Adventures of an Errant American Barista
Like your music a little heavier than pop? Check out Dreamcatcher. While not quite k-rock or k-metal, the band’s backing tracks incorporate a lot of heavier-sounding guitar riffs and drum solos. I love the darker image that the band has, and it certainly sets them apart from the “cute” concept of other girl groups, or even the edgier “girl crush” concepts.
I’m just getting into them so I don’t have anything else to say, so take a listen!
“That’s what I am: gum someone spat out.”
In 2019, the film “Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982” swept Korean cinemas to mixed reviews. Not surprisingly, this tale of an ordinary woman in her 30s polarized audiences among gender lines: the women loved it, and the men hated it. But why?
I have yet to see the movie, but I did pick up the ebook as soon as it was released. One of my Korean co-teachers, when I told her that I was reading it, commented that “Jiyoung” was a popular name for those born in the early 80s, making it similar to calling a girl from my generation “Sarah” or “Brittany.”
Beyond the plot line, this book is interesting for the facts that it weaves into the story, such as “women working in Korea earn only 63 percent of what men earn; the OECD average percentage is 84.13.”
I find that this article from the BBC does a good job reviewing the book and its importance. I do wish that more had been explored concerning “molka,” or the practice of secretly filming women and posting the videos online, as it’s become a huge issue in the last few years as part of the Burning Sun scandal. Sadly, as time goes on, there will only be more and more issues that women in South Korea will have to endure.
“Jiyoung became different people from time to time. Some of them were living, others were dead, all of them women she knew. No matter how you looked at it, it wasn’t a joke or a prank. Truly, flawlessly, completely, she became that person.
The life of a kpop star isn’t easy, even though music videos and reality shows often make it seem like it. There has been more than one occasion where a family member has used an artist’s name in order to scam people.
Unfortunately, the usual story is that of an estranged father who begs money from someone using his connection to his well-known daughter and then defaults on his promises. This is the story of HA:TFELT, aka Yeeun/Yenny, who started her kpop career as one of the original and long-term members of the group Wonder Girls.
You can read an article about her father’s fraud and alleged sexual assault here. You could also just listen to the song and read the lyrics below, as it’s full of gut-wrenching emotion.
For the first time in my twenty-nine years Daddy sent me a letter Never knew how wack his handwriting was I guess I should've known better That's why mine is so ugly, too That's why mine is so ugly, too For the first time in my twenty-nine years Daddy wrote me a letter How's your mom? How's your sis? I really miss ya, but you better not come here I'm sorry, but don't you worry 'Cause I'm prayin' for your health and future Oh dear, sweetheart Things have gone a little South My girl, need your help Could you bail me out (bail me out) Life sucks for everybody (No need to cry no no no) Life sucks for everybody (Act like no child no no no) I'm just survivin' everyday Right at the edge of losing my mind Life sucks for everybody Just let me find peace of mind If only I could go back and tell myself "Don't you trust him, he already hurt you" When you cried on you knees, showing some regrets Wish I could've known better People don't change so easily, nah People can't change that easily If only you meant all you told me that night But, guess I'd better blame myself How's your night? How's your sleep? Have you ever woken up by your conscience? Well I'm sorry, I've got no worries All I have are wrath and disgust One time, you said, "Must obey or be cursed" You were right, I am cursed Running your blood in my vein (my vein) Life sucks for everybody (No need to cry no no no) Life sucks for everybody (Act like no child no no no) I'm just survivin' everyday Right at the edge of losing my mind Life sucks for everybody Just let me find peace of mind I might pull the trigger, you know I might do it for good, you know I might pull the trigger, for both of us I might do it for all, you'll see I might pull the trigger I might do it for good, you know Pull the trigger Do it for all
I left my apartment for the first time in three days to go to the McDonald’s that’s a five minute walk away. I took these shots along the way. And yes, there are that many convenience shops within such a small radius.
It’s a mistake that people think “kpop” and instantly think attractive, often feminine, boys, skinny pretty girls, and uplifting fluffy music. Kpop has all the nuisances of American pop, which can give us both the bubblegum and the harsher, darker stuff. While Stella Jang doesn’t exactly belong to the dark side, her stuff isn’t exactly bubblegum, either. She writes most of her own music and has uploaded numerous covers online, some acapella. (She’s also apparently fluent in Korean, English, and French.)
This particular song caught my attention right away for how clean and unique the editing of the video is, as well as the questions within the lyrics. I’m a fan.
Today I went to switch to a Korean sim card and had an awkward interaction with the Korea Telecom (not sponsored, obviously) guy. Y’see, I have a clear phone case. And in my phone case is the photocard of Youngjae from Got7 that I got when I ordered their album online. Not just any album, but the Youngjae specific one, so I would get his photocard and his poster and his bookmark, etc. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: it’s such an amazing way to milk young girls for all they’re worth. I can see myself having bought the Backstreet Boys’ album five times just to collect all the photocards.
None of my students seem to know who the photocard is of, either because they’re too young or entirely too into BTS. I knew going to Korea would put me in a weird place because Got7 has a strong international fanbase but less so of a Korean base, probably owing to their make-up: four Koreans, one Thai, one Hong Kong-ese, one American. (Is that seven? I’m halfway through a bottle of cabernet sauvignon so forgive me.)
This was the first Got7 song I heard, and I was such a big fan of everything about it. The video is super cute but the message is fantastic. Even the choreography doesn’t take itself too seriously. This was on my “feel-good” mix for quite a long time and remains one of my most-played songs.
The line distribution is a little unfair, considering that Yugyeom only gets the “ooohhh” part, but Youngjae singing the bridge is like honey to the ears.
Watch it. Love it. Stan Got7.
Koffee & Kpop 