Korean Music Discussion - Page 2358

This group is like a rookie, but not really a rookie. From MBC’s Drama <The Greatest Love> character role Goo Ae Jung (by Gong Hyo Jin) in a fictional group called ‘Treasure Girls’ she first sang the Sunny Hill song ‘Du Geun Du Geun’, but they appeared on the stage with the song ‘Midnight Circus’. At first they looked like a 4 person girl group, but a 5 person mixed group. The beginning was 3. Now they are 5. A group that is similar to a puzzle or a non-sense quiz, Sunny Hill sings. “When I Cry you are laughing, ironically / Want to receive love, it’s a lie yet I’m happy / You look at me and laugh I become bewitched again / In a fancy spotlight a place to dance, welcome to Midnight Circus” (Sunny Hill – Midnight Circus)

There had been two debuts


<The Greatest Love> OST song ‘Du Geun Du Geun’, they first received attention and before starting ‘Midnight Circus’ Sunny Hill has a long period of darkness. (Darkness = not well known in this case)

Ironic just like their lyrics, the music industry is flashy but an unforgiving field. From a closely gathered group of star lights, to gain attention within the group, to even stay alive is a challenge in itself. Also if you don’t make an impression in the beginning, additional time brings forth doom. In 2007, Janghyun, Joobi, and Seungah debuted as a 3 person with songs ‘통화연결음’ (Call-connection tone), , ‘사랑밖엔 난 몰라’ (I only know love), brought a nice warm atmosphere with these songs, but did not get any spotlight. They had an empty period of two years and to prepare the album, in which they included new members Misung, and Kota, and brought a unique mood in the acid jazz dance song (wth is acid jazz) ‘Midnight Circus) and left a strong impression with their second debut.

Of course for a colorful 2nd start, a period of darkness is a requirement. Meeting with each other first in their high school auditioning years, now approaching their mid-twenties and treat each other as family, Joobi and Seungah says, “During holiday TV specials or end of the year awards, watching them with our family and friends was the most stressful”.

“When are you guys coming on TV?” sorrowfully to avoid this question we sometimes didn’t even go home.

We have already debuted but our future looked unstable, looking at other rookies that were advancing forward I became nervous. However what beat those fears and a long wait was our passion.

“Where you can personally write and produce music, a homemaking system”



“Whenever it got tough I looked at my diaries when I was a trainee. Only sounds of death were written though, (lol) when I look at those I feel like I do not appreciate the blessings I have now and it helps me find my roots as a singer.” – Joobi

“In my practice journal there are things like 3 word poems, when I look at them and say ‘wow I had really deep thoughts back then’ haha”
– Seungah

For Misung, who had the dream of becoming a singer since elementary school, against her parents’ wishes she enrolled into her major of ‘Aviation Tourism’, but could not give up her dream. Following her dream for 6 years and now it is her first step into the music industry.

“Jjuk Bul dance ok! Under clothing fashion ok! Ready to move ok! / all done, lets debut! Ahh failed, zzzzz”
(TN: Jjuk Bul dance is a dance where you spread legs, like Midnight Circus. 하의실종 ‘Under clothing fashion’ is a fashion where girls tend to wear short pants/skirt over long blouses or tops, to give the illusion of not wearing any bottom wear)

The song lyrics from the song ‘Let’s Talk about’ had honest expressions with refreshing and meaningful lyrics with a charismatic stage presence they performed their first stage. After the stage ending up crying, with a tender heart talking with a baby voice, and a trouble making maknae (TN: the youngest of a group) Kota wrote together.

“When I first started studying songwriting, I had criticism like ‘did you write your personal diary?’ and reliving those days, now I made huge improvements. For the special stage of ‘Midnight Circus’ he does not come on the stage with us, but as a co-producer Janghyun is our team’s big brother and secret weapon. In 2005’s Mnet audition program <Battle Shinhwa> he passed it and through that he started moving single steps towards the kind of music he wants to produce. In this album, “Instead of machine sounds, but with real instruments, and for vocals instead of auto tune, I want to work towards using each of our member’s voices fully”.

With different experiences, roles, and personalities the five person family-like group Sunny Hill has a mosaic like quality.

“Instead of being labeled as Idols we are too mature, so we want to win with our skills” saying jokingly. Also using a reliable weapon, “a homemaking system where you can write/produce your own music”. A rough start and slow start, but they have been waiting on the starting line sharpening their basic skills, and will meet the expectations of fans from their next course of action. And now the second sound of the starting pistol, from now ‘Show must go on, never stop.’

