Kim Jonghyun, popular known only as Jonghyun is also known as SHINee's main vocalist. Started his music career at the age of 18 and in nine years, between 12 SHINee's albums, four albums of his own among compositions for other artists, he collected over 64 song credits.
Differentiated for his remarkable level of artistry, exceptional talent in songwriting, producing, among other things; he wrote his legacy - I believe unintentionally - as one of the most unique, versatile, and honest artist in the Korean industry.
I could go on and on about his achievements and praise - from him being the 4th Korean soloist to appear on Billboard charts to his sold-out concerts and his critically acclaimed releases. However, in this post, I want to talk mostly about his art and what his art means to me. I'm going to leave the music for the end and yes, is not only music that makes him the legend he is.
Blue Nights
On the 14th of January of 2014, it was announced that Jonghyun would be occupying the seat of radio host of MBC's Blue Nights. In this show, he would listen to the listeners' stories very compassionate, to then offer them his own life experience and wisdom by sharing his deep thoughts, the nature of his personality, and also a little insight into the struggle he faced while battling with depression and hardships.
Such stories and interactions would inspire him to write songs that he would present in a corner of the show - "Man Who Composes". These songs would be later compiled in the collection album Story Op. 1,. Songs like "End Of The Day" were a gift to his listeners who had worked hard and are returning home drained, is one of the most well-known from this collection. Songs like "1000", "Just Chill", "Love is So Nice", "Our Season" was also presented on the show and compiled in the second part of Story Op in 2017 when he left the show due to conflict on his schedules as a SHINee member (Japan and North American tour)
The host said that Blue Nights was a turning point in his life:
''Before, I think I was more comfortable being “the singer Kim Jonghyun.” [...] Because it was the one I [and the public] was used to. However, that changed when I started doing radio. As I started expressing my human side to others, I became [more] comfortable with the image of Kim Jonghyun that I revealed through radio.''
How to comfort someone by Kim Jonghyun [Blue Nights]
“Everyone lives like that, you’re not the only one having a hard time.” These words... I think it’s the most wrong way of consolation in the world. The comparing with the other opponent, with different people. Do you know how there are these words? “Live with the courage to die” Well, these words? I think it’s the worst way of consolation.
Comfort to someone who’s having a hard time, someone who’s gloomy/depressed, to an exhausted person, to say: “When you get these thoughts, think of..., when you get those thoughts, courageously, do something different …, ya, right now, since you’re having a hard time like that: you’re exhausted, tired and having negative thoughts. I think it’d be good to quickly put that energy on the move and quickly take care of the work you need to get done.”
To be honest, that person was aware of this too. They already know it’ll be solved by quickly moving on. They really immensely wish for it to be that way. However, it’s not working that way. There’s another thing other than the body’s wounds that you can see with your own eyes: it’s the heart’s wounds and, because of that, when comforting someone, I think one should think of how there’s certainly another existence, something that my eyes can’t see.
Of course, me too, while talking about this, since there are certain wounds I gave to someone and wounds I’ve received from someone, I wanted to complain and talk a bit about this to our dear listeners. When comforting someone, rather than consoling them by comparing, whether comparing them to yourself or another person’s situation, I think it’d be nice to just have a talk about that person, them solely."
Skeleton Flower: Things That Have Been Released and Set Free
In September of 2015, Kim Jonghyun surprised his fans with the news of a book release - not only was he a singer, songwriter, performer, composer, producer, and radio host, he was also an author.
The 162 pages book, released on October 2, with notes and pictures chosen by himself, is a collection of short stories with many chapters being named after his songs from Story Op. 1, SHINee, and others (Red Candle & No More).
All of the characters in this novel represent him "while at first, it seems like the Man is closest to him, next chapter you’ll meet the Singer who’s even more similar. It’s like the moment of realization, the side of you who is reluctant to acknowledge it, and the side who’s trying to convince you of it."
