"아리랑"

"Arirang" - Korean folk song

Origin: Korea 한국 (South Korea 🇰🇷)

Trivia: "Arirang" is a popular and beloved Korean folk song often considered to be the unofficial national anthem for both North and South Korea; it is cherished by many people and has been transcribed countless different ways.

The traditional Korean singing technique and style is called gugak, in which you can hear in the video below sung by Song So-hee. Gugak is distinctive in vocal timbre, rubato in tempo, and has ornamental improvisation.

The melody of "Arirang" is based on the pentatonic scale (from the Greek word penta- meaning "five" and tonikos or tonos meaning "tones"), or a five-note scale.

Romanized Transliteration

Arirang, Arirang, Arariyo...

Arirang gogaerul neomeoganda.

Nareul beorigo gasineun nimeun

Sibrido mosgaseo balbyeongnanda.

Cheongcheonhaneuren janbyeoldo manko,

Urine gaseumen huimangdo manda.

Jeogi jeo sani Baekdusaniraji,

Dongji seotdaredo kkotman pinda.

Korean Lyrics (한국어)

아리랑, 아리랑, 아라리요…

아리랑 고개로 넘어간다.

나를 버리고 가시는 님은

십리도 못가서 발병난다.

청천하늘엔 잔별도 많고,

우리네 가슴엔 희망도 많다.

저기 저 산이 백두산이라지,

동지 섣달에도 꽃만 핀다.

English Translation

Arirang, Arirang, Arariyo...

You are going over Arirang hill.

My love, who has abandoned and left me,

Will have sore feet before even walking ten miles.

Just as there are many stars in the clear sky,

There are also many dreams in our hearts.

There, over there, that mountain is Baekdu Mountain.

Where the flowers bloom even during the midst of winter.

Extension Activity

Please watch the videos below and answer the following questions:

How did the K-Pop group's version and the traditional Gugak singing style differ? What are the impressions you felt watching the videos?
When singing along with the last video, how was it? Was it easy, difficult, both, or neither? What made it easy and/or difficult? What would you need to practice to improve?

BONUS QUESTIONS for the K-Pop Lovers:

What's your favorite K-pop group? Do you have a favorite song?
Who is your bias? Who is your bias wrecker? Explain yourself!

Video on the Brief History of Korea and the song "Arirang"

K-pop groups showcasing their rendition of "Arirang"

"Arirang" performed by Song So-hee

Sing-Along Track

The traditional garb you see Song So-hee wearing is called a hanbok (한복). The hanbok is a traditional semi-formal or formal attire worn for many cultural occasions like festivals and ceremonies.

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