“Waco, Waco, Waco my destiny…” Sometimes I think Koreans are strange but I can only wonder what they think of me when I sing along, interpreting and misinterpreting everything they say. To be sure I’m not the only one. I have heard many a drunken foreigner shout out random lyrics to a song sung in a language he can’t understand. Sometimes it’s truly a wonder we can relate to each other at all! Here is my little attempt at increasing intercultural understanding and helping out anyone who has ever wondered what the fuck is really being said, because actually understanding the words has never been a barrier to singing along and despite what they’re really singing I do “get so drunk in ‘99!”

Let’s start things off Cockrasher. They returned from the military to retake their place as one of the favorite bands at Skunk and they just released a much anticipated and long awaited CD. If you’ve ever seen them live or even just watched their music video on the internet then you’ll be sure to recognize this song.

VICTORY? - Cockrasher
대답없는 현실들을 짊어질 필요 는없어
You don’t have to live up to this unrealistic ideal
이겨야해 패배자의 처우따윈 사 라져
Forget that losers always have to win
차라리 눈감을래 신물나게 지쳐간 대도 난돌아가지않겠어
I’d rather cover my eyes, I puke I’m so weary but I won’t die
음모 그래 그것뿐야 모두다 그것 뿐야
Yeah, it’s a conspiracy, everything is a conspiracy
하루 이틀 시간가도 안개는 걷히 지않아
Even after one or two days the fog never clears
잃는자와 얻는자
The forgotten and the winners
날구할건 자신뿐
The only one I can rescue is myself
끝없이 거친항해
On this endless voyage of suffering
그끝을 향하여
We’re always heading towards its end

If Cockrasher is churning out the sing-a-longs the Geeks are busting out the stage dives. Korea’s first youthcrew band their years of ‘screaming at a wall’ are paying off. They are getting ready to embark on a SE Asian tour and then back to North America for their second US tour. They are quickly becoming the most traveled Korean band and their live show attests to this! Pick up their new release “Every Time We Fall” and catch their show in a city near you.

지금 이 순간 “As We Speak” – The Geeks
이 순간, 이 모든 것
As we speak, all these things
그 외침 그리고 믿음
This scream and this truth
함께 했던 이 순간들
All the moments we’ve shared
또 다른 시작, 이곳에서
Fresh start - in this place
지금 이 순간
As we speak
그 외침, 또 다른 시작
This scream, another start
함께 했던 이 순간들
All the moments we have shared
이 순간, 이 모든 것
As we speak, all these things
작은 시작, 하나 된 순간
A small step, one moment is all it takes
Haven’ t changed the world but we made a fucking start And we are having our say!

Stephen Epstein Jon Dunbar

This next song was translated by Stephen Epstein.

Blood Pledge was originally a side project of Captain Bootbois when Donghyun went to the army. They don’t play very often anymore, but when they do, 동방의 호랑이 is their most powerful song. I’d wanted to know for a while what it meant. Calling on the resonances of the common description of the shape of the Korean peninsula to a crouching tiger, Blood Pledge combines resentment over past injustice with pride in Korea’s growing geopolitical might. The song talks about invasions and distortions of history, but they never really reveal who they are talking about. The song is about all injustices against Korea.

동방의 호랑이 - 혈맹 수세기동안 행해진 억울했던 침략
The bitter invasions suffered for centuries
수세기동안 행해진 억압되었던 자유
The freedom that has been suppressed for centuries
이제는 더 이상 당하지만은 않는 다 숨지기만은 않는다.
We won’t endure it anymore,
we won’t just hide it anymore
잊지 마라! 굶주린 호랑이의 발 톱을
Don’t forget! The claws of the starving tiger
잊지 마라! 굶주린 호랑이의 이 빨을
Don’t forget! The teeth of the starving tiger
수세기동안 행해진 왜곡된 진실
The history distorted for centuries
수세기동안 짓밟힌 호랑이의 위상
The dignity trampled for centuries
이제는 더 이상 당하지만은 않는
다 숨기지만은 않는다
We won’t endure it anymore,
we won’t just hide it anymore
보이는가! 장엄한 호랑이의 광채 가
Do you see it? The majestic splendor of the tiger
들리는가! 우렁찬 호랑이의 포효 가
Do you hear it? The resounding roar of the tiger
느끼는가! 진정한 호랑이의 혼을
Do you feel it? The true spirit of the tiger
각인하라 우리가 바로 동방의 호 랑이다.
Carve it in your memory, we are the tigers of the East.