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.
시간이 늦었어
종현 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Base, hey, whoa, alright, listen
시간이 늦었어 이제 그만 들어가
오늘도 늦은 밤 널 데려다 주는 길
달이 가득 찼어 보름달인가 봐
이렇게 널 보내면 hmm 난 한참을 잠 못 자
빙글빙글 돌아가 너도 눈치 챘겠지? oh
다른 뜻은 아냐 그냥 조금 더 너와
같이 있고 싶어서 투정부리는 거야
Oh, beautiful tonight, oh, say, oh, say, oh, say, oh, say
Oh, beautiful tonight, oh, say, oh, say, oh, say, oh, say
Na, na, na, na, na
이제 그만 일어나자 뭐가 그리 아쉬워
삼십 분도 넘도록 같은 말만 하고 있어
왜 난 네 손을 잡지도 놓지도 널 껴안지도 못해서
예쁜 네 눈과 코, 빨간 볼 입술만 바라보고 있어
도대체 널 도대체 널 어떻게 잡아야 할까
가지마 가지마 이 말이 먹혀 들까
Oh, beautiful tonight, oh, say, oh, say, oh, say, oh, say
Oh, beautiful tonight, oh, say, oh, say, oh, say, oh, say
Oh, beautiful tonight (yeah) oh, say, oh, say, oh, say, yeah
Oh, beautiful tonight, oh, say, oh, say, oh, say, yeah
Oh, beautiful tonight, yeah
The lyrics of 종현's song "시간이 늦었어 (Beautiful Tonight)" are about a person not wanting to let go of their partner after spending time together late at night. The singer is reluctant to go home, even though it is late and they have been walking for a long time. The moon is full, and the singer is having trouble sleeping after saying goodbye to their partner. On their way home, the singer pretends to take a wrong turn to prolong their time together. They just want to be close to their partner for a little while longer.
The singer then tries to convince their partner to stay with them, not wanting to let go of their hand or giving them a warm embrace. The singer is fixated on their partner's eyes and lips and wonders aloud how to make their partner stay. The lyrics have a wistful tone and convey a sense of longing and desire to be close to someone. The repetition of "beautiful tonight" and "oh, say" adds a sense of mystery and enchantment to the song, evoking a dreamlike quality.
Overall, "시간이 늦었어 (Beautiful Tonight)" is a tender love song that captures the excitement and anxiety of being in love, and not wanting to let go of that special someone.
Line by Line Meaning
시간이 늦었어 이제 그만 들어가
It's late now, let's stop going in
오늘도 늦은 밤 널 데려다 주는 길
On this late night too, I'll take you home
달이 가득 찼어 보름달인가 봐
The moon has filled up, it must be a full moon
이렇게 널 보내면 hmm 난 한참을 잠 못 자
If I let you go like this, I won't be able to sleep for a while
매일 가던 이 길도 괜히 잘못 들은 척
I pretended to have taken the wrong way on this road I take every day
빙글빙글 돌아가 너도 눈치 챘겠지? oh
Going around and around, you must have noticed it too, oh
다른 뜻은 아냐 그냥 조금 더 너와
It's not anything else, I just want to spend more time with you
같이 있고 싶어서 투정부리는 거야
I'm nagging because I want to be with you
이제 그만 일어나자 뭐가 그리 아쉬워
Let's stop now, what's so regrettable?
삼십 분도 넘도록 같은 말만 하고 있어
We've been saying the same thing for over thirty minutes
왜 난 네 손을 잡지도 놓지도 널 껴안지도 못해서
Why can't I hold your hand, let it go or hug you?
예쁜 네 눈과 코, 빨간 볼 입술만 바라보고 있어
I'm only looking at your beautiful eyes, nose, red cheeks and lips
도대체 널 도대체 널 어떻게 잡아야 할까
How on earth should I catch you?
가지마 가지마 이 말이 먹혀 들까
Don't go, don't go, will you listen to me?
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Jin So, Jong Hyun Kim, Young Jin Yoo
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Kayla-mk6wo
The bonus tracks are always so lovely♡ Jonghyun always knows how to work magic💎
@csilla3804
Fantastic album, He was a brilliant man ...... Tears well up in my eyes that he is no longer with us ...... Forever Jonghyun!
@EssenceSarang.
I just gotta keep it together while listening to his voice. I've had years with him already so I shouldn't be sad. Reminiscing makes me happy
@Aroha680
I feel so guilty knowing in my head he went through being famous and pretended to be happy. And knowing that’s why he needed his life because he’s hurting of being famous cause he was never genuinely happy it kills me that his mind made him feel so worthless. I wish for the sake of it he never became a idol. He even said himself “ why’d I choose this, it’s a wonder I lasted so long” even if he wasn’t a idol I wouldn’t know he existed but I would hope he would be happy❤
@cosmicreindeer5570
What a soul Jonghyun shi had. It's a privilege to get to know him through his music. It's honest, creative, self-challenging, generous, and meticulously crafted. I'm in love with the quality of Jonghyun shi's mind, heart, and spirit. It's such a pleasant surprise. Bless you, Jonghyun shi. I hope you're healing well, wherever you are. Thank you for supporting my growth from so far away! 🌌🌟✨👑
@milagrosmonteza210
Love ♡♡♡♡♡
@GRACE-uz3en
시간이 늦었어 이제 그만 들어가 오늘도 늦은 밤 널 데려다 주는 길
달이 가득 찼어 보름달인가 봐 이렇게 널 보내면 난 한참을 잠 못 자
매일 가던 이 길도 괜히 잘못 들은 척 빙글빙글 돌아가 너도 눈치 챘겠지?
다른 뜻은 아냐 그냥 조금 더 너와 같이 있고 싶어서 투정부리는 거야
Oh Beautiful Tonight, Oh Say Oh Say, Oh Say Oh Say
Oh Beautiful Tonight, Oh Say Oh Say, Oh Say Oh Say
이제 그만 일어나자 뭐가 그리 아쉬워 30분도 넘도록 같은 말만 하고 있어
왜 난 네 손을 잡지도 놓지도 널 껴안지도 못해서
예쁜 네 눈과 코, 빨간 볼 입술만 바라보고 있어
도대체 널 도대체 널 어떻게 잡아야 할까
가지마 가지마 이 말이 먹혀 들까
Oh Beautiful Tonight, Yeah Oh Say Oh Say, Oh Say Hey
Oh Beautiful Tonight, Oh Say Oh Say, Oh Say Yeah
Oh Beautiful Tonight, Yeah.