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.
Just for a day
JongHyun Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
하루만이라도 oh oh oh oh
이러지 마 자꾸 나타나 왜
끝났잖아 다 지난 일인데
눈을 떠봐도 감아도
꿈을 꾸는 순간에도 난 너야
다시는 널 잊진 못한다 해도
하루만이라도 oh
하루만이라도 oh oh oh oh
하루만이라도 제발 내 하루 속에서
니가 죽었으면 좋겠어
하루만이라도 oh 하루라도
난 없잖아 이미 니 오늘엔
잘 알잖아 난
단 하루도 안 된단 걸
취하고 비틀대 기대고픈
순간조차 난 아냐
다시는 날 보진 못한다 해도
내일이 또 어제가 된다 해도
하루만이라도 (하루만이라도) oh
하루만이라도 (하루만이라도) oh oh oh oh
하루만이라도 제발 니 하루 속에서
내가 살아나면 좋겠어
하루만이라도 (하루만이라도) oh 하루라도 oh oh oh
단 하루라도 oh oh oh
다시는 만나지 못한다 해도
우리 서로 다른 내일이어도
하루만이라도 (하루만이라도) oh
하루만이라도 (하루만이라도) oh oh oh oh
하루만이라도 제발 이 하루 속에서
우리 함께라면 좋겠어
하루만이라도 (하루만이라도) oh 하루라도 yeah ah ah ah
Hey-ey 하루라도 ah ah ah
하루만이라도 제발 이 하루 속에서
우리 함께라면 좋겠어
하루만이라도 (하루만이라도) oh 하루라도
The lyrics of JongHyun's song "하루만이라도" (Just for a day) reflect the longing and desire to be with someone who has already left. The song expresses the pain of knowing that the relationship has ended and that the person is gone, but still wishing for just one more day together. The repetition of "하루만이라도" (just for a day) emphasizes the desperate plea for a temporary reunion, even if it's just for a brief moment.
The lyrics convey a sense of denial, as the singer constantly sees the person appearing and feels their presence, even though they know it's all in their imagination. They can't forget this person, even if they claim they won't be able to remember them anymore. The lyrics also express the bittersweet nature of memories, how even the slightest moment or dream brings back the person in their mind.
The singer further expresses their deep longing by saying that they would want the person to die just for a day so that they can have them back, symbolizing the intensity of their desire to have them by their side again. They acknowledge that they are not present in the person's life anymore and that they cannot have even a single day with them, but they express their wish regardless.
Overall, the lyrics of "하루만이라도" convey the profound yearning and unwillingness to let go of a past love, wishing for even a momentary reunion to relive the memories and feel their presence again.
Line by Line Meaning
하루만이라도 oh
I wish for just one day
하루만이라도 oh oh oh oh
Just one day, oh oh oh oh
이러지 마 자꾸 나타나 왜
Don't keep appearing, why
끝났잖아 다 지난 일인데
It's over, it's all in the past
눈을 떠봐도 감아도
Even if I open my eyes or close them
꿈을 꾸는 순간에도 난 너야
In the moment I dream, I am still you
다시는 널 잊진 못한다 해도
Even if I can't forget you again
어제가 또 내일이 된다 해도
Even if yesterday becomes tomorrow again
하루만이라도 제발 내 하루 속에서
Please, just for one day, in my day
니가 죽었으면 좋겠어
I wish you were dead
하루만이라도 oh 하루라도
Just one day, oh just one day
난 없잖아 이미 니 오늘엔
I'm not there, already in your today
잘 알잖아 난
I know it well
단 하루도 안 된단 걸
Not even for a single day
취하고 비틀대 기대고픈
I want to get drunk and lean on you
순간조차 난 아냐
I'm not even in the moment
다시는 날 보진 못한다 해도
Even if I can't see myself again
내일이 또 어제가 된다 해도
Even if tomorrow becomes yesterday again
하루만이라도 oh
Just one day, oh
제발 니 하루 속에서
Please, in your day
내가 살아나면 좋겠어
I hope to come alive
하루만이라도 oh 하루라도
Just one day, oh just one day
단 하루라도
Even for just one day
다시는 만나지 못한다 해도
Even if we can't meet again
우리 서로 다른 내일이어도
Even if our tomorrows are different
하루만이라도 (하루만이라도) oh
Just one day, oh
하루만이라도 (하루만이라도) oh oh oh oh
Just one day, oh oh oh oh
하루만이라도 제발 이 하루 속에서
Please, just for one day, in this day
우리 함께라면 좋겠어
I hope we can be together
하루만이라도 (하루만이라도) oh 하루라도 yeah ah ah ah
Just one day, oh just one day yeah ah ah ah
Hey-ey 하루라도 ah ah ah
Hey-ey even for just one day ah ah ah
하루만이라도 제발 이 하루 속에서
Please, just for one day, in this day
우리 함께라면 좋겠어
I hope we can be together
하루만이라도 (하루만이라도) oh 하루라도
Just one day, oh just one day
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Jeon Gandi, Chris Wahle
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Beyond Bangtan
If these lyrics are accurate, I think it represents him talking about how he wishes he could just feel pure happiness for a day, and wishes the voices would've just died out. I'm so sad he's gone, but I'm glad happy he's happier now, like he deserves to be.
sxiskella x
A N because he committed suicide, obviously he wasn’t happy. He suffered from depression. Yeah, people with depression can have happy moments but he wasn’t happy properly.
SWF_Buccellati
A N What do you believe actually happened then? Of course no one knows 100% for sure but I’m just curious of what you think
Violet Starlight
I don’t understand why no one is paying attention to this song. I when I first heard it I loved it but now I read the lyrics s I want to cry. How can he make a song that’s sounds so lovely and hype but sing and write these lyrics. You did well Jonghyun. Truly a pure artist at heart
Sas AsD
All of his new songs got attention it's just that they were blocked due to the copyright claims from SM.
AriaBegin
I was thinking the same, the song sound so happy and even romantic, but then you came to read the lyrics and it's surprising. It's an amazing work. He really did his best, a true poet and a true artist
bewitchedshawol66
I totally agree with you. This is the first song that stood out to me and made me cry with so much joy and pain at the same time . I swear I played it 50 times the night it was released . It’s still my favorite from this album .❤️💖
J Jackson
I know how you feel. It's hard for me to read these lyrics. However, I do want to point out that Jonghyun didn't write these lyrics. This song and Take the Dive were the only songs on Poet Artist album not written by him.
Elis Bañuelos
Violet Plata I love this song too❤❤❤😍😍
AMedz
Although he didn't compose this himself , it is one of my fave on Poet-Artist. The album is so accurately named. Well done Jonghyun씨