Walking Back the Memory

“It was a windy day when she waved away her small hand, and with an awkward smile, she looked me in the eyes. But I couldn’t make her stay back then, and although I regret it now, when I saw her getting far from me, I felt so afraid. My heart ached.” –Kim Sung Ho, Kim Sung Ho’s Reminiscence [translated lyrics]

Pada musim gugur ini, program acara musik “Immortal Songs 2: Singing the Legend” menyiarkan sebuah edisi spesial “Autumn Men”. Dalam episode 127 tersebut, tidak ada legenda tertentu yang ditampilkan, tetapi sebagai gantinya, sebanyak enam ‘autumn men’ didatangkan sebagai bintang tamu untuk berkolaborasi dengan para penampil dalam episode tersebut. Salah satu kolaborasi yang menarik adalah antara Lee Hae Ri dan Kim Dong Hyun. Lee Hae Ri, seperti yang sudah dikenal, adalah leader dari duo vocal Davichi. Sedangkan Kim Dong Hyun, yang mungkin namanya masih asing, adalah atlet nasional martial arts Korea Selatan. A man who loves sport meets a woman who loves music. The best fighter and the best female vocalist are in a duet!

Episode 127 edisi spesial “Autumn Men” menampilkan lagu-lagu musim gugur yang legendaris, the autumn men’s autumn melodies. Episode ini ditayangkan pada tanggal 16 November 2013 di stasiun televisi KBS, serta pada tanggal 7 Desember 2013 di channel KBS World. Duet the beauty and the beast, Lee Hae Ri dan Kim Dong Hyun, tampil membawakan sebuah lagu berjudul “Kim Sung Ho’s Reminiscence”. Dirilis pertama kali pada tahun 1989, versi original lagu pop folk ini bukan merupakan lagu duet. Namun, di tangan Lee Hae Ri dan Kim Dong Hyun, “Kim Sung Ho’s Reminiscence” menjadi sebuah lagu duet pop ballad yang tak kalah indah dengan versi originalnya.

Lee Hae Ri dan Kim Dong Hyun membawakan lagu "Kim Sung Ho's Reminiscence" pada program "Immortal Songs 2" Episode 127

“Kim Sung Ho’s Reminiscence” is a song about a man who reminisces on his past lover. Its sentimental lyrics talked about the day of the breakup. Since the first time I heard this song and knew the meaning of its lyrics, it suddenly hit me hard. I mean, what’s written in its lyrics is something that everyone has experienced. And yes, it’s what I’ve experienced too. Everyone in their life must have a sad memory about their past lovers, with a little bit of pain and a little bit of regret. Well, I guess there’s nothing more to say, the chorus part is already explaining everything. “I sometimes shed tears, when I feel that I’m all alone. I miss her so much, but I don’t even have any single picture left. She cried when she left me, but it wasn’t easy for me either. I was too young back then, I didn’t know how precious she was.”

Indeed, autumn is the season of loneliness. And this song fits the season well. It has sorrowful melody and lyrics that make this song perfect for autumn. Moreover, Lee Hae Ri and Kim Dong Hyun’s calm yet deep performance was touching everyone’s hearts. The way the interpreted the song was so great. Their rendition of “Kim Sung Ho’s Reminiscence” gave this kind of feeling, ‘The man who thought that he’s less than perfect, and the woman who thought that he’s more than perfect. They were so caring for each other that they decided to break up.’ With their performance, Lee Hae Ri and Kim Dong Hyun had successfully taken “Kim Sung Ho’s Reminiscence” to the next level. Though they didn’t win a round on this episode, their performance was beautiful and impressive.

“Those times that I’ve spent with her weren’t so bad. I resented her couples of times, but she was a good person. But that’s not so true, she gave me pain and made my heart aches. We sometimes walked without talking, but it was a good memory. I felt so sorry.” –Kim Sung Ho, Kim Sung Ho’s Reminiscence [translated lyrics]

“Barami mobsi buldeon nalieotji geunyeoneun jogeuman soneul heundeulgo

(It was a windy day when she waved away her small hand)
Eosaekhan misolreul jieumyeonseo naui nuneul boatji hmmm~

(And with an awkward smile, she looked me in the eyes, hmmm~)
Hajiman butjabeul suneun eobseotseo jigeumeun huhoelreul hago itjiman

(But I couldn’t make her stay back then, and although I regret it now)
Meolreojyeoganeun dwitmoseub bomyeonseo dulyeoumdo neukkyeotji hmmm~

(When I saw her getting far from me, I felt so afraid, hmmm~)
Naneun gaseum apatseo

(My heart ached)

Ttaelroneun nunmuldo heullyeotji ijeneun honjalrago neukkilttae

(I sometimes shed tears, when I feel that I’m all alone)
Bogosipeun maeum hani eobjiman jjidjeojin sajinhanjang namji anatne

(I miss her so much, but I don’t even have any single picture left)
Geunyeoneun ulmyeonseo gatjiman nae maeumdo pyeonhajineun anatseo

(She cried when she left me, but it wasn’t easy for me either)
Geuttaeneun neomuna eolryeotseotgie geunyeoui sojunghameul alji mothaetne

(I was too young back then, I didn’t know how precious she was)

Geulreohge nappeujin anatseo geunyeowa hamkke haetdeon sigandeulreun
(Those times that I’ve spent with her weren’t so bad)

Han dubeon wonmangdo haetseotjiman joeun saramieotseo hmmm~

(I resented her couples of times, but she was a good person, hmmm~)
Hajiman kkok geulreoji ana neomu nae mameul apeuge haetji

(But that’s not so true, she gave me pain and made my heart aches)
Seolro maleobsi geotgido haetjiman joeun gieokieotseo hmmm~
(We sometimes walked without talking, but it was a good memory, hmmm~”

Neomu aswiwotseotseo

(I felt so sorry)”