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.
Fireplace
JongHyun Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
이리 못난 모습 네게 보이긴 싫어
이젠 의미 없잖아 너에겐 쓸모없잖아
차갑게 식어간 잊혀져 간 기억 (버려줘)
(빨갛게) 타오르면 뭐해 (까맣게) 재가 돼버린걸
(하얗게) 빛나던 우리 둘 이젠 아무 의미 없잖아
잘할게 내가 잘할게
그저 벽이 돼버린 추억 널 볼 수가 없잖아
너도 알고는 있잖아 yeah
내가 벽이 돼버린 채로 널 따라갈 수는 없잖아
그건 어쩔 수 없잖아 yeah
(까맣게) 속이 그을리면 (빨갛게) 불타오른 나 만
(가볍게) 후 날리겠지 재가 돼버린 날
알아 나는 이제 쓸모없단 걸
먼지 쌓인 기억에 짐뿐이란 걸
소리쳐 자책해도 넌 아무 대답 없어
그저 벽이 돼버린 추억 널 볼 수가 없잖아
너도 알고는 있잖아 yeah
내가 벽이 돼버린 채로 널 따라갈 수는 없잖아
그건 어쩔 수 없잖아 yeah
(하나 둘 셋 넷)
언제든 좋아 언제든 돌아와
나 여기 있을게 배려하듯 말했지만
널 위한 게 아냐 굳어버린 난 돌아설 방법이 없어
언제든 좋아 언제든 돌아와
남들 앞에서 멋이라도 내려 불쏘시개로 날 헤집어 놓겠지
그래도 좋아 언제든 좋아
그저 벽이 돼버린 추억 널 볼 수가 없잖아
너도 알고는 있잖아 yeah
내가 벽이 돼버린 채로 널 따라갈 수는 없잖아
그건 어쩔 수 없잖아 yeah
The lyrics of JongHyun's song "Fireplace" express the singer's longing and frustration in a relationship that has lost its meaning. He pleads for the other person to turn back for a moment, as he cannot physically turn back himself. He is ashamed of his current state and doesn't want the other person to see him like this. He realizes that he has become useless and his memories with the other person have turned cold and forgotten. He asks the other person to let go and move on.
The song talks about the emotions of burning red, turning into ashes of darkness, and the once shining love losing its significance. JongHyun promises to do better, but even if he forcibly holds onto the other person or begs, they show no expression. The memories have become a wall that he cannot see beyond, and he knows that the other person also knows this. He acknowledges that he has become useless and a burden in the dusty memories, even if he yells and blames himself, there is no response from the other person.
JongHyun sings about the desperation of being stuck behind this wall of memories that he cannot break through. He accepts that he cannot follow the other person anymore, and it is something that cannot be helped. He expresses his willingness to wait for the other person to come back, as he is unable to find a way to turn away. He mentions that it's not for their sake, but rather because he is unable to find an alternative. He concludes that he will be okay with whatever happens and that he will always be there.
Line by Line Meaning
잠깐 뒤로 돌아줘 내가 돌 순 없으니
Please turn back for a moment, because I cannot turn back myself
이리 못난 모습 네게 보이긴 싫어
I don't want you to see me in this pathetic state
이젠 의미 없잖아 너에겐 쓸모없잖아
Now it's meaningless, useless to you
차갑게 식어간 잊혀져 간 기억 (버려줘)
Throw away the memories that have become cold and forgotten
(빨갛게) 타오르면 뭐해 (까맣게) 재가 돼버린걸
What's the point if it burns (red) and turns into ashes?
(하얗게) 빛나던 우리 둘 이젠 아무 의미 없잖아
The two of us who used to shine (white) now have no meaning
잘할게 내가 잘할게
I will do well, I will do well
억지로 널 붙잡아도 어설피 애원해도 넌 아무 표정 없어
Even if I forcibly hold onto you, even if I beg, you show no expression
그저 벽이 돼버린 추억 널 볼 수가 없잖아
Simply become a wall, I can't see you in the memories
너도 알고는 있잖아 yeah
You know it too, yeah
내가 벽이 돼버린 채로 널 따라갈 수는 없잖아
I can't follow you as I have become a wall
그건 어쩔 수 없잖아 yeah
That can't be helped, yeah
(까맣게) 속이 그을리면 (빨갛게) 불타오른 나 만
If my insides are charred (black), I'm the only one burning (red)
(가볍게) 후 날리겠지 재가 돼버린 날
I will easily blow away like the ashes I have become
알아 나는 이제 쓸모없단 걸
I know that I am useless now
먼지 쌓인 기억에 짐뿐이란 걸
I am just baggage in the piled-up memories
소리쳐 자책해도 넌 아무 대답 없어
Even if I scream and blame myself, you give no response
(하나 둘 셋 넷) 언제든 좋아 언제든 돌아와
One, two, three, four, anytime is fine, come back anytime
나 여기 있을게 배려하듯 말했지만
I said I'll be here like I'm considering you
널 위한 게 아냐 굳어버린 난 돌아설 방법이 없어
It's not for your sake, I have become hardened, I have no way to leave
언제든 좋아 언제든 돌아와
One, two, three, four, anytime is fine, come back anytime
남들 앞에서 멋이라도 내려 불쏘시개로 날 헤집어 놓겠지
In front of others, they will bring me down, overturn me like a fire arrow
그래도 좋아 언제든 좋아
But it's okay, anytime is fine, it's okay
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Score, Jin Soh, Jong Hyun Kim
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind