Huge thanks to FB who took the time to translate and proofread a significant part of the lyrics. I reasonably wouldn’t have been able to work on the following interpretation without his enlightenment. 

I. The Beginning, or is it?

When a project is titled after the artists’ name, chances are that it’s going to be an introduction to their universe and that’s totally what “O’KOYE”, the first song of the album, is. 

“One, two, three, go ~”

That is what you hear as you press play, a brief sample that seems to come straight from the recording of a Jazz Jam Session. It’s only four seconds, but they are high in meaning because right after you are pretty much transported into a jazz club. IKYO’s striking flow resonates, punctuated by a combination of a cheery trombone and drums quickly followed by saxophone, piano, and bass. It’s swingy and lighthearted; the décor is set; you are hooked. 

There is something very spontaneous, and instinctive in the instrumental, but also paradoxically meticulous and thoughtful. Which sure is, after all it took about three years for The o2 and IKYO to release this project. Following their collaboration on IKYO’s single “Jazztext” unveiled in March 2021, The o2 indeed suggested they keep on developing this sound into a full conceptual album. The duo O’KOYE was born and with this a willingness to spread “fun in the broad spectrum”. It’s thus with no surprise you can notice a similar statement in their eponymous introductive song:

전과 다른 재미를 찾아

Looked for fun like never before

둘러보니 답은 하나

and here’s the only answer to that

뭘 좀 아는 애들 둘이

Here’s two men who know something-

재미만을 긁어 담아낸

fun and we sketch it-

그림은 여기 뿌려

on here, spread the words

내 그림을 여기뿌려 더

We create more, spread the words

메인은 아직 아냐, 인트로인 에피타이저

And this is just an intro, an appetizer, not the main dish.

But this song is also an introduction to another dimension of this album: surpassing one’s doubts. 

When you first listen to this album, the idea that it might tackle such a heavy topic probably doesn’t cross your mind, especially if like me you can barely speak Korean. 

Overall the instrumentals and their refreshing arrangements are all very catchy, playful even sometimes. The same goes for IKYO who conveys contagious energy through his flow. 

But here is all the complexity and the depth of this album.   

The willingness to spread “fun” doesn’t spring from nowhere. It can be seen as the result of a rather arduous self-reflection journey, a journey punctuated by jazz that is depicted throughout the songs of this album. 

In this sense, the song “O’KOYE” featured by the pianist 윤석철 (Yun Seokcheol) is the start of this self-healing journey, for instance with lyrics like those: 

작은 집 안에 테이프

Tape inside a small house

정체로 물드는 새

Doesn’t seem like it’s concrete

벙찌면 잡히던 감정 지나

go through the feeling when I am stunned

비는 더 내리고

It’s raining more

머물 시간은 빼

There’s no time to stay

더 머물 시간은 빼

There’s no more time to stay

쫓기며 접힌 미간 사이를 벌려

I’m being chased and I’m opening my folded eyebrows

트럼페터 싹들을 쥔 것처럼 답해

Answer in a trumpeter state of mind

방식은 jazz in my way

And the method is like “jazz in my way”

숨소리까지가 완성

The breathing sound is complete

이젠 걸음을 떼

Now I get off my feet.

 

Considering the lyrics of the following songs, the small house might be a metaphor for doubts, and overthinking. There is a sense of urgency that is developed later, the protagonist is thus taking action, getting off their feet, and starting their journey.

But in a way, the resolution to spread fun is also the outcome of this journey, in such, the song “O’KOYE” could hence also be seen as the conclusion. Both the start and the end. 

II. Rebirth

Before going further, I should emphasize that this article is just a suggestion on how to interpret this work of art, and in no way a definitive interpretation, and especially not for this specific part which I admit, gave me quite a hard time. 

“We”, the next song, directly starts on a quite surprising delivery from IKYO. It’s kind of mumbled as if he was talking to himself, which could be the case since the song starts with this verse: 

딴 거 필요없이 내 곡들로만 꾸려낼 것 

I’m gonna make it on my own, with my, own songs and nothing else

The song “O’KOYE” ended on the fact he got off his feet, and now that it’s done, he is bracing himself, like a pep talk. 

Alternatively, but it’s probably a reach, the fact that those lyrics are mumbled could mean that at this stage of the narrative thread, he has the intuition that it’s what he must do, but he hasn’t fully processed it yet.

In any case, this whole verse really serves as an introduction to the song, followed by a nice instrumental part led by the talented Q the Trumpet, who, if you don’t already know him, obviously plays the trumpet. 

After this instrumental break, you can hear a part more on the singing side which could remind you of a Gospel choir, and believe it or not, it’s also performed by IKYO. Are those chants an inner voice or from some external forces that would support the protagonist, it doesn’t really matter. What matters though, is the message:  

매번 수업인 고민

Worries teach me

내 삶은 되려 고민을 놓아야 될 수도 편히

But maybe I can be free if I throw my worries away

내 눈 밖이던 감정들이 더 쌓이고

The Emotions that were out of my sight, got piled up

 

We can grow from the worries we encounter, however, when their amount becomes overbearing, they hinder our freedom. 

As a matter of fact, IKYO mentions some of his struggles throughout the song. 

You can notice for instance references to the struggle for artists to find their public when they choose to dedicate themselves to more complex sonorities than the ones commonly heard on the mainstream scene. Which can ultimately lead to self-doubts, as depicted here:

늘 그렇듯 새벽 밤 그 사이 

Between midnight and dawn, as always

내 곡들에 확신없던게 나뿐일 때

I was the only one who wasn’t sure about my shit/art.

