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.
So Goodbye
JongHyun Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't cry and smile
가슴 시리던 시간들
모두다 보내줄거야
So goodbye
어둠속 외롭던 나
난 네가 필요해
I need your love again
아픈 상처와
슬픈 기억을 지워가던 나
널 처음 본 그 순간에 난
멈춘듯했고 난 너만 보였어
거친시련에 무너져 가지만
후회는 없을 것 같아
두눈을 감으면
니 숨결이 느껴져
이제는 난 웃을 수 있어
So goodbye
Don't cry and smile
가슴 시리던 시간들
모두다 보내줄거야
So goodbye
어둠속 외롭던 나
난 네가 필요해
I need your love again
거친시련에 무너져 가지만
후회는 없을 것 같아
두눈을 감으면
니 숨결이 느껴져
이제는 난 웃을 수 있어
So goodbye
Don't cry and smile
가슴 시리던 시간들
모두다 보내줄거야
So goodbye
어둠속 외롭던 나
난 네가 필요해
I need your love again
So goodbye
Don't cry and smile
힘겹던 시간들 널 위해서
널 위해 잊어볼꺼야
So goodbye
어둠속 외롭던 나
난 네가 필요해
I need your love again
난 네가 필요해
I need you for my love
The song "So Goodbye" by JongHyun is a heart-wrenching ballad about the conflicting emotions of leaving someone you love. The lyrics speak about the pain of goodbye, but also the need to move forward and find happiness again. The chorus encourages the listener to "Don't cry and smile" as all the painful moments in their heart will eventually be let go. The singer constantly references the pain and loneliness they felt before meeting their love, but also emphasize that, to leave someone you once loved, is an equally difficult process.
The opening lines of the song immediately set the tone for the rest: "So goodbye, Don't cry and smile, 가슴 시리던 시간들, 모두다 보내줄거야" ("So goodbye, Don't cry and smile, I will let go of all the times that pained my heart"). The repetition of "So Goodbye" throughout the song also emphasizes the finality of a goodbye, while the rest of the lyrics express the singer's desire to move on while still needing their former love. There is a sense of acceptance that the pain of losing their love is necessary, yet at the same time, they cannot help but long for their love to return.
Overall, the lyrics express an intense emotional journey that highlights the stark contrast of the raw pain of loss and the hopeful promise of finding love again.
Line by Line Meaning
So goodbye
Saying farewell
Don't cry and smile
Don't sob, but put on a happy face
가슴 시리던 시간들
Heartaching moments
모두다 보내줄거야
I'll let go of everything
So goodbye
Saying farewell
어둠속 외롭던 나
Me, feeling lonely in the darkness
난 네가 필요해
I need you
I need your love again
I need your affection once more
매일 또 그래왔 듯이
As always, every day
아픈 상처와 슬픈 기억을 지워가던 나
Me, erasing painful scars and memories
널 처음 본 그 순간에 난 멈춘듯했고 난 너만 보였어
The moment I saw you for the first time, I felt like I was frozen and could only see you
거친시련에 무너져 가지만 후회는 없을 것 같아
Although I am falling apart from harsh hardships, I don't think I would regret it
두눈을 감으면 니 숨결이 느껴져
When I close my eyes, I can feel your breath
이제는 난 웃을 수 있어
Now I can smile
So goodbye
Saying farewell
Don't cry and smile
Don't sob, but put on a happy face
가슴 시리던 시간들
Heartaching moments
모두다 보내줄거야
I'll let go of everything
So goodbye
Saying farewell
어둠속 외롭던 나
Me, feeling lonely in the darkness
난 네가 필요해
I need you
I need your love again
I need your affection once more
거친시련에 무너져 가지만 후회는 없을 것 같아
Although I am falling apart from harsh hardships, I don't think I would regret it
두눈을 감으면 니 숨결이 느껴져
When I close my eyes, I can feel your breath
이제는 난 웃을 수 있어
Now I can smile
So goodbye
Saying farewell
Don't cry and smile
Don't sob, but put on a happy face
가슴 시리던 시간들
Heartaching moments
모두다 보내줄거야
I'll let go of everything
So goodbye
Saying farewell
어둠속 외롭던 나
Me, feeling lonely in the darkness
난 네가 필요해
I need you
I need your love again
I need your affection once more
So goodbye
Saying farewell
Don't cry and smile
Don't sob, but put on a happy face
힘겹던 시간들 널 위해서
Difficult times for you
널 위해 잊어볼꺼야
I'll forget it for you
So goodbye
Saying farewell
어둠속 외롭던 나
Me, feeling lonely in the darkness
난 네가 필요해
I need you
I need your love again
I need your affection once more
난 네가 필요해
I need you for my love
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Jong Tae Eun, Hyuk Jin, Joon Sung Oh
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lemontea8441
gonna rant here cos no one reads youtube comments and im so upset and confused and i dont know what to feel
its been a few hours since jonghyun’s death and when i heard about it, i was in the spur of the moment bc my cousin was making me laugh but now it just HITS and it hit so hard
i can’t cry or sob , it’s just very heavy on my chest and i want to cry so bad . he’s been such an inspiration and a big oof to the kpop community and to see him go is just so
i can’t its too much . jonghyun will forever be an important role for the kpop community . snawols, sweeties take care please . deepest condolence
if you are or have gone through depressive episodes, please seek help . suicide is never the fucking answer and i know this has been repeated so much but hear me out, its true . keep on pushing through, suffering like this isn’t gonna help . have faith . love urself . be true to urself , take care of urself damn it u are worth SO MUCH please so many people out there love you and u need to remember and realize that 💜
@noodledoodles6506
2 years passed, the pain still the same. truly missed Jonghyun. the brightest star ♥
@paulineedwards8697
I feel the same
@violetlee9404
Me also
@jaelendecastro3213
Dang it :<
@abigailwee9631
I miss him so much 💔
@arjinaahammed3053
Me too
@ramsha5949
"I can smile now"
As long as you are free from the pain. We'll keep you in our memories and heart always. but I'm sorry...
it's been 3 years now, the pain is still there.
@andivalenzuela7317
Pues ahora si vive el verdadero trometo eterno lo más triste es que de hay no podrá salir
@dumaoktalia
I feel so 'Lonely', I need to 'Breath', please 'Let me out'. 'So goodbye', now it is the 'End of a day' for me.
I'm so sorry Jonghyun for didn't realize how much how long you were in pain. You have worked hard. Thank you for everything you had done for us.
Rest in peace, my angel, Jonghyun.❤
@alladinkhan2228
Can you please tell me when did he said those lyrics I can't see in this song