Kim Jonghyun (Hangul: 김종현; April 8, 1990 – December 18, 2017), better known… Read Full Bio ↴Kim Jonghyun (Hangul: 김종현; April 8, 1990 – December 18, 2017), better known mononymously as Jonghyun, was a South Korean singer-songwriter, record producer, radio host, and author. He was the main vocalist of the South Korean boy group SHINee, and had further participated in S.M. Entertainment's project group S.M. S.M. The Ballad. Jonghyun debuted as a solo artist on January 12, 2015 with his first EP, titled BASE. In the same year, on September 17, Jonghyun released a compilation album, 이야기 Op.1 (Story Op.1). On May 24, 2016, Jonghyun released his first studio album, 좋아 (She Is).

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.

눈싸움
종현 Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

난 그대가 날 보는 눈을
거두지 않았으면 해
한참을 눈 마주치고 눈싸움 하고파

그대여 내 눈에 비친 그댈 봐요
아름다워
제발 부끄러워 말아요
내 눈에 그대로 담아 둘래요

Oh 난 가끔씩 잠들기 두려울 때가 있죠
혹시 딴 세상에서 눈을 뜰까 봐
멍청한 고민도 해요

그대여 내 눈에 비친 그댈 봐요
아름다워
제발 부끄러워 말아요
내 눈에 그대로 담아 둘래요

우리가 이렇게 사랑하게 될 줄은
아무도 몰랐겠죠
그대도 내 맘이 얼마나 큰지 잘 모르잖아?
당연해 당연히 내 맘이 더 큰데
넌 내가 더 사랑한다며
아니 내가 더 사랑한다고

그대여 내 눈에 비친 그댈 봐요
아름다워
제발 부끄러워 말아요
내 눈에 그대로 담아 둘래요

그대여 내 눈에 비친 그댈 봐요
아름답죠

제발 부끄러워 말아요
내 눈에 담아 둘래요

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of 종현's song "눈싸움" ("Eye Battle") express the desire to capture and hold on to the gaze of a loved one. The singer wishes that their eyes could continue to meet and engage in a playful eye battle. They find the reflection of the person they love in their own eyes beautiful and plea for them not to feel embarrassed, urging them to be preserved just as they are in their eyes. The vulnerability of falling asleep and fearing that the loved one might wake up in another world is also mentioned. Despite these concerns and even the confusion surrounding the magnitude of each other's feelings, the singer acknowledges that they never expected to love each other so deeply. Ultimately, they express the intention to keep the loved one exactly as they are, preserving their beauty in their eyes.

Line by Line Meaning

난 그대가 날 보는 눈을
I hope I can capture the way you see me with your eyes

거두지 않았으면 해
I hope I won't forget it

한참을 눈 마주치고 눈싸움 하고파
I want to have a long gaze and engage in a playful eye battle

그대여 내 눈에 비친 그댈 봐요
Oh, look at yourself reflected in my eyes

아름다워
You are beautiful

제발 부끄러워 말아요
Please don't be shy

내 눈에 그대로 담아 둘래요
I want to keep you just as you are in my eyes

Oh 난 가끔씩 잠들기 두려울 때가 있죠
Oh, sometimes I am afraid to fall asleep

혹시 딴 세상에서 눈을 뜰까 봐
Because I'm afraid I might open my eyes in another world

멍청한 고민도 해요
I even worry about foolish things

우리가 이렇게 사랑하게 될 줄은
No one would have expected us to fall in love like this