Korean Songs for a Rainy Day: hip hop
Do you fancy trying some rap?
I must admit I’m no expert when it comes to hip hop… but I do like the album Hexagonal by Leessang. And it’s on my bucket list to rap my way through Korean hip hop in the norebang! (yes, really) Not quite there yet though. Still working on it…
One of the first bands to get commercial success in hip-hop was DJ DOC way back in the 90’s. They still play together and were one of the bands that played at the Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony in 2018.
DJ DOC have covered controversial topics and political issues and got into trouble over their lyrics about former president Park Geun Hye. But this song called 비애, is about Heartbreak, (from the year 2000) and seems to take an uncontroversial traditional approach to a rainy day song. It’s about not being able to sleep on a rainy day thinking about an old flame. Trying to rap through the whole song may be a big ask (!) so I’ve only added the chorus below – it starts straight away so get ready! And good luck.
비가 와 잠도 안 와
bi-ga wa cham-do an wa
It rains. And I can’t sleep
이럴 때 정말 너 생각이 나
I-rul ddae cheong-mal neo seng-gak-i na
That’s when I really think of you
그러다 북받쳐 올라
ku-reo-da buk-bat-cheo ol-la
My emotions are swelling up
자꾸 눈물이 나와
cha-ggu nun-mul-i na-wa
I can’t stop crying