Alt titles: Living Like Back Then; Are We Living Like Those Days?
Music: Ri Jongo 리종오
Lyrics: Ri Jong-sul 리정술, 1990
Considering all the different versions of this song out there, I assume it is pretty popular in the DPRK. The earliest version I can find is by the Pochonbo Electronic Ensemble, one of the most popular music groups in the DPRK. The song is written from the perspective of a war veteran reflecting on the war and how they will never forget what they fought for. This song is definitely up there in my favorites and I really can’t say definitively which version of it is my favorite.
Performances
1990. The original version of this song sung by Jo Gum-hwa. This version has a definite 80s vibe to it and the style of backing vocals used in this arrangement has persisted even in newer versions of the song.
Instrumental, 1995. Despite being recorded in the mid-90s, this instrumenal rendition of the song has a distinct 1980s feel to it. This might be my favorite instrumental version of this song.
05.01.2010. Singer Choe Sol-hui 최설희. The way this version is sung is very similar to the original Pochonbo Electronic Ensemble version, but with the orchestra backing that is common in future renditions of the song. Choe Sol-hui sings in a very expressive style in this performance.
07.27.2013 This song was performed in the last Unhasu Orchestra concert before the group disbanded. An all male vocal rendition of this song with an orchestra like the previous video.
07.28.2012. From their 2012 Victory Day concert. The singers take a backseat in this one and provide backup vocals here and there. The musicians play very passionately and even dance a bit as they play. Very impressive and fun to watch.
12.28.2016. I really like this version for several reasons: it is sung by a group rather than solo like most other version, the violin solo after the first verse is beautiful, I love the sound of the acoustic guitar heard throughout, and the song progressively becomes more upbeat as it goes. It seems like many people prefer the Pochonbo Electronic Ensemble version, but I am partial to this one.
04.12.2019. This version also has an acoustic guitar in the beginning, but overall sounds very different from the 2016 Moranbong Band performance. It is a duet featuring Song Yong and Ryu Jin-a. Song Yong is my favorite Chongbong Band singer and Ryu Jin-a is my favorite Moranbong Band singer, so it is really cool to see them singing together. Both singers have strong, beautiful voices that meld together nicely. The full orchestra sound and State Merited Chorus backing the singers makes this possibly the most grand sounding arrangement of this song. Similar to the 2016 Moranbong Band version, the song speeds up and gains more singers at the end.
English Lyrics
Lyrics by Moranbong Band HD
From the days of my youthKorean Lyrics
Lyrics by Moranbong Band HD
내 젊은 시절 추억도 많은