South Korean singer and songwriter Kim Jong-hyun (most often credited as Jonghyun) has written 80 songs, [1] including music for his solo career, his band, and for other artists. He began his musical career in 2008 as a member of the boy band Shinee and later formed the ballad group SM the Ballad. [2] Jonghyun made his debut as a songwriter with Shinee's 2009 single "Juliette", which was featured on the extended play Romeo. [3] He was inspired by the 1968 film Romeo and Juliet, stating that he deliberately chose "a story which everyone can identify with". [4] He began making frequent contributions to Shinee's musical output thereafter. [5] Most notably, in 2015, he penned the lyrics to " View", the lead single from Shinee's fourth studio album, Odd. The song peaked at number one on South Korea's Gaon Digital Chart [6] and received nominations from the Mnet Asian Music Awards and the Golden Disc Awards. [7] [8] Jonghyun garnered acclaim for the lyrics, which were inspired by synesthesia. [9] [10]
In February 2014, Jonghyun started a songwriting corner titled "The Man Who Composes" on his MBC FM4U midnight radio show, Blue Night, where he wrote songs based on stories submitted by listeners. [11] In 2015, he debuted as a solo artist with the release of the self-composed song "Déjà-Boo", accompanied by his first extended play, Base. [12] Jonghyun was credited on every song on the EP, which reached number one on the Gaon Album Chart [13] and Billboard World Albums [14] and won an Album Bonsang at the Golden Disc Awards. [15] Later that year, he released his first compilation album, Story Op.1, consisting entirely of songs he had previously written for his radio show. [16] This was followed by his first studio album, She Is (2016), and second compilation album, Story Op.2 (2017). Jonghyun described the Story Op albums as showcasing a side that is "more ordinary and human", as opposed to his other work that presents an "idealized" version of himself. [17] His final album, Poet | Artist (2018), was released posthumously following his suicide on December 18, 2017. [18] His solo music is largely co-written with his composition team, WeFreaky. [19]
In addition to his solo career and his work with Shinee, Jonghyun has written several songs for other artists. In 2013, Jonghyun wrote "A Gloomy Clock"; the song was gifted to his friend IU after she expressed interest in it. It was included on her album, Modern Times, with Jonghyun as a featured artist. [20] Jonghyun wrote songs for bandmate Taemin and labelmates Exo, as well as artists such as Son Dam-bi and Lim Kim. He was invited by Epik High rapper Tablo to write a song for Lee Hi's 2016 album Seoulite. [21] The resulting single, "Breathe", was inspired by Lee's difficulties with breathing due to panic disorder. [22]
