Jonghyun had been active in music since he was in junior high school. He was in a band called ZION and participated in many music festivals in his area. He was the band's bassist. During one of the band's show performance Jonghyun was scouted by SM Entertainment. 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.
Elevator
JongHyun Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
숨기지 말아 줘요 숨기지 말아 제발
닫히는 엘리베이터에 비친 내 모습은
초라하게 남아 그래도 이렇게나마
눈 깜박거리며 숨 내뱉고 사는 이유
날 위해선 맞나 아니면 쫓기고 있나
초췌히 비친 내게 인사해
안녕 안녕 인사해
솔직히 말해 봐요 솔직히 말해 줘요
숨기지 말아 줘요 숨기지 말아 줘요
언제부터 울고 있나요?
그대 어떤 표정 짓고 있는지 아는가요?
그대
안녕 안녕 인사해
초췌히 비친 내게 인사해
안녕 안녕 인사해
세상에 하찮은 얘기 모두 다 알고 있다 믿어요
허나 평생 같은 숨을 나눴던 당신을 난 몰라요
몰라요 몰라요
솔직히 말해 봐요 많이 외로워하잖아요
솔직히 말해 줘요 더는 무리인 걸 알잖아요
언제부터 혼자였나요?
거울 속 나와 눈 맞추는 게 어색할 정도죠 나는
나는 나는
The song "Elevator" by JongHyun is a melancholic, self-reflective piece that explores the artist's inner-most insecurities. The song opens with the lyrics "tell me honestly," and it sets the stage for the entire theme of the song. The artist is questioning his own existence and whether he's doing this for himself or being pressured into it by external forces.
The artist uses the image of his reflection in the elevator as a metaphor for his life, which he describes as being "piteous." The elevator, which is closing, signifies the missed opportunities and the inability to escape from his insecurities. The lyrics, "breathing and living while blinking my eyes," reflect the desperation that accompanies the artist's realization that he's lost his sense of purpose.
The chorus of the song, "hello, hello, say hello," is a plea for connection. The artist is asking the listener to acknowledge his existence, and in doing so, he is also asking himself to do the same. The final set of lyrics, "I am, I am, I am," is a reminder to himself that he's still here, and he needs to take control of his life.
Line by Line Meaning
솔직히 말해 봐요 솔직히 말해 줘요
Please tell me honestly
숨기지 말아 줘요 숨기지 말아 제발
Please don't hide it, please don't
닫히는 엘리베이터에 비친 내 모습은
My reflection in the closing elevator
초라하게 남아 그래도 이렇게나마
Even though I'm left in shambles, this is how I am
눈 깜박거리며 숨 내뱉고 사는 이유
The reason I blink and breathe is
날 위해선 맞나 아니면 쫓기고 있나
Whether it's for me or if I'm being chased
안녕 안녕 인사해
Hello, hello, say hello
초췌히 비친 내게 인사해
Say hello to me, reflected so vividly
언제부터 울고 있나요?
How long have you been crying?
그대 어떤 표정 짓고 있는지 아는가요?
Do you know what expression you're making?
세상에 하찮은 얘기 모두 다 알고 있다 믿어요
I believe that I know all the trivial things in the world
허나 평생 같은 숨을 나눴던 당신을 난 몰라요
But I don't know you, who I've shared the same breath with for a lifetime
솔직히 말해 봐요 많이 외로워하잖아요
Please tell me honestly if you're feeling lonely
솔직히 말해 줘요 더는 무리인 걸 알잖아요
Please tell me honestly, you know it's too much now
언제부터 혼자였나요?
How long have you been alone?
거울 속 나와 눈 맞추는 게 어색할 정도죠 나는
Facing myself in the mirror is awkward, for me
나는 나는
I am, I am
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Jin Soh, Jong Hyun Kim
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind