Kickin' It with the EV Boyz

By Jacco Zwetsloot | Posted: Nov. 08, 2008
Korea.net staff writer & editor

 

 

Since the Canadian Kimchi Man captured the public's interest last year with his spoken-word version of the Korean folk song Arirang on Youtube (user name kimchiman1000), several other non-Koreans have achieved some level of attention by uploading their own Korean language musical offerings, such as joemondello, kenya, and SingingMukuge (Youtube user names). Few, however, have attracted attention like that of the EV Boyz and their original song Kickin' it in Geumchon.

 

 

Where is Geumchon?

 

About 20 kilometers northwest of Seoul is where the Gyeonggi English Village, Paju Camp is situated. Christian Zonts, the song's chief author, and EV Boyz founder, Brian Petersen and Mike Nance all live and work there as English instructors-cum-entertainers - the hip term these days is "edutainers." All three are from the United States and have been in Korea for 11 months, 14 months and almost two years, respectively.

 

When they want to leave the sanctuary of the Village, Geumchon is the nearest large town. It is no different from most urban areas outside the major Korean cities, with a mixture of traditional and modern. In the words of the EV Boyz, "Geumchon is a small town but we make the most of it." Christian was inspired one day to sit down and write a song about his experience as a foreigner living and hanging out in Korea. Brian and Mike joined and added their own flavor to the mix.

 

You've Seen It, Right?

 

The result is a Beastie Boys sound-alike with a cheerful and catchy refrain as well as playful lyrics. The EV Boyz make reference to the local movie theater "keeping it real" with no subtitles; then point out this is the very reason they don't go to the cinema. (In a recent interview, they did confess to speaking very little Korean. The phrasebook referred to in the lyrics is Christian's main way to communicate when he travels around Korea, as he does each weekend.)

 

Much is sung about food and drink, and the video clip shows the trio enjoying a few tasty treats as well as some brews. Pig faces for sale are immortalized in song, but when they went to the market to film some, they were nowhere in sight. The EV Boyz confess to loving Korean food and being adventurous eaters. Fittingly, the bridge in the middle of the song is an ode to kimchi, "the cabbage that we ravage with the chili paste taste."

 

 

The song was originally written to amuse themselves and their colleagues (over 100 native speakers of English work at Paju English Village), and the video was made to give relatives and friends back home an idea of what their non-work lives here were like. Audiences found the video so well-made that it took a life of its own. Responses have been mostly positive, especially from colleagues and supervisors at the English Village.

 

The video footage was filmed entirely on site in Geumchon (which is Romanized this way according to current Korean law, but which has also been spelled Kumchon, Keumchon and Gumchon, as the EV Boyz sing) in two and a half days. The lads explained that the hardest part was filming a framework in which to fit all the other clips. On the last day they found a rooftop and filmed it there, miming and dancing to the beat of the camerawoman tapping her thigh, as someone had forgotten to bring anything louder than an iPod to play the song on. After some hard work editing all the footage together by Mike, the video was ready.

 

Living and working in Korea has thus far been a very enjoyable experience for the three of them. None of them have lived in Asia before, and they find it exciting to learn about the new culture they are in. Even the cultural faux pas that they, like all newcomers, make become special memories, and perhaps fodder for future songs.

 

Indeed, the story doesn't just stop with this song. Christian, Mike and Brian love living in Korea, and have plans to record more songs. Not all of them will be rap, either. Christian explained that he did not want to get stuck in only one genre of music. The EV Boyz already have one new song in the can, and are going to make a video before they release it to their waiting public. It is a pop ballad called A E I Love U. They may eventually put out an album.

 

Media attention

 

 

Starting as a viral video passed around by email and blogs, Kickin' it in Geumchon has broken into the mainstream media. The top-selling Chosun Ilbo daily newspaper has reported on it, and Arirang TV's Heart to Heart interviewed the talented trio (the video is available online), and they took to the stage to sing an excerpt from their new song.

 

Long time Korea resident Michael Breen wrote a column about the EV Boyz for the Korea Times, arguing that the three teachers could make a better advertisement for the city of Paju (Geumchon is the administrative center of Paju City) than the rather staid symbols it has chosen for itself.

 

A Note From The Yeogiyo: Lately the Boyz have been using their popularity to be part of fundraisers and live events. For more info, check them out on Facebook after you've memorized all of their songs word for word. And dance for dance. Weirdos. The EV Boyz launched their video for their new single, "A, E, I Love You," in Fall 2008. The Boyz spoof as many boy bands as they can in one video, speak to common follies in mixed relationships and show us some beautiful settings from their neck of the woods. Plus, you'll learn your vowels! It's about time, slowpoke.

 

 

Responding to their belly needs, the Boyz recently filmed a video for their newest hit, 'We Want Taco Bell.' Expats joined them to make the video, which kind of sounds better live but will definitely have you craving cheese and tortillas, if you weren't already.