A rather intimate novel with a bold side to it, we can catch a glimpse of Jonghyun's most intimate thoughts and feelings. (I read the book in this non-official translation)
“A person’s heart is truly deceitful, you know.
While it does not belong to me, I long to own it, yet in reality,
when I do get my hands on it, it starts to whither like a plucked flower.”
- Kim Jonghyun
Kim Jonghyun, the musician
He made his debut as a composer in 2013 with the track "Gloomy Clock" performed by IU, and in 2015 his first EP "Base" drew attention for his participation in the creative process of the album, despite being in an agency where artists get little to no creative freedom. This EP marked Jonghyun's legacy as not only a SHINee member but also one of the best soloists in the industry. Following this critically acclaimed start, his coming works didn't get any less of a great remark on the industry.
In 2016 he wrote, "Already" for his groupmate Taemin's debut album, and "BREATH" for singer Lee Hi which came to be the best-selling song from YG Ent. His full-length album "She Is" was released in the same year and the singer says one's can feel his "passion as a singer-songwriter the most [in this album]".
The following album Story Op2, which I talked about on Blue Nights, would be the last album released in his lifetime. A personal favorite, all of the songs are self-written and self-composed.
On January 23 of 2018 Poet | Artist was released posthumously. The album received numerous acclamations:
Writing for Billboard, Tamar Herman described the album as a "farewell and a sonic walk down memory lane".
Billboard ranked the album as the second-best K-pop album released in 2018, behind BTS' Love Yourself: Answer.
Jeff Benjamin wrote that the album is "beautiful" and a "bittersweet reminder of the beloved singer, songwriter and producer's incredible talents."
Riddhi Chakraborty of Rolling Stone India called Poet | Artist "bittersweet–awe-inspiring in its detail, finesse and lyrical impact, but also a reminder that there never will be anyone quite like Jonghyun,"
Marcel Thee wrote that the record is a "tragic-reminder of his talents as both a musician and producer"
Now you ask me "what is it about Jonghyun and the music that makes him stand out so much even after almost 4 years of his passing?". Well, maybe his candor in an industry where being nice is the number one rule even if it's fake, speaking his mind even if it would be controversial in such a protective medium. Maybe his sensitivity and creativity. Or perhaps his distinctive expressive tone that makes you feel each emotion, picture in your mind all sceneries he is singing about only through his vocals.
His remarkable artistry is rooted in his versatility, as a composer, songwriter, singer, and performer. Through all his compositions you can find a diversity of different genres, from r&b, electro-punk, EDM, jazz, ballad, pop, deep house, blues. The themes of his song going from sexy and lovers' storylines to his deepest thoughts on love, life, and subtle outbursts about his depression. His thousand of different faces to fit such a poetic soul, because just like the legend Fernando Pessoa said:
The poet is a pretender.
Pretend so completely
Who even pretends it's pain
The pain that he really feels.
Who is Kim Jonghyun to me?
Kim Jonghyun is everlasting. His life, art, and influence go beyond his lifetime. He is comforting and understanding. He is also an inspiration
An artist who, despite being so open about his mental illness and dark sides, is also open to such a bright, passionate, and even sexy side. An artist who creates an album that when you listen to, one song gets you identifying so deeply due to your struggles and demons, the other has you jumping around and screaming from the top of your lungs, and the other gets you performing a striptease show.
As a person who suffers from borderline bipolar disorder, depression and has tried to commit suicide, it's quite comforting to find artists who talk about these topics not only in a raw way but also poetically and exquisitely, without romanticizing it.
I've only found such a thing in BTS. Maybe that is why SHINee and BTS are my favorite groups and the only Korean artists who I consider myself in the fandom (and note I said Korean artists and not kpop because for me they are past gone the kpop idol label)
The poetry of the poets who have suffered is sweet and tender. And that of others, of those who have been deprived of nothing, is ardent, suffering and rebellious.
- Clarice Lispector
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