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.
Dress Up
종현 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How are you gonna dress up tonight?
Ah 말해 봐
Show me baby, come on yeah
오해하진 마
오늘은 나 괜히 기분 좋으니까
무리하진 마
근데 난 오늘 평소답지 않게 난
Feel so nice
이상하지만
How you gonna dress up today?
(Ah-ah) 그건 맘에 안 들어 (다른 거 ah-ah)
How you gonna dress up today?
(One more time yeah) 그건 맘에 안 들어 (ah-ah)
How you gonna dress up today? (OK)
Watching me, come on watching me
Watching me, come on watching me (uh)
Watching me, come on watching me (oh)
How you gonna dress up today? (clap it) ah
타고난 것 같아 넌 blow up
눈만 마주쳐도 난 glow up
애매하게 굴지 마
오늘 look이랑 어울리지 않아
Feel so nice, nice, nice
It's alright (hey) oh it's alright (yeah)
오늘 괜찮아
사실 넌 아무거나 걸쳐도 이쁘니까
Hey 특별한 척해 줘
남들이랑 좀 더 차별 대우해 줘 baby
특별히 대해 줘
How you gonna dress up today?
(Ah-ah) 그건 맘에 안 들어 (다른 거 ah-ah)
How you gonna dress up today?
(One more time yeah) 그건 맘에 안 들어 (ah-ah)
How you gonna dress up today? (OK)
Watching me, come on watching me
Watching me, come on watching me (uh)
Watching me, come on watching me (oh)
How you gonna dress up today? (clap it)
(Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow)
넌 어색해 하지 마 다 너만 보잖아
여유 있게 천천히 움직여 봐
(Woo woo) 그래 그래
좀 더 붙어 줘
내 어깨 위에 네 손 올려 줘
Stop it baby, stop it baby, stop it baby
(Wow, wow, one more time, wow)
How you gonna dress up today? (clap it)
(Wow, wow, wow)
How you gonna dress up today?
The song "Dress Up" by 종현 is all about dressing up and feeling good about oneself. The song encourages the listener to show off their style and dress up for the night. The lyrics begin with the artist asking how the listener is going to dress up tonight and asking them to show him. He then says not to misunderstand, that he is in a good mood for no reason, and there is no need to go overboard. This is because the listener looks lovely in whatever they wear even if they think otherwise. The artist then goes on to say that he feels good today, which is unusual, and that it's okay to feel this way.
Throughout the song, the artist encourages the listener to dress up for the night and to be confident in their style. In the second verse, the artist tells the listener not to act ambiguous and that their look today doesn't match. He then repeats that it's alright and that they don't have to worry because they're beautiful in whatever they wear. The song has an upbeat tempo and catchy melody, making it easy to dance and feel confident.
Overall, "Dress Up" is a feel-good song that encourages self-love and embracing one's style. The artist tells the listener that they don't have to try too hard and that they look beautiful in whatever they wear. The song's message is to be confident and comfortable in one's skin while enjoying the night out.
Line by Line Meaning
Woo, woo, yeah
The song is starting with a celebratory tone
How are you gonna dress up tonight?
Asking the listener what outfit he/she plans to wear today
Ah 말해 봐
Asking the listener to speak up, express their thoughts
Show me baby, come on yeah
Encouraging the listener to share and showcase their dress-up style today
오해하진 마
Don't misunderstand me
오늘은 나 괜히 기분 좋으니까
I'm feeling good today for no particular reason
무리하진 마
Don't push yourself too hard
사실 넌 아무거나 걸쳐도 이쁘니까
You look beautiful in anything you wear in reality
근데 난 오늘 평소답지 않게 난
But today I'm not my usual self and I am feeling different
Feel so nice
I am feeling good
이상하지만
It's strange
How you gonna dress up today?
Repeating the question about the outfit
(Ah-ah) 그건 맘에 안 들어 (다른 거 ah-ah)
This style is not to my taste (I prefer something else)
(One more time yeah) 그건 맘에 안 들어 (ah-ah)
Again, this outfit is not my preference
(OK)
Alright
Watching me, come on watching me
Encouraging the listener to pay attention and watch closely
Watching me, come on watching me (uh)
Repeating the same encouragement
Watching me, come on watching me (oh)
Continuing the same encouragement
How you gonna dress up today? (clap it) ah
Again asking how they are dressed up with claps for emphasis
타고난 것 같아 넌 blow up
It seems like you were born to blow up
눈만 마주쳐도 난 glow up
Just by looking at you, I glow up too
애매하게 굴지 마
Don't be ambiguous about your dress-up style
오늘 look이랑 어울리지 않아
Your look today doesn't match
Feel so nice, nice, nice
Again, feeling good
It's alright (hey) oh it's alright (yeah)
Everything is alright
오늘 괜찮아
Today is going to be okay
Hey 특별한 척해 줘
Hey, make me feel special
남들이랑 좀 더 차별 대우해 줘 baby
Treat me differently than you treat others baby
특별히 대해 줘
Just treat me specially
How you gonna dress up today? (Ah-ah) 그건 맘에 안 들어 (다른 거 ah-ah)
Repeating the same lines from earlier about not liking the current outfit
(One more time yeah) 그건 맘에 안 들어 (ah-ah)
Again repeating the same lines
(OK)
It's okay
Watching me, come on watching me
Repeating the same encouragement to watch closely
Watching me, come on watching me (uh)
Continuing the encouragement
Watching me, come on watching me (oh)
Same as previous line
How you gonna dress up today? (clap it)
Repeating the same question with more claps for emphasis
(Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow)
Celebratory sounds
넌 어색해 하지 마 다 너만 보잖아
Don't feel awkward, you are the only one looking
여유 있게 천천히 움직여 봐
Relax and move slowly
(Woo woo) 그래 그래
Yes, that's right
좀 더 붙어 줘
Come closer
내 어깨 위에 네 손 올려 줘
Put your hand on my shoulder
Stop it baby, stop it baby, stop it baby
Repeating to stop doing whatever awkward thing they are doing
(Wow, wow, one more time, wow)
Repeating celebratory sounds
How you gonna dress up today? (clap it)
Final repetition of the question about dress-up style with claps for emphasis
(Wow, wow, wow)
Final celebratory sounds
How you gonna dress up today?
Ending the song with the same question as in the beginning
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Greg Paul Stephen Bonnick, Hayden Chapman, Jong Hyun Kim
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind