KBS Special “The Return of Gagak (Singer), Bae Ho” (Broadcast on November 18, 2012) In France, on the other side of the globe, the music of a singer unfamiliar to even the younger generation in our country rang out. The main character of that music was none other than the legendary Gagak (Singer) Bae Ho of the Korean music industry, who passed away at the young age of 29. “Until the day I die, I will sing to you all.” - Bae Ho ■ Who is the eternal legendary Gagak (Singer) ‘Bae Ho’ of the music industry? Bae Ho, who left behind around 50 albums and 30 hit songs including ‘Returning Samgakji (Through the Looking Glass),’ ‘Foggy Jangchungdan Park (Foggy Jangchungdan Park),’ and ‘Rainy Myeongdong Street (Rainy Myeongdong Street)’, is the only singer to have a new complete album released 35 years after his death. He was awarded the Ok-gwan Order of Cultural Merit in 2003. Although he was active for only about 8 years, he left an unprecedented record in Korean pop history, and his name itself is the legend of Korean pop music, 'Bae Ho'. And like the song 'The Last Leaf' that became his last work... At the young age of 29, he became an eternal legend in the Korean pop music industry. However, there are not many people who remember him these days. KBS Special looked back on his fierce life and music as he fought against illness and tried to stand on stage until the moment of his death to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Bae Ho's birth. ■ 'Who is Crying' Resonates in France Etienne, the leader of the French jazz group Freaks, visited Korea by chance in 2003 and was captivated by Bae Ho's songs. He arranged Bae Ho's 'Who is Crying' in a jazz style and performed it on a French stage. Not only that, Etienne is also learning Korean, and this year he is preparing for the so-called 'Bae Ho Project' by reorganizing new members. KBS Special visited France to find out about Bae Ho's music being played in jazz clubs and the background and reasons behind his music that transcends national borders. "The singing style and melody are very Korean, but the arrangement method and music can be heard in France, Europe, and the United States in the 60s. / I talked to Koreans about Bae Ho... I was surprised that there were almost no people who remembered him these days. Everyone who makes music today makes music that is a continuation of music made 5, 10, and 20 years ago. I wish they would listen to music made by their parents and grandparents. It's really a shame to forget that kind of music." - Etienne / Jazz musician ■ 'Bae Ho Style' In the 60s, as foreign songs were introduced into the traditional trot music, a new unique music genre was born, and Bae Ho appeared at this time. Bae Ho, who left behind great songs in a new trot style known as the 'Bae Ho style', took the Korean music industry by storm during his short career, appropriately fusing trot music and American standard music to pioneer a new style of Korean popular music. Music critics say that Korean music history is divided into before and after Bae Ho's appearance, praising his unique 'Bae Ho style'. What is the hidden secret of Bae Ho's singing method and music? "Before trot, many singers had sung with beautiful voices, but when Bae Ho appeared, people were surprised to find a singer like him in Korea at that time... Bae Ho's vocals alone are so great that not only in Korea but also around the world... You can know the present and what he will do in the future because of him. “Bae Ho is an important code in Korean popular music in the 60s” - Lim Jin-mo / Music critic ■ The ‘return’ of the singer Bae Ho in 2012 French jazz musician Etienne visited Korea twice last summer with Korean jazz musician Malro to learn about Bae Ho’s songs and the true nature of Korean popular music in the 60s. However, Etienne was shocked by the fact that most young people in Korea did not know about Bae Ho. In France, old popular music and culture are preserved through museums of singers who left behind achievements and continuous musical exchanges with future generations... Why was Bae Ho forgotten by us? KBS Special provided an opportunity to look back on and reflect on the true value of Bae Ho’s songs and the history of Korean popular music through the journey of two young musicians, transcending time and space over 40 years since Bae Ho’s passing. #Bae Ho #Songs of Memories #Popular Music #Sim Seong-rak #Malo #Jazz #Trot