Korean Pop Culture

Every Single Day: A Pictorial History Lesson

ESD 2009Last week the Every Single Day page got a message from a super nice fan down in the Philippines. She just wanted to say, “hi” and let the guys know how much she enjoyed their music. The dramas they had written and produced music for had made it down there and she not only enjoyed the story lines, but enjoyed them more so because the music was so wonderful.

…Your songs are so poignant, dreamy, nostalgic and contemplative that even though I didn’t know the lyrics at first, it struck all the right chords in my music-loving soul…

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Every Single Day, 2008
Soundholic, 2008
Backstage at the Busan Rock Festival in 2009 with the Japanese duo that have become friends. Keitaku
Backstage at the Busan Rock Festival in 2009 with the Japanese duo that have become friends. Keitaku

I immediately messaged her back and let her know ESD appreciated everything she had said and they were stoked to have a new fan. Back when Jae-oo and I had first started dating, I suggested heย make a Facebook Page for the band. I said that if they wanted more fans outside of Korea, that’d be a good way to get them connected. Jae-oo and I took over being the admins. He would put up messages in Korean while I took over the English. We’ve made it habit now to post most things together. If there’s an English message, we both read it and then I respond, while he takes over the Korean messages.


Busan Rock Festival, 2009
Busan Rock Festival, 2009
Me & Jae-oo
Backstage before ESD opened for Seo Taiji, 2009. We look so young!

The fanย was so excited that I (as ESD) had messaged her back, that she sent another message and we went back and forth over a couple of days. Finally, I told her it was me, though Jae-oo had read everything she’d written, but I was the one she was messaging with and she was excited again because she’d read my blog and knew that I was the wife of the guitarist. She let me know that she’d read everything I had written about ESD on my blog. That made me wonder how much I’d even written about them.


ESD @ Freebird, 2010
Freebird, 2010
Freebird, 2010
Freebird, 2010
Rolling Hall, 2010
Rolling Hall, 2010

To be honest, I’ve never wanted to write too much about the group. I didn’t want The Soul of Seoul to become an ESD fan blog and I also didn’t want people to get sick of hearing about another concert or another show or another CD. I also didn’t want to invade their privacy. I remember sitting down to write something one time and words poured out of my fingers with stories they’d told me and then when I read it back I realized those stories may not be what they want to share with fans. Those are their stories. Because of that, I’ve made a concerted effort not to write terribly much about them, the guys from Pia, the guys from Wire Tap In My Ear and Yeonnam-dong Dumb & Dumber, and the guys from numerous other bands that we call friends and not just music acquaintances. When I looked back at what I’d written about ESD, I was honestly surprised that I hadn’t written more though. I felt like I had written about the group so many times but really, it’s only been a handful of times.


Jae-oo @ Rolling Hall, 2011
Jae-oo @ Rolling Hall, 2011
Busan Rock Festival, 2011
Busan Rock Festival, 2011

I think most everyone that reads my blog knows just how much I adore my husband and what he does. I love watching him on stage doing what he loves to do. It’s really amazing to see someone enjoy what they do so much especially when you hear so many other people complain about whatever it is they’re doing with their lives. So, with that, here are some of my favorite pictures that I’ve taken while I’ve gone to concerts with my husband. From backstage, behind the band and to standing with thousands of people in front of the stage at festivals, this is Every Single Day from my perspective.


Busan Sunset Live Festival, 2011
Busan Sunset Live Festival, 2011

ESD 2011 @ Busan Sunset Live FestivalESD 2011 @ Busan Sunset Live Festival


Know Where To Stay!

ย If you’re headed to Seoul and want to be around the live music and fun, stay in the Hongdae area. It’s happening, has a great night life and street art and lots to do. L7 Hongdae is a great and spot, easy to find and near the subway station. There’s also a pool which you’ll love if it’s hot outside! This is a new hotel that is very tourist friendly.
Anther great hotel in the area is Marigold. Clean chic lines and a relaxing color tone aesthetic will have you calm when you’re inside after the party and night out you just had in Hongdae.



14 Comments

  • cupio

    As always, love your postsโ€ฆthough I think this is the first time Iโ€™m commenting on it!

    Hallie, you havenโ€™t aged since that 2008 picture and know that youโ€™re awesome! We need to meet soon! ๐Ÿ˜‰

    Miss you!

  • martha

    Hello, I handle a facebook page called Korean Music In Spanish, I would like to share this note on my page, giving the appropriate credits, so I ask your permission, excuse my bad English

  • thsecretgarden

    The pictures are amazing! I’ve always loved many of the drama OSTs they sang (due to the voices) but didn’t know at first that they were from the same singers/band. Not knowing the singer somehow gave me this impression that the voices came from high school/university boys because the tracks sound so refreshing and soothing to the ears, like watching a boy band perform for the first time (I know this is a weird perspective) but ever since Pinocchio came out (love the songs!) I began reading up more on them and that’s when I realised they were the ones singing my favourite OSTs all along and they are a really experienced senior band. Am totally a solid fan right now! Sending lots of love from Singapore! (:

    • Hallie

      Thank you so much. They are definitely an experienced band. That’s probably why they’re able to make such good tracks to fit with the dramas so well. Thanks for the love and I’ll pass it along. ^^

  • Marcy

    I only just learned about them through the drama “Pinocchio” but I think they have a great sound. Your photos remind me of Linda McCartney taking photos of her husband’s bands ๐Ÿ˜‰

    • Hallie

      That’s a big compliment. Thank you. And you should check out some of the other dramas they’ve worked on. Some great story lines to go along with their great sound. ^^

      • Hallie

        Pasta, Golden Time, Cheongdamdong Alice, My Princess, I Can Hear Your Voice, Miss Korea and Gap Dong. My personal favorites were Pasta and I Can Hear Your Voice. Golden Time and Miss Korea would come in next for me.. as far as story lines and actors anyway. They’re gearing up to start a new drama in May. ^^

  • Hanna G

    This is so cool!!! Thank you so much for the photos and the captions Hallie!These are precious! If I were you,I wouldn’t readily share it with the whole world,haha. Thank you for thinking of us fans from outside Korea. Without you and Jae-oo’s affectionate way of responding to messages, I doubt any of us I will go beyond mere curiosity. Looking forward to your next article! ๐Ÿ˜€

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