K-Bops in K-Pop

Dear Jjong,

I know you’re resting and I’m sorry to bother you when you’ve probably got a million better things to do, like roping Whitney Houston into singing a duet with you, and you’ve made base on the moon to watch over us all, but I wanted to talk to you tonight about Poet | Artist.

I’m so happy you’ve left us with such a generous gift. I’m not happy you’ve left. I miss you more and more every day. But you gave us closure and, for that, you are selfless beyond measure.

This album was immensely moving for me in so many ways. I think it was because it didn’t really quite make me cry. I was certain when the album came out that I would be weeping to every song, but you proved to us yet again the variety that you have–had–as an artist.

You know your own songs I won’t run down each one and why I love them but I will tell you about my favorites.

Shinin’

I’m skeptical about singles. I always am. It just seems like artists could choose so many fabulous songs off their albums to be the title track and they always pick the wrong one. But this one was perfect. Just as She Is was perfect. Just as Deja-Boo was perfect. This song was so upbeat and sweet and so distinctly you. Watching you in the music video was so difficult because you looked so real and so beautiful and I realized I had not thought I would see you again.

Grease

This was such an odd song because I expected the topic and tone of it to be different given the sound. But it’s actually a little angry although maybe it’s more upset than anything. In any case, I find myself taken by how catchy and fun it is despite everything. Your voice has such a soothing touch that I can’t quite imagine it being as aggressive as it is. I heard someone refer to parts of it as ASMR and I’d have to agree.

Rewind

I loved every moment of this song. So much. It was weird and strangely catchy. It didn’t really showcase your vocals so much as showcase the fact that you can literally do anything and it’ll be incredible. I don’t think I’ve spoken to a single person that didn’t adore this song. This sounds like a 90’s nightclub or a 90’s fashion show made sound and I live for every second of it.

Sentimental

You don’t know this about me (because you probably don’t know anything about me) but I love lo-fi cafe music. I do. It’s what I listen to when I write and what I listen to when I’m at work. It puts me in a comforted and chill mindset. That’s exactly what I thought of when I listened to Sentimental. It was the perfect song to sit in coffee shop and stare out at the rain to. I wish I could be covered in a blanket woven of this song.

Before Our Spring

This one was tough to listen to. I have yet to listen to it without crying and I’m not sure how long it will be before that stops being the case. I think it’s tough on all of us. I hear the hurt in your voice and it makes me wish for everything to be different than it is. It makes me miss you so palpably it hurts.

Jjong, I will never stop missing you. The world is much less brighter without you in it and I’m so sorry that you felt that that wasn’t the case. I know you’re okay now and I hope you see yourself now the way we see you. You did so, so well.

Thank you so much for everything and I love you more than you will ever know.

If you would like to watch Jonghyun’s MV, please take a moment to watch it below.