Hello my name is Joobi, my true name is Kim Eun Young.

The meaning of my stage name is universally’s Joo’s (周) and Equip’s Bi (備) written, to be equipped universally. When I debuted they got confused with ‘Joobitrain’ often, so when I see an article, first I check if they wrote my name, and if they wrote it correctly.

I was born on 1986, August 4th. I have a brother that is 4 years older.

8 years ago (TN: interviewed 2011.07.20 so 9 years now), at Myung Dong I got casted on the street, although we had to pay to go so this company was a little shady. There I first met Seungah haha. From all the bad luck, my past agency’s director was at the audition, and we both passed.

In my school days, I was a quiet child. Even though I went to noraebang (karaoke rooms) with my friends and had lots of fun, in large groups of people I became timid and reserved. After I passed the audition and went through training, I fixed a large part of that. That’s why my childhood friends say “How did you become a singer?” and become totally shocked and surprised.

In college I majored in Public Administration. When I went to practical music department, we had to practice and ensemble a lot, so it got in the way of what I wanted to do. I entered college when I was in a company already, so I wanted to focus on the practice system.

When shooting the music video for ‘Midnight Circus’, there was a scene where I lip-synced on a trapeze, it got cut from the MV. I bottled my feet and I was shaking a lot, in the midst of that I tried my best with my facial expression, but it became too cold and the filming came out terrible.
(Seungah: It was so cold so unni was fiddling with her toes, that was so cute heehee.)

MBC <The Greatest Love> from it, I sang the Treasure Girl’s song ‘Dugeun Dugeun’. In the story it made Cha Seung Won sunbaenim make his heart race, it was a very important song so I wanted to do well. Afterwards I put it as my ringtone, and when people called me I didn’t pick up so I could listen to the song on purpose. Haha. To me, this song is like fortuitous luck.



In our dorms, Seungah and Misung rooms together, and me and Kota each use separate rooms. Seungah and Misung is the really neat type, so I try my best to use our shoe storage cleanly with them. Honestly, the room I use myself isn’t like that, huhu.

Whenever I go out drinking with our members, some of us start crying, I don’t think it’s a good habit (Seungah: If we feel good, we are very high spirited but if not, we cry. We are really one or the other)

Janghyun oppa dances well, plays instruments well, and even good at magic, I don’t think he’s a normal person. (TN : normal person here, used a praise) But if you take away the music or magic away… um… hahaha.

The music genres I like are R&B and club music. So someday when we perform I want to sing R&B while playing the piano for the audience. Like Alicia Keys.

My name is Seungah. Full name is Lee Seung Ah. I was born on 1987, March 29th. During elementary school, I was a huge fan of S.E.S sunbaenims. I still have 400 photos of them at home hehe.

In my first year of middle school, I saw BoA sunbaenim’s stage and thought ‘Someone close to my age is performing, I want to become a singer too’ from that moment on I started going to auditions. For the auditions, I used BoA sunbaenim’s ‘ID; Peace B’ and danced to it.

When I was 16, I got casted on the street and thought ‘OW of course for me, it all works out’ and my confidence was through the roof. Because I was picked out of all those people! But I found out, that you or I or anyone could’ve become one. Hmmph. (Joobi: Back then all back at Myung Dong with street castings…. Haha)

Honestly speaking, I had a bad first impression of Joobi unni. When I first greeted her hello, she responded demurely “Yes, hello” and left so in my mind I thought “Who does she think she is”. But after we both passed the audition while talking to each other, I thought she has an easy-going and meticulous personality that won me over. Euhaha.

In college I was a Costume Major. It wasn’t written in stone that I would debut, so I had a backup plan if becoming an entertainer wasn’t my path. At first I wanted to become a teacher, but it was very difficult. Haha. As I was going to this major, I thought ‘Isn’t it so fitting for me?’ and again, this fit me well.

When I was young I was clumsy and extremely positive. Even in my trainee days, Lee Min Soo songwriter scolded me often that “Your tongue is fat so your pronunciation is weird”. So for that day I wrote in my diary with the title with an innocent mind, ‘My Tongue’s betrayal’ and also wrote, “hey Tongue, why are so fat, I will help you diet”.
(Joobi : very sachawon)
(TN: sachawon literally means 4th dimensional, so putting it nicely thinking out of the box)



During ‘Midnight Circus’ 2nd verse dance practice, I always made a ‘ddak’ sound with my tongue so people in the company kept telling me to be careful, and then I made a real accident. In KBS Music Bank, I made that ‘ddak’ noise and the company atmosphere was so… (serious) dun dun dun~ asked me if Broadcasting is a joke and got punished a lot. But the fans thought it was amusing, and afterwards I didn’t do it anymore so they asked “Seungah unni, why no more ‘ddak’ sound?” hehehe.

