Jonghyun has been active in music since he was in junior high school. He was in a band and participated in many festivals in his area. In his band, he was not a vocalist but a bassist. The band's name was "ZION" and during one of its shows, he was scouted by SM. Before his debut with SHINee, he sang a duet with Zhang Li Yin in the song “交错的爱 (Wrongly Given Love)” for her Chinese album.
Jonghyun was discovered at the 2005 S.M. Casting System. In 2008, he was chosen as a member of the group Shinee, the 5-member boy group debuted on May 25, 2008 on SBS's Inkigayo.
In November 2010, it was revealed by SM Entertainment that Jonghyun, along with TRAX’s Jay, Super Junior’s Kyuhyun, and rookie singer, Jino, had formed a project group, S.M. The Ballad, under their label. The group focuses more on ballad rather than pop and R&B themes. The group released their debut album, "너무 그리워 (Miss You)", on November 29, 2010. They debuted on November 28, 2010 on SBS's Inkigayo with their lead single, "너무 그리워 (Miss You)". They also promoted another single from the album, "Hot Times (시험하지 말기)".
In February 4, 2014, SM Entertainment revealed that SM The Ballad will make a comeback with new members, Jonghyun being the only one from the original formation. It was later revealed that he would be singing, together with Girls' Generation's Taeyeon, the title track of the new album, "숨소리 (Breath)".
In October 2010, Jonghyun was one of twenty idols from various South Korean groups that recorded the song, "Let's Go," for the purpose of increasing public participation in the 2010 G-20 Seoul summit. He provided vocals along with label-mates Sungmin, Seohyun and Luna.
In the 4th mini album "Sherlock", Jonghyun had written the two songs "늘 그자리에 (Honesty)" and "알람시계 (Alarm Clock)". The song "Honesty" is written to give thanks to their fans who have stayed by their side with unchanging love until now. The other song, "Alarm Clock" which is also co-written with fellow member Minho, is about wishing to wake up from a nightmare of past break-up. He also wrote for multiple SHINee songs including "너와 나의 거리 (Selene 6.23)" (album "The Misconceptions of Us") and "상사병 (Symptoms)" (album "Everybody"). Jonghyun fully composed the collaboration track with IU, "Gloomy Clock" in IU's 3rd album "Modern Times". He also fully composed, wrote and lead the vocal direction for Son Dam Bi's digital single, "Red Candle". Not only did Jonghyun compose and write the song, he also took part in the vocal directing. The lyrics relate the characteristics of a candle to someone in love, who feels excited and nervous at the same time.
As a DJ for MBC FM4U's midnight radio show "Blue Night" Jonghyun has revealed his newly written songs on his radio show which he has prepared for a special corner called "Blue Night Lyrics, That Man's Composition". Back in June, DJ Jonghyun tweeted: “As I started Blue Night, I contemplated on how to incorporate myself well into the program… As expected, the conclusion is communicating with listeners and music! That’s why I have prepared a project where I personally write a song pertaining to a listener’s story and let you hear it. The name of the corner is ‘Blue Night Lyrics, That Man Composition’. It won’t be aired every week, but it will be aired once every few months as a special corner, so please send in a lot of stories. I’m accepting stories through the homepage.”
MBC FM4U have revealed starting from July 7th, they will be releasing the self-composed and self-written songs of Jonghyun. Furthermore it was stated that Jonghyun has written a total of 7 songs and that they will be revealed succession over several weeks.
On December 18th, 2017, Jonghyun was found in his apartment unconscious after what evidence has pointed out was most likely a suicide attempt. He passed away while emergency services were transporting him to the hospital.
