Formed in 2004 in New York, they started out with three members, but eventually drifted apart, leaving frontman 조휴일(Cho Hyu-Il, also Bryan Cho) as the sole member. Making his way back to Korea in 2006, 조휴일 undertook the entire production process into his own hands, writing songs in between performing at Hongdae clubs. Making his way back to the US in the hopes of releasing an album, he started his recording in the studio.
In 2008, on 조휴일's return to Korea, 검정치마 released its first album, "201", on the indie record label RubySalon. It proved to be a big hit in the Korean indie scene, hitting 10,000 copies in sales and earning the band the 2009 Korea Music Award (the Korean equivalent of the Grammy) for 'Best modern rock album'. 검정치마 was also nominated for "Best modern rock single", "Album of the year", "Song of the year", and "Newbie of the year".
검정치마 parted with its label, RubySalon, in January 2010, along with Galaxy Express and Telepathy. A remastered special edition of their debut album, "201" is currently being distributed by Sony. 조휴일 is currently taking a break from touring to work on 검정치마's next album.
Keyboardist Im Yoojin (임유진), with the band from 2008 to 2010, went solo in 2011 as Neon Bunny (야광토끼).
Antifreeze
검정치마 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
우주 속을 홀로 떠돌며 많이 외로워하다가
어느 순간 태양과 달이 겹치게 될 때면
모든 것을 이해할 수 있을 거야
하늘에선 비만 내렸어 뼈 속까지 다 젖었어
얼마 있다 비가 그쳤어 대신 눈이 내리더니
영화서도 볼 수 없던 눈보라가 불 때
너는 내가 처음 봤던 눈동자야
니가 건네주는 커피 위에 살얼음이 떠도
우리 둘은 얼어붙지 않을 꺼야
바다 속의 모래까지 녹일 꺼야
춤을 추며 절망이랑 싸울 꺼야
얼어붙은 아스팔트 도시 위로
숨이 막힐 거 같이 차가웠던 공기 속에
너의 체온이 내게 스며들어 오고 있어
우리 둘은 얼어붙지 않을 꺼야
바다 속의 모래까지 녹일 꺼야
춤을 추며 절망이랑 싸울 꺼야
얼어 붙은 아스팔트 도시 위로
너와 나의 세대가 마지막이면 어떡해
또 다른 빙하기가 찾아오면 어떡해
긴 세월에 변하지 않을 그런 사랑은 없겠지만
그 사랑을 기다려줄 그런 사람을 찾는 거야
Antifreeze by 검정치마 (The Black Skirts) talks about two people getting closer to each other despite the freezing weather that surrounds them. The lyrics mention how they have been alone and lost in space before, but they feel like they can understand everything when the sun and the moon overlap. They mention how they have been drenched to their bones by rain before, only for it to be replaced by an unprecedented snowstorm. The chorus of the song is about how the two of them won't freeze over even though they are walking on frozen streets since they will dance and fight their despair. In the last part of the song, the singer wonders what would happen if their generation was the last and if another ice age would come around again. However, they state that they will always be searching for someone to love and wait for, even if they know love that lasts forever is unlikely.
This song uses a lot of winter motifs, and the lyricist contrasts feelings of loneliness and despair against hope and love. The song offers a metaphorical interpretation of people surviving against cold and alienation, and in the lyrics, music is like a shelter that can make relationships warm and meaningful. The music video for Antifreeze, directed by Woogie Kim, also reflects the song's themes of finding warmth during the cold. It features a winter landscape where echos of distorted sounds and synth pop instrumentation are combined to create a unique soundscape.
Line by Line Meaning
우린 오래 전부터 어쩔 수 없는 거였어
We’ve always been helpless for a long time
우주 속을 홀로 떠돌며 많이 외로워하다가
Drifting alone in space and feeling lonely
어느 순간 태양과 달이 겹치게 될 때면
When the sun and moon overlap at some point
모든 것을 이해할 수 있을 거야
We will be able to understand everything
하늘에선 비만 내렸어 뼈 속까지 다 젖었어
It rained a lot in the sky, and I was soaked to the bone
얼마 있다 비가 그쳤어 대신 눈이 내리더니
It stopped raining a while ago, but instead, it started snowing
영화서도 볼 수 없던 눈보라가 불 때
When a snowstorm occurs that we can't even see in the movies
너는 내가 처음 봤던 눈동자야
You're the first person I saw in my eyes
낮 익은 거리들이 거울처럼 반짝여도
Even if the streets exposed to the daylight are shimmering like a mirror
니가 건네주는 커피 위에 살얼음이 떠도
Even if a thin layer of ice floats on top of the coffee you offer me
우리 둘은 얼어붙지 않을 꺼야
We won’t freeze to death
바다 속의 모래까지 녹일 꺼야
We will make the sand at the bottom of the sea melt
춤을 추며 절망이랑 싸울 꺼야
We will dance and fight against despair
얼어붙은 아스팔트 도시 위로
Above the frozen asphalt city
숨이 막힐 거 같이 차가웠던 공기 속에
In the cold air that made it hard to breathe
너의 체온이 내게 스며들어 오고 있어
Your body heat is spreading to me
너와 나의 세대가 마지막이면 어떡해
What will happen if our generation is the last?
또 다른 빙하기가 찾아오면 어떡해
What will happen if another ice age comes?
긴 세월에 변하지 않을 그런 사랑은 없겠지만
We may not have the kind of love that will remain unchanged over a long time
그 사랑을 기다려줄 그런 사람을 찾는 거야
We’re looking for someone who will wait for that kind of love
Contributed by Violet S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.