그 반대로 확신할 수 있던게 나뿐일 때

Or I was the one who was / When I was the only one who could believe in it.

 

Self-doubts, but also feelings of envy. In the second half of the song, it thus seems that IKYO explains that at some point he lost his purpose, or rather that his only purpose became recognition:

인정을 뺀 내 목적지란 없었지만

There was no destination for me except recognition

 

Fortunately, you can notice an evolution of his mindset, especially in the last part of the song:

현재는 계산보단 행동

Move first, overthinking is too much for now.

행동 뒤 따르는 건 행복

Happiness, After I made my shit/stuff

내 삶이 쉬워질린 없어

My life won’t get any easier,

해서 뒤 따르는게 내 턱

that’s why my chin moves.

 

Even if his problems probably won’t be solved overnight, rather than overthinking, dedicating himself to his art, to music, can still bring him happiness.  

This newfound determination is comforted by the very last verse: 

내 답

My answer

안 새롭지 

Nothing new

다 비스듬해도 

Even if it’s all oblique (as in: “Even if it’s high, hard to reach” I think)

잡히는 게 있어

I have something to catch.

 

The goal might be high, but the answer stands the same, he will keep on pursuing it. 

There is another message from the “Gospel” choir though: 

we all got time 또 wait 

대신 더 많은 poet 

More poet instead

또 is pronounced “to” in Korean, but it also means “also” or “again”. This could thus be a wordplay: “we all got time to wait”; “we all got time, again, wait”. 

It somewhat seems like it echoes the struggle of reaching the mainstream public mentioned earlier. Something along the way of: “There is plenty of time, no need to rush; rather than alienating your art, we need more poets on the scene”. 

But there is a last point I didn’t mention, which is none other than the title of the song itself. We could wonder why “We” or the “when I be we” lyrics after all. To me, there could be two reasons.

In one of the first verses mentioned earlier, there is this idea that he was struggling with self-doubt, directly followed by those verses: 

지금에 난 나보다 몇 배나 

Now I sit with people who believe in me 

날 믿는 사람들과 들어앉아 

many times more than I do

 

So “we” because he is not alone anymore, now he has people supporting him. 

But another idea could be simply that the “we” refers to O’KOYE, their duo. Those struggles are sadly not uncommon in the “underground” scene. Thus they would relate to each other, and/or the fact that in each other they found a support system. They mutually encourage and push each other to go higher. When IKYO says “I” it could refer to both of them.

If “We” ends on such a positive note, why does “D.E.A.D Interlude” feels paradoxically filled with melancholia? Why even such a title? 

If you pay close attention to the melody, you can somewhat notice the repetition of a motif, one that gets more elaborated and warm as the song progresses. It kind of feels like it’s loading. It loads until it reaches its final form at around 1:01, where you can hear a breathing sound. It’s as if someone could finally breathe. As if they would have been deprived of air for a very long time. 

My theory is that we are witnessing a rebirth. The repetition and complexification of the motif could be a metaphor for the evolution to a healthier mindset of the protagonist. Far from being a linear process, they struggled to change, but progressively and with time, they learned. And now they are changed, more free.

And well, the following song is none other than “Free Bird” and starts with the following verses:

이 다음은 위

Now we’re about to go up

[너무 가벼워]

[I’m too light]

발은 넣어둬

Don’t have to use your feet 

[대신 팔을 더]

[But your arm]

이건 날갠 안 꺾일 레서피

This is the recipe for unbreakable wings

딴 건 뒤에 둬

Don’t care about anything, just leave it

날갯짓 해

Flap your wings

V를 펼쳐 여러 번

Make a V several times

더 V를 펼쳐 여러 번

More V’s, more V’s, More V’s

더 V를 펼쳐 여러 번

More V’s, more V’s, More V’s

두 귀로는 못 섞일 언덕

a hill beyond one’s ears

위로 계속 더 가

Keep going higher and Higher

 

You can notice that the tone of the lyrics is about learning, with advice or the use of words such as “recipe”. You typically use a recipe when you don’t know how to cook a specific meal. The theory of the rebirth would thus be fitting. Now that IKYO changed his mindset, he is a new man, he feels lighter and hence must learn how to live with this newfound freedom, metaphorically represented by the wings.  

The instrumental also resonates with those lyrics, it’s cheerful and lighthearted thanks to the percussions and the brass, reminiscent of West/Central African Jazz, but also maybe of Latin Jazz, with even some slight Samba influences. 

There are still mentions of struggles though, it’s not a smooth process.

너네가 말한 걸음대로 

I can’t take the steps you say 

난 못가겠어

I can’t go

비스듬해도 달라질거없더만

Even if it’s slanted, it won’t change anything

내 바스트 여전해

My bust is still the same

날갠 옆에있고

Wings, beside me

 

Along this, there is also the idea of being stuck under the clouds:

내 음악은 숲을 헤엄

My music swims through the forest

그 아래 날갯짓 더

Down there, flapping your wings

더 낮게 저공비행

I fly lower and lower

구름 아래 공기는 다 비슷해

Same, all the air under the cloud 

어느 새 비워놓은 자리

An empty seat

내가 바랬던 건 지금이야

I’ve been waiting for this

내비둬

Let me cook

 

But it’s not necessarily said negatively. The “어느 새 비워놓은 자리 (An empty seat) / 내가 바랬던 건 지금이야 (I’ve been waiting for this)” seems to be a reference to the willingness to make it as an artist. Waiting to be noticed by the public. So yes he is not above the clouds just yet, however, his music does “resonate through the forest”.

