#5 - “Zombie". DAY6 (데이식스), 2020

A Story of the Song... The Story behind the Song Contribution by Celinna Lim (Monash University)

Zombies tend to provoke feelings of fear and anguish, however, the fear in this song is that we have discovered that we are in fact zombies.

Despite this depressing reality, DAY6’s song, “Zombie” is not intended for individuals to agonize over, but to offer comfort to listeners.

Figure 1: DAY6’s “Zombie” music video. Image source: screenshot.

On May 11th, 2020, DAY6 made a comeback with “Zombie” in their new album 'The Book of Us: The Demon'. DAY6 is a Korean 5-piece band under JYP Entertainment’s Studio J consisting of Sungjin, Jae, Young K, Wonpil and Dowoon. This song was written by members Young K and Wonpil. Additionally, Jae participated in composing, alongside Hong Ji Sang. During this time, comeback promotions and team activities were temporarily suspended to allow members to focus on their mental health. Considering mental health is such a taboo subject in Korea, it is encouraging to see the support of the CEO, JYP.

DAY6’s “Zombie” focuses on themes of emotional imbalance and despair. Hence, the topic of mental health is also one of the song’s themes. By likening the mundane and emotionless lives of individuals to feeling like a ‘zombie’, DAY6 aims to provide consolation to listeners. This is especially important considering the year of the song’s release; 2020 can be vividly remembered as the year when the COVID-19 pandemic erupted, and isolation policies were enforced on populations worldwide. During this period, listeners may feel as though they were 'zombies'.

Figure 2: “The Book of Us: The Demon” Album Cover. Image source: Genius.

The song exemplifies the daily challenges of individuals enduring repetitive existences. The song begins with “어제는  어떤 날이었나? 특별한 게 있었던가? (What kind of day was it yesterday? Was there anything special?)”. Thus, revealing that nothing out of the ordinary has occurred. It is simply another day that the individual must live through, with no glimpse of hope. This repetitive life can make individuals feel like they have become “생각 없는 허수아비 (A scarecrow without a brain inside)”. This suggests that individuals are only responsible for their daily, monotonous routine. They are not capable of going beyond this, they have one function only, similar to scarecrows. Furthermore, lacking a brain implies that listeners feel a lack of purpose in life outside of their routine. This is something that many may grapple with. Additionally, they lack emotions which makes them numb to the processes of life. This feeling can be demoralizing, and it contributes to the feeling of being like a 'zombie'.

It is important to note the use of personal pronouns such as “I” and “we” throughout the song. This choice seeks to place listeners in the position of the zombies. It does this successfully too, as it is likely that listeners can relate to the lyrics.

Simultaneously in the song, there is also the fear “나만 이렇게 힘들까? (Am I the only one struggling?)”. It is this fear that many struggle with. It is an isolating feeling which prevents one from being able to connect with others. However, this lyric implies that such struggles are universal. The song closes with “내일도 다를 것 없이 그저 잠에 들기만을 기다리며 살아 (Tomorrow will be no different, I live closing the time ‘til I close my eyes)”. At first, this may seem like a depressing notion. That nothing will be different the next day; the individual is simply going through the motions of life, performing their usual routine with little consideration. However, the fact that the individual lives for another day is an achievement in itself. It is perhaps the sliver of hope that individuals possess, and the next day might be different.

For this reason, Young K wrote this song to emphasize the universality of this feeling. During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this feeling only increased, with not only mental isolation but also physical isolation. In this way, mental health can be normalized. We have to prioritize our mental health, and this is something that DAY6 is aware of, with two members experiencing difficulties with their well-being. Hence, the choice to look after themselves rather than promote their new album is something striking within the Korean music industry.

Perhaps this is the reason that has contributed to the song’s success. On Melon, Korea’s largest music site, “Zombie” debuted at the 8th spot, rising two ranks by 8pm on the day of its release. This is a significant achievement for DAY6, as their debut ranking in comparison to their last album title track, “Sweet Chaos”, had risen by 33 ranks. Initially ranking at no. 2 on Bugs, they eventually rose to the number 1 spot. DAY6 was also awarded the Best Band Performance at the Mnet Music Awards (MAMA) 2020. This momentous achievement cannot be ignored.

Additionally, DAY6’s “Zombie” has been covered and sung by various singers, who enjoy the song’s message. This includes artists such as solo artist IU, Stray Kid’s Han and Seungmin, and more recently, Xdinary Heroes.

“Zombie” is described as a medium-tempo track, with elements of hip-hop. There is consistent drumming throughout most of the song, which further reinforces the repetitive nature of daily life. However, towards the end of the song, only a synthesizer and a keyboard are playing in the background. This signifies a change to the routine. Hence, it contributes to the hope that it is possible for listeners to see change in their repetitive lives.

It is this attempt to comfort listeners that made DAY6’s “Zombie” such a big hit. Perhaps we have indeed found ourselves to be zombies. However, opportunities for tomorrow are endless, and that is something encouraging.

Watch the official music video of DAY6’s “Zombie” here.

Find the lyrics of the song here.

Celinna Lim ©, please do not reproduce without prior permission.