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Siwan's "A Melody to Remember"

Siwan played a young soldier who had a connection with music in his past, in the war-film A Melody to Remember, based on a true story (Korean title translates to Thinking of My Elder Brother)




Here is the trailer for the film:


Here is the song that Siwan - wrote, composed and sang for this film. I am surprised that this beautiful song is not widely known to Siwan's fans. Siwan's soulful voice with innocent lyrics is truly A Melody to Remember.


Here is the lyrics from a fan on the YouTube comments.

<가사>

함께 부른 이 노래

잔잔히 구슬픈 이 밤

이 내 맘 아는지 모르는지

고요히 평온한 이 밤

저 달빛이여 날 더 비춰주오

그댈 향한 내 맘 밝히게

또 별빛은 나를 좀 안아주오

내 안에 꼭 품을 수 있게

오늘 또 띄워 본다

너와 날 안아줄 그 노래

하늘 끝에 달아 너 비추리라

허나 이젠 없네

(간주)

너와 함께한 추억

더없이 영원한 시간

이 내 맘 아는지 모르는지

너 없이 잊어버린 시간

저 달빛이여 날 더 비춰주오

그댈 향한 내 맘 밝히게

또 별빛은 나를 좀 안아주오

내 안에 꼭 품을 수 있게

바람에 물어본다

너와 날 안아줄 그 노래

하늘 끝에 달아 너 비춰주오

허나 대답 없네

뜸북 뜸북 뜸북새

논에서 울고

뻐꾹 뻐꾹 뻐꾹새

숲에서 울제


Here is the translation using Google Translate...

<Lyrics>

this song we sang together

This calmly sad night

Do you know my heart or not?

quiet peaceful night

That moonlight, shine on me more

I will reveal my heart towards you

And the starlight hugs me

So that I can hold you inside me

I'll try again today

The song that will hug you and me

I will hang it at the end of the sky and shine on you

but not anymore

(regard)

memories with you

everlasting time

Do you know my heart or not?

The time I forgot without you

That moonlight, shine on me more

I will reveal my heart towards you

And the starlight hugs me

So that I can hold you inside me

ask the wind

The song that will hug you and me

Hang it at the end of the sky and shine on you

but no answer

“Thoombook, thoombook,” watercock,

Wails in rice paddies

“Cuckoo, Cuckoo,” Cuckoo bird

Weeps on wooded trees.


This song seems to be inspired by a children's poem from 1925 written by a girl taking about her elder brother who went to Seoul on a horse and didn't return. The tune is quite simillar and the last lines of the song are the first few lines of the poem.

뜸북 뜸북 뜸북새

논에서 울고

뻐꾹 뻐꾹 뻐꾹새

숲에서 울제

This is the watercock / Moxi bird, that is known to wail in the rice paddies. It is now a rare bird to be sighted. (This is my understanding from various articles).


This is Korean children's song. In 1925 an 11 years old girl by the name of Choi SoonAe submitted her poem to a children's magazine then, and a renown Korean composer, Park TaeJoon composed the poem into a song. Since then this song has been loved by so many Koreans.


In fact, the Korean name of this movie, is the name of this poem "오빠생각" (Oppa Senggak) - Pinning for my elder brother.


Below is the English translation of the same, using Google Translate.


Siwan Si-wan, who starred in the movie 'Thinking of Brother', released the full version of the music video for 'Thinking of Brother', which he wrote, composed and sang himself.


'Thinking of my brother' is a touching masterpiece depicting the great miracle of a small song that began in the middle of a battlefield where everything was lost, with the motif of a children's choir that existed during the Korean War. A heavy drama completed with the perfect combination of actors and heartfelt acting, and 'Thinking of Oppa', a beautiful song by a children's choir that moves the heart, is a steady box office success. The full version of the video is released to draw attention.


Prior to its release, the music video for 'Thinking of Brother', which was composed and sung by Siwan Siwan, evoked an enthusiastic response. The full version of the music video for 'Thinking of My Brother', which was released this time, touches the hearts of the audience with the heartwarming story of the process of creating a children's choir in the midst of war and the search for hope and laughter in the midst of war, with Siwan's sweet song.