I understand this as, fame or not, you can still find happiness in making music, an idea that was already hinted at in “We” and that seemed to be confirmed by the following lyrics:

작은 지붕 구석엔 안 갇혀

I’m not stuck in the corner of the small roof

쎄멘에 안 박혀

Not stuck in the cement

두 날개 다 폈고

Both my wings are open

내 상탠 안 바뀌어

My condition doesn’t change

내 결정에 값을 매기는 남과

With others who value my decisions

또 저울질해봤던

I’ve weighed it

거기 난 안 잡혀

There I’m not caught

 

He can still enjoy life, something he repeats with a striking flow at the end of the song. 

조금 늦긴해도

Even though it’s a little late

아이같아진 내 어깨

Like the life of a child, no pressure.

 

It seems that he is not alone either, with the previous verse but also maybe this one: 

바라보기엔 뒤에 또

Looks like there are two more wings 

두 날개가 빼꼼 

peeking out behind me

 

This could be a reference to The o2, which would be another confirmation that “We” would indeed be a reference for the fact they form a team. 

III. Following the dream 

“서울 (Seoul)”, the next song, starts with a quite singular vibe. It honestly feels like a fever dream, with the bouncy percussions cadenced by what seems to be a kazoo. Progressively the instrumental takes on a more menacing color, tension is slowly building until it breaks into a deflagration of drums and brass.

It’s almost overwhelming, but probably not as overwhelming as what IKYO must have felt when he first moved from the Daejeon area to Seoul. 

Seoul is a city of hope. 

서울이 내 빛

Seoul is my light

 

It’s a city of hope for the opportunities that it represents, but it’s therefore somewhat a mandatory step for any artists who strive to live from their music. This raises the question as to whether IKYO moved to Seoul because he WANTED to, or because he HAD to. And it seems that he does have conflicting thoughts about the matter:

난 가 고픈 것 보다

Maybe I should go there, 

갈 수 밖에 없을지도

Not like I want to go there.

 

Directly followed by: 

Time

생각이 벽일 때

When my thought is a wall to me

고민의 반은 답

Half of the worries are the answer

젠가하듯 반은 빼

And I get rid off that half like I do Jenga

저 서울

I want to go to Seoul

난 피드 밖

I’m off the beat

 

With those lyrics and the metaphor to the Jenga games, it seems that one of the reasons he could be reluctant to go to Seoul would be the uncertainties that the city represents. 

Because after all, Seoul is a bet. 

좀 때 이른 밤

an early night

바램들이 서는 곳

a place where the wishes stand

라임으로 묶긴 좀 불확실한 곳

a place of uncertainty laced with rhyme,

기대만 흩뿌리는 빠칭코

Pachinko that gives me fantasy only

거기 니 첫 걸음을 옮긴

There you have it

성공이란 플러팅

the first step to success

출처는 다 made in Seoul

those are all made in Seoul.

 

The instrumental during this specific part is also very reminiscent of a bustling night especially thanks to the alto Saxophone played by 송하철 (Song Hachul), hence emphasizing the idea that Seoul is a city that never sleeps. 

Moving to Seoul is a bet because there is no guarantee that he will actually meet success here but it’s also a place of competition which seemingly doesn’t feel right to him.

너네는 경쟁이라 말하고

Seoul, you guys call it a competition

난 산책만을 바란

but what I wanted was to walk around 

작은 서울티켓

That’s why I got a small ticket to Seoul

 

He didn’t come to Seoul to compete with other artists, but to make music, and succeed with it.

Nevertheless, want it or not, being surrounded by other artists can add supplementary pressure because it’s easy to fall into the trap of comparing yourself. And in this verse, it seems that at some point he somehow hasn’t been spared by this phenomenon.

역경들을 닦아낸 인터뷰가 뱉는 삶

Interview about how they made it,

그 안엔 “너 또한 할 수 있다” 말해

In it, they say like, “You can do it too”.

그게 불씨보다는 화가 됐네

It set my mind on fire, but it was arson.

 

When you strive for a goal with all your heart, sometimes motivational words spoken genuinely by people who already succeeded can trigger some insecurities. Rather than inspiring a newfound motivation, it might make you feel inferior, or even envious, which usually leads to a vicious cycle where you feel bad for having such feelings in the first place.

So, he left his home, and his loved ones, for a place that epitomizes both his hope but also his worst uncertainties. It’s a complex mix of feelings, and, alone in Seoul, he can only rely on himself to face it. 

Was moving to Seoul a good idea? That’s the question he asks: 

갈증나던 내가 원하던 곳은 서울이 맞는걸까?

Is Seoul the place to quench my thirst?

대답해줘

Answer me.

(왜 떠 밀린 척해?)

(Why are you pretending to be pushed back?)

(너에겐 다음뿐이야)

(What you have is only next)

원하던 곳은 서울이 맞는걸까

Is Seoul the place I wanted

(대답이 뭐든)

(Whatever the answer is)

(give it to me)

(give it to me)

(뭐든 필요할테니)

(Anything’s okay)

 

But he can’t go back, as he mentions several times at the end of the song, he can’t go back because that’s the place where his dream is:

내 꿈이 날 깨우는 위치에 hold on me

Hold me on where the dream wakes me up

거기 늘 앞에 있어

Cause’ there is it.

