GgotDaJi

꽃다지 : Whitlow Grass (1992 - )

LINK : Official Homepage KPDB:1936

1 GgotDaJi(1994); Whitlow Grass; 꽃다지

CD:2002533

★★★★☆ GaYo, Protestism

==== SonDon, 2000  ====

In the recent history of South Korea, there are 3 great political issues which have imposed great impact on MinJungGaYo scene. Schematically speaking,

(1) Peoples' Movement in 1987 gave birth to NoChatSa(People who seek for the Songs), and that is literally the result of struggle for the freedom of expression.

(2) The first MunMinJeongBu[means the government ruled by non-military staffs] made some of the progressive singers be able to express their thoughts more openly.

(3) The first peaceful turnover of political power system in South Korea has enabled the diversities[e.g., styles, lyrics, motifs, developings, rhythm, etc.] in MinJungGaYo scene, till now.

GgotDaJi, the Whitlow Grass, is a good example in the second case.

GgotDaJi was formed in 1992 as a compound of the Worker's Choir and the YeUlRim, and is still one of the most beloved in MinJungGayo regime. This album is also one of the most beloved album among the progressive people in South Korea. This self title album which is well known as < HapBeop 1 Jip >(first legitimate album) released in 1994 is dedicated to the Mayday. The album contains both "classics" and recent songs at that times, but they all are now recognised as "classics". It is a definitive album in the scene. I think this album is also the most planed one in MinJungGaYo scene, because the selection of songs is based on the questionnaire. All songs are appealing because of not the lyrics but also the sounds and its developing. For the cover, JangSanGotMae, of special meaning for the progressive in South Korea, GgotDaJi adopted the original work of ChoiByeongSu. You can also find the name of HamChunHo(Guitar), KimGwangSeok(Guitar), JoDongIk(Arrangement, and Bass) in the special thanks.

In musical point of view, this album can be underestimated with respect to the NoChatSa's, and you may well. No more distinct experiments, no more new developings, no more progress in lyrics. It is rather a compilation album with very careful and elaborate plan, literally. But, to those who can feel the atmosphere from early 90's to mid 90's, this album is very meaningful. The protest songs in early nineties were extreme, violent, and biting due to the overall collapse of the progressive movements. So, the idea is universally accepted that all the MinJungGaYo's in early nineties are just singsongs with drastic(and aggressive, often) lyrics. The album has proved that protest songs can also be both serious and enjoyable. Successful in the perspective of sales record, too.

[Play:GgotDaJi1JeonHwaCaDeuHanJang.mp3 JeonHwaCaDeu Han Jang; With a Calling Card] is a song of very sensitive nature in lyrics. Not restricted to the front of the struggle. Introspection with daily words. (Personally speaking, this is my favorite.) The very famous mega-hit song, [Play:GgotDaJi1BaWiCheoReom.mp3 BaWiCheoReom ; Just Like a Rock], is also in the album. It stands for a new tendency at that time; pleasant and danceable song, i.e. enjoyable trend. A result of trying to escape from the solemnitism(?) in keeping of seriousness. At any rate, this album is filled with the torments of the ideal, "seriousness for the more people."

2 Discography

	Year	Album Title
	1994	1
	1997	2
	2000	JinJu
		Pearl

3 Links

• http://www.hopesong.com/

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