Review by 葛西 護
The Country Of Juche, A Happy Country: A Glimpse Into North Korea’s Melodic Soul
Let me tell you something—I wasn’t sure what to expect when I hit play on The Country Of Juche, A Happy Country. Like, at all. It’s not every day you stumble across an album from North Korea, let alone one filled with pop, folk, and world vibes that somehow blend into this strange yet captivating mix. But here we are. And honestly? This record isn’t just music; it’s a mood, a vibe, maybe even a peek into another world.
First off, the track “행복의 풍년샘” (The Bumper-Crop Spring Of Happiness) grabbed me by the soul. I mean, how could it not? The melody feels like sunshine breaking through clouds—warm but distant, kinda bittersweet. You can almost picture fields of rice swaying in the breeze while someone sings about hope and harvest. There’s this raw optimism in the vocals, like they’re singing for survival itself. It made me think about how happiness can mean different things depending on where you’re standing. For them, it seems tied to seasons, soil, and struggle. Makes your Spotify playlists feel kinda shallow, doesn’t it?
Then there’s “아름다운 대동강” (Beautiful Taedong-gang River). Oh man, this one stuck with me. Something about the way the instruments swell—it’s peaceful, almost meditative. If rivers could sing, this is probably what they’d sound like. The lyrics talk about nature and pride in their land, and I gotta say, it hits differently knowing the context. In a place so often painted as cold or harsh, here’s a song celebrating beauty and flow. Kinda makes you wonder if we’ve got it all wrong sometimes.
Now, don’t get me wrong—this album ain’t perfect. Some tracks feel repetitive, and yeah, the production has that old-school grit to it (thanks, Korean Gramophone Record). But isn’t that part of its charm? It’s unpolished, real, straight-from-the-heart stuff. Listening to it felt less like entertainment and more like eavesdropping on a culture most of us will never truly understand.
Here’s the thing though: after spinning these tunes, I couldn’t help but laugh a little. Not because it’s funny, but because… well, who would’ve thought? An album from North Korea ended up teaching me more about resilience and joy than half the self-help podcasts out there. Who knew propaganda could be so oddly moving?
So yeah, give The Country Of Juche, A Happy Country a shot if you’re feeling adventurous. Just don’t blame me if you start looking up Terraced Fields on Google Maps afterward.