대답은 내가 만들면 돼

The answer is in my mind

막막해져도 (다 털어내)

Shake it off when you’re at a loss

 

This specific verse is very interesting and quite intriguing when you think about it because you typically wake up from a dream, and not the contrary. Here we could hence interpret this as the fact that it is his dream that motivated him to go where he is right now. It’s because he wants to pursue music that he moved to Seoul. 

In addition, dreams are a product of our subconscious, hence the “대답은 내가 만들면 돼” (The answer is in my mind). 

Therefore, an interpretation could be: when you have doubts, take a step back to listen to your inner voice because that’s where your answer is. 

Likewise, it’s preferable to focus on the present than to overthink the future.

미래만 머물기는 또

I’m hesitating to stay in the future in case I wilt,

행여 시들까 현재로 가져온 마음

So I decided to focus on the moment

 

Obviously, it’s easier said than done which seems to be highlighted by the abrupt rupture of the rhythmic pattern just a few verses before those. A change from the upbeat nocturnal vibe to a more muted and intimist atmosphere that resonates with the reflections shared by IKYO. 

But eventually, it’s gonna be fine, and that is in those words that the song “서울 (Seoul)” ends.

그래 괜찮아 난 괜찮아

Yeah, I’m alright.

말이 전부여도 썩 괜찮아

Even if it’s a word, I’m alright.

잘 될거야란 답만 메아리쳐줘

You’re my echo, say “we gon’ be alright, Back to back

(다 잘될거야)

(Yeah, we gon’ be alright)

 

There is a seamless transition between “서울 (Seoul)” and “Yezzir” featured by the musician 윤석철 (Yun Seokcheol) thanks to the continuity of the sample used. This, but the instrumental in “Yezzir” also directly echoes with “서울 (Seoul)” last lyrics. Throughout the song, the combination of the drums, the bass, and the saxophone brings a groovy vibe while the synth contributes to adding an almost intergalactic side if it makes sense. 

As a matter of fact, the song title refers to the expression “yessir” which is typically used to convey one’s motivation, in line with “let’s go~”. The synth played as it is here could hence be a way to signify this idea of living fully in the present.

One could also wonder why the title “Yezzir” and not simply “Yessir”? After all, in the lyrics, it’s “Yessir”.

To this, I would reply “Which other word contains two z?” That’s right, Jazz. 

Alright, now you might be thinking that it’s a reach, and it would be understandable but I have reasons to believe this. 

When you look closely at the lyrics, through the song there is to me a parallel between the piano (and thus music, jazz), the hand, and freedom

손 펴 

Open your hand

건반 쪽 위

The upper part of the keyboard

 

Here opening the upper part of the keyboard could simply mean playing the piano. But later there is also this idea of putting wings on the hand.

손에 날개 달아

Put wings on your hands

All over the album, the wings are synonymous with freedom and happiness. Putting wings on the hand, opening them and playing the piano, making music, would thus lead to happiness. This idea is seemingly comforted by the hook.

답은 다 비슷해 이미

The answers are all similar already

건반 위 떠 있는 View

But the Point of View of me floating on the keyboard

날개 비슷한 이 행복

Gives me happiness, cause I’m flying

 

In said hook, he also chants

Yessir we 

Want no more 

Yessir we 

Want no more

Yessir we 

Want no more

 

They don’t need anything more than making music. This is backed up by the fact that the song overflows with references to music, whether it is famous figures such as the jazz musician Herbie Hancock, or vocabulary like “timetable”, “Damping” or “괄호찍” (Bracket). We sadly don’t have a full accurate translation but the amount of wordplay delivered by IKYO here is incredibly impressive and very clever. 

IV. Down the Flowery Path

While the first part of the album was overall on the animated side, “The o2 Interlude” marks a significant change in the vibe. Here The o2 not only took care of the production, but it’s also him that you can hear sing. 

You are my sweet little star

Im gon watch you tonight

My sweet little star

Im gon watch you tonight

Sweet Little Star

 

To go along with such lyrics, he went for a very refined background, a choir, and some cricket sounds, hence reminiscing of the night. 

It’s intimist, just like “Broken” and “Lift Me Up”, the next two songs. 

Besides their atmospheres, both songs have the specificity to include references to a flowery path, 꽃길 in Korean. Nowadays, Koreans use this expression to wish people a beautiful life, as in “I hope you walk on a flower path” or in other words “I hope you don’t encounter hardships”. Originally this expression stems from the famous poem “진달래꽃 (The Azaleas)”, written in 1922 by 김소월 (Kim Sowol), a poem about boundless love and devotion. 

In the context of both songs, however, it seems that IKYO twisted the meaning of this flower path. In “Broken” for instance:

니가 없었음

부러졌을 나

It’s me, who would have broken without you.

시든 꽃길 사이를

헤매였을 나

It’s me, who wandered in a wilted flowery path

어쩌지

(넌 이제 나의 모든 이유가 됐어)

(You mean everything to me)

 

Or in “Lift Me Up”:

난 부러질듯한 꽃길 사이를 

Through the fragile flowery path

또 허우적대겠지

Maybe I struggle again 

약한 날 위해서 빌어

I’m weak, so I pray for myself

 

To me, in this context, there could be two meanings for the flowery path. In “Broken” especially, it could mean that his choices led him to walk on a wilted flowery path instead of a healthy one. He was unhappy. But the flowery path could also be a metaphor for pursuing music, maybe more so on “Lift Me Up”. Pursuing the music path is beautiful, and in keeping with the expression it makes him happy, but just like flowers, it’s also fragile.  