Jonghyun became active as a songwriter at a time when it was uncommon for idols to do so. [5] He has been lauded as one of the few idols to differentiate himself from the "mass-produced" nature of the K-pop industry, owing to his artistry and songwriting prowess. [23]
† | Indicates single release |
Song | Artist(s) | Writer(s) | Album | Year | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
"02:34" | Jonghyun |
|
Story Op.1 | 2015 | [24] |
"1000" | Jonghyun |
|
Story Op.2 | 2015 | [25] |
"A Gloomy Clock" (우울시계; Uulsigye) |
IU (featuring Jonghyun) |
Jonghyun | Modern Times | 2013 | [26] |
"Aewol" (애월; 愛月) |
Jonghyun (with Jung Joon-young) |
Monthly Live Connection | 2015 | [27] | |
"Alarm Clock" (알람시계; Allamsigye) |
Shinee |
|
Sherlock | 2012 | [28] |
"Already" (벌써; Beolsseo) |
Taemin |
|
Press It | 2016 | [29] |
"Aurora" | Jonghyun |
|
She Is | 2016 | [30] |
"Beautiful Tonight" (시간이 늦었어; Sigani neujeosseo) |
Jonghyun |
|
Base | 2015 | [31] |
"Before Our Spring" † (우린 봄이 오기 전에; Urin bomi ogi jeone) |
Jonghyun |
|
Poet | Artist | 2018 | [32] |
"Better Off" (버리고 가; Beorigo ga) |
Shinee |
|
The Misconceptions of Us | 2013 | [33] |
"Blinking Game" (눈싸움; Nunssaum) |
Jonghyun |
|
Story Op.2 | 2017 | [25] |
"Breathe" † (한숨; Hansum) |
Lee Hi |
|
Seoulite | 2016 | [34] |
"Breathe" (Japanese version) | Lee Hi |
|
Lee Hi Japan Debut Album | 2018 | [35] |
"Chocolate" | Shinee |
|
Married to the Music | 2015 | [36] |
"Cocktail" | Jonghyun |
|
She Is | 2016 | [30] |
"Crazy (Guilty Pleasure)" † |
Jonghyun (featuring Iron) |
Base | 2015 | [31] | |
"Dangerous (Medusa II)" | Shinee |
|
Why So Serious? – The Misconceptions of Me | 2013 | [37] |
"Déjà-Boo" † (데자-부; Deja-bu) |
Jonghyun (featuring Zion.T) |
Base | 2015 | [31] | |
"Diphylleia Grayi" (산하엽; Sanhayeop) |
Jonghyun |
|
Story Op.1 | 2015 | [24] |
"Don't Stop" | Shinee |
|
1 of 1 | 2016 | [38] |
"Dress Up" | Jonghyun | She Is | 2016 | [30] | |
"Elevator" (엘리베이터; Ellibeiteo) |
Jonghyun |
|
Story Op.2 | 2017 | [25] |
"End of a Day" † (하루의 끝; Haruui kkeut) |
Jonghyun |
|
Story Op.1 | 2015 | [24] |
"Fine" (그래도 되지 않아?; Geuraedo doeji ana?) |
Jonghyun |
|
Story Op.1 | 2015 | [24] |
"Fireplace" (벽난로; Byeongnallo) |
Jonghyun |
|
Story Op.2 | 2017 | [25] |
"Fortune Cookie" (포춘쿠키; Pochunkuki) |
Jonghyun |
|
Base | 2015 | [31] |
"Grease" (기름때; Gireumttae) |
Jonghyun |
|
Poet | Artist | 2018 | [32] |
"Hallelujah" (할렐루야; Hallelluya) |
Jonghyun | Base | 2015 | [31] | |
"Happy Birthday" | Jonghyun |
|
Story Op.1 | 2015 | [24] |
"#Hashtag" (와플; Wapeul) |
Jonghyun |
|
Poet | Artist | 2018 | [32] |
"Honesty" (늘 그자리에; Neul geujarie) |
Shinee | Sherlock | 2012 | [28] | |
"I'm So Curious" (어떤 기분이 들까; Eotteon gibuni deulkka) |
Jonghyun |
|
Poet | Artist | 2018 | [32] |
"I'm Sorry" (미안해; Mianhae) |
Jonghyun |
|
Story Op.1 | 2015 | [24] |
"Inspiration" † | Jonghyun |
|
SM Station Season 1 | 2016 | [39] |
"It Must Be Autumn" (가을이긴 한가; Gaeurigin hanga) |
