Monday, March 02, 2009

[09.03.01] Shin Hyesung, what about ballads?

YAKSOGE? we will see you all guys on stage again.

i am also looking forward to Group S album. their songs are nice
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Shin Hyesung is a singer who works hard to produce albums that are different. For the past 11 years, fans have been seeing him through Shinhwa albums and albums from the project group ‘S’, formed with good friends Kangta and Lee Jihoon. But it is his solo albums, released under the name of ‘Shin Hyesung’, that best demonstrate his own personal charm. This is already his 4th solo album, and in terms of his solo career, he moves only in the forward direction.


▲ Shin Hyesung

With his idol group beginnings, Shin Hyesung has continued to showcase his beautiful vocals through his solo albums. Vol.3 Side 2 does exactly that, allowing everyone to appreciate what Shin Hyesung is best at.

“If the first 2 solo albums showed my ballad side, then last year’s Vol.3 Side 1 showed me trying out different genres of music. Songs with stronger beats, mid-tempo songs and songs with a jazz feel, I tried out every style. Then I moved back to ballads for Vol.3 Side 2. But it’s different in its own way, maybe you can say that these are sad ballads that convey the feelings of separating and parting.”

From the titles of the songs alone, it’s clear that these songs are different from the ballads he has done before. ‘Why Did You Call’, ‘I’m Dying’, ‘Love Disease’…

“I was really astounded when I first heard Baek Ji Young’s ‘Like Being Hit By A Bullet’, but that has become a trend. The songwriters are aware of trends too, so that’s how ballads with a distinctive flavour come about. With idol dance songs being so popular, I think that ballads need to retain a special touch too.”

These ballads are actually appropriate for autumn and winter, but with the album release being delayed, Shin Hyesung also realises that his album is released at the end of winter. “Even so, at least we’re not at the warm seasons yet.” His solo album will be released in Japan shortly as well.

▲ Shinhwa, and S

Shinhwa is currently Korea’s longest-running male group, and besides last year’s 10th anniversary group activities, the members have also been working on their solo projects. However, with the issue of military service around the corner, it will be quite some time before we get to see Shinhwa as a group.

“Although we can’t meet as often anymore, but we still do meet up. Oh yes, the 6 of us met up last Christmas Eve, although Minwoo, who has a girlfriend now, left after a while. Why do men end up meeting on Christmas Eve, I thought it was a little weird too. Haha.”

Despite the few crises that they have faced, Shinhwa has remained on firm footing. “We’re smart people who don’t stubbornly let our emotions get in the way, that’s why the group can stay together for so long. When everyone is done with the army, Shinhwa will stand in front of the fans again.”

Besides Shinhwa, Shin Hyesung is also part of S. Kangta, who forms S with Shin Hyesung and Lee Jihoon, is currently serving his military duty.

“Surprisingly there are many people still looking forward to an album from S. Initially we wanted to release something before Kangta enlisted, but our schedules couldn’t agree. We met up with Kangta during his rest period, and we all agree that we have to release another S album.”

In addition, unlike the other Shinhwa members and many other singers who have forayed into drama and variety, Shin Hyesung has been ’stubbornly’ sticking to making albums. Naturally he often gets asked, “Don’t you want to try something else?”

He only has this to say, “Ah-oo, it’s tough enough just working on my main occupation… Can’t I just sing for a really long time?”

Source: Sports Khan + Six Senses
Chi trans: jojoyu7@shinhwachina
Eng trans: midnightgirl13@absolutshinhwa.wordpress.com

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