Children's Choir Han Sang-ryeol, who has been living with the children, and Park Joo-mi, who takes care of the children, lead the children's choir, as well as Park Joo-mi's lines that make you feel the pain of war and the conflict with the hook. Also, through the on-set stills and making video of 'Thinking of My Brother', you can get a glimpse of the fantastic collaboration between director Lee Han and the actors, including the more harmonious scene with the children.


Here, the sentimental lyrics and soft voice of Im Si-wan's infinite affection for 'Thinking of my brother' are added to maximize the emotions. As such, 'Thinking of Brother' released the full version of the music video for 'Thinking of Brother', which not only doubles the lingering sound of the movie but also conveys a warm impression.


With the motif of a children's choir that existed during the Korean War, beautiful music is added to a heavy drama that will resonate with everyone. The first moving masterpiece of the new year of 2016, 'Thinking of My Brother', was released on January 21st and is currently being screened. .

______________________


It is known Siwan learnt to play piano proficiently in a short span of four months for this film.


Here is a glimpse of his talent from a variety show where he played the piano.


Here are a few stills from the film.









Here's a comment/review from the YouTube trailer. It feels great when people around the world discover and appreciate Siwan's work...

I love watching sweeping and emotional historical dramas, and A Melody to Remember is a top-notch example of the genre, one of the best I've seen from Korea. Set during the Korean War, the film stars Si-Wan Yim as Lieutenant Han Sang-yeol, a young but hardened combat veteran who's assigned to a base in a relative safe zone, where he is tasked with being in charge of an orphanage that has been built to provide food and shelter for children displaced in the war. Due to having a background in music, Sang-yeol comes up with the idea to form a choir group, believing that this will raise the children's spirits, as well as those of the soldiers fighting in the war. He forms an especially strong bond with a brother and sister pair who lost their parents. Meanwhile, he develops a potential romantic interest with a young pianist played by Ko Asung. Despite the poster giving the impression this might be a family movie, A Melody to Remember is a war epic with violent battle scenes, but it also delivers a sweeping and moving story of a battle-hardened young soldier and the bond he forms with a group of displaced children who find a common purpose and goal beyond just trying to survive in a terrible war. This is a moving film that will generate tears, but it does so in a way that feels earned, after spending so much time with beautifully realized and developed characters that we've grown to love.


Si-wan Yim is fantastic in the lead role, giving us a character who is fiercely protective of the children under his care. At the same time, he is easy to relate to because of his vulnerabilities, and Yim brilliantly conveys the trauma of his character's tragic past.

Ko Asung is delightful and charming as Park Joo-mi, and she has excellent chemistry with Yim.


The film plays their romantic interest in a low-key manner, which was the right way to approach it. In supporting performances, Lee Joon-hyuk is terrific and instantly likable as Sergeant Jo, a fellow soldier and loyal friend of Sang-Yeol. Lee Hee-joon is excellent as Galgori, an individual whom we initially expect to be the film's villainous antagonist, yet we find that he has genuine depth and even an actual conscience. The standout performances among the kids definitely belong to Joon Won Jung and Hyun-Bin Kim as the brother and sister pair. Their love, affection, and loyalty for each other will warm your heart. At the same time, it's truly harrowing to see all the horrible tragedy and hardships they have to overcome just to try to survive in this war. Though the film is driven by story and characters, it does have first-rate production values. The 1950s era war-torn Korea is perfectly recreated and looks and feels authentic. The film's battle scenes are intense and superbly executed, with a particularly memorable opening battle scene depicting some truly ferocious hand-to-hand combat. A smaller-scale battle in a forest near the end is tense and emotional. The film also boasts some of the most beautiful cinematography I've seen from a Korean film, who is really saying something. The Korean countryside is captured in all its gloriously scenic splendor. Taegukgi is the best film ever made about the Korean War, but A Melody to Remember is a respectable second place. This is a must see for fans of war films or sweeping and moving historical dramas.


For the promotions of the film, there was a competition for discovering young singing talents. Here is Siwan's video talking about the same.



Here is a promotional Siwan's interview.


Here are some of the stage greeting videos...



Here is Siwan singing this song for a promotional event of the film.

(Warning, you just might cry listening to his solo voice.)

From another angle!


Here's Siwan giving his heart and his embarrassment in giving his heart!




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