핑계 – 김건모(Kim Gun-mo)
🌟 Introduction
In 1993, Kim Gun-mo (김건모) released “핑계 (Excuse)” as the title track of his second album, “김건모 2.”
The song’s funky rhythm, catchy melody, and playful yet emotional lyrics captured the nation, marking Kim Gun-mo’s rise as one of Korea’s most beloved solo singers.
This track wasn’t just a hit — it was a turning point in Korean pop history, helping to define the early 90s sound.
👤 Artist & Song Background
- 김건모 debuted in 1992 with his self-titled first album.
- His second album (1993) featuring Excuse became a massive commercial success, selling over 2 million copies.
- With this hit, Kim Gun-mo moved from being a rising star to becoming known as “the nation’s singer.”
Unlike the emerging idol trend later in the decade, Kim Gun-mo’s music fused funk, dance, and pop into a unique style that appealed across generations.
📖 M/V & Lyrics
| 지금도 이해할 수 없는 그 얘기로 넌 핑계를 대고 있어 내게 그런 핑곌 대지 마 입장 바꿔 생각을 해 봐 니가 지금 나라면 넌 웃을 수 있니 혼자 남는 법을 내게 가르쳐 준다며 농담처럼 진담인 듯 건넨 그 한마디 안개꽃 한 다발 속에 숨겨 둔 편지엔 안녕이란 두 글자만 깊게 새겨 있어 이렇게 쉽게 니가 날 떠날 줄은 몰랐어 아무런 준비도 없는 내게 슬픈 사랑을 가르쳐 준다며 넌 핑계를 대고 있어 내게 그런 핑곌 대지 마 입장 바꿔 생각을 해 봐 니가 지금 나라면 넌 웃을 수 있니 혼자 남는 법을 내게 가르쳐 준다며 농담처럼 진담인 듯 건넨 그 한마디 안개꽃 한 다발 속에 숨겨 둔 편지엔 안녕이란 두 글자만 깊게 새겨 있어 이렇게 쉽게 니가 날 떠날 줄은 몰랐어 아무런 준비도 없는 내게 슬픈 사랑을 가르쳐 준다며 넌 핑계를 대고 있어 이렇게 쉽게 니가 날 떠날 줄은 몰랐어 아무런 준비도 없는 내게 슬픈 사랑을 가르쳐 준다며 넌 핑계를 대고 있어 | Even now, with a story I can’t understand, you’re making excuses to me. Don’t give me such excuses— put yourself in my place for once. If you were me right now, could you still smile? Saying you’d teach me how to be left all alone, you tossed out those words, half a joke, half the truth. In the bouquet of baby’s breath, the letter you hid inside had only two words etched deeply: “Goodbye.” Like this— I never thought you’d leave me so easily. To me, with no preparation at all, you say you’re teaching me the lesson of a sad love, while you just make excuses. Don’t give me such excuses— put yourself in my place for once. If you were me right now, could you still smile? Saying you’d teach me how to be left all alone, you tossed out those words, half a joke, half the truth. In the bouquet of baby’s breath, the letter you hid inside had only two words etched deeply: “Goodbye.” Like this— I never thought you’d leave me so easily. To me, with no preparation at all, you say you’re teaching me the lesson of a sad love, while you just make excuses. Like this— I never thought you’d leave me so easily. To me, with no preparation at all, you say you’re teaching me the lesson of a sad love, while you just make excuses. |
The song expresses the pain of being abandoned with weak excuses, balancing emotional lyrics with an upbeat groove that made it unforgettable.
🌍 Why It Matters
- Excuse was the song that established Kim Gun-mo’s mainstream popularity, paving the way for his later record-breaking 3rd album.
- It showcased the solo artist boom of the early 90s, before idol groups took over the charts.
- The track is remembered as one of the most iconic breakup songs in Korean pop history.
🎤 Fun Facts
- The funky beats and Kim Gun-mo’s signature fast vibrato gave the song its distinctive sound.
- His second album was a commercial breakthrough, making him one of the top-selling artists in Korea by the mid-90s.
- Excuse is still a karaoke favorite, beloved for its mix of groove and raw emotion.
“Excuse (핑계)” wasn’t just Kim Gun-mo’s hit — it was the song that turned him into a superstar.
As part of his second album, it marked the beginning of his reign as one of Korea’s greatest solo artists.
👉 Do you think 90s solo singers like Kim Gun-mo had more emotional impact than idol groups?
Share your thoughts in the comments!
