When did it start? Samgyeopsal started to sound like music to my ears.
The sound of the samgyeopsal sizzling on the grill sounded like a jazz drummer brushing cymbals,
and the rhythm of cutting the samgyeopsal with scissors sounded like a drum beat sampled by a hip-hop producer.
That's right. Samgyeopsal is not just food.
It is a genre, a rhythm, and soul itself.
And just like music, samgyeopsal connects people and creates an atmosphere.
Rhythm on a Grill: Sound Design Created by Samgyeopsal
Imagine this.
The moment you place the samgyeopsal on a hot grill, you hear a "Chii-eeeeeek!" sound.
This is not a simple sound.
It's like the white noise that comes out when a DJ plays a new track at a club.
It's like a signal that says, "It's starting now!" And then there’s the sound of scissors cutting.
“Choo-choo-tak-tak!”
What do you think? Doesn’t it already feel like a complete hip-hop beat?
And let’s not forget. The “slap!” sound of the moment when the pork belly is flipped over.
It’s like the fill-in right before the drop in EDM.
The moment the atmosphere that has been built up to the max is reversed with “slap!”,
The meat becomes even more golden brown and our anticipation also rises.
At this point, I wonder if we could record the sound of the pork belly grilling separately
and make an ASMR or Lo-Fi track?
Songs that feature pork belly: The status of pork belly in Korean pop music
If pork belly was just a food item, why does it appear in so many lyrics?
Mamison - Shonen Jump (2018)
“A glass of soju with pork belly, let’s get it!”
This short line already captures the entire Korean dining culture. Hip-hop and pork belly may not seem to go together,
but in fact, pork belly is a food that has as strong a flavor as music with strong beats.
PSY - Bird (2001)
This song was originally used as background music for a pork belly commercial.
Thanks to that, when the lyrics "I'm this kind of person~!" come out,
many people automatically think of pork belly grilling on a grill.
Park Gun - One Glass (2021)
"One Glass~ One Glass~!"
Not eating pork belly while listening to this song
is like standing still in a club while music is playing.
To that extent, pork belly is not just a simple food,
but has become an element that touches our emotions.
Why are music and pork belly similar?
Pork belly and music. They seem completely different, but they actually play the same role.
1) Creates a mood
The sound of pork belly grilling naturally encourages conversation.
People gather where music flows, and the atmosphere comes alive as they follow the rhythm.
2) Connects people
Eating samgyeopsal alone isn't bad, but it's originally a food that's shared with others.
The same goes for music. It's more enjoyable when you sing or dance together.
3) It carries emotions
Samgyeopsal is always with us at company dinners, after-parties, and precious moments with friends.
The same goes for music. It's always by our side, whether we're happy or sad.
At this point, isn't it believable that samgyeopsal is a genre?
What if you made a samgyeopsal song?
Now that we know the relationship between samgyeopsal and music, let's imagine. What would it feel like if a song about samgyeopsal came out?
EDM version
"Sizzle, sizzle, Bass Drop, cheeeeeeek! Shout~!" (Feel the beat cooking on the grill, everyone jumps with soju!)
Hip-hop version
"One plate of samgyeopsal, my FLEX is HOT! One more bottle of soju, we're already Rock!" (Swag-filled company dinner beat)
Ballad version
"Where you left, only pork belly smoke rises..." (Emotional ballad about sighing at a pork belly restaurant after a breakup)
Trot version
"One point, two points of pork belly, oily soju~!" (Trendy trot that even the elderly can sing along to)