South Korean music legend Cho Yong-pil proves that age just isn’t a barrier to pursuing a profession in music.
The 74-year-old singer made a monumental return Tuesday with the discharge of his twentieth full-length album, aptly titled “20,” marking his first studio album in 11 years.
“Releasing new songs at over 70 is difficult, however I labored actually, actually exhausting,” he stated throughout a press convention in Seoul to advertise the album. Though he advised “20” may be his final, he added, “I am going to launch new music once more if there is a good one.”
Addressing the crowded press occasion, he admitted: “This sort of factor (press conferences) is a bit embarrassing to me. I might reasonably be at a live performance, which makes me blissful. I really feel nervous ready backstage, however as quickly as I come out, all of the nervousness dissipates.”
On “20,” the veteran artist explored a wide range of musical genres, together with rock, electronica and ballad. The album options seven tracks, together with the lead single, whose Korean title roughly interprets to “That is Alright,” and two different new songs, “Timing” and “Why.” All three songs have been written by international composers.
The remaining 4 tracks — “Second,” “Like Serengeti,” “Feeling of You” and “La” — have been beforehand launched as singles in 2022 and 2023.
The LP’s launch, initially scheduled for final 12 months, was delayed by a couple of 12 months. When requested why, Cho defined: “I saved performing live shows, however making an album is not one thing that occurs simply. It has to fulfill me. Usually, I might create a music, however upon reviewing the sheet music the subsequent day, I might assume, ‘Ah, neglect it,’ and find yourself creating a distinct music. I’ve in all probability made a whole lot of songs like that.”
“That is Alright,” a motivational anthem for everybody navigating the challenges of contemporary life, contains a guitar-driven sound and the refreshing high quality of Cho’s vocals.
The music video for the music was additionally unveiled concurrently with the discharge of the album’s digital model, that includes a formidable lineup of Korean actors, together with Park Geun-hyeong, Jeon Mi-do, Lee Som and Byun Yo-han.
Introducing the lead monitor, Cho shared: “Final spring, I used to be watching a sports activities recreation on TV and seen that the digicam solely targeted on the winner, by no means exhibiting the loser. So I puzzled, ‘How should the loser really feel?’ They should be upset and dissatisfied, but when it have been me, I might assume, ‘subsequent time I am going to win, I am going to discover energy. It is okay to really feel this manner for now, only one extra time.'” Cho shared this story with Lim Website positioning-hyun, who then penned the lyrics.
Cho debuted in 1968 as a member of the rock band Atkins. After spending a decade with varied bands, together with the Kim Trio, he launched his solo profession with the hit single “Come Again to Busan Port” in 1976.
He rose to stardom by means of his first full-length album, which included hit tracks, similar to “A Woman Outdoors the Window” and “Brief Hair Woman.” The album was the primary in Okay-pop historical past to promote one million copies in 1980.
All through his decades-long profession, Cho has maintained his prominence, releasing 19 studio albums with iconic tracks, like “Candle Gentle,” “Dream” and “Leopard of Kilimanjaro,” whereas successful quite a few awards and setting information within the music trade. He’s the primary artist in Korea to realize each a million-selling album and complete album gross sales exceeding 10 million copies.
Cho’s earlier full-length album was “Good day,” his nineteenth, launched in 2013. Tracks from the album, together with “Bounce” and “Good day,” made a major influence, dominating music charts at the moment, even outperforming youthful Okay-pop stars like Psy of “Gangnam Type.”
“I used to be fortunate,” he stated humbly of the success achieved with the album “Good day.”
Braving the rain, dozens of followers gathered outdoors the venue of the press occasion, holding banners to cheer for his or her favourite artist.
The bodily model of the twentieth studio album is scheduled to come back out Nov. 1.
Following the discharge, Cho will maintain live shows in Seoul on Nov. 23-24 and Nov. 30-Dec. 1. (Yonhap)
