Dream Factory Club’s vocalist LEE SEUNGHWAN (이승환) returns to the front of the stage during a showcase (the first in four years) held Oct. 14th in Hongdae, with his twelfth album Fall to Fly who signs his thirty years of careers .
His new album, purple packaging, was released Tuesday at 18h KST and contains ten tracks:
— “30 년“: With the song of his longtime partner, LEE KYUHO, this opening is perfect for his 12th album celebrating his 30th birthday. It is also an appetizer that suggests that the album is softer and warmer than before before with traditional pop. “If I see myself in the future, if I see myself in the past, what will I feel, will I be disappointed or will I console myself by saying that I work hard? “. It’s a song that reminds him of how much he needs anticipation and reflection .
This first title tells its evolution with a comparison between before and after its beginnings. He even says that thirty years ago, he wanted to take a machine to travel back in time to see where it would be thirty years later.
— “너야 다 너야 I’m Always you“: This is the title track of the album, New Retro style designed in the 60s and 70s with the Motown Sound. At the time of recording, he set up several drummers to build vintage instruments to make the title more beautiful and refined. He particularly insists on the created sound that is difficult to hear in the Kpop, using only vintage keyboard instruments such as those of the Wurlitzer brand, as well as other amplifiers. A strong drum sound can sound like a sample [sample, reuse part of a sound recording in another recording] but it is actually a sound refracted by a real instrument. “We always neglect our loved ones. I always feel guilty, but sometimes I make efforts but finally, it’s you “he wrote, as if watching a short film. LEE DONGHWAN declared during the showcase;
« It’s not easy to do that kind of music, so I waited to get started. » – LEE SEUNGKWAN
The MV is a clip in autumn colors with style and vintage references, which emphasizes the retro aspect of the title. This title is for him a way of expressing the feelings that come out when one suddenly falls in love and that the routine settles down, then, one does not pay more attention to the other one. However, as the end is happy, do not think of it as a sad song .
— “너만 들음 돼“: It’s a beautiful and clear song with transparent immaturity and sweet melody for the fans. STELLA CHANG, who participated in the title, also brings a lot of love to the song. It makes people smile at LEE SEUNGHWAN‘s mind. It’s a refreshing confession for the fans, but the hard and perfect pop sound confirms that LEE SEUNGHWAN is a progressive musician who does not miss a touch of youth .
— “그저 다 안녕”: LEE KYUHO wrote and composed the words of this ballad and LIM HUNIL participated in his arrangement, supplemented by the depth of the voice and the delicate sensitivity of LEE SEUNGHWANG. It is a lyrical title with a calm melody that says goodbye to memories and feelings left after separation from a loved one. LEE SEUNGHWAN absorbs the desire and the sadness that he feels thanks to his extremely controlled voice. Impressive poetic song, she has a relaxing melody, a dramatic composition and an obvious feeling of sadness. LEE SEUNGHWAN and LEE KYUHO, who composed all the songs they worked on, have become close over time and have reached the peak of their craft. This song already existed as a single but it was re-recorded for the album .
— “생존 과 낭만 사이“: This is a sad and exciting song that comforts the sad reality of today’s youth who must choose between work and love. The beauty of LEE SEUNGHWAN‘s title, which no one can imitate with its tropical sound, seems to have been added to the brilliance of the artist. This collaboration with ROB CHIARELLI adds excitement to the song .
— “Do the right thing“: Everyone seemed to applaud his success. Radio and the media presented it as a new success. It has led him to believe that money is the only measure of success in an extremely competitive society that values all values. Society blinded him by making him believe that. This title is an intense funk genre, hoping that success through good things will be appreciated or encouraged. It’s also fun to listen to the powerful brass sounds and baby-like devices between the lyrics of LEE SEUNGHWAN singing from the point of view of the first person .
A MV allowed us to discover his American collaborations in a cheerful and festive way with PHILIP LASSITER. This song automatically puts us in a good mood, as emphasized by the words “Feel so good, always do the right things, do like me”; an invitation to have fun. He used a choir to accompany him .
— “10 억 광년 의 신호”: It’s a kind of low tempo modern rock that coexists with the huge range and exquisite compositions that LEE SEUNGHWAN showed in his songs “천일 동안”, “어떻게 사랑 이” and “그대 사랑” 모릅니다 “. This new song includes a mysterious sound with a spectacular development emphasized by an intense chorus. She was greeted by many musicians and presents the musical individuality and charm of LEE SEUNGHWAN. The lyrics for which he worked so much to make them poetic and scientific, were in fact the world’s first gravitational wave song, attracting the attention of the scientific community. This song was encouraged by the desperate and ardent desire of a distant opponent, a special song that complements itself by comparing with a person’s mind with the light .