In any case, through those struggles, the help of the loved one mentioned in both songs has been; and still is, precious. If we go back more specifically to “Broken”, IKYO shares his adoration in many ways through the lyrics.

(그래 날 빼도,

넌 남게 해줘

Yeah, even if you take me out, 

뿌연 내 삶 속

유일한 채도)

You’re the only vivid one in my blurry life

가난한 맘에 쏘이는 빛

A light that shines on my poor heart

넌 내 숨을여는 창

You are my window to breathe

날 일으켜

and wake me up

(hold me)

넌 나의 숨

You’re my breath

 

가난한 맘에 쏘이는 빛

a light that shines on my poor heart

 

Throughout the album, IKYO isn’t afraid to show a vulnerable side of him, but in “Broken” it somewhat feels like he is even more transparent. It thus makes even more sense they decided to go for a muted vibe for this one. 

Therefore, we can hear him sharing his doubts and fears.

Can it last forever?

이따금 걱정돼

Sometimes, I’m worried

내가 삶에 병들어 버려서 너에게 또 짐이 될까

if I’m gonna be a burden to you again because I’m sick of this life

무서워져

Yeah, I fear this

(널 피해 갔음 해)

(I want to avoid you)

 

He is so afraid to be a burden that a part of him could be ready to avoid them. This could be seen as a way to protect them or as some sort of self-sabotage.  

Nevertheless, we can also notice some sort of reassurance.

소나기

Through the rain,

뙤약볕 지나

Past the blazing sun

꽃길 사이 사나운 어둠이 우릴 덮쳐도

Even if the dark hits us in the middle of the flowery path (as in: while everything goes well),

We’ll be fine

 

In “Lift Me Up”, IKYO emphasizes how the support of this person is essential in his pursuit of music.  

I couldn’t find the way

I couldn’t find the way

지친 마음만 구름 높이에

멍하니 있네

Only my tired heart is high in the clouds

남은 채

시든 몸

그대로 꺾여질

On the ground, remains my withered and broken body 

날 일으켜줘 어서

Get me up, please

 

If we go back to the supposition that the view above the clouds represents success in music, then the lyrics above could mean that while his heart wishes to succeed, he is sadly isn’t there yet. There is a discrepancy between where he wishes to be and where is currently is, which takes a toll on him.

Fortunately, their faith in him revived his passion.

니 믿음이 준 심박

Your faith gave me a heartbeat

 

Which contributes to his motivation to keep on working for his dream.

난 계속 걸어가고파

I want to keep walking

난 계속 걸어가고파

I want to keep walking

걸어서 하늘까지 닿는 여정

The backpacking to the sky 

구름에 파편이 되긴 아쉬움이 커

It would be sad if I became a piece in the clouds.

 

Becoming a piece in the clouds could mean giving up before reaching the sun, success. 

His motivation is also highlighted by his change of delivery. His flow increases in intensity just on the “난 계속 걸어가고파” (I want to keep walking) part which is quite detonating with the previously nocturnal atmosphere.

But just like we saw in “서울 (Seoul)”, it’s a tough journey alone. So he hopes that they will keep on supporting him. 

풀썩 꺾인다면 손을 잡아줘

Hold my hand when I fall apart

내게 건낸 그 손은 다이아몬드

The hand you gave me is a diamond

비에 덮힌 다음 언제 또 꺾인다 해도

Even if I break again after being covered in rain

[몇번이고 내 손을 가득 잡아줄래?]

[Will you hold my hand full again and again?]

 

The way it’s worded, the rain here could be a metaphor for encountering hardship or some disappointing reasons, and they protect him from this rain.

내 손을 잡아줘

Grab my hand

난 비를 못 피해

Can’t stay out of rain

우산같은 니 두 손을 잡아

Your hands are like an umbrella, I grab those

 

The song ends with the following lyrics:

언덕 다음 저 노을

The sunset after the hill

by your side

by your side

 

Then, the silence gives way to a thirty-second-long outro and it feels just like watching a sunset. The instrumental is calm but tinged with a very soothing warmth, no drums, just a saxophone (or trombone ?) and a synth.   

V. No matter what, Look at the Sky

There is both a continuity and a rupture between “Lift Me Up” and “하늘을 봐 (Look Up)” featured by The o2. Just like the end of “Lift Me Up”, the introduction on “하늘을 봐 (Look Up)” is refined. It’s quite contemplative, with almost an arid side to it, like someone who would be in the midst of a long journey across a desert. And suddenly, like a mantra, we can hear The o2’s voice, almost resonating. 

하늘을 봐

Look at the sky

하늘을 봐

Look at the sky

never goodbye

하늘을 봐

Look at the sky

 

The fact The o2 chants those lyrics is quite symbolic, or at least it could be. Facing all those struggles, crossing the path of The o2 could have been for IKYO a reminder of his passion. Their shared passion for music is a driving force. 

The sound atmosphere changes drastically. It progressively gains in intensity, taking us to the core, it’s almost galvanizing. But as it progressively keeps on gaining in intensity, some sort of underlying pressure starts to bloom. It quite feels as if we were trying to keep up with something. And this something could be none other than Time, a central but also ambivalent concept behind “하늘을 봐 (Look Up)”.

