Lee Sun-hee (Korean: 이선희; born November 11, 1964) is a South Korean singer-… Read Full Bio ↴Lee Sun-hee (Korean: 이선희; born November 11, 1964) is a South Korean singer-songwriter. She is often referred to as Korea's "National Diva" for her immense popularity, commercial success, and vocal ability.

Lee debuted in 1984 with the song, "To J," for which she won first prize in the MBC Riverside Song Festival. She released her first album, Ah! The Good Old Days, the following year in 1985.[5] She released a string of successful albums in the 1980s and early 1990s, and won awards at KBS Song Festival and MBC Ten Singers Song Festival every year from 1984 to 1990, as well as main prize at the Golden Disc Awards every year from 1986 to 1990.

The government of South Korea awarded Lee the prestigious Prime Minister's Commendation in 2010 for her contributions to popular culture. In 2011, Lee became the fourth South Korean singer to ever perform at Carnegie Hall. She released her 15th album, Serendipity in 2014. In 2018, she performed in Pyongyang as a part of Spring is Coming and became one of few South Korean singers to perform twice in North Korea. She released her 16th album, Anbu in 2020.

CAMELLIA
Lee Sun Hee Lyrics

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연분홍 꽃잎이 바람에 날린다
계절은 여기 머문 듯
아 하얀 눈송이의 시절은
꿈처럼 눈부시다

동백이 꽃망울 피울 때
진홍 물들고 온통 다 꽃일 때
아 그래요 나에겐 사랑뿐이에요

지금도 변함없는

누군가 말했다 꽃말을
그 사랑을 닮은 내 마음이 아프다

진분홍 잎새에 이슬이 내린다
계절이 한창 깊어져
아 하얀 눈 날리는 시절은
꿈처럼 아름답다

먼 훗날 꽃들이 졌을 때
진홍 물든 채 온통 다 졌을 때
아 그래도 나에겐 사랑뿐이에요
지금도 변함없는

그렇게 피고 지는 동백의
그 사랑이 아파 내 가슴에 담는다

동백꽃
동백꽃

동백꽃
음 동백꽃

Overall Meaning

In Lee Sun Hee's song "Camellia," the imagery in the lyrics weaves a delicate tapestry of emotions centered around love and the passage of time. The opening lines evoke the vivid sight of pink petals carried by the wind, suggesting a moment of beauty that feels weighty with meaning. The juxtaposition of the flowers against the backdrop of changing seasons, particularly the wintry white snowflakes, creates a sense of nostalgia. Here, the seasons symbolize the various stages of love, where the current moment may seem suspended in time, echoing both joy and melancholy. The phrase "dream-like brilliance" encapsulates how love can feel ethereal and fleeting, shining bright yet elusive.

As the song continues, the imagery of camellias blooming in vibrant red reinforces themes of passion and vitality. The description of the flowers painting the landscape suggests that love, when it flourishes, can illuminate our lives and be profoundly transformative. This vivid representation contrasts sharply with the previous winter imagery, anchoring the emotional core of the song in the undying nature of love. The repeated affirmation of “love is all I have” signifies a deep commitment, indicating that despite the shifts in life and the inexorable passage of time, the singer’s feelings remain steadfast. This unwavering attachment lends a sense of consolation amidst the impermanence experienced in relationships.

The lyrics further explore the bittersweet aspect of love through the symbolism of the camellia's language, reflecting a heart that aches for love reminiscent of the flowers. The reference to how someone has spoken of the “language of flowers” serves as a poignant reminder of the potential for deeper connections and the pain that often accompanies love. This interplay between the euphoric highs of loving and the melancholic lows of longing highlights the complexity of emotional experiences. The heartache implied suggests that even as the camellia buds bloom and fade, the memories and feelings associated with love are indelibly marked in the heart, echoing the song's central themes of longing and devotion.

In the concluding verses, the cycle of flowering and wilting emphasizes the transient nature of beauty and love. The imagery of camellias that once flourished, now wilting in their splendor, suggests a longing for preservation in the face of inevitable change. However, the resilient declaration that “I still have love” resonates as a powerful statement of enduring affection. Through the duality of blossoming and fading, the lyrics capture both the elation of love and the inevitability of loss, conveying that even amidst sorrow, love remains a vital and unchanging aspect of existence. In this way, Lee Sun Hee’s "Camellia" bespeaks the elegant yet complex emotions tied to love, nature, and the inexorable passage of time.

Line by Line Meaning

연분홍 꽃잎이 바람에 날린다
Soft pink petals are carried away by the breeze

계절은 여기 머문 듯
It feels as if the seasons have paused in this moment

아 하얀 눈송이의 시절은
Ah, the time of white snowflakes

꿈처럼 눈부시다
Is dazzling, like a beautiful dream

동백이 꽃망울 피울 때
When the camellia buds begin to bloom

진홍 물들고 온통 다 꽃일 때
When everything is painted in deep red as the flowers flourish

아 그래요 나에겐 사랑뿐이에요
Ah, indeed, all I possess is love

지금도 변함없는
Even now, it remains unchanged

누군가 말했다 꽃말을
Someone once spoke of the language of flowers

그 사랑을 닮은 내 마음이 아프다
My heart, reminiscent of that love, feels pain

진분홍 잎새에 이슬이 내린다
Dewdrops fall upon the vivid pink leaves