You are here: Home > Video > Entertainment > Music

DPRK musician group becomes Youtube sensation

: 0 Comment(s)Print E-mail CNTV, March 26, 2012

Adjust font size:

Last month, a group of young musicians from the DPRK became an unexpected hit on the video sharing website Youtube, with their all-accordion version of A-ha's "Take on Me". Now, they're giving outsiders a glimpse into their life in Pyongyang, and have been speaking about their recent trip to Europe.

Last month, a group of young musicians from the DPRK became an unexpected hit on the video sharing website Youtube, with their all-accordion version of A-ha's "Take on Me".

There's not much foreign music on the airwaves in the DPRK.

And the country's population still remains mostly cut off from the internet.

But a group of young accordion players from Kumsong School in Pyongyang became an internet sensation in February, with their interpretation of "Take on Me", by the Norwegian pop group A-ha.

It was a chance encounter with a Norwegian artist that led to fame.

Over the years, Morton Traavik has worked hard at building cultural links with the DPRK. Last month, the group travelled to Norway to take part in a performance staged by Traavik at an arts festival at Kirkenes.

Traavik posted a clip on Youtube a week before their arrival - and it went viral, clocking more than a million and half hits.

The Norway trip was the first experience of performing abroad for the five young accordion players.

Kim Chon Ryong, Kumsong School pupil, said, "Recently we participated in the Barents Festival which was held in Norway, far away from our home. The Nowegian audience was greatly impressed, saying that we play the accordion very well. At that time I felt proud, and confident in myself as a Korean student."

Kumsong school selects children with artistic talent from across the country, and trains them to be singers, instrumentalists and dancers.

Many graduates from Kumsong go on to play important roles in major art organisations.

1 2 3 Next