놓아줘
종현 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
시선이 떨어진 건 널 잃어서가 아니야 그냥 난 널
죽도록 보고파도 안을 수 없단 걸 알아 당연히
우리 손이 놓아진 그때부터 내 두 눈이 멀었어
이제 누구라도 좋아
세상에 지친 날 누가 좀 제발 안아줘
힘들어하는 날 제발 먼저 눈치채줘
못난 날 알아줘
제발 날 도와줘
너의 눈이 차갑게 날 감싸도 난 이미 몸을 버렸어
이젠 아무래도 좋아
세상에 지친 날 누가 좀 제발 안아줘
눈물에 젖은 날 누가 좀 닦아줘
힘들어하는 날 제발 먼저 눈치채줘
못난 날 알아줘
제발 날 도와줘
날 용서할 수 없는 난
그래 널 용서할 수 없는 난
계속 날 울리고 또 너를 그리고 옛날을 원하고 있어
좀만 더 가면 돼 한 발짝만 더 디디면 모든 게 끝나
미련하게 잡고 있지마 날 그만 놓아줘
(이젠 아무래도 좋아)
세상에 지친 날 누가 좀 제발 안아줘
눈물에 젖은 날 누가 좀 닦아줘
힘들어하는 날 제발 먼저 눈치채줘
못난 날 알아줘
제발 날 도와줘
The lyrics to 종현's song "놓아줘" (Let me go) express feelings of longing, loneliness, and a desire to be freed from a past relationship. The singer acknowledges that they can no longer hold on to the person they have lost, even though they still want to desperately. The phrase "시선이 떨어진 건 널 잃어서가 아니야" (It's not that I lost you because our gazes drifted apart) implies that the disconnect between them and the person they miss is not solely due to physical separation, but rather a deeper emotional disconnect. Despite this, they admit that they cannot help but want to see and hold the person again, even to the point of obsession. The repetition of phrases like "세상에 지친 날 누가 좀 제발 안아줘" (Someone please embrace me who is tired of the world) and "눈물에 젖은 날 누가 좀 닦아줘" (Someone please wipe away the tears that have soaked me) further emphasizes the singer's plea for comfort and healing from their emotional pain. However, they also acknowledge their own flaws and ask to be understood and helped in their current state.
Overall, the lyrics of "놓아줘" convey a deep sense of longing, sorrow, and vulnerability, as well as a desire for emotional support and release from the pain of a past relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Ah, ah
Expressing a sigh or a feeling of frustration
시선이 떨어진 건 널 잃어서가 아니야 그냥 난 널
I'm not losing you just because you're avoiding eye contact, I still want you
죽도록 보고파도 안을 수 없단 걸 알아 당연히
I know it's obvious that I can't hold you even though I want to see you desperately
우리 손이 놓아진 그때부터 내 두 눈이 멀었어
Since our hands let go, my eyes have lost their sight
이제 누구라도 좋아
Now, anyone is fine with me
세상에 지친 날 누가 좀 제발 안아줘
Someone please hug me when I'm exhausted from the world
눈물에 젖은 날 누가 좀 닦아줘
Someone please wipe away the tears that have soaked me
힘들어하는 날 제발 먼저 눈치채줘
Please notice when I'm struggling
못난 날 알아줘
Please understand my flaws
제발 날 도와줘
Please help me
너의 눈이 차갑게 날 감싸도 난 이미 몸을 버렸어
Even if your eyes coldly embrace me, I have already abandoned myself
이젠 아무래도 좋아
Now, no matter what, it's okay
날 용서할 수 없는 난
I can't forgive myself
그래 널 용서할 수 없는 난
Yes, I can't forgive you either
계속 날 울리고 또 너를 그리고 옛날을 원하고 있어
Continuously hurting me, still longing for you and the past
좀만 더 가면 돼 한 발짝만 더 디디면 모든 게 끝나
Just a little more, take one more step and everything will end
미련하게 잡고 있지마 날 그만 놓아줘
Don't hold onto me with lingering attachment, just let me go
(이젠 아무래도 좋아)
(Now, no matter what, it's okay)
세상에 지친 날 누가 좀 제발 안아줘
Someone please hug me when I'm exhausted from the world
눈물에 젖은 날 누가 좀 닦아줘
Someone please wipe away the tears that have soaked me
힘들어하는 날 제발 먼저 눈치채줘
Please notice when I'm struggling
못난 날 알아줘
Please understand my flaws
제발 날 도와줘
Please help me
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Score, Jin Soh, Jong Hyun Kim
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind