“Wi ing Wi ing” was Hyukoh‘s first single. The band had just formed earlier in 2014 around guitarist and singer Oh Hyuk. Adding an additional guitarist, bassist, and drummer to the band, the band found success in Korea when their music was featured in one of the most popular shows in Korea, Infinite Challenge. The band released their first EP, 20, beginning an Adele-like feature of the band–naming projects after Oh Hyuk’s age.
BING BING THE WORLD SPINS. Hard-handed music listeners may not like sentimental Korean ballads, but who has time for them? “Wi ing Wi ing” uses Korean onomatopoeia. Recall from English class that onomatopoeia are words that are associated with the sound an object or creature makes. In English we say that bees buzz, that cows moo, that horns honk. In any language, onomatopoeia can sound cute, especially with repeated syllables. In English, frogs ribbit ribbit, hens cluck cluck and a train on the track could either clack clack clack creating a peaceful lull of an afternoon nap on a train through the countryside with the three times repeated syllable, or the train could clicketty-clack, clicketty-clack showing a rougher ride through the mountains. Both sounds are pleasant to read and hear read aloud. Korean uses repeated syllables for certain specific feeling words. Chool chool hada (출출하다) means to feel a little hungry, as in the feeling that you could eat if someone suggests it but wouldn’t have suggested it yourself other. Ssal ssal hada (쌀쌀하다) is the word for feeling chilly, the kind of chill when the seasons change from summer to fall. There are plenty more examples that are non-onomatopoeia, but Korean onomatopoeia often uses cute double syllables to express a sound. Jjip jjip (찝찝) is the sound of chewing. Gaegool gaegool (개굴개굴) is the language Korean frogs speak, which sounds like a kind of croak. Korean dogs say meong meong (멍멍), which to me seems like a stretch but so does bark.
EVEN THE WIND CAN’T DO ANYTHING ‘BOUT MY SCARRED HEART. Korean takes onomatopoeia a step further. Not only do heard sounds have words, but also inaudible sounds have onomatopoeia. Ever wonder what the sun shining sounds like? Jjaeng jjaeng (쨍쨍). How about the sound of feeling warm? Ttaeggeun ttaeggeun (때근때근). Today’s song takes the buzz of a bee, wing wing (윙윙), and makes it the barely audible sound of a fruit fly, wi ing wi wing (위이 위이). And also the world spins to the sound of bing bing (빙빙). Today’s song is a lovesick indie rock track that rhythmically entwines onomatopoeia and imagery. It’s a song that’s better suited for the summer but also for a chill Saturday at a coffee shop. Enjoy!
Mixtapemotions 