Daechwita (Agust D, BTS SUGA)
“Daechwita, Daechwita, Play it loud! Daechwita!”
#BTS SUGA(Agust D)’s Daechwita
On May 22, 2020, BTS member Suga(Agust D) released his solo album D-2. The title track is "Daechwita."
In June 2020, Daechwita's music video received more than 100 million views, and as of January 2024, it received more than 440 million views.
Suga set various records with the release of his solo album. He became the first Korean solo artist to enter simultaneously the Billboard main album chart "Billboards 200" and the main single chart "Hot 100" .
It also ranked 7th, the highest ranking Korean solo artist in the UK's "Official Album Chart Top 100."
In addition, the song became popular worldwide, topping iTunes (Apple's music and video application) in 80 regions around the world, including Canada, France, Sweden, Saudi Arabia, Japan, and Peru.
‘Daechwita’.
Koreans may have heard of the word "Daechwita" in music textbooks when they were in school, and foreigners may not be familiar with the word.
Since Suga released a song called "Daechwita," many people ask this question regardless of nationality.
"What is Daechwita?"
#What is “Daechwita”?
"Daechwita" is one of the traditional Korean music, a marching-style military ritual music.
In other words, it is music that was played when the king marched outside the gate or when the army marched and improved.
Daechwita is designated as Korea's Important Intangible Cultural heritage.
It was named "Daechwita (대취타)" because it was played with a wind instrument (취instrument) that blew with the mouth and a percussion instrument(타instrument) that was played by tapping.
Wind instruments include Nagak, Nabal, and Taepyeongso, and percussion instruments include Yonggo, Jabara, and Jing(Gong)
▲ (From left) Nagak, Nabal, Taepyeongso
First, the Nagak is an instrument made of conch. It produces a grand and loud continuant sound. It has a low, heavy sound of "boo-".
The Nabal is a iron instrument. It is about 120 cm long. It can make some simple sounds, but usually makes one low note long.
Taepyeongso is the only instrument that plays the melody in Daechwita. It plays a loud and cool melody among the sounds of Nagak and Nabal.
Percussion instruments such as Yonggo, Jabara and Jing(Gong) play a role in pointing out rhythm regularly.
▲ People Playing Daechwita (Cultural Heritage Administration)
In addition to the performer, Daechwita has a conductor role, “Jipsa” that announces the beginning and the end of playing. When Daechwita first begins, Jipsa holds the baton, Deungchae, high above his head and shouts, "Myeonggeumilha daechwita harapsinda." It means to ring a jing(gong) once and start Daechwita.
After the Jipsa's command, the players hits the gong once and hits the Yonggo three times, and Daechwita starts. And Jipsa shouts "Heon Hwa-geum," which means to stop playing music at the end of the performance.
#Let's find the Korean traditional music "Daechwita" in Suga's song?
Suga's Daechwita song begins with a cry of "Myeonggeumilha Daechwita harapsinda!"
The voice that comes out when Daechwita starts is the voice of Jung Jae-gook, a master of Piri-jeongak and Daechwita, important intangible cultural asset no.46. Suga's Daechwita sampled the "Daechwita" sound source recorded by members of the National Gugak Center in 1994.
In addition, traditional Korean instruments such as gongs and kkwaenggwari make Suga's songs exciting.
There is also a part that is borrowed differently from the traditional Korean music "Daechwita".
In Suga's Daechwita, the kkwaenggwari appears after the Jipsa's shout, but the kkwaenggwari is an instrument that is not used in actual Daechwita. In addition, in the traditional Daechwita, the gong is played once after the Jipsa's shout, but in Suga's "Daechwita", the gong and taepyeongso performances were changed in a way that came together.
#What other Korean elements can you find in Suga's "Daechwita"?
In Suga's Daechwita song and music video, you can find many other Korean elements as well as musical elements.
First of all, let's focus on the lyrics.
“종놈 출신에 왕된 놈(Jongnom chulsineseo wangdoen nom)”
"A guy who became a king from servant "
Here, 종(Jong, servant) and 왕(Wang, king) are traditionally the words that distinguish the class of Joseon.
“과건 뒤주에 가두고(Gwageon dwiju gadugo)”
“Putting the past in a dwiju”
Here, dwiju is a space for storing rice or grain in the past. It is also reminiscent of the story of Crown Prince Sado. King Yeongjo, the 21st king of Joseon, locked his son, Crown Prince Sado, in a dwiju. Crown Prince Sado then died.
“개천 출신에 용된 몸(Gaecheon chulsine yongdoen mom)”
“A dragon rises from a small stream.”
He quoted a Korean proverb. It means "rise-from-humble-beginnings"
“당장 놈의 주리를 틀어(Dangjang nomui jurireul teureo)”
"Twist his legs right now"
"Juri" is a type of torture during the Joseon Dynasty. It is torture to tie two legs, put two sticks between legs, and pull the legs to both sides. It was practiced when asking for a sinner's guilt.
And the lyrics are repeated, “Daechwita, Daechwita, Play it loud! Daechwita!”
In Suga's "Daechwita", you can find lyrics that understand the history and culture of Joseon and melt it.
The "background" of the music video should also be noted.
Suga filmed the music video on a set that looks just like the South Korean palace "Injeongjeon".
Changdeokgung is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Injeongjeon is a national treasure of the Republic of Korea and the main palace of Changdeokgung. Important national ceremonies were held here, including the accession of the king, the salute of his servants, and the meeting of foreign envoys. Suga's Daechwita captured the beauty of traditional Korean architecture in the music video by utilizing the set that embodied the same Injeongjeon.
In addition to that, the music video shows traditional Korean images, including Hanbok, sword dance and the streets of town
#Epilogue
With the global expansion of K-POP, the production of creations that melt Korean style is increasing.
Idols who do not major in Korean traditional music are also attempting to crossover with Korean traditional music by borrowing traditional art culture in their songs and music videos. Suga drew the attention of not only Korean fans but also people all over the world with his "Daechwita."
This trend will serve as an opportunity to remind Koreans of their beautiful tranditional culture. It will also create an opportunity for overseas fans to learn about the traditional culture of other countries and an environment where they can enjoy exotic and unique pleasures.
#Watching
▲[YouTube] Agust D '대취타' MV