With Love

“I have one more thing to do as I live this life. I’m not lonely even though I stand in the middle of a windy field. However, when a single pine needle falls, my tears fall with it. And then, the sun will rise again on each of our aching hearts.” –Sunflower, With Love [translated lyrics]

The pioneer of folk music in South Korea, Sunflower, was being the honorary legend on episode 95 and 96 of music program “Immortal Songs 2: Singing the Legend”. Sunflower –yang dalam istilah Bahasa Korea disebut “Haebaragi”– adalah sebuah grup musik folk yang digawangi oleh Lee Joo Ho, sebagai vokalis dan gitaris utama, sekaligus pencipta lagu. For 37 years, they sang of love and hope with guitars. They moved a lot of people with their poetic lyrics and beautiful melodies. They made the world beautiful with their music. They brought the nation together and became the textbook example of acoustic guitars with their perfect melody. Sunflower sang the songs that heal your aching heart with faint yet reverberate deep within.

Dalam episode 95, yaitu bagian pertama dari edisi spesial Sunflower, terpilih sebagai penampil pertama dari sebelas tim penampil adalah Sonya, seorang aktris panggung teater musikal. Episode tersebut mengudara pada tanggal 6 April 2013 di stasiun televisi KBS, serta pada tanggal 27 April 2013 di channel KBS World. Sonya, the icon of emotion, sang the signature song from the icon of hope that will never change, Sunflower. The song’s called “With Love”. This song was first released on 1989 and it’s a song that Lee Joo Ho cherishes the most. “With Love” is a beautiful song with lyrical melodies that evangelizes love.

Terdapat sebuah kisah menarik dan menyentuh hati di balik penciptaan lagu yang termuat dalam buku pelajaran wajib sekolah tingkat menengah di Korea Selatan ini. Lagu ini diciptakan oleh Lee Joo Ho pada tahun 1987 setelah ia melihat sebuah tragedi dalam berita. Tragedi di mana di Korea Selatan ditemukan empat orang anak gadis yang mencoba bunuh diri akibat kondisi keluarganya yang memprihatinkan. Kedua orang tua mereka bekerja sebagai pembersih jalan dan tidak sanggup membiayai keempat anaknya, sehingga mereka hidup dalam kemiskinan. Segera setelah melihat berita itu, Lee Joo Ho tergerak hatinya dan lahirlah lagu “With Love”.

Sonya ketika membawakan lagu "With Love" pada program "Immortal Songs 2" Episode 95

“With Love” is a song that speaks of love and hope. It tells us that even though there always will be despair in life, love is the only way to light the darkness. Although there always be some times when life gets so hard to handle, love is the only hope that we have. We’re not alone in this world, and we’re not the only one with miserable life in this life. There’s always something out there that watches over us and gives us reasons to keep going on. There’s always something inside ourselves that strengthens us and gives us faith to keep living on. And when we feel strong enough, when we feel tough enough, we could relay it and give it over to everybody else out there who needs. For those who need our helps, we must not hesitate to reach out our hands.

Indeed, emotions are connected from heart to heart. Sonya sang “With Love” with all her heart out and it gave her three rounds winning. Mendengar vokal Sonya sendiri saja sudah sanggup membangkitkan emosi dari dalam hati. Ditambah lagi, Sonya ditemani oleh paduan suara anak-anak. The children choir of 30 kids gave off more positive energy into the performance. Everyone was in awe watching Sonya and the children choir’s performance. And even the legend himself praised it. I love both the original version and Sonya’s remake version. Moreover, I love the song itself very much.

“With our love that will never change forever, I’ll reach out my hand in darkness and light the way.” –Sunflower, With Love [translated lyrics]

“Naega saraganeun dongane hal ili tto hanaitji

(I have one more thing to do as I live this life)
Barambuneun beolpane seo itseodo naneun oerobji ana

(I’m not lonely even though I stand in the middle of a windy field)
Geulreona soliphana tteoleojimyeon nunmulttala heulreugo

(However, when a single pine needle falls, my tears fall with it)
Uri taneun gaseum gaseummada haetsaleun dasi tteoolreune

(And then, the sun will rise again on each of our aching hearts)

Aaa~ yeongwonhi byeonchianeul urideulrui sarangeulro

(Aaa~ with our love that will never change forever)
Eoduun gotse soneul naemilreo bakhyeo julrilra

(I’ll reach out my hand in darkness and light the way)”