| Korean Music and Videos |
One of the things that surprised me so much about Korea was the quality of their entertainment industry. I would never have
guessed that some of their movies and music would be so good. I can't put a whole movie on my website but I can put a few of my
favorite songs music videos here.
Four points though:
1. NO, I do not think that this is really superior to American music or videos, I was just surprised by how much I do like them.
2. YES, maybe I am too old to like this kind of music. So sue me! :-)
3. While I speak passable Korean (barely passable) I can not understand most of these songs. But then again I can't understand most
of the songs that I listen to in English either but that doesn't stop me from enjoying them!
4. The videos looked much better before I had to shrink the file sizes small enough to be uploaded onto my web site. That is why they
are somewhat blurry and the motion seems a bit choppy at times.
CLICK ON THE PICTURE OF THE SINGER OR GROUP TO SEE THE VIDEO
CLICK ON THE NAME OF THE SONG BELOW THE PICTURE TO JUST HEAR THE SONG
guessed that some of their movies and music would be so good. I can't put a whole movie on my website but I can put a few of my
favorite songs music videos here.
Four points though:
1. NO, I do not think that this is really superior to American music or videos, I was just surprised by how much I do like them.
2. YES, maybe I am too old to like this kind of music. So sue me! :-)
3. While I speak passable Korean (barely passable) I can not understand most of these songs. But then again I can't understand most
of the songs that I listen to in English either but that doesn't stop me from enjoying them!
4. The videos looked much better before I had to shrink the file sizes small enough to be uploaded onto my web site. That is why they
are somewhat blurry and the motion seems a bit choppy at times.
CLICK ON THE PICTURE OF THE SINGER OR GROUP TO SEE THE VIDEO
CLICK ON THE NAME OF THE SONG BELOW THE PICTURE TO JUST HEAR THE SONG
| Jo Su Mi |
| Chakra |
Chakra is a very popular female group in Korea. At first I thought they were just getting by on their looks, good choreography and a bare
minimum of talent but these two songs are great and the videos were very well done I think.
The first one, Kkut is short for kkunnaseyo which means "end" or "finish" and it is about the end of a relationship. (will add this one soon.....)
The second one, Dolawa means "come back".
minimum of talent but these two songs are great and the videos were very well done I think.
The first one, Kkut is short for kkunnaseyo which means "end" or "finish" and it is about the end of a relationship. (will add this one soon.....)
The second one, Dolawa means "come back".
Kkut (End) Dolawha (Come Back)
(by the way, the names of these songs are easier to read in Hangul. This is my
best guess how to spell them in English!
(by the way, the names of these songs are easier to read in Hangul. This is my
best guess how to spell them in English!
| Kim Hyun Jung |
Kim Hyun Jung is a very popular singer in Korea and this video (If I can ever get the videos to work) is one of the best videos I have ever seen in
any language. It is a really good song and I believe I am at least at the stage that I can get the songs working.
any language. It is a really good song and I believe I am at least at the stage that I can get the songs working.
Kkut (End)
Yes, same title as one of the Chakra songs above.
Different song, just same title.
Yes, same title as one of the Chakra songs above.
Different song, just same title.
| Kim Gun Mo |
OK, since comparison is an easy way to explain things, this guy is sort of the Elton John of Korea. He is very talented and has some great music
but he is just a bit eccentric..... heck the boy is just a bit strange in my book but he has good music.
No videos here, only audio.
but he is just a bit eccentric..... heck the boy is just a bit strange in my book but he has good music.
No videos here, only audio.
Babo (Fool) Minaheyo (I'm Sorry) Double
| Hyori |
Often just called "Hyori", she was in the group Finkl originally. I actually didn't know anything about her until one of my Korean friends started
using this song as the ringing sound you hear when you try to call. The song sort of grew on me so I asked about it then downloaded it. Oh, what
she is singing about is that it would only take her 10 minutes to win you over. Sounds like about 9 minutes more than she needs!! (OK, I will
have to answer to my wife for that comment!!)
using this song as the ringing sound you hear when you try to call. The song sort of grew on me so I asked about it then downloaded it. Oh, what
she is singing about is that it would only take her 10 minutes to win you over. Sounds like about 9 minutes more than she needs!! (OK, I will
have to answer to my wife for that comment!!)
