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.
일인극
종현 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
그 중심은 너 완벽해 하나뿐인 우상
내 마음을 다그쳐봐도 차오르는 널 향한 부러움 혹은 질투
널 미워하고 사랑해 이해 못할 이 감정은 woo
난 널 닮고 싶어 (싶어) 또 널 안고 싶어 (싶어)
네 곁을 서성이기에도 과분하겠지
나도 알아 내 모습 비교도 우습지 너무 멋진 너에겐
늘 나 혼자서 작은 방에서 너와 사랑하는 헛된 상상에
고백하고 또 이별해 슬픈 모노 드라마인 이유
혼자 한 사랑의 일인극 만남 사랑 이별 woo
또 좌절한 이유 슬픈 모노 드라마야 사랑의 일인극
가끔 우리 이 상황이 정 반대로 (반대로)
바뀐다면 참 좋겠다 생각하곤 해
항상 나만 아파 너무 억울해
다른 세상의 투명한 벽에 부딪혀
날 삼킨 파도 내 눈물로 이룬 걸
너도 알아주길 oh 제발 제발 제발
난 널 닮고 싶어 (싶어) 또 널 안고 싶어 (싶어)
혼자 한 상상 정도는 괜찮은 거잖아
나도 알아 내 모습 비교도 우습지 나도 내가 불쌍해
늘 나 혼자서 작은 방에서 너와 사랑하는 헛된 상상에
고백하고 또 이별해 슬픈 모노 드라마인 이유
혼자 한 사랑의 일인극 만남 사랑 이별 woo
또 좌절한 이유 슬픈 모노 드라마인 이유
(언젠가) 네 앞에 당당히 나서게 되는 날
(혼자 한) 슬픈 사랑의 일인극
도움이 될지도 몰라 내 이 사랑이 작은 방을
벗어나는 날이 오면 우리가 마주 보면 그렇게 된다면
늘 나 혼자서 작은 방에서 너와 사랑하는 헛된 상상에
고백하고 또 이별해 슬픈 모노 드라마인 이유
혼자 한 사랑의 일인극 만남 사랑 이별 woo
또 좌절한 이유 슬픈 모노 드라마인 이유
나 혼자 수백 번한 사랑 고백과 나 혼자 수백 번한 이별은
내 사랑의 일인극 슬픈 모노 드라마인 이유 (드라마)
나 혼자 수백 번한 사랑 고백과 (혼자 한 고백)
나 혼자 수백 번한 이별은 (나의 사랑은 oh, no)
내 사랑의 일인극 슬픈 모노 드라마인 이유
슬픈 모노 드라마인 이유
The lyrics of 종현's song 일인극 or "One-man Show" talks about unreciprocated love, intense admiration, and jealousy towards a person who seems to be the center of the colorful and extravagant world. The singer admits the inability to understand their own emotions towards this person whom they both love and hate. Despite trying to stop the feelings, the singer is still consumed by them, hoping to be like the person they admire and to be close to them. The song depicts the singer's experiences in love, being alone in a small room, fantasizing about their love, confessing, and breaking up. The singera realisation that their love is only an illusion or a one-man show, never receiving the response they desired.
The song explores the unbalanced and overwhelming nature of unreciprocated love, the difficulty of trying to control our emotions and the frustration of not being understood by the person we love. The line "늘 나 혼자서 작은 방에서 너와 사랑하는 헛된 상상에" which translates to "I'm always alone in a small room, imagining myself in love with you," portrays the melancholic state of the singer as they are left to their thoughts. The line "혼자 한 사랑의 일인극 만남 사랑 이별" means "a solo love monodrama, where there's meeting, love, and breakup." This line shows how the singer is the only one acting and experiencing the different stages of love, from meeting, loving to breaking up with someone who is unaware of their feelings.
Overall, the lyrics of 일인극 conveys the complex emotions and the difficulties of unrequited love in Jonghyun's poetic approach.
Line by Line Meaning
넌 날 이해할 수 없겠지 당연해 향기 가득한 색색의 화려한 세상
You probably can't understand me, it's natural in this colorful, fragrant and magnificent world
그 중심은 너 완벽해 하나뿐인 우상
The center of my world is you, my one and only perfect idol
내 마음을 다그쳐봐도 차오르는 널 향한 부러움 혹은 질투
Even if I try to suppress it, I feel envy or jealousy towards you that fills up my heart
널 미워하고 사랑해 이해 못할 이 감정은 woo
I hate and love you, this emotion is something I can't comprehend, woo
난 널 닮고 싶어 (싶어) 또 널 안고 싶어 (싶어)
I want to be like you (I want to), I want to hug you (I want to)
네 곁을 서성이기에도 과분하겠지
Even just standing by your side would be more than I deserve
나도 알아 내 모습 비교도 우습지 너무 멋진 너에겐
I know that compared to you, my appearance is laughable, to someone as splendid as you
늘 나 혼자서 작은 방에서 너와 사랑하는 헛된 상상에
I'm always alone in my small room, imagining foolish scenarios of loving you
고백하고 또 이별해 슬픈 모노 드라마인 이유
Confessing and then separating, the reason why my life is a sad mono-drama
혼자 한 사랑의 일인극 만남 사랑 이별 woo
A one-man act of love done alone, meeting, loving, and parting, woo
또 좌절한 이유 슬픈 모노 드라마야 사랑의 일인극
The reason why I've failed again, a sad mono-drama, a one-man act of love
가끔 우리 이 상황이 정 반대로 (반대로)
Sometimes I think how nice it would be if our situation was reversed
바뀐다면 참 좋겠다 생각하곤 해
I hope it changes, I only think that it would be so nice
항상 나만 아파 너무 억울해
It's always me who suffers, it's so unfair
다른 세상의 투명한 벽에 부딪혀
Hitting a transparent wall in another world
날 삼킨 파도 내 눈물로 이룬 걸
The waves swallowed me, what was exchanged for my tears
너도 알아주길 oh 제발 제발 제발
Please understand me, oh please, please, please
혼자 한 상상 정도는 괜찮은 거잖아
It's okay to have a mere imagination alone, isn't it?
나도 알아 내 모습 비교도 우습지 나도 내가 불쌍해
I know that comparing myself to you is laughable, even I feel sorry for myself
(언젠가) 네 앞에 당당히 나서게 되는 날
That one day, I will stand in front of you with confidence
(혼자 한) 슬픈 사랑의 일인극
A one-man act of sad love
도움이 될지도 몰라 내 이 사랑이 작은 방을 벗어나는 날이 오면
Maybe it could be helpful, that one day when my love will escape from this small room
우리가 마주 보면 그렇게 된다면
If we were to face each other, it would be like that
나 혼자 수백 번한 사랑 고백과 나 혼자 수백 번한 이별은
My hundreds of love confessions and my hundreds of separations, all done alone
내 사랑의 일인극 슬픈 모노 드라마인 이유 (드라마)
The reason why my love is a one-man act of a sad mono-drama (drama)
슬픈 모노 드라마인 이유
The reason why it's a sad mono-drama
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Damon Thomas, Erick Dawkins, Harvey Jr. Mason, Jong Hyun Kim
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind