Kangta was discovered at Lotte World, a theme park, when he was only 13 years old. He then debuted as a back-up dancer together with Moon Hee Jun (another H.O.T member) for singer Yoo Young Jin. He was then 14 years old. Then he decided to become a singer, and together with the other three members in 1996, Jang Woo Hyuk, Lee Jae Won and Tony An, H.O.T was formed.
He has been a great songwriter and composer, having written several songs for their album as well as for other groups and singers like NRG and Fly to the Sky. When H.O.T was disbanded on March 2001, a legion of loyal fans were in rage. However, Kangta surprised all of them; he became the first member who debuted solo months after. He released his solo album "Polaris" and became a huge hit! It then followed with his second album "Pinetree" in 2002. On August 24-25, 2003, his first solo concert took place.
After the release of his second solo album, he participated on a group project called S along with fellow friends Shin Hye Sung and Lee Ji Hoon.
In 2005, Kangta made his acting debut with one of the main roles of the joint drama production between Korea and Taiwan entitled The Magic Touch of Fate alongside Ruby Lin and Alec Su. Later in that same year he also starred the Korean drama Loveholic.
In 2006, Kangta and Taiwanese singer, Vanness Wu, formed the duo Kangta & Vanness. Together, the two released their first single "Scandal".
Kangta was originally scheduled for his mandatory two-years military service at the beginning of 2008; however, SM Entertainment helped him defer the date so that he could released his fourth album "Eternity" in March. On April 1, 2008, he started his mandatory service and was discharged on February 19, 2010.
Kangta made his comeback to the music on September 2010 with his first digital Taiwanese single "愛, 頻率 (Breaka Shaka)".
For the First Time
강타 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've been lookin at you forever
But I never saw you before
Are these your hands holdin' mine
Now I wonder how I could of been so blind
For the first time I am looking in your eyes
For the first time I'm seein' who you are
When you're lookin back at me
Now I understand why love is...
Love is... for the first time...
Can this be real, can this be true
Am I the person I was this morning
And are you the same you
It's all so strange how can it be
All along this love was right in front of me
For the first time I am looking in your eyes
For the first time I'm seein who you are
I can't believe how much I see
When you're lookin back at me
Now I understand why love is...
Love is... for the first time...
Such a long time ago
I had given up on findin' this emotion.ever again
But you live with me now
Yes I've found you some how
And I've never been so sure
And for the first time I am looking in your eyes
For the first time I'm seein' who you are
Can't believe how much I see
When you're lookin back at me
Now I understand why love is...
Love is... for the first time.
In 강타's song "For the First Time," the singer expresses his amazement and disbelief at finally seeing the person he has been looking at for so long. He comments on her beauty and wonders how he could have overlooked her before. The chorus highlights his new understanding of love and how it feels to experience it for the first time. The lyrics speak to the idea that sometimes, what we are looking for is right in front of us, but we are blinded by our own assumptions and expectations.
The song presents a romantic story of how one person can bring about a life-changing perspective on love. The line "Can this be real, can this be true," indicates the singer's disbelief and excitement of finding love after a long time of searching. The use of questions throughout the song helps to emphasize the singer's sense of awe and surprise.
Line by Line Meaning
Are those your eyes, is that your smile
I have been observing you for a while but have not noticed your unique features until now
I've been lookin at you forever
I feel like I have been watching you for eternity
But I never saw you before
Despite watching you for so long, I never saw you in this light before
Are these your hands holdin' mine
I am amazed that I can feel the warmth of your touch holding my hand right now
Now I wonder how I could of been so blind
I am surprised how I failed to notice such a beautiful being before
For the first time I am looking in your eyes
I have never looked into your eyes like this before
For the first time I'm seein' who you are
I can finally notice your true identity for the first time
I can't believe how much I see
I am astonished by the clarity of my vision now
When you're lookin back at me
I am especially amazed at how you see me back in return
Now I understand why love is...
Love is... for the first time...
This experience has taught me the true meaning of love for the first time
Can this be real, can this be true
I am questioning if this experience is actually real
Am I the person I was this morning
I am also questioning if this experience has transformed me into a different person
And are you the same you
I wonder if you have also transformed into someone different
It's all so strange how can it be
I find it all so surreal and wonder how this can actually be happening
All along this love was right in front of me
I realize now that love was always within my grasp
Such a long time ago
This realization of love feels like it took place so far in the past
I had given up on findin' this emotion.ever again
I had lost all hope in finding this feeling of love again
But you live with me now
Yet, somehow you are now by my side
Yes I've found you some how
I have indeed found the source of my newfound love
And I've never been so sure
I am now more convinced than ever before
Writer(s): Wik Anne Judith, Yoon Woo Seok
Contributed by Skyler A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.