Embedded Files
"That made me feel very proud in the way that it's [Korea] such a small country... every time I get that experience I do get proud that I'm Korean."
dailylife.movWhat was music like in your daily life before coming to the United States?
What was music like in your daily life before coming to the United States?
What song would you say reminds you of your life in Korea?
What song would you say reminds you of your life in Korea?
koreasong.mov"Thank You For The Music" - ABBA
"Thank You For The Music" - ABBA
Even in Middle and Elementary School in Korea, there is a culture of "선행" where kids will learn school material far ahead of what they would learn on average. Eujin's parents allowed her to do all these musical activities rather than being so intense on focusing only on academics, something she is very grateful for.
americanmusic.movWhat sort of music were you listening to when you first arrived in the United States?
What sort of music were you listening to when you first arrived in the United States?
Eujin started listening to a lot of American music once she arrived to the United States in high school. She often found herself actively avoiding Korean music and looking up the most popular music (e.g. Top Charts, etc.) in an attempt to "fit in" so she could talk about this with other high school students.
"Oh, I listen to the same music as these people, I fit in... and I wanted to talk about it so that I could make friends"
Drake
Drake
Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar
Kanye West
Kanye West
Was there a point in time when you felt like you needed to hear music from home?
Was there a point in time when you felt like you needed to hear music from home?
needmusic.movOne particular song of 김동률's that she listened to.
김동률 (Kim Dong-ryul)
김동률 (Kim Dong-ryul)
Eujin's Mom's favorite artist, the artist that Eujin played when she felt like she needed to hear music from home.
How do you feel when you hear Korean Music playing, especially in public?
How do you feel when you hear Korean Music playing, especially in public?
musicinpublic.mov"It serves as a reminder that I should be confident and that I should be proud of my country"
Some artists and songs that Eujin mentions hearing in public. Hearing these songs in public makes her think about how she wants to uplift Korea. The success of these people inspires her and makes her feel prideful, something that she can often forget to be when trying to blend in so often.
stayconnected.movHow do you still stay connected with the music and trends of Korea today, being in the United States?
How do you still stay connected with the music and trends of Korea today, being in the United States?
E.Motion is a Korean Pop dance group at Cornell that Eujin is a part of. It plays a big part of how she stays connected to Korean music, culture, and trends. A big part of her pride in being Korean also comes from being in groups like this where people are so interested about the language and culture of Korea.
stayconnected2.movIs there a song you would say you now connect with your experience in the United States and coming here?
Is there a song you would say you now connect with your experience in the United States and coming here?
americasong.mov"Home" by Michael Bublé
The specific performance of "Home" that appeared on K-Pop star that Eujin refers to that she remembers.
extras.movWhat are some other things about your experiences with music that you haven't already mentioned?
What are some other things about your experiences with music that you haven't already mentioned?
What are three songs or pieces of music that have been meaningful in your life and experience as an immigrant?
What are three songs or pieces of music that have been meaningful in your life and experience as an immigrant?
song1.movsong2.movsong3.mov
거위의 꿈
(Goose's Dream)
거위의 꿈
(Goose's Dream)
인순이
(Insooni)
Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No.3
Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No.3
임윤찬
Yunchan Lim
꽃길
Flower Way
꽃길
Flower Way
김세정
Kim Se-jeong
This was a song that Eujin performed with the artist herself (인순이, Insooni) as a part of the choir she was in when she was younger. She vividly remembers this performance and now that she's older understands the meaning of the song. The song is a reminder that no matter how absurd your dream, you should keep on chasing it.
This performance by 임윤찬 (Yunchan Lim) made him the youngest person ever to win the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. It reminds her of a path that could've pursued if she had continued doing piano and wanted to do it professionally as a career. She also resonates with his philosophy of practicing and finds his music and playing calming.
This song's lyrics really resonates with Eujin. It reflects on the sacrifices of parents to make their flower (child) bloom into something great. And now that their child has bloomed into a flower, she wants become this "flower road" for her parents to pay back for all of their sacrifices to get her there. She hopes to write a song as meaningful as this for her parents.
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