— “백야“: PARK INYOUNG, keyboardist of LEE SEUNGHWAN’s band in 1999, is now an American musician and a string composer. He put all his strength into the arrangement and the performance. “Kpop is a trend nowadays,” said LEE JIMAN, recording artist in Hall A, the most famous recording studio in the United States. During the mixing process, which part to highlight between the voice and the performance raised concerns, but the decision of LEE SEUNGHWAN to give more weight to the music itself lowers the voice and underlines that it is is more music than the song of a solo artist. This is the story of a man suffering from hallucinations, even when he opens and closes his eyes.
A MV was also broadcast, in black and white to give more weight to the song, showing us behind the scenes of the production of this album in the United States. This orchestral style song is poetic, melancholy, like a complaint when it is written 잠시 (for a moment). This title may seem long with its five minutes, but for LEE SEUNGHWAN, it’s essential to express so many emotions. To accompany the orchestra, his voice is more weighty, more tragic than usual, a style that changes what he used to do with his band.
— “돈의 신“: It’s a song that criticizes a person who turned a blind eye to his country and people to get money, using rock opera. LEE SEUNGHWAN worked with JOO JINWOO and MC META. The recording was conducted with about forty musicians over a period of three months. Regarding sound, LEE SEUNGHWAN has mobilized two mixing engineers to focus on the implementation of opera-rock sound, which is rarely experienced in Korea. Let’s get acquainted with another masterpiece played by LEE SEUNGHWAN, owner of energy and creativity,
— “Fall to fly”: The voice of LEE SEUNGHWAN appeared in the song “Fall to fly” in the album of the same name but this time, the voices of the students of the Kwak Yian Primary School and the chorus of the university for girls Ehwa helped revive the still and the mysterious atmosphere of the song. The story speaks of a fall that is extraordinary now, ending with a brighter and more relaxed feeling. It is a song written five years ago where we were immersed in a meeting with a political aspiration: “What dreams that you and I dream can become reality? “. This message now leaves a positive that “we can create a just society where dreams come true”.
After making his debut in 1989, LEE DONGHWAN confesses that he is inspired by the advertisements he had for habits of watching in his twenties, before its debut, to always manage to leave the diversified content. Through these advertisements, he tries to find a hidden message that he shares in his songs. For the MV of his title song, 나는 다 너야, he selected the actors PARK JEONGMIN and JIWOO because his friends loved them, and the actors were happy to answer present at the invitation because being fans of the singer.
Most of his songs may seem similar so he likes to take risks by moving away from the paths he usually borrows. Although it’s been thirty years since his debut, he still likes to express his feelings for the people around him. LEE SEUNGHWAN adds that he does not wish with the appearance of his songs – a ballad singer – when asked if he was not too old to have an extravagant look. He likes fashion, which for him is never outdated. He does not hesitate to wear clothes that are not trendy, just as he likes to release songs that are not because one day, these styles (fashion / music) will be new or will become trends. So, he sometimes likes to incorporate lyrics that may surprise, even if he knows that his titles will not be in the charts. It still follows the trends a bit to see what the public likes today and why not try new styles if it pleases him.
« I do not like hearing when an artist is asked to change his style to become mainstream. That’s why I always do the style I want, without worrying too much about the rankings. I think bands are still popular today. » – LEE SEUNGHWAN
The journalists then asked him what was the hardest moment of his career and in a laugh, LEE SEUNGHWAN replied that in 1997, during the production of his title Aewon, he felt the presence of a ghost around him. But more seriously, he never felt he had encountered any particular difficulty since his beginnings. He subsequently announced two concert dates in Seoul; November 30 and December 1 at KSPO Dome, to celebrate his thirty years of career. This concert, entitled “invincible legend”, represents him as a fallen angel. This concert is a gift for his fans that he can not wait to see again. To prepare, he considers all possible situations as “and if I crack my pants on stage? To predict how to react already, and he talks with the staff members about it to make the concert fun and interesting. He is popular in Korea for his live performances.
“Do not worry, this serious step of reaching fifty” he said to himself as a message from his past to his present, and in the opposite direction; “There will be times when you will not be able to live comfortably because of money, but you will succeed. You do not have to tell yourself “I absolutely do this to survive,” it would be better if you live simply and freely without worrying about money”. He concludes.
This album is mainly a message he addresses to his fans, but also to himself in indirect retrospective of his career. LEE SEUNGHWAN is a singer who throughout the showcase was very friendly, joking with journalists with jokes or sarcastic answers, and especially close to his audience. He is considered to be a musician who has greatly influenced the development of the Korean music scene since his debut in 1989 and who has been loved by the public with many famous songs.
Reporter’s comment: “Lee Seunghwan was filled with naturalness, and despite his long career, the fact that he does not fall into the routine is commendable. I particularly recommend the title 백야 which is beautiful. “
Journalist: Pillet Anaïs
Translator: Shawn
Source: Dream Factory Club / KSTATION TV
