K-pop rock band DAY6 / Courtesy of JYP Entertainment
The band's anthem of youth even resonates with elementary students
By KTimes
During the men's 58-kilogram taekwondo final at the Grand Palais in Paris on Aug. 8, Park Tae-joon, a 20-year-old athlete, could be seen with a white wireless earbud in one ear as he descended the stairs from the second floor to the ground level of the arena.
The song he was playing was "Time of Our Life" by the band DAY6. Park went on to make history by becoming the first Korean taekwondo athlete to win a gold medal in the men's 58kg category at the Paris Olympics.
Just as the song's title suggests, Park wrote a new chapter in taekwondo history. "The lyrics felt like they were saying, 'I've been waiting for this day,' and I listened to the song as I entered the arena with the hope of writing a page in history today," Park said.
It's not just Park who has been captivated by "Time of Our Life." The song, released by DAY6 in July 2019, has seen a resurgence in popularity, climbing to seventh place on the latest Circle Chart (streaming data from various platforms like Melon and Spotify from the 4th to the 10th of this month).
This is the highest ranking the song has achieved since its release five years ago, outperforming even the latest K-pop idol group dance tracks.
The song's gradual rise began around two years ago, in October 2022, when a performance of "Time of Our Life" by DAY6 members Dowoon, Young K and Wonpil, who were fulfilling their military duties at the time, gained traction after being featured on KBS2's "Immortal Songs."
Kim Jin-woo, a senior researcher at Circle Chart, said that it's uncommon for a song to make a long-delayed comeback on the charts, given the fast-paced consumption trends in K-pop.
He also said that the song has seen a spike in popularity at the beginning of each year since 2023, suggesting it has become a popular New Year anthem.
Park Tae-joon celebrates after securing the gold medal in the men's 58 kilogram taekwondo final at the 2024 Paris Olympics at the Grand Palais in France on Aug. 8. The song he listened to through his wireless earbud as he entered the final was DAY6's "Time of Our Life." Newsis
From graduation to wedding marches
"Time of Our Life" has maintained its place in the popular song charts, resonating as an anthem for youth among listeners in their teens to those in their 30s.
The hopeful lyrics, paired with the band's refreshing sound, capture the essence of youth's fleeting and bright moments.
For high school teachers with senior students, the song has become a popular anthem for encouraging their students during the college entrance exam period.
University students also share memories of their teachers singing "Time of Our Life" during school festivals when stress was at its peak, making the song their "life anthem."
Jobseekers find solace in lyrics like "Thank you for just enduring today," and the song serves as a reminder of the struggles they have overcome.
Students at an elementary school sing DAY6's "Time of Our Life" during a graduation ceremony. Captured from YouTube
Rebellion against mainstream K-pop
The song's popularity can also be seen as a reaction against the heavily electronic and formulaic songs of K-pop dance idol groups, which often rely on repetitive chants and unintelligible lyrics.
Fans of DAY6 appreciate the band's natural, refreshing sound and the relatable messages conveyed through their lyrics.
Even parents have become fans of DAY6, thanks to their children. One parent shared that their fourth-grade child requested the song repeatedly during lunch breaks at school, leading the whole class to enjoy it.
A parent even joked that they listened to the song so much during a summer vacation car trip that they ended up memorizing the lyrics.
A crowd of fans cheers during DAY6's performance at the 2024 Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival at Songdo Moonlight Festival Park in Incheon, Aug. 4. Yonhap
Journey from underdogs to stardom
DAY6's journey has been anything but typical, and this has strengthened their bond with fans. Debuting in 2015 under JYP Entertainment, DAY6 was initially an outlier within the agency, which was known for producing dance-oriented K-pop idol groups.
DAY6 consists of four members — Sungjin on guitar and vocals, Young K on bass, guitar and vocals, Wonpil on keyboard and vocals and Dowoon on drums and vocals.
Originally, Sungjin was preparing to debut in a dance idol group but struggled with dancing. After three years of observation, JYP decided to form a band instead, bringing together Young K, Wonpil and Dowoon.
According to JYP insiders, the members practiced their instruments for over 100 hours a week, often to the point of developing blisters. They even practiced playing their instruments in complete darkness to perfect their performance.
The band was also required to write and perform their own songs, a stipulation set by JYP before they could debut.
It wasn't an easy journey, but after debuting and focusing on live performances, DAY6 gradually gained widespread popularity.
Music critic Kim Do-heon noted, "The authenticity of DAY6's music, particularly in songs like 'Time of Our Life,' is amplified by the members' long journey through obscurity, making their music all the more impactful."
DAY6 members are performing on stage. Courtesy of JYP Entertainment
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by generative AI and edited by staff at The Korea Times.
