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).
stand still
검정치마 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A compensation for my broken heart
C'mon catch on fire baby
I ain't gonna let you call me a liar
There's nothing to lose even if i overdose
I have to die when she wants me to be somebody else
But when she finds herself on fire with holes in her tires,
Oh i wish i didn't have to go so soon
You don't have to dance at all
C'mon baby stand still you are making it worse
The flames are gettin tall
But you are dancing dancing dancing away
C'mon baby stand still
C'mon lets be friends
I take that back i wanna see us end
C'mon do your steps
Back to his place where you barely slept
The lyrics of "Stand still" by 검정치마 or “The Black Skirts” in English, is a song that is very emotional and thought-provoking. The opening lines of the song, "C'mon, make a spark, a compensation for my broken heart," sets up the feeling of desperation and longing for something to fill the void caused by a heartbreak. The singer is looking for a partner or a lover to ignite some passion and excitement in their lives again, hoping to compensate for the heartbreak they went through.
Throughout the song, there is a sense of tension between the two people, with one partner wanting to move forward and escape the past, while the other wants to hold onto what they had. The lyric, "I have to die when she wants me to be somebody else," reveals the struggle between staying true to oneself and changing for the sake of the relationship. The song also touches upon themes of regret and the feeling of wanting to go back in time to change the outcome of events.
The chorus of "Stand still" emphasizes the need to take a break and not run away from the difficult emotions that arise during a breakup. The lyrics, "You don't have to dance to a drum machine, you don't have to dance at all, c'mon baby stand still you are making it worse, the flames are gettin tall" highlight the need to face the emotions and not try to escape through distractions or by moving on too quickly.
Overall, "Stand still" is a song that explores the complexities and pain of dealing with heartbreak and moving on. The lyricism of the song manages to convey these intense emotions in a manner that is raw and compelling.
Line by Line Meaning
C'mon, make a spark
Encouraging someone to ignite a flame, perhaps as a symbol of creating something new in the aftermath of heartbreak
A compensation for my broken heart
The spark would serve as a way to make up for the pain caused by a broken heart
C'mon catch on fire baby
Continuing the metaphor of igniting a flame, urging someone to embrace passion and intensity
I ain't gonna let you call me a liar
Asserting oneself and refusing to be accused of dishonesty, perhaps in a context of a relationship or personal conflict
There's nothing to lose even if i overdose
Acknowledging that there are risks in life, but that they are worth taking if it means living fully and passionately
I have to die when she wants me to be somebody else
Feeling like sacrificing one's true self in order to please another can be like a kind of death
But when she finds herself on fire with holes in her tires,
When the person who wants the singer to change ends up experiencing their own troubles and difficulties, perhaps referencing the idea of the tables turning
Oh i wish i didn't have to go so soon
Expressing regret or sadness about leaving a situation or relationship too early
You don't have to dance to a drum machine
Challenging norms or expectations, suggesting that one doesn't have to conform to popular trends or society's standards
You don't have to dance at a
Emphasizing the idea that people should be free to make their own choices and not be pressured into doing something they don't want to do
C'mon baby stand still you are making it worse
Urging someone to stop moving or reacting in a way that is making a situation more difficult or painful
The flames are gettin tall
Metaphorically describing a situation that is getting more intense or out of control
But you are dancing dancing dancing away
Despite being told to stop, the person is continuing to move or behave in a way that is making things worse
C'mon baby stand still
Repeating the earlier plea for the person to stop and stay calm
C'mon lets be friends
Offering friendship as a way to move forward, perhaps as an alternative to a romantic relationship that isn't working out
I take that back i wanna see us end
Changing one's mind after a moment of reconsideration, now wanting to bring an end to the relationship altogether
C'mon do your steps
Encouraging someone to continue moving or acting in a certain way, despite perhaps earlier urging them to stop
Back to his place where you barely slept
Perhaps referencing a particular location or moment in a past relationship, where sleeping together was difficult or uncomfortable
Contributed by Owen I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.