Sofie to Korea

While I definitely enjoy listening to Korean music, my main inspiration usually comes from drama soundtracks. I was recently advised to try listening to the new band iKON but I must admit they are not really my cup of tea. BTW, how awesome would it be if there was a Korean idiomatic expression along the lines of “not my flavor of kimchi”? Anyway, this Saturday I had some friends over for dinner. They usually spend every summer teaching in Korea, so obviously I treated them to a full Korean dinner complete with bulgogi, kimchi, kimbap, pajeon, you name it. And beer. And soju. In fact they brought their own soju, which they had bought on Jeju. Smooth! To set the mood for the Korean feast I had found a youtube playlist with K-pop songs. Among the songs was a new ballad by EXO. I first heard about this Korean boyband last year in Korea where their pictures were EVERYWHERE. I was never a fan of their music though. That is until I heard this one:

Feel free to sing along!

내 낡은 기타를 들어
하지 못한 고백을
혹은 고집스레 삼킨 이야기를
노래 하나 만든 척
지금 말하려 해요
그냥 들어요 I’ll sing for you
너무 사랑하지만
사랑한다 말 안 해
어색해 자존심 허락 안 해
오늘은 용기 내서 나 말할 테지만
무심히 들어요 I’ll sing for you
The way you cry the way you smile
내게 얼마나 큰 의미인 걸까
하고픈 말 놓쳐버린 말
고백할 테지만 그냥 들어요
I’ll sing for you sing for you
그냥 한번 듣고 웃어요
조금 우습죠
내겐 그대 밖에 없는데
가끔은 남보다 못한 나
사실은 그대 품에
머리칼을 부비고
안기고 싶은 건데 말이죠
The way you cry the way you smile
내게 얼마나 큰 의미인 걸까
돌아서며 후회했던 말
사과할 테지만 그냥 들어요
I’ll sing for you sing for you
아무렇지 않은 척해요
매일 너무 감사해 그대가 있어서
신께서 주신 내 선물
오늘이 지나면
난 또 어색해 할지도
하지만 오늘은 꼭 말하고 싶어
그러니 들어요
The way you cry the way you smile
내게 얼마나 큰 의미인 걸까
하고픈 말 놓쳐버린 말
고백할 테지만 좀 어색하지만
그냥 들어요
I’ll sing for you sing for you
그냥 들어요 I’ll sing for you