Korean Bodega

Album: 100% Colombian (1998)
Charted: 15
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Bodegas are little mom-and-pop stores found in cities, often on the corners. They sell groceries and various other necessities, like burner cell phones, lottery tickets and cigarettes. They're typically run by Latin shopkeepers, but the one in this song is Korean.

    The lyric was written by Fun Lovin' Criminals frontman Huey Morgan, based on a real bodega he frequented in New York City. One day, he left his wallet at home and the owner let him take his groceries with him and pay later. Thus, "Korean Bodega, it's in my favor."
  • The song was released on the second Fun Lovin' Criminals album, 100% Colombian. After releasing their first album, they made inroads on their home turf of America with the song "Scooby Snacks," but subsequent singles were largely ignored. Meanwhile, their very New York-centric songs played far better in the UK, where they found a lot more fans.
  • The band made a video for this song in the style of a fictional documentary, with the guys playing different characters. The sound bites are mixed in with the music; Fun Lovin' Criminals often incorporated dialogue and acting into their music videos. "Korean Bodega" charted there at #15.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Todd Rundgren

Todd RundgrenSongwriter Interviews

Todd Rundgren explains why he avoids "Hello It's Me," and what it was like producing Meat Loaf's Bat Out of Hell album.

Chris Rea

Chris ReaSongwriter Interviews

It took him seven years to recover from his American hit "Fool (If You Think It's Over)," but Chris Rea became one of the top singer-songwriters in his native UK.

The Evolution of "Ophelia"

The Evolution of "Ophelia"Song Writing

How five songs portray Shakespeare's character Ophelia.

Mick Jones of Foreigner

Mick Jones of ForeignerSongwriter Interviews

Foreigner's songwriter/guitarist tells the stories behind the songs "Juke Box Hero," "I Want To Know What Love Is," and many more.

Michael Glabicki of Rusted Root

Michael Glabicki of Rusted RootSongwriter Interviews

Michael tells the story of "Send Me On My Way," and explains why some of the words in the song don't have a literal meaning.

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star Riders

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star RidersSongwriter Interviews

Writing with Phil Lynott, Scott saw their ill-fated frontman move to a darker place in his life and lyrics.