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.
Love Belt
JongHyun Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Woo, no, babe
I need love belt
내 어깨부터 허릴 감싸 안아 줘
On the love highway 위험한 속도
I know 이렇게 가면 난 필요해 air bag
I need 이대로라면 조금 위험하잖아
부딪힐 걸 생각하고 살진 않지만
불안에 떠는 날 꽉 잡아줘 (woo, woo, woo)
이기적인 마음에 항상 날 아프게 하지만
Forgive me, I'm sorry
You're my love belt
날 꽉 잡아줘 불안한 세상에
날 더 잡아줘 (please hold me)
You're my love belt
불안에 떠는 날 알잖아
그대 (그대) 내 손을 잡아줘
Please girl, you hold me now
I need you, I love you
Please girl, you're my love belt
Hold me, hold me, hold me
네가 가끔 답답하게
느껴져 벗어나려 하면
이유 모를 불안함 느껴져 오고
We know 태어날 때부터
I feel you propose a toast (cheers!)
말하지 않아도 느껴져 just like twins
무심한 척 세상에 담담해 하지만
두려워 떠는 날 꽉 잡아줘 (woo woo woo)
이기적인 마음에 항상 널 아프게 하지만
Forgive me, I'm sorry
You're my love belt
날 꽉 잡아줘 불안한 세상에
날 더 잡아줘 (please hold me)
You're my love belt
불안에 떠는 날 알잖아
그대 (그대) 내 손을 잡아줘
Please girl, you hold me now
I need you, I love you
Please girl, you're my love belt
Hold me, hold me, hold me, yeah
You're my love belt
날 꽉 잡아줘 불안한 세상에
날 더 잡아줘 (please hold me)
You're my love belt
불안에 떠는 날 알잖아
그대 (그대) 내 손을 잡아줘
The lyrics of Love Belt by JongHyun are about the need for emotional support and security in a relationship, using the metaphor of a seatbelt in a car. The singer acknowledges that he is not invincible, as demonstrated by the reference to an "air bag" on the love highway. He asks his lover to hold him tightly in times of anxiety and fear, even though his selfish tendencies have hurt her in the past. He apologizes for his behavior and expresses his love for her. The chorus repeats the metaphor of the love belt and the need for his partner to hold him and keep him safe.
The song's lyrics are relatable to many people who struggle with feelings of insecurity and need support from their loved ones. The metaphor of a seatbelt on the love highway is a creative way to convey the importance of emotional protection and trust in a relationship. The song's message is enhanced by JongHyun's emotive vocals and the catchy melody.
Line by Line Meaning
Tight it, uh
Fasten it tightly, uh
Woo, no, babe
Expressing hesitation or uncertainty, but addressing a loved one
I need love belt
Expressing a need for emotional support
내 어깨부터 허릴 감싸 안아 줘
Wrap me up in your arms from my shoulders to my waist
On the love highway 위험한 속도
On the risky path of love
I know 이렇게 가면 난 필요해 air bag
I know I need an airbag, in case things get too dangerous
I need 이대로라면 조금 위험하잖아
I need help, because this can be a little dangerous
부딪힐 걸 생각하고 살진 않지만
I don't live my life thinking I'll crash
불안에 떠는 날 꽉 잡아줘 (woo, woo, woo)
Hold me tightly when I'm filled with anxiety
이기적인 마음에 항상 날 아프게 하지만
Even though my selfishness always hurts you
Forgive me, I'm sorry
Apologizing and asking for forgiveness
You're my love belt
You are the support that keeps me safe
날 꽉 잡아줘 불안한 세상에
Hold me tightly in this anxious world
날 더 잡아줘 (please hold me)
Hold on to me more (please hold me)
불안에 떠는 날 알잖아
You know that I'm always filled with anxiety
그대 (그대) 내 손을 잡아줘
You (you) hold my hand
Please girl, you hold me now
Asking for immediate emotional comfort
I need you, I love you
Expressing love and need for the person
Hold me, hold me, hold me
Repeating the need for physical and emotional embrace
네가 가끔 답답하게
Sometimes, you can be frustrating
느껴져 벗어나려 하면
When I try to shake that feeling off
이유 모를 불안함 느껴져 오고
I start feeling anxious for no reason
We know 태어날 때부터
We know since the day we were born
I feel you propose a toast (cheers!)
I feel like you're raising a glass to me
말하지 않아도 느껴져 just like twins
I can feel it without words, just like twins
무심한 척 세상에 담담해 하지만
Acting indifferent and calm in front of the world
두려워 떠는 날 꽉 잡아줘 (woo woo woo)
Hold me tightly when I'm scared
이기적인 마음에 항상 널 아프게 하지만
Even though my selfishness always hurts you
Forgive me, I'm sorry
Apologizing and asking for forgiveness
You're my love belt
You are the support that keeps me safe
날 꽉 잡아줘 불안한 세상에
Hold me tightly in this anxious world
날 더 잡아줘 (please hold me)
Hold on to me more (please hold me)
불안에 떠는 날 알잖아
You know that I'm always filled with anxiety
그대 (그대) 내 손을 잡아줘
You (you) hold my hand
You're my love belt
You are the support that keeps me safe
날 꽉 잡아줘 불안한 세상에
Hold me tightly in this anxious world
날 더 잡아줘 (please hold me)
Hold on to me more (please hold me)
불안에 떠는 날 알잖아
You know that I'm always filled with anxiety
그대 (그대) 내 손을 잡아줘
You (you) hold my hand
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Jong Hyun Kim, Sojin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind