German Hip-hoppers Pay Tribute To Kim Kwang Seok

Stumbled upon "Die Orsons", a German hip-hop group on youtube. In this globalised age, it shouldn't surprise me that a group of European youths would dedicate an MV to a Korean, an ocean and a generation apart but I am still filled with wonder. Sorry to "Die Orsons", but the music doesn't do much for me but the earnestness of the lyrics and the 2010 MTV directed by Stephen Richter and shot in Vienna are something else. ( please watch the whole video ).

Some Koreans may grind their teeth over the reference to the dog in the lyrics but I think they'd be missing the bigger picture. ( BTW, sorry if so many of my postings of late seem to be about suicides in Korea but it wasn't intentional. It's just that so many stories seem to be cropping up this summer.)



Thanks to chimperator for uploading the video and posting the English translation of the lyrics:

In a country
where your vita is even more important than here
and you obey your boss almost like a dog
which they eat in restaurants there

There was a singer, pretty young
who did not like to sing on the radio or on TV
but in front of the audience
Like we do right now - hello

Let's get back to the story - he sang the saddest songs in the world
when he came back from his 1000th concert
everything was silent - 'cause he killed himself.

He "Curt Cobained" himself in 1996
Enter his name on youtube and cry

We spell him for you:

K - I -M - K - W - A - N - G - S - E - O - K

You've been the Bob Dylan of Korea
you've been Korea's Kurt Kobain
Your voice sounds like eternity
like Tears - please wait


After his 1000th concert
he locked up his room
He was only 32 years old
He sang about our happiness, sadness and our holiness
But nobody understood
because he sang Korean
and there was no youtube before 1996

He sang about the little people, like us
And we listen carefully right now
How is your name spelled, Kim?

K - I -M - K - W - A - N - G - S - E - O - K

For an earlier posting on the late, great Kim Kwang-seok, please click here.




Source
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRxDuRLC8d4:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSJ-IfrgNDA&feature=related