SPARK NOTES : MYUNGKYUNG KANG

What a Wonderful World

 A month in New York was absolutely romantic. Streets were full of talented musicians. Music never ended in the 34^th Street-Herald Square Station for a whole month. A couple was dancing to gypsy music right in front of the 34^th Street Penn Station. When I stepped out of the 14^th Street Station to visit Whitney Museum, loud and rhythmical percussion performers welcomed me.

A vocalist in the 34^th Street-Herald Square Station

Out of all the performers, the most memorable one was the trumpeter in the 42^nd Street Grand Central Station. Subway in New York is always damp and dirty, but there are those amazing performers who fill the space with delicate sentiments. It was raining day so the underground station was extremely humid and it was the first time that I had to transfer the subway lines. My phone was running out of battery and about to be turned off so I was a bit nervous worrying if something would happen. Walking down the stairs, I heard a tender melody from the platform. I walked faster and tried to remember the title of the song. I couldn’t remember, but one thing was clear – it was the most beautiful trumpet performance I have ever listened in my life. When I reached the point where the music started, I saw a middle-aged black trumpeter wearing beige pants.

I stood in front of him and stared at him. I didn’t want to be too emotional so I tried to keep focus on the lines in the book I was reading, Tuesdays with Morrie, but it didn’t go long. I again looked at him and drowned in the music. I whistled along with him. I guess he thought that I could play the trumpet. He paused his performance for a second and tried to pass his trumpet to me. I shook my head and he soon continued his performance. As the music goes to the end, the train was coming. Until I went on the train, he continued his performance while looking and smiling at me. I felt like he was playing the music just for me. I stepped into the train and took a seat. When the door closed, the song ended as well.

A man who rode on the train with me on the other side. He was slightly drunk (his face was a bit red) and was excited. He started to talk to me. I can’t remember exactly but he said, “Isn’t it beautiful? What do you like? What do you love? You answer the question, and that is your life. That is the only goal in your life. Look at him. He’s amazing. He loves it and that's his life. It's beautiful.” Until I got off at the next station, he talked about life, happiness, beauty, and everything. I wasn’t annoyed at all. Indeed, the trumpet sound automatically continued in my head and his words were on it, just like a scene of a movie. I felt like being a leading role in some drama movies.

The music, the book and the words of a stranger were mixed and amplified my emotions. I wanted to find the song so I kept humming it until I went back home. I recorded the melody in my phone and hoped to find what the title is. After I came back to Korea, the first thing I did was to let my father listen to the recording. Fortunately, he knew the song. It was What a Beautiful World by Louis Armstrong. The title was completely equal to what I felt when listening to the song.

One cannot live always-happy life. I try to keep the truth in mind, but it is not easy. For last two weeks, I was collapsed. I couldn’t bear the pain and faced hopelessness. I felt lethargic and guilty – sadness swept me. There were not many things that could console me. I listened to this song again and again. 

"What a wonderful world

I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself what a wonderful world

I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night
And I think to myself what a wonderful world

The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people going by
I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do
They're really saying I love you

I hear babies crying, I watch them grow
They'll learn much more than I'll never know
And I think to myself what a wonderful world
Yes I think to myself what a wonderful world"

I sought solace in the song and its lyrics. I felt better. Whether I am in good or bad mood, Louis Armstrong and his song were there to stay beside me.