Tablo’s Eternal Morning controversy
by javabeans
Eternal Morning, the project group between Epik High’s Tablo and producer Pe2ny, just released its first album and its first single, “White” — which has just gotten slapped with a 19+ (adults only) rating from the three broadcast networks. (Which effectively curtails the video’s airing on mainstream television.)
The restricted rating comes because of the last scene in the video, which (SPOILER!) features the main character hanging off a crane and falling, suggesting suicide.
The group’s label, Woollim Entertainment, defended the work, saying, “The music video has a high artistic quality to it. We don’t have plans to apply for ratings reevaluation by editing the video and devaluing its merit.”
The album went on sale on the 4th, titled “Soundtrack to a Lost Film” and sold its entire first printing of 10,000 copies in just the first two days.
Here’s the controversial video itself:
My two cents? I can see why it was restricted, and perhaps not unjustly so. It IS a little shocking. But I’m pretty sure that’s the point.
SONG OF THE DAY
Eternal Morning (Tablo & Pe2ny) – “White.” I find it vastly interesting that given Tablo’s reputation for eloquence, his side project consists of almost entirely instrumental music. I get that the concept is that it’s the “soundtrack for a lost film,” but it IS kinda ballsy to step entirely out of the zone that’s earned him so much of his acclaim. I’d describe the album as dark, slightly morbid, haunting, and complex. But you be the judge. [ zShare download ]
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Tags: music videos, Tablo
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1 Sherry
December 11, 2007 at 5:20 AM
I love it when you post things very late at night because it gives me something new to read while I am procrastinating and supposed to be writing my paper (seven pages down, three more to go).
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2 blends
December 11, 2007 at 6:28 AM
For one second there, I thought the guy's Eric! (My eyes! I think I should really start wearing my glasses). Music is awesome, great MV. I Love it.
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3 xy
December 11, 2007 at 7:41 AM
beautiful
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4 sinopciones
December 11, 2007 at 9:27 AM
loved the music, the vide I thought it was a bit weird but not that shocking, the cartoon network is worse and not one seem to care...
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5 rocketfuel
December 11, 2007 at 9:38 AM
19+ rating is hardly a slap on the wrist...it just means more people under 18 will watch it.
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6 dingdong
December 11, 2007 at 9:50 AM
awesome! both music and MV!
"DORKS ARE HOT" LOL!!
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7 ripgal
December 11, 2007 at 10:21 AM
The MV was a bit weird..but yeah..not that shocking to me..
Just a bit different..
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8 addicted
December 11, 2007 at 10:47 AM
Very poetic. For me, the Eternal Morning album is simply beautiful, the lack of vocals makes it all the more powerful. No surprise as it's Tablo. Marry me!
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9 all4movies
December 11, 2007 at 11:03 AM
Like the music, not so much the video. It looks more like euthanasia or murder than suicide. Really weird stuff.
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10 invisibelle
December 11, 2007 at 11:38 AM
Meh @ the video, but I'm glad you posted because I'm really digging the track! Piano + trip hop beats = win.
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11 jongwong
December 11, 2007 at 11:47 AM
^ ya i totally agree with you. It seems more like murder than suicide. or is that man dangling in midair supposed to symbolize the woman?
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12 tealeaf
December 11, 2007 at 12:10 PM
mellow and smooth.
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13 hellaakon
December 11, 2007 at 1:19 PM
Uuuu...controversy. ;)
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14 docmitasha
December 11, 2007 at 1:42 PM
I didn't even realize there was a video! And I've been playing the album repeatedly! Sheesh. Must check this out asap.
I remember when I first heard I wrote a comment somewhere around here because I was so excited that he came out with this entirely different, brilliant compilation...I do love it and I've heard the tracks several times...I agree with you that several of the tracks are slightly morbid and dark...but I think thats a lot of who he is too, as an individual (atleast what he's demonstrated from his previous work and also interviews, etc.). The complexity, haunting quality, silences and natural sounds used in a very eerie way...at times I feel like some of the beats and the music are as eloquent as his words may have been elsewhere. Sometimes I really do tend to get more depth and feeling from emotional, even though they might be depressing, tunes (do i sound weird?!) Anyway, deep respect for this man who steps out from his comfort limits and his zone and decides to throw out something completely different...which drips with talent and uniqueness. I think my love for him as an artist grew many, many fold with Eternal Morning.
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15 Jamie
December 11, 2007 at 2:42 PM
I loved the video, I thought it was very artistic and dark.
The ending was very abrupt, like a very artistic way to show death.
I'll have to keep up with Eternal morning, I love Tablo and anything that he does!
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16 Creep
December 11, 2007 at 5:16 PM
I love it. The main girl lacks emotions though...:D
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17 APRIL
December 11, 2007 at 6:56 PM
kudos to Tablo for doing something different!!
Setting himself apart to be recognized as an artist not just an entertainer or another cardboard copy in Korean Entertainment.