강처럼 흐르던 시간이 지금 내겐 파도

The time has flowed like a river does, now it feels like waves

서른 두시반인 시계태엽

Clock’s at 32 and a half

스물이 대낮 두시 반이던

My 20s were like a daytime 

시곈 또 알람없이

The clock doesn’t have an alarm

서른의 새벽까지

til the dawn of 30s

삶이 나의 걸작인듯이 뛰어

Run as fast as you can, like your life is your masterpiece.

이유는 없어 그냥 뛰어

No matter what, just run.

영원할 것 같던 스물을 부를 순 없듯

Nothing lasts forever, there’s no answer from my 20’s.

시간은 내 편이 아냐

Time is not on my side

 

The metaphor of time flowing like a river echoes with the guitar. The way The o2 is playing is incredibly smooth and delicate, tinged with Latin influences. On the other hand, the Jersey rhythmic pattern used for the drums contributes to this concept of running after time. The song at its core mirrors those mixed feelings, just like the lyrics. 

The pressure of Time and Aging prevails here, the social construct that we must make it before a certain expiration date; otherwise our dreams would be pointless. He does end up mentioning this very idea a few verses later.

유통기한을 알면 왜 뛰어?

Why are you hustling even though you have an expiration date?

늘어지는 꿈

Yeah it’s a sagging dream

서른 다음 둘

30 years and 2 more, that’s me

 

Even when at first glance Time seems to be mentioned under a positive stance, there is always a remaining doubt.

시간이 약인데

Time solves everything, medicine

약쟁인 아닌 내 태도

But I’m not a junkie

겁이많아 다 취해있어

Fear makes you drunk

 

“시간이 약이다” is a Korean proverb, on how, just like medicine, time solves everything. However, the next line could question that. After all, when one overindulges in them, medications can become literal drugs. It’s a question of dosage. With this verse, IKYO could mean that he doesn’t want to rely on time to solve his problems. After all when you stay idle, you are more prone to be plagued with anxious thoughts, with fear. This could thus explain the correlation with the last line. If you just rely on time to solve your problems, you might leave room for fear to take over you. And when you do, it can result in a vicious cycle in which anxiety prevents you from being productive, but because you can’t be, even more anxiety is taking over you. 

It’s thus an invitation to being in control of our own life, just like the following verse. 

손에 핀 날들

The days in my hand

영원을 품었다 지는 꽃

Flowers that hold eternity

날개 핀 삶들

Life that is spreading its wings

접혔다가 또 피는 봄

Spring that folds and blooms again. 

 

On a side note, those lyrics are typically a display of IKYO’s talent as a lyricist. It’s literally poetry. For instance in the last line, in Korean 피는 means both to bloom and to open up, which thus mirrors the use of to fold. 

Just like for the whole analysis, there could obviously be several interpretations of these lines but considering the narrative line, here is how I would interpret them.

With the first line, there is this idea of agency. The Days could indeed be a reference to Time, thus, what is he choosing to do with the time he has at hand? The answer seems to be in the second line. 

In this second line, the Flowers could be a reference to the Flowery path mentioned in the two previous songs. If the Flowery path is indeed a metaphor for pursuing music, then flowers, music, hold eternity. Artists are eternal through their art.

Consequently, this first part could mean, that he decided to dedicate his days to music, to create something eternal. 

This idea is potentially supported by the second part. If wings are a metaphor for freedom, happiness, passion, following one’s will. Then a life that is spreading its wings could mean a life of freedom, a life dedicated to one’s passion. 

Given this, we could understand the last two lines as: a life dedicated to passion, is just like spring. Spring folds but inevitably blooms again. Which could be interpreted as: a life of passion is an eternal cycle of ups and downs. We encounter hardships, but eventually, it always gets better, just like the coldest winter turns into spring. And it’s arguably because we went through the coldness of winter that the Spring light warmth is so precious.

Therefore, by dedicating their time to art, artists can create something that lasts beyond them. 

It’s not a linear path though, not a path without hardships, without doubts, but it’s a path of freedom.  

IKYO hence shares his willingness to dedicate himself to his music. 

짧은 삶

A short life

땅을봐도

Even if you look at the ground

하늘봐도

Even if you look at the sky

하루 반복

Repeating the day

영원 할 것처럼 뱉어도

Spit as it’s everlasting

 

The song ends with this verse:

시간은 금

Time is gold

시간은 잿빛

Time is gray

약해지는 새벽 밤

잠을 깨면 리셋

Reset when you wake up in the waning hours of dawn

쉿

Shh.

하늘을 봐

Look at the sky.

 

Whether time is an opportunity or a threat, at the end of the day, just like medicine, the most important thing is what we do with it. And to stay on the right track, we must not lose sight of our goals. No matter what, look at the sky.

Which is pretty much what “Hallelujah” is about. 

Does it mean that there are no mentions of struggles anymore? No, truth be told the first two lines are none other than: 

좆됐어

I’m screwed

뭐든 답 없대

There is no answer to everything

[헌데도 찾지 얽매이듯]

[He is still looking for one]

 

But compared to the previous songs, here it feels like he is way more nonchalant about it, like in this extract in which he is basically telling his haters off:

내가 망한다고해줘

You can say I’m going to fuck up

망할거라고 해줘

Say I’m going to fuck up

부정도 해줘

You can deny me

개 좆같은 말들 만 더해줘

Say some more bullshit to me

[야 넌 지껄여 더]

Ya, you just talk more shit

 

The vibe itself is way more laidback. It’s quite bouncy, especially thanks to the bass and the BoomBap influences. 