Jonghyun (with Go Young-bae) |
|
Monthly Live Connection | 2015 | [40] |
"Juliette" † | Shinee |
|
Romeo | 2009 | [41] |
"Just Chill" (멍하니 있어; Meonghani isseo) |
Jonghyun |
|
Story Op.2 | 2017 | [25] |
"Kkaman Bam Pureun Bam" (까만 밤 푸른 밤) |
Jonghyun |
|
— [a] | 2014 | [42] |
"Let Me Out" (놓아줘; Noajwo) |
Jonghyun |
|
Story Op.2 | 2017 | [25] |
"Like You" | Jonghyun |
|
Story Op.1 | 2015 | [24] |
" Lonely" † |
Jonghyun (featuring Taeyeon) |
|
Story Op.2 | 2017 | [25] |
"Love Belt" |
Jonghyun (featuring Younha) |
|
Base | 2015 | [31] |
"Love Is" | Jonghyun |
|
— [a] | 2014 | [43] |
"Love is So Nice" | Jonghyun |
|
Story Op.2 | 2017 | [25] |
"Maybe Tomorrow" (내일쯤; Naeiljjeum) |
Jonghyun |
|
Story Op.1 | 2015 | [24] |
"Mono-Drama" (일인극; Iringeuk) |
Jonghyun |
|
Base | 2015 | [31] |
"Moon" | Jonghyun | She Is | 2016 | [30] | |
"Neon" | Jonghyun |
|
Base | 2015 | [31] |
"No More" | Lim Kim |
|
Simple Mind | 2015 | [44] |
"Obsession" (욕; Yok) |
Shinee | Lucifer | 2010 | [45] | |
"Odd Eye" | Shinee | Odd | 2015 | [46] | |
"Oneulgwa Naeil" (오늘과 내일) |
Jonghyun | — [a] | 2014 | [47] | |
"Only One You Need" (환상통; Hwansangtong) |
Jonghyun |
|
Poet | Artist | 2018 | [32] |
"Orbit" (우주가 있어; Ujuga isseo) |
Jonghyun |
|
She Is | 2016 | [30] |
"Orgel" (오르골; Oreugol) |
Shinee |
|
Why So Serious? – The Misconceptions of Me | 2013 | [37] |
"Our Season" (따뜻한 겨울; Ttatteutan gyeoul) |
Jonghyun |
|
Story Op.2 | 2017 | [25] |
"Playboy" | Exo |
|
Exodus | 2015 | [48] |
"Pretty Boy" |
Taemin (featuring Kai) |
|
Ace | 2014 | [49] |
"Prism" | Shinee |
|
1 of 1 | 2016 | [38] |
"Red Candle" † | Son Dam-bi |
|
Non-album release | 2013 | [50] |
"Red" | Jonghyun |
|
She Is | 2016 | [30] |
"Rewind" | Jonghyun |
|
Poet | Artist | 2018 | [32] |
"Selene 6.23" (너와 나의 거리; Neowa naui geori) |
Shinee | The Misconceptions of Us | 2013 | [33] | |
"Sentimental" | Jonghyun |
|
Poet | Artist | 2018 | [32] |
"She Is" † (좋아; Joa) |
Jonghyun | She Is | 2016 | [30] | |
"Shinin'" † (빛이 나; Bichi na) |
Jonghyun |
|
Poet | Artist | 2018 | [32] |
"Shout Out" (악; Ak) |
Shinee |
|
Lucifer | 2010 | [45] |
"Sightseeing" (사람 구경 중; Saram gugyeong jung) |
Jonghyun |
|
Poet | Artist | 2018 | [32] |
"Spoiler" | Shinee |
|
Dream Girl – The Misconceptions of You | 2013 | [51] |
"Suit Up" | Jonghyun |
|
She Is | 2016 | [30] |
"
Symptoms" (상사병; Sangsabyeong) |
Shinee | Everybody | 2013 | [52] | |
"U & I" | Jonghyun |
|
Story Op.1 | 2015 | [24] |
"Up & Down" | Shinee | Lucifer | 2010 | [45] | |
" View" † | Shinee |
|
Odd | 2015 | [46] |
"Where Are You" (바퀴; Bakwi) |
Jonghyun |
|
Story Op.2 | 2017 | [25] |
"White T-Shirt" | Jonghyun |
|
She Is | 2016 | [30] |
"Young and Rich" | Jonghyun |
|
— | Unreleased | [53] |
"Your Voice" † (한마디; Hanmadi) |
Jonghyun (with Heritage) |
|
SM Station Season 1 | 2016 | [54] |
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