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.
Sentimental
종현 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
상관 안 해 사실
뭐라든 너라면 난 그냥 좋았어 hey
혼자서 땅치고 벽치고
난리 법석 떨었지 옛날엔
그래도 내 옆이 너라서 좋았어
Uh uh
가만히 눈을 감아보면 니가
내 옆에 있을 것 같은데
쓸쓸히 내 맘이 축 처지면 니가
내 어깰 토닥토닥 거릴 것 같은데
Sentimental 해
나 sentimental 해
너 없는 내 방은 텅 비어서
Sentimental 해
몇 센티 안에 니가 누워 있던 게
마냥 엊그제 같은데
Sentimental 해
너 있는 내 방 안은
밥이 넘어가는 걸 보면
그래도 몸 챙기는 걸 보면
괜히 이러는가 싶다가도 또 웃는 널 보면 흔들려
기분 탓이겠지 뭐 너도 다
잊고 지낼 텐데 뭐
별거겠어 내가
기억이나 나겠어
가만히 눈을 감아보면 니가
가만히 가만히
내 옆에 있을 것 같은데
쓸쓸히 내 맘이 축 처지면 니가
내 어깰 토닥토닥 거릴 것 같은데
Sentimental 해
나 sentimental 해
너 없는 내 방은 텅 비어서
Sentimental 해
몇 센티 안에 니가 누워 있던 게
마냥 엊그제 같은데
Sentimental 해
너 있는 내 방 안은
나도 변한 건 딱히 없어 (없어)
너도 여전하겠지 어디 가겠어
돌아가고 싶은 건
니가 그리워진 건 (아닌데)
Sentimental 해
나 sentimental 해
너 없는 내 방은 텅 비어서
Sentimental 해
몇 센티 안에 니가 누워 있던 게
마냥 엊그제 같은데
Sentimental 해
너 있는 내 방 안은
In the lyrics of Jonghyun's song "Sentimental," the singer expresses a sense of longing and nostalgia for a past relationship. The lyrics reflect a sense of detachment and acceptance, as the singer acknowledges that it doesn't matter whether the other person plays with their feelings or not. The sentiment conveyed is that as long as it was with that person, everything felt good. The mention of acting out and getting worked up in the past, but still feeling content because of the person's presence, highlights the deep emotional connection the singer had with the other person.
The lyrics also delve into the feeling of isolation and emptiness when the other person is not around. The singer describes their room feeling empty without the presence of the other person, emphasizing the emptiness and void in their life in the absence of their significant other. The use of the term "Sentimental" repeatedly throughout the song conveys the emotional sensitivity and nostalgia the singer feels towards their past relationship, where even the smallest memories or actions of the other person evoke strong emotions.
The lyrics further explore how simple actions or gestures of the other person, like taking care of themselves or smiling, can induce a wave of emotions within the singer. Despite knowing that both parties may move on and forget each other eventually, the singer questions whether memories of them will remain in the other person's mind. The repeated references to imagining the other person's comforting presence in moments of loneliness emphasize the deep emotional bond that still lingers even in the absence of the relationship.
The song concludes with a reflection on the constancy and unchanged nature of the singer's emotions towards the other person, implying that despite time passing, the feelings and longing for the past relationship remain as strong as ever. The lyrics convey a sense of yearning and a desire to go back to moments shared with the other person, even if rationality dictates otherwise. Overall, "Sentimental" encapsulates a bittersweet portrayal of nostalgia, longing, and emotional vulnerability in the aftermath of a past relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
날 갖고 놀든 말든 상관 안 해 사실
Whether you play with me or not, it doesn't really matter.
뭐라든 너라면 난 그냥 좋았어 hey
No matter what you say, as long as it's you, I'm just happy.
혼자서 땅치고 벽치고 난리 법석 떨었지 옛날엔
I used to go crazy, hitting the floor and the walls by myself in the old days.
그래도 내 옆이 너라서 좋았어
But still, it was nice because you were by my side.
가만히 눈을 감아보면 니가
When I close my eyes quietly, it feels like you're there.
내 옆에 있을 것 같은데
It feels like you'll be there next to me.
쓸쓸히 내 맘이 축 처지면 니가
When my heart feels lonely and heavy, it feels like you'll pat my shoulder.
Sentimental 해 나 sentimental 해
Feeling sentimental, I feel sentimental.
너 없는 내 방은 텅 비어서
My room feels empty without you.
밥이 넘어가는 걸 보면
When I see you spilling food,
그래도 몸 챙기는 걸 보면
But then I see you taking care of yourself,
가만히 눈을 감아보면 니가
When I close my eyes quietly, it feels like you're there.
너 있는 내 방 안은
Inside my room with you in it
나도 변한 건 딱히 없어 (없어)
I haven't really changed either (nope).
돌아가고 싶은 건 니가 그리워진 건 (아닌데)
What I want to go back to is missing you (but not really).
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, CTM Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jake Byung Jin Kim, Jake Kim
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind