AAK! Music: Mackerel by Lucid Fall (2009)

This band probably won't make the top-50, but is nonetheless one of the Korean's favorite. Today's selection is Mackerel (고등어) by Lucid Fall (루시드폴).

고등어
Mackerel

어디로든 갈 수 있는 튼튼한 지느러미로

With the strong fin that can go anywhere

나를 원하는 곳으로 헤엄치네

I swim to where I am wanted

돈이 없는 사람들도 배불리 먹을 수 있게

For the people without money can too be full

나는 또 다시 바다를 가르네

I again sail the sea

몇 만원이 넘는다는 서울의 꽃등심보다

I hear sirloin steaks of Seoul cost over several tens of thousands of won

맛도 없고 비린지는 몰라도

I may be less tasty and fishier than that

그래도 나는 안다네 그 동안 내가 지켜온 수 많은 가족들의 저녁 밥상

But I know the numberless families' dinner table that I protected so far

나를 고를 때면 내 눈을 바라봐줘요

When you are picking me, please look into my eyes

나는 눈을 감는 법도 몰라요

I don't even know how to close them

가난한 그대 날 골라줘서 고마워요

You without money, thank you for picking me

수고했어요 오늘 이 하루도

You did good again today

나를 고를 때면 내 눈을 바라봐줘요

When you are picking me, please look into my eyes

나는 눈을 감는 법도 몰라요

I don't even know how to close them

가난한 그대 날 골라줘서 고마워요

You without money, thank you for picking me

수고했어요 오늘 이 하루도

You did good again today

나를 고를 때면 내 눈을 바라봐줘요

When you are picking me, please look into my eyes

나는 눈을 감는 법도 몰라요

I don't even know how to close them

가난한 그대 날 골라줘서 고마워요

You without money, thank you for picking me

수고했어요 오늘 이 하루도

You did good again today

수고했어요 오늘 이 하루도

You did good again today

Briefly about Lucid Fall:  Lucid Fall is a one-man band by Cho Yun-Seok. Lucid Fall released its first album in 2001, but Cho actually debuted with a different band in 1998, which was disbanded after most of its members went to serve their military duty. Cho operated his band while keeping his day job, which is being a scientist in material science and bioengineering. Cho earned his bachelor's degree from Seoul National University, masters from Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden and doctorate from Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. He patented a new material for medicine through his doctorate thesis in 2008. However, in 2009 Cho announced that he will no longer pursue engineering and focus solely on music. Lucid Fall has four regular albums, a couple of singles and a movie soundtrack.

About this song:  Mackerel is the title song of Lucid Fall's fourth and most recent album, titled "Les Miserables."

Translation note:   몇 만원이 넘는다는 / 서울의 꽃등심보다 / 맛도 없고 비린지는 몰라도 / 그래도 나는 안다네 / 그 동안 내가 지켜온 / 수 많은 가족들의 저녁 밥상 is very elegant, but the Korean's translation is anything but. "--다는" is particularly difficult to translate in an equivalent manner. (That is, equivalent in rhythm as well as in meaning.)

The Korean on Lucid Fall:  Relaxed melodies with slightly disturbing lyrics. Dangerous if listened to while feeling depressed. At times, seems as if determined to write the most depressing series of songs ever. Not innovative, but intelligent and does one thing very well.

Significance in K-Pop History:  (1 = instantly forgettable; 5 = popular at the time, ultimately forgettable; 10 = transcendental history-maker)  4.5 out of 10.

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