The importance of self-confidence is also highlighted throughout the song, like in this verse:

날개없이도 높게

Going up / High without wings

나는 날 믿기에

I trust myself

너도 날 믿니?

Do you trust yourself though?

안 믿음 개 썅 마이웨이 ㄱ

If you don’t, whatever, just do what you were doing

넌 또 날 안믿니?

Can’t you believe me, huh? 

나 또한 가끔 runaway

Sometimes, I runaway too

어쩌겠어, 좆까.

Well, fuck it 

관심도 됐어

Need no hype

난 내 광신도

I am my own fanatic

 

It’s worth noting that the whole verse is sung by the “choir”-like voice, except for the last three lines in which you can hear IKYO’s more regular flow – albeit quite energy high – hence highlighting his determination. 

In keeping with this, it also seems that in this song he comes to peace with the question of age. 

나이는 발진보단 정거

My age isn’t a rash, it’s at a standstill

32 땡볕에 날 던져

32, throw myself under the scorching sun

빛은 점점 보단 번쩍

The light shines brighter and brighter

삶을 견적

Let me estimate my life

마라톤이 먼저

Marathon comes first

날 믿을게

Let me trust myself, because,

내가 날 믿지 않음 누가 나를 빨아?

If I don’t trust myself, who will?

 

As FB highlighted, the last line is none other than an homage to Paloalto‘s verse in “4 the Youth Freestlyle”, and is a great reminder. Why does it matter if he is 32? What does it change? The only things that matter are his goal, and believing in himself. His flow is especially assertive on this part as well. 

But also, Fun!

Just like in some previous songs, IKYO highlights once again the importance of fun.

재미는 디폴트

Fun is fundemental

He ends the lyrics with those lines, the new mantra that seems to guide his life:

Hoo hallelujah

역겨운 역경 앞에 가운데 손을 더 뻗어

Fuck the fucking struggles 

Hoo hallelujah

날개없이도 높게, 나는 날 믿기에

I trust myself, I’m ready to go up.

 

VI. Cuz I want to 

Ready to go up, IKYO sure does. “I Just Wanna Dance” featured once again by The o2 on the hook definitely conveys this new spirit. Just like in “Yezzir”, the synth is glistening. The whole arrangement is incredibly warm and lighthearted, seemingly mirroring IKYO’s blithesome mind. 

Here IKYO both assesses and celebrates his journey:

꽤나 고된 길

Came a long way which was hard.

나는 나로 머물지

And I stayed true to myself.

돌아본다고 뭔가 더 달라질 건 없어

Looking back would make no difference.

손에 네임택

Name tag is on my hand.

소갠 IKYO

My name, IKYO,

대필이 없는 해시태그

Hashtag with no ghostwriting.

 

He came a long way, which he emphasizes in a substantial part of the song.

(음악안에 삶은 좆같을때가 필요

For music to be good, the life of the musician must be fucked up

내 음악이란 삶에 좆 같을때란 필연)

In case of my music, life’s fucked up obviously.

나사빼도 나는 나로 

Even if I had a screw loose, I’m still me

불만족들인 삶에 기분은 지금 삶과 달리 뭐든 쫓기를 바래

Life is full of discontent, but unlike in the past, my feelings push me to chase anything

행복하냐 묻는다면, 반은 맞네

If you were asking if I’m happy, Half right and half wrong.

답을알고 가도, 반을찾네

I know what’s right, so I’m trying to make it right

 

The lyrics are quite self-explanatory, he embraces the hardships he went through because they are part of himself. And as such, they contribute to the depth of his music. 

Now that he is at peace with that, he strives to do what is good for him, which includes being fully accountable for his life.

나로사는 비용은 성립안되는 뿜빠이

Can’t split the bill for living my life as myself

지불한 곡들, 나의 순간

“My life is on me”, I paid.

 

He owes nothing to no one, and can thus prioritize what he wants, the top priority being music.

I just wanna dance

celebrate 가자 one two

Spendin all my check

into this thing

cuz I want to

Livin my way

IKYO came a long way from “We” to “I Just Wanna Dance”, and with “날개 (Wings)”, finally the light is reachable. 

두 팔은 가벼워

My arms are light

태양 위에 닿을 듯이

I can reach the sun

 

If he can finally see the light, it’s thanks to the self-healing journey he undertook, because he learned to believe in himself. 

기분은 꿈보다 밝은 색

남보다 내가 날 믿어

I trust myself more than anyone

믿음이 만든 게

These wings,

날개인듯이

what my trust made

가끔 비처럼 막연함이 날개를 적시지만

Sometimes, A hazy thought makes my wings damp.

걱정 마

Don’t worry about me

구름 걷히면 빛이 전부니까

When the clouds get cleared, the light will shine on everything.

It’s because he trusts himself, that he grew those wings. Obviously, as we referred to in “하늘을 봐 (Look Up)” earlier, in life, there can be ups and downs. So negative thoughts can cross his mind and dampen his wings. But it’s just a fleeting phenomenon. 

When you reflect more on those verses, you can notice something quite interesting about the mention of clouds though.

If you recollect well, in “Free Bird” there were references to clouds as some external limitations. Something that was out of his control. It was not necessarily a negative thing, but still, there was this notion that he was stuck under something absolute. 

However, in this specific verse, it seems that there is a change of mindset. Were those clouds truly a fatality? 