When shooting the music video I got criticized for behaving badly so only weird shots were taken, and for that got scolded a lot. But when I was talking about my past troubles, I started crying and then the director says “YES, That’s the kind of eyes! You can do Seungah-ya”, so I maintained those emotions and acted. Afterwards the director came secretly to me and said “You did an excellent job Seungah” and when he said those words, I almost burst out in tears. T.T

To fit my personality, I don’t listen to much ‘deep’ music. Hehe, even while listening to R&B I like the brighter style like Four Men sunbaenims, also really like GD&Top sunbaenim’s ‘Bbuhg-ee gayo’ electronic hip hop.

My name is Kota, my real name is Ahn Jin Ah.

The name Kota came from Lee Min Soo songwriter just said it fits me and kept calling me “Kota~, Kota~” and that became my stage name. But recently he wrote in twitter about the name’s meaning, ‘Korean Tiger’. Euhaha. A Korean tiger!

I was born 1987, October 14th. I have an older brother that is 5 years older than me.

Since I was young I loved to sing. Because I was good at singing, the whole school knew my name, and I kept a large group of friends. I loved studying as well. Especially writing! I loved using colored ball pens to decorate pretty, hehe.

On the stage, I am the team’s ‘Charisma’. I am not like that normally, but on the stage my eyes change. I don’t know about it personally, but members always tell me, “That person has arrived”, hehe.

Folding my knees while sitting and using the fingers to sweep the ground, the ‘Il-Jin dance’ was born because of me.
(TN: il-jin is used to label students that were the usually the head of the bullies or bullies themselves)
Originally it was just ‘kka ddak dance’, but when I crouching they said I exerted an extraordinary force. Also when I was practicing I shook off some sweat off my hair, and the dance teacher saw “Uh, that has charisma?” so that became a part of the choreography.
(Misung : Kota’s past is suspicious!)



In the dorms I cook sometimes, but I always create a big accident so I get scolded. Created a fire, and while cooking something close to fried tuna pancake, burned it all. I made it for my members to cheer up, hing~.
(Seungah: If you keep looking, she’s like an elementary school student)

Because I want to get complimented by Seungah, I try to be neat sometimes. Seungah sometimes enters my room to check if it was clean, even inspects the room. Then she says, “Hey, why don’t you switch your foot towels?” and complains at me. Then the next day, “uh Seungah, I changed the towels!” and I wait for a compliment hehe~.

To prepare for this album I cut my hair short. Either Seungah or I had to do short hair, Seungah didn’t want to cut her hair, she asked “what about you?” and I responded immediately “call!” I think it suits me, the fans say “Kota noona, don’t cut your hair”.

Like waltz or a tango, I like music with a gloomy atmosphere. Rather than 3rd world music, or electronic sound I prefer songs with lots of brass sounds.

In ‘Midnight Circus’ I only show singing parts, but truthfully I enjoy rapping as well. So if I have a chance I want to become a duet with Misung unni like perform like GD&TOP.
(Misung: Like Gangster Rap!)

But what if my limbs were longer, like Misung unni… it would’ve been nice. Right now my height is just above 158cm, because of my height I got a nickname ‘Either sitting or standing’ T.T Would my life be different if I was taller? Ahh~

My name is Janghyun, full name is Kim Jang Hyun.

I was born on 1985, July 16th and I have one older sister.

I am Sunny Hill’s leader and the Chung Il Jeom.
(TN: comes from the Korean saying 점은 사람을 움직이는 봄빛이 많음을 필요치 않게 한다’
“Points create less need for people to search for the light of spring”, although this could be totally wrong huehue.)

Because I’m a chung il jeom, well.. it’s both good and bad I’ve thought of the possibility of another guy member, just kidding. They’re all younger than me, and if another guy appeared I would have to compete with him , haha.

During middle school I started breakdancing. Originally I had an introverted personality, but as I started dancing I became an extrovert. Whenever it was lunch time, pushed all the desks to the walls and dancing, really everyone in the school came to watch. Back then my specialty, windmill, Thomas (?), head spin, well at least that much? I was pretty famous in Incheon hehe.

But I wasn’t that popular in school. Since I kept going around just only dancing, and to top it all off an only guy’s middle and high school keke.

