“시간과 낙염” (Time and Fallen Leaves) by Akdong Musician, Friday, October 15, 2021

I probably wouldn't pick up an album by a group called "Mischievous Child Musician," but in 2013, a group by that name, or Akdong Musician, AKMU for short, won the hearts of the Korean people when they won the second season of  K-pop Star. AKMU are siblings Lee Chan-hyuk (이찬혁) and Lee Su-hyun (이수현). They began playing music together because they were bored. Their parents were missionaries in Mongolia and their mother homeschooled the children. However, Su-hyun had to return to South Korea to sort out a visa issue, and while she was away, she began auditioning to be singer. Later her brother joined her and the two competed on K-pop Star. The group's debut album Play was released in April of 2014 and peaked on the Billboard World Albums at #2. "시간과 낙염” (Time and Fallen Leaves) was released in October of 2014. 

TIME PASSES LIKE WATER FLOWS. Originally planed to be part of the group's debut album, it felt out of place with the energetic, spring-released Play. So the song was left off the album and released later that year in October. The band chose not to film a music video for the single. They would rather their listeners visualize their own story with the song. While not a word of the song is in English, the feeling of the guitar, vocals, and cello tell listeners of any native language that they are in for an autumny, nostalgic song. The harmonies give the song give me a feeling the contrast of the warm sunlight and a crisp breeze in a mid-October day when the leaves are changing. Korean songs can be particularly sentimental when dealing with the four seasons, especially fall. There is a YouTube channel in which classically trained musicians. The young musicians who listen to the song point out the tropes that this song uses effectively. Akdong Musician certainly isn't Kidz Bop. While some of their songs do  border on the juvenile, and why not--they began their careers as teenagers--, they quickly showed their talent on the late winter song "Melted" and on the song of the day, "Time and Fallen Leaves." 

THE FLOWERING TREES OF MY HEART ARE WITHERING. In 2021, Akdong Musician are no longer children. Chan-hyuk completed his military service in 2019, and he is 25 years old (26 Korean age). Su-hyun is 22 (23 Korean age). When they started their career, Chan-hyuk was 17 and Su-hyun was 15. The group signed to YG Entertainment because it was the only contract offered to them that gave them artistic freedom. The group was structured as a duo, but Su-hyun would take main vocal duties. Chan-hyuk would write the duo’s songs, play guitar and contribute secondary vocals. In a genre that is typically saturated by boy and girl groups, Akdong Musician is a duo that spent their early career embracing their musical “childhood.” From their K-pop Star debut, Chan-hyuk embraced a funky, nerdy style that made him look younger than his age, even younger than his sister who is almost three years his junior. Su-hyun, however, dressed older. She continued her career as a solo musician while her brother was serving in the Korean Marine Corps and serving as a regular cast member on the second season of Korean busking show Begin Again. The group has been making music since Chan-hyuk’s discharge and renewed their contract in January with YG Entertainment for five more years. However, we can only wonder how long the group will continue to be called “Mischievous Children.”

https://genius.com/Genius-english-translations-akdong-musician-time-and-fallen-leaves-english-translation-lyrics 

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