씁쓸함에 대하여

I'd have to say that the 10cm song 우정, 그 씁쓸함에 대하여 is an interesting song that incorporates some techniques that I personally love to use in my own writing. The lyrics employ a lot of repetition and parallel sentence construction that gives the song a sense of tight, purposeful, poetic composition.

하루가 멀다 하고 삼겹살을 꾼다네
하루가 멀다 하고 탕수육을 시키네
내 방안에 고기 냄새 진동하게
매일 밤 나는 파티를 여네

하루가 멀다 하고 모범 택시를 타네
하루가 멀다 하고 여자친구를 바꾸네
내 머릿속 허영심이 진동하게
매일 밤 나는 파티를 여네
오늘도 이대로 다 할 수 있네
우우우 우우예 우우 니가 돈만 갚으면
우우우 우우예 우우 니가 돈만 갚으면

하루가 멀다 하고 참치회를 먹을래
하루가 멀다 하고 소갈비를 뜯을래
내 뱃속에 기름기가 가득 끼게
매일 밤 나는 파티를 여네
오늘도 이대로 다 할 수 있네
우우우 우우예 우우 니가 돈만 갚으면
우우우 우우예 우우 니가 돈만 갚으면

배 아프고 골 아프고 골수가 빠져 나와도
내 돈만 다 받아내면 살만해
쓰러지고 무너지고 바닥 치는 내 인생도
내 돈 주면 살아나네
우우우 우우예 우우 니가 돈만 갚으면
우우우 우우예 우우 니가 돈만 갚으면

In addition to it being the repeated phrase, "하루가 멀다 하고" is idiomatic. I think idioms are one of the most interesting things about language. Although I can't say that I'd ever really consciously interfaced with this one in particular, as an idiomatic phrase I find it interesting. It literally means "as a day is too long" and would roughly be the equivalent of the English idiomatic phrase "can't wait." In usage it would translate to something along the lines of "as a day is too long to go without."

As far as the actual message of the song, as the title states it is an expression of the sometimes bitter nature of friendship, specifically in the context of money, which is always a touchy subject. The verses go through a list of "luxuries" that he will indulge in as if the day were too long to go without. The things that are listed are hardly luxe at all, meat being the most prominently reoccurring listed item type - pork belly, sweet and sour pork, tuna sashimi, and beef short ribs. But anyone who knows anything about being on a tight budget can understand the sentiment. And he says he can indulge in all these things and have a party every night if only "you" (his friend) were to pay him back. It's not a straightforward song of lamentation or celebration as more traditional songs are apt to be. Instead  it employs a somewhat sarcastic tone to denote the bitterness felt by the character at not being able to recoup the money he lent to his friend. It's that subversive quality that gives the song a modern and "indie" feel. One thing that I feel I have to mention about 10cm is that they excel at being a Korean indie group, and I think this song is prime example. It's just fun. It has an upbeat melody and catchy refrain and a very whimsical take on the subject matter at hand. Another quality that makes 10cm "indie" as opposed to "pop" is that their music is linguistically and culturally specific. While their songs incorporate themes that are universal, the imagery that they employ is very specific and very culturally Korean, which is something that can't really be said about mass-marketed k-pop. You just don't see k-pop songs making references to 삼겹살 and 탕수육 expecting listeners to have a cultural understanding of these things in the context of not having money as 10cm full-well does in this song. Honestly, I guess it's just that I'm a sucker for context and contextual understanding. Reading between the lines is one of my favorite pastimes. I get so sad to think that there is so much that I'm not getting from so many creative pieces because I'm just not well-versed enough in the artist's symbolic language. It makes me feel so dumb. I could know every word and yet not have a true understanding of it. 그것이야말로 씁쓸하다.