The drums leave before 'are you leaving without a word': Wonjin's 'Yuranga'

Today's NONOL PICK is 'Yuranga', the title track of 'Mangsangrok', the full-length album Balming Tiger's Wonjin released on October 20. Wonjin wrote both the words and the music alone and arranged the song with Jin Sil (진실). According to the album credits, Wonjin played the vocals, keys, guitar, bass, flute and percussion (small hand-played instruments), and mixed the track too (mixing means setting how loud each instrument is and where it sits). Jaemin Chang played the drums, and Jin Sil added guitar. The 'free wanderer' in the lyrics falls for an '아리따운 꽃' (a lovely flower), but that person leaves without a word. We picked it because the drums walk out before that goodbye even arrives. Times follow the official video on the Balming Tiger channel.

0:26 · Drums and bass together

For the first 26 seconds there is only guitar and keys. At 0:26 the drums and bass come in at once, and two seconds later, at 0:28, the singing starts with '나는야 바람을 타 떠도는 자유의 유랑자' (I'm a free wanderer drifting on the wind). Wonjin is the only person in the video. On a country road washed in blue light, a small flame flickers in front of Wonjin's face at 0:10 while crouched by the roadside.

0:52 · The guitar steps aside for 'a lovely flower'

The moment '나에게 너는 아주 아리따운 꽃이요' (to me, you are a very lovely flower) arrives at 0:52, the guitar and keys almost entirely drop out. For six seconds or so, only drums and bass sit behind the voice. The guitar returns around 0:59, right after '비밀의 방의 문을 나지막이 두드리네' (I knock softly on the door of the secret room) begins.

1:17 · To the waiter, then to the moon

At 1:17, in '어 저기 웨이터 오늘 스페셜 드링크 플리스' (hey, waiter, today's special drink, please), the wanderer asks for a drink. At 1:23 comes the pick of 'sweet thing' to suit '너무 세련된 님' (someone so stylish), and at 1:30, '달님에 머릴 숙여 간절히 기도해' (I bow my head to the moon and pray with all my heart). The lyric says the head goes down, but at the same 1:30 on screen, Wonjin tilts back and looks up at the sky.

2:08 · The drums leave before the lover does

After '소년이여 남자가 되어라' (boy, become a man) is sung twice, at 2:01 and 2:04, the drums and bass drop out together at 2:08. The very next line is '나의 눈물이 다 마르기도 전에' (before my tears have even dried) at 2:09. '말도 없이 가시는가요 그대여' (are you leaving without a word, my dear) comes 11 seconds later, at 2:19. The drums never find their beat again. Only two short hits brush past, at 2:28 and 2:31.

2:33 · A bass note every three seconds

Once '환상 속의 여인이 돼버리는 건' (becoming the woman of a fantasy) passes at 2:25, the bass does come back. But from 2:33 it plays a single note every three seconds or so, just six times through 2:49. In between come 'Baby don’t leave me alone' at 2:41 and 'Give me love' at 2:45. The lead photo is the 2:41 scene: fog lying over a country road lined with utility poles.

2:58 · The voice goes first

The voice fades at 2:58, and only a thin thread of guitar lingers until 3:13. On screen, Wonjin keeps walking down the foggy road, growing smaller and smaller. At 3:14 the screen goes black, and at 3:16 the Balming Tiger logo appears. Apple Music

'Mangsangrok' has eleven songs running 42 minutes 1 second, and 'Yuranga' (3:13) is the second track. The release news is in the October 21 news briefing.