Go Go 70s ~ Nirvana Was Shut Down in 1979

"Go Go 70s" is a 2008 Korean musical comedy-drama movie. Inspired by real-life events of the 1970s, the film is in memory of the 1st generation of Korean Rock and Roll.

SUMMARY:  Two groups in the 1970s united to perform a rock band that is remembered for its contributions to promoting rock and roll and soul music in South Korea.

♦ We are Soul Brothers

“Go Go 70s” is about a Korean rock band in the 1970s, that sky-rocketed to fame when they won a contest. They started as two (2) different groups. Sang-Kyu was an awesome vocalist and could play the guitar. Man-Sik had horrible vocals but he could play the guitar like Jimi Hendrix. Sang-Kyu suggested that they pool their talents. Man-Sik agreed and the rock and roll band “The Devils” was born. Mimi came along hoping she would become a singer. She ended up being a dancer who danced to the music played by the band. Their music was a blend of rock and soul (or “black music”), and they performed in popular dance clubs at the time, such as Nirvana. Lee Byoung-Wook was a manager who helped them get their gigs.

As they were rising to fame, there was a brutal crackdown on rock and roll music. At that time South Korea was under an oppressive military dictatorship and the band became “offenders”. It was serious. There was a type of “morality police” that went around arresting rock band members, cutting off their long hair, and putting them in jail. They were charged with corrupting the youth and lowering the society’s moral standards.

When they were released from prison, they went right back to playing their music. They played one last concert hoping to save their music for future generations. Nirvana, the dance club where they performed shut down in 1979 and the group disbanded in 1980.

Main Characters:

• Sang-Kyu (played by Cho Seung-Woo, “Divorce Attorney Shin”, “Sisyphus: The Myth”, “Stranger 1 and 2”, “The King’s Doctor”)
• Man-Sik (played by Cha Seung-Woo)
• Mimi (played by Shin Min-A, “No Gain No Love”, “Tomorrow With You”)
• Lee Byoung-Wook (played by Lee Sung-Min, “Handsome Guys”, “12.12: The Day”, “Remember”, “Mr. Zoo: The Missing VIP”)

Where to Watch

Viewership and Rating:

• IMDb: 6.7 out of 10 stars
• My Drama List: 7.4 out of 10 stars
• Viki viewers rated this movie 8.9 out of 10 stars

My personal rating is the same as the Viki viewers.

There are a few musical K-drama movies and series still on my watch list. “Go Go 70s” wasn’t on my list. It popped up while browsing the Viki database. This movie was entertaining and educational. K-pop groups are everywhere these days, so I had no idea that, at one time rock and roll music was met with resistance in Korea. I know that in the USA, people called it “the devil’s music”. I did not know there was a Korean rock and roll band called “The Devils”.

• “‘The Devils’ was a real Korean rock band! They debuted in the early 1970s and were known for their soulful sound. The band gained recognition for their historical importance in the Korean music scene, even though they didn’t have any major hits.”

REFERENCES:

• Rock band Devils’ frontman Kim Myung-gil is dead at 73 | Korea JoonAng Daily
• 데블스 (Devils) | Korean Record Collection

I also decided to watch this movie because of the lead male actor. Cho Seung Woo is full of surprises. He is such a versatile actor and never disappoints the viewer.

Not sure if the group actually had girl dancers modeled after Tina Turner and her dancing girls. But it was a nice touch to the movie.

LINKS OF INTEREST:

Go Go 70s | Film | Reviews | Variety

Go Go 70s (고고70) (2008) | LoveHKFilm

11 K-Drama Actors Who Are Also In Musical Theater | Soompi

TRAILER/TEASER:

MNCVisionID. “tvN Movies – May 2021 Highlights.” YouTube, Video, 7 May 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9G8hyjwiIw.

♦

Other K-Dramas in the “Musical” Category:

• The Sound of Magic
• Twinkling Watermelon
• Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born
• Castaway Diva
• My Paparotti
• Swing Kids
• My Lovely Girl
• Love, Lies
• Love, Andante

♦