The Kukki Sisters

The Kukki Sisters were a Metzettan-born female singing trio who made their career in Urcea following the Second Great War, becoming the first Metzettan musical act to chart outside of Alshar. They appeared over 20 times on Urcean television and released two popular albums there, as well as releasing several records at home. The group consisted of Haneul, Aja and Misun, referred to as Hannah, Ada and Michelle in Urcea, respectively. Haneul and Aja truly were sisters, however Misun was merely their cousin. The group is sometimes credited as kickstarting the popularity of Metz-pop, though the term wouldn't be coined for several decades to come.

The Kukki Sisters on Urcean television

Early lives

Haneul and Aja's father was an orchestral conductor, Kukki An, whose younger brother Kukki Mung (a carpenter) fathered Misun. Kukki Mung was killed in a naval battle with Tanhai during the Second Great War, less than a year after joining the navy. Urcean vinyl records had begun to appear sporadically in Metzetta during the war, which An took an interest in due to his musical career. The girls began to learn the songs to amuse troops stationed in Metzetta, earning a small salary for doing so. Word about the sisters reached Urcean record producer James Ferris, who had them sign a contract to release an album and appear on TV in Urcea.

Career

In 1947, after the war had ended, the Kukki Sisters arrived in Urceopolis to perform on stage and on television, and record their debut album. They often wore traditional mettubok during their performances. In 1950, their cover of "Daddy's Ole Diner" reached #7 in the charts, officially making them the first Metzettans to achieve commercial success in Urcea with their music. In Urcea their fame faded after a few short years, but they released music for over a decade in their home country and are fondly remembered in both nations today. In Metzetta they came to be heavily associated with Urcean culture, embodying diner culture and strong Catholic morals. After the untimely death of Misun in 1960 in a traffic accident whilst being driven to the recording studio, Haneul and Aja retired from recording to live a relatively quiet life with their families, seldom making media appearances since.

Discography

Albums

Title	Year	Label	Region	Notes
The Fabulous Kukki Sisters	1947	Ferris Reels	Urcea	Debut album of The Kukki Sisters, consisting entirely of covers of Urcean country songs.
멋진구끼자매 (The Fabulous Kukki Sisters)	1948	Dolaji Records	Metzetta	Combined half of the Urcean release with a new half composed of Metzettan standards, but used the same name as the Urcean album.
Maids in Metzetta	1949	Ferris Reels	Urcea	Cover versions of Urcean country songs with a couple of rhythm and blues numbers for variety.
섬세한 난초 (Delicate Orchids)	1950	Dolaji Records	Metzetta	Took the remaining songs from the Urcean debut album as well as half the Maids in Metzetta songs.
식당에서 (At The Diner)	1953	Dolaji Records	Metzetta	Used the remaining Maids in Metzetta songs as well as some newly recorded Metzettan standards, including Atop Mount Riwa.
율시아소녀들 (Urcea Girls)	1955	Dolaji Records	Metzetta	Collected the unused Urcean singles with some new songs composed in the Urcean country style specifically for the Kukki Sisters by Metzettan songwriters.
걸파워 (Girl Power)	1959	Dolaji Records	Metzetta	What may generously be termed a concept album centred around feminist issues, also including their last single which was released a year earlier. Adopted a rockabilly (King's Rock) sound rather than country.
The Complete Kukki Sisters	2004	Dolaji Records	Urcea, Metzetta	A 5-CD set collecting all the sisters' recordings, in both regions it contained songs only released on the opposite side of the world. Also included the sisters' only unreleased recording from 1960.

Singles

Title	Year	Label	Region	Notes
A: On The First Train To Coria B: Dancing By The River	1947	Ferris Reels	Urcea	Debut single of The Kukki Sisters featuring two covers of Urcean country songs.
A: On The First Train To Coria B: The Sniper	1947	Dolaji Records	Metzetta	Metzettan recording debut of the sisters, recycling the A-side from their Urcean debut.
A: I Went To The Bay B: Corned Beef Blues	1948	Ferris Reels	Urcea	B-side was an instrumental not actually featuring the sisters; a shrewd financial decision by Ferris.
A: My Buttermilk Boy B: I Want To Go To Damselalia	1949	Ferris Reels	Urcea	Simply a cover of My Buttermilk Girl with slight lyrical changes.
A: Daddy's Ole Diner B: Toot-Toot-Peep-Peep	1950	Ferris Reels	Urcea	Reached #7 in the charts, making The Kukki Sisters the first Metzettan act to see success in Urcea.
A: Daddy's Ole Diner B: My Buttermilk Boy	1951	Dolaji Records	Metzetta	Released to capitalise on the success of the record in Urcea.
A: I Went To The Bay B: Atop Mount Riwa	1953	Dolaji Records	Metzetta	The B-side was an uptempo cover of the Metzettan national anthem.
A: Urcean Boys (We Love Them) B: At The BBQ Party	1954	Dolaji Records	Metzetta	The first songs written specifically for the sisters, in which Metzettan songwriters attempted to capture "the Urcean sound."
A: Buy Me A Drink B: Over The Urce	1955	Dolaji Records	Metzetta	Released to promote Urcea Girls.
A: Girl Power Bop B: Levantine Lover	1958	Dolaji Records	Metzetta	Final single released by The Kukki Sisters, the B-side remained uncollected on an album until 2004.