While participating in Mnet’s <Battle Shinhwa> I started to grasp the idea of my dream to become a singer. Originally I just liked listening to pop songs, so without much thinking, I felt ‘I want to become a singer’.

Recently I delved deep into learning instruments. At the moment I’m good at playing the keyboard, but preparing for this album I learned the contrabass slightly but now I want to become better at it. Even deejaying equipment are instruments as well, I want to use these in a variety.

Recently I’m listening to ‘Safri Duo’ a Denmark electronic band’s album. Electronic style, with some elements of rock is what I like.

Someday on the stage I want to show deejaying and esoteric performances. Just like Daft Punk performing inside a pyramid.

I studied magic by myself, and now it became a hobby. What I’m confident at is guessing the card the person drew without looking. You want to see it now?
(Seungah: When he does music his eyes change, twinkle twinkle)



I can’t tell the difference, the members say “Oppa when you get angry or play a joke, both tones are the same so it’s so funny”
(Misung: compliments ‘good job~’, pointing out a mistake ‘you’re wrong~’)

But still when I drink, I develop an aegyo I don’t use regularly. Calling the company representative, “Hyung~” like that, haha.

Looking the album jacket, Misung and my height are about the same, but the truth is I am taller! Misung is wearing really high heels so she looks so much bigger. I’m overreacting for no reason, hehe.

Fan’s give me the nickname ‘Jangjon’. I never stand on the stage but when we take pictures I’m always there, a parody of ‘Crazy Respect’ (TN: this is from a comedian Jung Hyung Don on the show Infinity Challenge, where his zero fashion sense makes him stand out, turned into ‘Crazy Respect’) The fans even shopped Joobi’s hairstyle on my face, the members say it was pretty, even saying it’s 1st in the group.

From that meaning, I think that I rank in this team… 0 place? Haha!

My name is Misung, full name is Lee Mi Sung

I was born on 1986, April 13th. I have two younger sisters, one two years and the other eight years younger.

Maknae is now 2nd year in High school (TN: Junior/11th level, but since its last year interview now Senior/12th), she hides the fact she’s my sister and promotes Sunny Hill. “Do you guys know who Sunny Hill is? I heard the songs and they were real chill. Try a listen.” Like that. Haha she’s so cute. Sometimes “She says I asked the kids who was the prettiest in Sunny Hill~” she seems to be researching that kind of stuff too.

I will never forget the day I became a member of Sunny Hill. While I was practicing, didn’t know what was going to happen and felt stress and pressure, and then hearing I would become members with Kota, really when I heard it I felt like I was flying and started dancing because I was so happy.

During my schooldays I was either the vice president or president, showing my leadership. I was outgoing and joked around a lot, even played small pranks on my teachers hehe.

When I was young my dream was a singer, but my parents were extremely against it so for college I entered ‘Aerial Tourism’ field. At the dorms I was just studying to become a stewardess, but I felt so frustrated at life so I posted in an internet counseling forum and posted “I want to become a singer, but my parents are against it, and not enrolled here. What should I do?” And they responded ‘You should still try, even now’ with many comments, so after seeing that I quit school and went to see auditions.

After that it took me 6 years to debut.
I passed the audition but I could not debut, so every time my parents saw a stewardess commercial, they looked and me and sighed. With that scene in mind, I wanted to show them me debuting so I held out for 6 years. Right now my parents are happy for me.



In the song ‘Let’s talk about’ in the intro, “Ladies and gentleman~” it starts, the broadcasting line, I did it myself. Since I learned it, there is some use for it. Hahaha.

In the lyrics, Kota wrote 1st verse, and I wrote the 2nd verse. If you look at the 2nd verse, “Girl Group is dae sae, bosses looking for Girls are bad!” that was Seungah’s idea. Seungah thought it was too strong and worried, but I said uh? Beri Gud? Bravo! It was so original. After that, when I write lyrics and can’t think of ideas, always I call… “Seungah~” hehe.

Honestly when I first learned how to rap, I wrote lyrics and showed it to Lee Min Soo songwriter, and he said “Ah why did you bring me your diary~”. I felt so hurt! After I keep getting the refusals, the song included in this album ‘꼭두각시’ (marionette) I wrote the lyrics for that song. The lyrics are poetic but not a poem, like a story but not a story, it was difficult to write. Each time though… “Seungah-ya~” haha.

The number one thing people talk about me is height. In Q/A sites, “How tall is Misung really?” I even saw that on there. There is a significant different from me and the members, but truthfully I’m just 167cm. Not taller than Janghyun oppa. Haha.