Indeed, if hazy thoughts can dampen his wings, then they could probably be compared to the rain, and thus, to clouds. This could be backed by the last line, which also refers to clouds. As a result, could it be that from the very beginning, the clouds that were standing in his way, were none other than his own thoughts, his doubts? 

It seems like so. But now, IKYO changed his perspectives. 

그래 어쩌면 누가 볼 때

Yeah, someone can say

이건 악순환의 인생

this life is in a vicious circle

다시 알바 뛰는 신세 [Beenzino’s homage – Profile]

I’m working part-time again

근데 전과 달리

But, this time / unlike before,

이건 내 음악 향해 쏘는 리스펙

This is out of respect for my music

번 돈은 시간

They say time is money,

시간은 곧 내 음악으로

My music cost that time. 

바꾸는 내 삶

That’s my life.

여전하게 감사

And I’m still thankful.

버티는 것 같아 뵈는 지금의 나

Here’s me now who seems to be holding on

헌데 시작점 내가 바라던 게 지금의 나

But, what I wanted at the beginning is what I am now

 

As auditors, we don’t necessarily realize it but making music can quickly be very expensive. If an artist doesn’t produce themselves they must buy a beat whose price varies greatly. They must pay for studio sessions, or at-home equipment such as a mic. If they can’t do it themselves they must reach out to mixing and mastering engineers. And all of those are just for the musical part.

If an artist can’t make a living from their music, most of the time, they must find alternatives such as working a part-time job. 

Thus, it feels like he is saying that in the past, he was probably seeing working part-time as something that was slowing him down in his musical career. Hence the reference to the vicious cycle. You work to be able to make music, but because you work you don’t have the time to make music.

This mindset is demoralizing, to say the least. So he prefers to adopt a new perspective. Working part-time means that he can invest in his music. It’s now an enabler, and thanks to it, he can afford to keep on making music. 

If time is money, the time he spends on his part-time job is what costs his music. 

As a result, he finally became the person he wanted to be when he first started making music. 

IKYO doesn’t lie to himself, nor to us though, according to the next lyrics, he is not where he wishes to be just yet. But each step brings him closer to his goal.

훗날에 바랄 게

What I hope for in the future

지금의 나일 순 없기에

Because I can’t be me now

막연함 너머 구름사이

Between the clouds beyond de vagueness

빛 속에 발 걸음 떼

Step by step in the light

 

“날개 (Wings)” ends in this verse:

비에 젖기를 겁 내 지마

Don’t be afraid to get wet in the rain

새벽이 지나면 또 해가 뜨니까

The sun rises after dawn 

추락이 두려워 

Are you afraid of falling

젖기를 겁 내 지마

Don’t be afraid to get wet

의지만 있다면 추락이 아닌 날 위한 착지

If you have the will, it’s a landing for you, not a fall

 

These words could be interpreted as such. Don’t be afraid to follow your will. Don’t be afraid to take risks to make your vision come true. 

It’s a landing because even if you encounter some failures or some other hardships, it will always be a constructive experience. It’s not a fall, you learn from those, and thus they also bring you closer to your goal. 

And even in the case it wouldn’t, you can always try again. After all, the sun never fails to rise after dawn. 

As always, the instrumental produced by The o2 immaculately resonates with the idea conveyed in the lyrics. It’s bubbly, with even some playful phases like the sample you can hear at the end of each hook for instance.  

There is quite a bit to say about the outro too, which lasts about 2:15 minutes. 

You can hear what seems to be a rewinding sound, and then, it’s very faint but it seems that there is also a short breathing sound. It could be a way to signal that we just played the tape of IKYO’s journey. Or the “wake-up”-like breathing sound could mean that IKYO, or the protagonist, just woke up from a long dream, so everything happened in their subconscious. This could also be relevant as a self-healing journey typically requires you to learn how to be more in tune with your subconscious. 

You could think it’s over, but just like when you go to a movie theater, sometimes it’s better to wait until the very end before leaving the room. 

In the last few seconds, when you think that you are now going to be met with silence, suddenly, you can hear some distant voices. It might take you several plays to hear but here’s what they say:

Would you be a musician if nobody ever heard you?

Sure

Why?

Because I love Music, it’s in my head, I can’t get it out

Powerful words shared by Miles Davis. A hommage to this legendary Jazz player, a hommage to music. 

VII. Where the Fun Starts

That’s how “Whether The Weather Changes Or Not” ends, the end of the journey. Or is it? 

In the part dedicated to the song “O’KOYE” we concluded that this song was both the start and the conclusion of the album.  A start for the self-healing journey, but also its result as it’s implied that IKYO and The o2 already have their answer. 

But arguably, the real beginning is none other than this album. 

“Whether The Weather Changes Or Not” is about trusting yourself, it’s about keeping your spirit up no matter what you’re going through. It’s also about doing things for yourself, and not waiting for the validation of others. 

Whether the light of external approvals shines on you, whether your life suddenly encounters rain clouds. It doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is to follow your vision. And in the case of O’KOYE, to keep on pursuing music, to keep on doing what makes them happy, and fulfilled.

Hence why this album title.

To me, this album is about how they came to terms with those thoughts. But therefore, it’s only the start, because now, considering how insanely talented and passionate they are, now they are just facing a world of possibilities.

Given that they are free of all their doubts, they can fully dedicate themselves to their music. After all, didn’t they tell us that this was just a starter?

메인은 아직 아냐, 인트로인 에피타이저

And this is just an intro, an appetizer, not the main dish

It’s here that the fun really starts.