Moranbong Band & State Merited Chorus - The 68th anniversary of The Workers’ Party of Korea

모란봉악단과 공훈국가합창단 - 조선로동당창건 68돐경 축 Recorded: Mokran Video, DPRK The Moranbong Band has here been active a little over a year and are now extremely popular among DPRK citizens. Since their debut in 2012 as a sign of the new era they had made many performances with great success, and this concert is no exception. But there were some blackening clouds towering up within the leadership of the country that came to its climax later in December with the execution of Jang Song-thaek. Perhaps some of the songs were selected with this in mind? Instead of just repeating the information for songs that have previously been published individually, I have simply added a link to those videos below. 0:00 Intro 0:22 I sing in praise of the Party (당을 노래하노라) 2:34 Paean to my Motherland (조국찬가) 6:47 The Mother Party protects my destiny medley (내 운명 지켜준 어머니당이여 련곡) 18:19 Our future is bright (우리 앞날 밝다) Text & music: Hwang Jin-yong (황진영) 1993 This song was written two years after the fall of the Soviet Union and the whole eastern block of socialist countries. The DPRK had lost most of its allies and trading partners and stood more or less alone. This led to an economic downfall and added to that several natural disasters that eventually led to a severe hunger crisis. The lyrics might seem inappropriate or even ironic but at hard times this kind of music actually help people in their struggles to carry on despite all trouble. By the end of the millennium the DPRK was back on its feet again and has since then proved the line “There is no one who can stop us“ many times. 21:56 Dash to the future (달려가자 미래로) 25:03 Fly high our Party flag (높이 날려라 우리의 당기) 29:54 My way (나의 길) Text & music: Hwang Jin-yong (황진영) 1997 Vocal solo: Kim Myong-sin (김명신) Violin solo: Sonu Hyang-hui (선우향희) 35:02 Where my life came into bloom (내 삶이 꽃펴난 곳) 38:35 Motherland and I (조국과 나) Text: Ryu Dong-ho (류동호) 1997 Music: Hwang Jin-yong (황진영) Vocal solo: Ryu Jin-a (류진아) Piano solo: Kim Jong-mi (김정미) Written during the hard days of the late 1990s, this beautiful song tells you with a touch of melancholy that even during difficult times your home is in the bosom of the Workers’ Party. Ryu Jin-a also performed this song in 2012: but here she sings all three verses. 43:06 It is October (10월입니다) 46:50 Spread Your wings, Chollima of Songun Korea (나래치라 선군조선 천리마여) Music: U Jong-hui (우정희) 2009 Text: Cha Ho-gun (차호근) Vocal solo: Ham Kum-ju (함금주) The mythological Chollima horse is of great strength and can, thanks to its wings, travel 1000 ri in a single day. The lyrics refers to when the Great Leader Kim Il-sung once got injured near Mt Paektu during the anti-Japanese guerilla fights and a wild horse came and saved him from freezing to death by warming him with his body. General Kim Jong-il spent some of his childhood near Mt. Paektu. The very dramatic opera style voice of People’s Artiste Ham Kum-ju is completely different to the Moranbong Band singers, but when depicting Chollima her powerful singing actually fits perfectly. 49:20 Burn high, campfire! (타오르라 우등불아) 52:41 Peace is on our bayonets (우리의 총창우에 평화가 있다) Music: Ri Jongo (리종오) 1993 Text: Jong Un-ok (정은옥) 57:05 Let’s defend socialism (사회주의 지키세) Music: Hwang Jin-yong (황진영) 1991 Text: Sin Un-ho (신운호) Written in 1991 at the time when the Eastern bloc fell for the temptational winds of capitalist money, this song declared that the DPRK should stay on the road of socialism. Now in 2013 other winds of temptation began to blow on a few, channeling money into their hands. They even tried to grab the sword of justice from its righteous owner, believing He was not experienced enough to handle it. They were however gravely mistaken and soon the sword of justice turned them down. In late 2013 the song: was first published but not performed by the Moranbong Band until 2014. “The guiding star“ refers to the Worker’s Party of Korea. At 57:24 the red flag of the Soviet Union is shown over the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow. Next the flag is taken down, followed by a crying woman. 1:01:01 His great name is the banner of victory (위대한 그 이름은 승리의 기치) 1:03:35 Long live the Workers’ Party of Korea (조선로동당 만세) Music: Om Ha-jin (엄하진) 1980 Text: An Ho-gun (안호근)