Of corse he'll get critizied for being different...if his stuff sells and becomes mainstream...K-pop will die.
The Korean entertainment scene is due for a big change...it's coming even if Tablo's Eternal morning never sees the light of day.
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18 shannon
December 11, 2007 at 7:09 PM
Lovely song, but the video is not shocking at all. Kinda reminded me of old Park Ji Yoon videos. Anyway,the video for “Fan” was way more disturbing (but awesome!) in my opinion. I wouldn’t even have thought it was suicide if I didn’t read the spoiler. It was just more like, “Oh, the dude fell...” Guess I'm not artistic enough:)
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19 onigiri
December 12, 2007 at 2:06 AM
i really liked his song ^^
Tablo's really talented.
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20 Kim
December 12, 2007 at 5:53 AM
I don't know why the critics are suggesting suicide when it was the girl that tied him up. If anything, I think technically he was dead already. She did unbury his head from the ground already.
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21 Javabeans
December 12, 2007 at 6:17 AM
They're not saying the music video DEPICTS suicide. They're saying the scene carries associations with suicide. (Which I think is true enough; especially since some of the more high-profile recent suicides were done by self-hanging, i.e. Jung Dabin, U;Nee.) And that association is uncomfortable enough that they feel the MV merits a stricter viewer rating. Sorry if that wasn't clear.
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22 twreckx
December 12, 2007 at 11:01 AM
Final scene reminded me more of a marrionette with its strings suddenly cut off than anything else. They certainly hit the nail on the head with the "lost soundtrack" theme on this song. BTW how is the other name pronounced? Peh-too-nee? Pee-ee-to-en-why?
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23 Nicole
December 12, 2007 at 10:27 PM
i agree that it suggests suicide... but i adore tablo and call me biased or whatever but i love him for being so god-damn controversial sometimes... it makes it seem like he got influenced by the Berkeley bears' liberalism-ness instead of Stanford cardinals' whatever resembles them.... lol but whatevs.. i'm supposed to be studying anyways...but this was definitely a worth while digression
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24 Marian
December 14, 2007 at 12:31 AM
I still love his music. True, it is ballsy for him to do something completely different than from what he is known to do but that is the complete reason for going solo-- to experiment and have fun.
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25 Javabeans
December 14, 2007 at 10:43 AM
twreckx, it's pronounced "penny."
and yes, i hope tablo keeps stirring things up as long as he has something to say. which i hope is always.
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26 Beng
December 23, 2007 at 12:04 AM
I like the music and i didn't connect the hanging to suicide or the act of it. I thought the guy was an alien that keeps poppin' out of the human form (wasn't that the style of dancing the guy did?). And i've seen so many alien movies, and the only way to kill them is to destroy their body and the host body to pieces. I think that's why the girl is also emotionless after the first scene as she finally accepted that it's not the guy that she loved anymore. I think that is what he's whispering to him.
Funny how many interpretations you get in an MTV. Wouldn't they explain it already?! LIke explaining why the title is white (^-^).
By the way, the guy is quite good. Who is he?
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27 k addict
January 1, 2008 at 5:24 PM
thanx for the vid...u dn't know how long i was looking for it...but i don't see the big deal...by the way....if possible could you send me the link to his album if possible...thanx..this is my email add..
[email protected]
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28 A Passerby
January 12, 2008 at 3:07 AM
Thanks for sharing... It reminds of the music from the musical group ENIGMA..I can't say much about why I suddenly think of ENIGMA when listen to it as I am not an expert in music..It's probably the beat and the chant on background..
Anyway, this music is really nice..As I collect some Korean instrumental music, most of them are from the K-Drama OSTs, which I often find really great, I also add this one into my collection..
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29 ratih
February 1, 2008 at 1:30 AM
tablo oppa sarang heyo!!!!
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30 AJ
April 17, 2008 at 2:04 AM
Hip Hop Rebel AbcDEFiend? Into The Sea. http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/abcdefiend oh decay of mind, this war is cold today. If you liked Eternal Morning you'll feel this too. peace.
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31 Moonlight145
April 29, 2008 at 11:46 PM
I like the video because it's odd and unique but I do understand why they have a warning because it's so many suicides going on over there.
watch korean dramas, this woman or guy can't be with who they want to be with, they commit suicide example Sorry but I love you, Something happened in bali and Autumn in my heart, then that actress from attic cat commited suicide Jung Da Bin, commited suicide like the begin of last year.
I wander what's making people think or commit suicide, I feel sorry for them.
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32 PN
July 19, 2008 at 9:54 PM
WOW!!
this is definitely diff.!! O.O
but it's interesting n very unique compare to d other k-pop....^0^
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33 Dan
May 14, 2009 at 6:15 PM
The music video is nice...at first, the man is dead, and you do not like the music that much. As you begin to love the music, the man is revived and his dance increases in excitement with the music. When he is hanging on the cran during the middle, the spikes coming out of him symbolize the climax of the song, and as the song ends, so does his life.
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