Three Tunes From J Rabbit

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The first year I taught in Korean public school I was introduced to J Rabbit by a middle school student. It was 2010 and this kid told me I have to listen to J Rabbit because they are dope.

J Rabbit was never meant to be a big thing. It was just two friends who went to art school together, Jung Hye-sun (the singer) and Jung Da-woon the one that plays all the instruments and writes the songs.

If I'm feeling down, these two girls pick me up with their music. I included a variety of their tunes spanning for one decade. I did this intentionally to show how they have changed through the years.

My Favorite Things (cover)

This is the first song I ever heard from J Rabbit. One middle school student thought I would like it. He just went to the English classroom and told me to listen to it on Youtube. At that time Youtube was very new, but these two girls became a smash.

They recorded this right after they graduated from college. Neither of them were married at the time and they were basically unknown. Within two years they became very popular in Korea and around the world. Hye-sun got married to a musician and made songs with him. And Da-woon still hung around to accompany them.

This recording shows the purity of their relationship in the beginning and the fun and also some of the nervousness they had in recording at first. At the end Hye-sun forgot the ending she had planned and just played it anyway. Instead of doing a second take they just left it as it was and were happy with it.

Man in the Mirror (Cover)

Two years later J-Rabbit is well known in Korea and Hye-sun is married. A lot changed in these girls' lives in two years, but they are the same simple, joyful girls with a heart to sing and play with hope.

It's one of my favorite Michael Jackson songs. It's missing the in your face pungency of Michael Jackson, but instead it is a deep reflection almost a devotion. The song allows the listener to ponder on the music and lyrics. It is a gentle reminder that we are the instruments of change when we ourselves change.

Everything's Gonna Be Alright

Ten years later they are both mothers and wrote this song for young students in Korea and their mothers and fathers. After ten years they haven't lost their goofiness and free spirit. Instead they are even more goofy and let loose on this one.

Even if you can't understand the Korean lyrics you can hear the chorus, "Everything's gonna be alright". You can also see and feel their expressions as they sing the song.

This song was written during the Corona period and published on Youtube four months. It deals with a lot of problems South Korea has been having. You won't be able find an English Version so I will help you understand the lyrics. Fist listen to the song.

OK. Here's the lyrics I promised.

내일은 잊지 말고 밤에 운동해야지
Don't forget about tomorrow, you need to exercise tonight.
맑은 하늘 맑은 공기 즐기러 가야지
You need to go and enjoy fresh clean air
엄마 아빠 온 가족 모두 건강해야지
Your mom and dad and everyone in your family should be healthy
바이러스 미세먼지
There are viruses and air pollution
가만히 당할 수는 없잖아
You can't just sit still
학교도 학원도 무사히 졸업해야지
You've got to get through school and academy
행복을 찾아서 하고 싶은 일 해야지
To be happy you've got to do what you want to do
어제도 오늘도 알 수 없는 내 미래도
I don't know yesterday or today, let alone my future
버티다 보면 지나갈 테니까
If you persist you will make it through
좋은 일만 생길 거예요
Good things will happen for you
모두 다 잘 풀릴 거예요
Everything's gonna be alright
Everybody 술리술리풀려라 팝팡 (be popping free)
너도나도 술리술리풀려라 팝팡 (I'll be popping free)
다시 행복해질 거예요
We'll be happy again
언젠가는 모두 웃게 되죠
The day will come when everyone will laugh
Everybody 술리술리풀려라 팝팡 (be popping free)
너도나도 술리술리풀려라 팝팡 (I'll be popping free)
Everything's gonna be alright
모든 날이 완벽한 여행을 떠날 거야
Everyday will be a perfect journey
내가 복권 사는 날 1등 당첨될 거야
The day I buy a lottery ticket, I'll win first prize
언젠가는 제대로 한번 효도할 거야
The day will come when I'll be really happy
원하다면 얼마든지 기분 내볼 수는 있잖아
If you want you can feel any way you want to
당당하고 멋지게 내 인생 성공할 거야
I'm sure I'm gonna be a cool success
쿨하진 못해도 뜨거운 삶을 살 거야
And even if I'm not cool, I'm sure I'm hot
연애도 명예도 건강 직장 재테크도
Love, fame, health, job and money
어쨌든 버티는 게 승자니까
Anyway if I continue I win
좋은 일만 생길 거예요
Good things are gonna come
모두 다 잘 풀릴 거예요
Everything's gonna be alright
Everybody 술리술리풀려라 팝팡 (be popping free)
너도나도 술리술리풀려라 팝팡 (I'll be popping free)
다시 행복해질 거예요
We'll be happy again
언젠가는 모두 웃게 되죠
The day will come when everyone will laugh
Everybody 술리술리풀려라 팝팡 (be popping free)
너도나도 술리술리풀려라 팝팡 (I'll be popping free)
Everything's gonna be alright


Lyrics translated @mineopoly. The story and picture are AI free and creations of @mineopoly

The Three Tunes for Tuesday was created by @ablaze. Check out last week's showcase. Lot's of good tunes there.

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Are we really just a rabbit in a cage?



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6 comments
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These are awesome! Those two are awesome! They are having absolutely so much fun in those videos. I really love how they ended My Favourite Things with laughter like they did. Awesome! Thanks for sharing these.

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Oh Wow!!!! How good are these two, your middle school student was right on the money, and I really really enjoyed those and as I always say I am not a huge fan of covers usually, but these were really lovely to listen to, thanks a million for sharing.

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