10 Minutes
| Um Jung Hwa |
Um Jung Hwa is a very popular actress in Korea as well as a singer. This is the only song of hers I remember hearing so I don't know how many
songs she has recorded.
songs she has recorded.
Dagara
| Park Jin Young |
Um Um Um Nan Yuja Ga Inun De (I have a girlfriend)
| Mina |
Shin Mina, usually just called Mina, probably because there is another famous Korean actress named Shin Mina, got her start as just a pretty
face in the crowd during the Korean World Cup soccer games. She sort of "stood out" and her pictures became famous and every one wanted to
know who the "world cup girl" was. This led to her getting a deal for at least one song. Haven't seen anything else from her yet. Below are a
couple of her world cup pictures.
face in the crowd during the Korean World Cup soccer games. She sort of "stood out" and her pictures became famous and every one wanted to
know who the "world cup girl" was. This led to her getting a deal for at least one song. Haven't seen anything else from her yet. Below are a
couple of her world cup pictures.
Jeon Hwa Bad Uh (Pick Up The Phone)
| Hong Kyung Min |
This was the first singer I ever heard in Korea that I really liked. I didn't know what the words to his songs meant and didn't know anything
about the singer but I liked the sound of the song. I actually thought it was a female that sang the first song at first. Not because the real singer
(Hong, Kyung Min) sounds or looks like a woman, but because the first time I heard the song it was being sung by two girls at a "noraebang", or
karaoke bar. I later learned that many Koreans at this time were calling Hong Kyung Min the "Korean Ricky Martin". Sounds a little silly to
most Americans but I can sort of see where they get it from the look and sound of the second video.
On a side note, Hong Kyung Min is now performing his military service, compulsory for all able-bodied Korean males. Remember this when you
read about Yu Sung Joon below....
about the singer but I liked the sound of the song. I actually thought it was a female that sang the first song at first. Not because the real singer
(Hong, Kyung Min) sounds or looks like a woman, but because the first time I heard the song it was being sung by two girls at a "noraebang", or
karaoke bar. I later learned that many Koreans at this time were calling Hong Kyung Min the "Korean Ricky Martin". Sounds a little silly to
most Americans but I can sort of see where they get it from the look and sound of the second video.
On a side note, Hong Kyung Min is now performing his military service, compulsory for all able-bodied Korean males. Remember this when you
read about Yu Sung Joon below....
| Park Ji Yoon |
Park Ji Yoon, is one of my favorite Korean singers. She has a number of really nice videos but whoever produces her videos has an annoying
habit of using very long introductions that, while sometimes interesting, have no music and after seeing them once they have lost their appeal.
She is also somewhat famous, to her discomfort I am sure, for a home sex video that her boyfriend recorded that later found its way to the
internet. She is, by the way, also one of Korea's most popular models and you can hardly go anywhere without seeing her face on some
advertisement.
habit of using very long introductions that, while sometimes interesting, have no music and after seeing them once they have lost their appeal.
She is also somewhat famous, to her discomfort I am sure, for a home sex video that her boyfriend recorded that later found its way to the
internet. She is, by the way, also one of Korea's most popular models and you can hardly go anywhere without seeing her face on some
advertisement.
Sung In Shik
| Yoo Sung Joon |
Remember what I said at the top of this page about Hong Kyung Min serving his obligatory military service? Well, this guy totally ruined his
career in Korea by renouncing his citizenship in order to get out of it! He was a dual US/Korean citizen and decided he didn't want to do his
service. Before that his face was on the side of half the buses and taxis in Korea on ads for Hanaro and other companies. Within a couple of days
of his decision to renounce his citizenship the pictures were all gone. The government was not even going to allow him back into the country to
attend his sister's wedding but I am not sure how that all worked out for him.
career in Korea by renouncing his citizenship in order to get out of it! He was a dual US/Korean citizen and decided he didn't want to do his
service. Before that his face was on the side of half the buses and taxis in Korea on ads for Hanaro and other companies. Within a couple of days
of his decision to renounce his citizenship the pictures were all gone. The government was not even going to allow him back into the country to
attend his sister's wedding but I am not sure how that all worked out for him.
