That's why it is difficult for me to understand the plight of the North Korean. As so very often. The girls pictured on my original blog were actually among the thousands who have been privileged to leave the slavery of North Korea. They were musicians. At first they were glad just to get out, but now they seek for "stardom" in the South as a singing group. But they've had to change their lyrics quite a bit. In the North, the monotonous theme of their songs was the Kim government in all its glory. I give you from Thomas Belke's "Juche" some of the songs from which they might have chosen:

• Glory to the Dear Leader
• We sing of February Holiday
• Song of Comradeship
• Let Us become General's Army
• We Began in the Debris
• We Will Advance Confidently
• Toward Decisive Battle
• Let Us Hold High the Red Flag
• We Will Defend the Headquarters of Revolution With Our Lives
• The General, Son of Guerrillas
• Socialist Paradise

Granted, some of the umph! of these song titles may have been lost in translation, but it seems to me the musical life of an average NK citizen is rather limited.