number of reasons: The English narration is emotionless and flat. It’s very clearly enunciated – probably for the benefit of Korean English-language-learners, and boring. Rather than using 김도균’s actual voice […]
Korean Rock: 트랜스픽션 (Transfixion) – Nothing is Impossible
Transfixion is quite possibly my favorite Korean rock band. But a lot of their good stuff can only be found on YouTube in the form of live club recordings taken with smartphones – as is evidenced by these videos. This song is one of my absolute favorite Transfixion songs (the music and lyrics are incredible). But, […]
Korean Rock: “The Sun” (해야 – 1980) Signifies Independence from Japanese Colonialism
Since Buddha’s birthday was Friday, I decided to post a song that’s got an element of traditional culture to it. This song “The Sun” was written in 1980 by Magma (마그마) and is reminiscent of “Stairway to Heaven” in it in that it begins softly and slowly, but eventually rocks! In fact, the song is […]
Korean Rock: Transfixion Covers “Beautiful Girl” (미인 “美人” – 1974)
This is one of those songs that always makes me smile. Even famous rock guitarist 김도균 smiles and exclaims, “참 잘했습니다!” (“Very great job!”) afterwards. Unfortunately, the band only receives a 120-point score (in this “Top Band” competition), so they are sent packing (though 김도균 was sure they should have received at least 190 points […]
Learn Korean with YB: Flying Butterfly (윤도현 – 나는 나비)
가사 (Lyrics) Chorus 날개를 활짝 펴고 세상을 자유롭게 날거야 노래하며 춤추는 나는 아름다운 나비 Chorus Vocabulary 날개 = Wing 날거야 = 날다 = Fly (v) 활짝 = Widely (expressive adjective – as if stretching your arms wide to each side to emphasize just how wide it is). This word is also used to describe flowers […]