5.22.2009

Korean Music Awards 2008-2009 (part 1)


Korean Music Awards(KMA) was found in 2004. It is the most legitimate music award in Korea which can be compared with Mercury Prize in UK. Most music awards in Korea are hosted by mega broadcasting station such as KBS, MBC and SBS and they were representing interests of corporations, major record companies and entertainment management companies. This has been criticized by many artists and listeners and the need for fairer and more legitimate music award has been discussed. As a result, the first Korean Music Awards was held in March, 2004.

This year, it announced its 6th award winners and here they are. Words are from KMA website translated in English by me.

올 해의 앨범Album of the Year
언니네 이발관 [가장 보통의 존재]
Sister's Barbershop [The Most Common Existence]

: It was a land-slide.
The Most Common Existence is a masterpiece which shows the true value of the format of album. Every track is organically related to each other. Group's leader, Lee Seok Won, asked for listerners to listen the album orderly from the first track, 가장 보통의 존재The Most Common Existence, to the last track, 산들산들SandlSandl.

올 해의 노래Song of the Year
장기하 '싸구려 커피'
Jang Gi Ha 'Cheap Coffee'

: Last year, Korean indie scene has drawn more attention ever. Jang Gi Ha's
Cheap Coffee was the center of indie scene and it drew the flow of indie scene. It brought public attention to the most isolated music scene in Korea and suggested the alternative solution to the Korean music scene. Its lyric was fresh attempt combining 'singing' and 'talking' and alteration of Korean folk was well executed.

올 해의 음악인Artist of the Year
토이
Toy

: He steadily released albums under the name 'Toy' and with his sixth album [Thank You], he gathered various musicians such as Lee Ji Hyung, Yoonha, Lee Byung Woo, YoonSang, Lucid Fall and Kim Min Kyu. He also introduce underground music through his radio program. Toy can be called as a bridge between mainstream and underground music scene and that is the reason why he is the artist of the year.

올 해의 신인Best New Artist
로로스
Loro's

: Loro's album [PAX] was the most beautiful artistic result achieved in 2008 Korean music scene. New artist should provide new path in barren land and Loro's created the road covered with Showy Baby's-breath. Their craftmanship-attitude is well shown through more than 5-minute-long tracks.


Award results for specific genre will be continued in Part 2. All images and words are from KMA website.

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