WOW (that's the name of the song, not an
exclamation about how great I think it is!)
exclamation about how great I think it is!)
| Baby VOX |
Baby VOX is insanely popular in Korea. They were in DC the month after I left Korea playing at the PyungHwa (Peace) festival. I started to go
see it because a friend of mine from Korea was going to be playing there but it just didn't work out. Oh well. They do it each year I think.
Maybe next time.
see it because a friend of mine from Korea was going to be playing there but it just didn't work out. Oh well. They do it each year I think.
Maybe next time.
U Yun (Accident) Uh Duh Geh Hal Ga Yo (What shall I do?)
| BOA |
She is one of the top stars in Asia, not just Korea. She has had several number one songs in Japan, in fact this video was made in Japan. She
even made an English version of this song. It was a huge hit. She is often called the "Korean Brittney Spears".
even made an English version of this song. It was a huge hit. She is often called the "Korean Brittney Spears".
| H.A.R.U |
OK. I know nothing about this group, or maybe just a person. I will have to ask a Korean who this is. All I know is that I love the song and the
video is a bit disturbing!!
video is a bit disturbing!!
| Cool |
A really cute song and video. They have a few songs I like actually but this is the only video that I like enough to put on my website.
| SES |
SES was probably the most popular group in Korea during the time we lived there. They were close anyway. They have a lot of pretty good
songs but this one was the smallest file size so I thought I would use it here.
songs but this one was the smallest file size so I thought I would use it here.
U (maybe that should be "you" but "U" is
how I saw it advertised. Oh well...
how I saw it advertised. Oh well...
| Joybox |
I don't know much about this band other than I like this song. They are definitely unique in that only one person in the band who is definitely
Korean (the lead singer). Two others might be but I am not sure about that. The premise of the video is that they are holding auditions for a
new lead singer and that is how they find the girl who actually sings this song.
Korean (the lead singer). Two others might be but I am not sure about that. The premise of the video is that they are holding auditions for a
new lead singer and that is how they find the girl who actually sings this song.
Special
| Toya |
A good song and video that looks like it was made in Eastern Europe, maybe Hungary, but I am not sure.
Bwa (Look)
| Eun Ji Won |
Another one of the first songs that I liked when I got to Korea.
Murmur
| Dejavu |
Nice song, cute girls... sort of a cookie cutter image of a pretty girl band but I still like the song.
Run
| Big Mama |
Yes "Big Mama" is the name of the group. And it is not just a clever name, they are not petite girls. The video and song are great though and
even sort of take advantage or at least tell a bit of a story about their size. Evidently they had a lot of offers for recording contracts when people
heard their voices but then when the recording executives saw them the group was often turned away because they didn't fit the pop start/girl
group image. This video depicts a group of attractive young women with nice figures lip syncing the song out on stage when the real singers are
hidden in a back room somewhere. Sort of a Wizard of Oz thing.
even sort of take advantage or at least tell a bit of a story about their size. Evidently they had a lot of offers for recording contracts when people
heard their voices but then when the recording executives saw them the group was often turned away because they didn't fit the pop start/girl
group image. This video depicts a group of attractive young women with nice figures lip syncing the song out on stage when the real singers are
hidden in a back room somewhere. Sort of a Wizard of Oz thing.
Break Away
| SWI-T |
......
I'll Be There
Park Jin Young was apparently trained in voice and dancing in the US. At least that is what one of my Korean friends told me. Two
pretty decent videos I think.
Two videos. No separate audio.
pretty decent videos I think.
Two videos. No separate audio.
Jo Su Mi is one of the best Opera singers in the world. While I am not a big opera fan, frankly I just don't get it (maybe I am not smart
enough??), she does have a couple of songs that I really like a lot.
No Videos, just audio.
enough??), she does have a couple of songs that I really like a lot.
No Videos, just audio.
Song 1 Song 2
Like I said, maybe I am not smart enough to get Opera. I don't even know the
names of these songs but the sound nice anyway.
Like I said, maybe I am not smart enough to get Opera. I don't even know the
names of these songs but the sound nice anyway.
