This is the well known South Korean national anthem, "Aegukga (The Patriotic Song)".
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Every time you hear it, doesn't it have a heavenly, grand sound to it? Well, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (SMOE), the key is just too high for students to learn. In particular, boys going through puberty and voice changes have the most difficulty with the song. It's not easy for adults either. Check out Psy's audience at his concert for evidence as they try to sing the anthem and resort to dissonant shouting instead.
The singing starts at 2:40:
The struggle.
Coming to the rescue of our strained voices and cowering ears, SMOE has released an altered version of the anthem that has a key 2 steps lower than the original. While the original was in an A Major key, this version is in F Major.
SMOE has stated that this isn't necessarily a new version of the "Aegukga", just an alternate one that is available for schools to teach their students. Some have voiced their opinions against the new version, however, stating that the lower key takes away the fire and uplifting feeling of the song.
Whether schools decide to enforce the new version or not, "Aegukga" is a gem for the ears when it's sung right, hilariously wrong, or even cute a la middle schooler G-Dragon.
See video below.
All together now:
Image credit: Flickr
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