10 years into debut…Hwayobi's comeback

With this year being her 10th year debut anniversary, singer Hwayobi will be back with her official 7th album in ‘Hwayobi’.

She debuted 10 years back when she was 19 years old with the song ‘Lie’ and this 7th album will showcase her greed in pursue for her own music. Of the 10 songs included in this upcoming album, she has personally composed and written 6 of them.

The album will not only include her usual genre of ballad and R&B songs, there will also be songs with hiphop influence included.  Hwayobi voiced, “Making made my own songs, it feels like I’m making my music heard in the world. And since this is my 10th year debut anniversary, I will want to show the world a transformation in my music.”

Source :SeGye News/ Credit translation: Sookyeong.wordpress.com

Yobi ssi, Happy 10th year anniversary as an artiste. It is indeed a great pleasure for us to find you and to be graced by your heavenly voice. For 10 years in this career, we believe that you may have experienced the trials as an artiste. The ups and downs of celebrity life that have made you to be a stronger being that you are today. Yobi ssi…we’ll be looking forward to 10 years more of your work..or more. Aja Aja ! Send her your love bites here…at Dear Yobi.

Yobi ssi fight the rumours…

Love digging her old pic…the then Park Hwayobi

With her upcoming new song which is about a break up, there have been rumours or fans concerned about her own break- up. Moreover, recently, Yobi closed the couples photo album in her cyworld. That stirred more rumours of her split. However, in an interview with Sports Donga, Hwayobi has cleared the suspicion and mentioned that her relationship is doing well. She commented that, ” For both women and men, everyday is different and everyday there’s a change of heart. But there has been no problems with their relationship”.

In response to her closing some of the albums, it seemed she mentioned that her mini hompy is her personal space where she communicates with her fans. After putting up some photos which she wants to share with fans, there have been plastic surgery suspicions that arose.

I guessed with the spreading of such rumours, Yobi is keeping her mini hompy sacred as a mean to communicate with her fans rather than to allow such negativity to spread from it.

Yobi ssi…let’s listen to your favourite writer, Haruki Murakami…

“Taking crazy things seriously is a serious waste of time.”
— Haruki Murakami, Kafka on the Shore –

Now it’s your time to bring it on Yobi ssi…when 27 May comes !

Source: Sports Donga

(Updated) Park Hwayobi…Her story.

Source: Yes24/ Credit translation: Han Ahreum

Then, Park Hwayobi….
In 2000, many talented new artistes with strong vocal prowess debuted, overshadowing the singer- dancing artistes. The R & B artistes took the lead in this aspect of new trend of  popularity and Park Hwayobi (Park Mi Young) was one of the singers.  She was a new star who has been distinctly recognized for her unique singing talent which is of comparable to Lena Park.  Park Hwayobi was also regarded as a diva for the next generation.  Her name “Hwayobi” originated from her creation from “Hwayoil’ (Tuesday) and “bi” from R&B. Before the released  of her debut album, she used the name Park No- Mi for the  song ‘애써’ in Park Hyo Shin’s  debut album.

Her Story…
For about 10 years before her debut, Hwayobi studied classical music. However, after discovering Mariah Carey’s music, she was more devoted to R&B music. As she was in awe of Mariah Carey’s ad-libs talents. When she was in 2nd year of high school, she joined a singing competition by a radio show, where she sang, ‘용서(forgive) by Lee Hee-Jin’ and won the grand prize. During the competition, she was talent picked by one of the judges, who is a composer. Despite her parents initial objection for her to be an artiste, she gave up studying classical music and chose to study applied music. Since then, the rest is history.

Her Music…
Her debut album with the popular titled song,  ‘Lie’ portrayed a new style of R&B, which was never heard before. Her music has strong influenced from Maria Carey’s music, such as the melody and ad-libs. However, she showed a striking empathy with her R&B unique techniques and her portraying of distinct emotions. When MC Hammer, an American Rapper, was in Korea, he saw Hwayobi singing. He lavished praises of her talents and acknowledged that with her R&B style, she can be recognized in US.

In her first album, you can listen to music that Hwayobi wrote and composed. She actually composed, “So far/ ‘여기까지만’  while she was  ironing at home and composed ‘Wish/‘바램’ while she was playing the piano on the same evening she was to sign the contract.  The second song in this album, titled, ‘Such a thing/ 그런일은’ also became popular. The song “Crazy Love” showcased her voice flexibility to sing in a breezy cheerful melody. ‘Legendary love/ 전설 속의 사랑’, a duet which she sang with Park Hyo Shin was also very popular  as it was featured in a drama OST. During her debut year, Hwayobi won the Rookie of the Year award [New Artist’s award] at Seoul Music Award. As  she was considered a rare rookie for her unique singing ability. In 2001, before she ended her first album promotion, she successfully delivered her very first concert.

For her second album, many famous musicians were involved in her album production such as 3534(Yun Hee Jung), Yun Sang, Yun Sara, Jung Yun Jun, Lee Seung Hwan(The Story) and Hwang Sung Je.  Hwayobi was also involved in almost half of the album, showcasing her talents as a singer- songwriter. In this album, she also showed her ability to sing songs with strong beats like, ‘Destiny/ 운명’, ‘ Confession/ 고백’. After releasing this album, she played as the main actress in a musical performance and was performing all over Korea. On the same year, she also participated in a live concert with Kim Hyun Chul, Yun Jong Sin and her colleague from her company. She ended her activity for 2nd album by giving a solo concert.

Hwayobi expressed that she likes R&B style as it allows her to showcase varied ad-libs depending on the song’s mood. However, besides continuing her passion for R&B, she wants to be a charismatic performer like, Lee Eun Mi, a well- respected and talented Korean singer. In 2002, she released 3 hits and surprisingly, she did a remake of Lee Jung Bong’s hit song, “What’s going on ?/ Something Like that/어떤가요”. Hwayobi had received outstanding review for this remake, as it was acknowledged  that her remake was better than the original song.

Thank you  to a dear kind soul, Han Ahreum for this awesome article. There are still so much about Yobi that we do not know since it is rather rare to get articles about her translated. Therefore,  many of us do not know about her past. The more you dig into her past, it gets more precious. I’ve always wonder was there ever a time where she had the opportunity to pursue her music in US. As we know her talent is beyond what KPOP has to offer now.

Hwayobi's Special album

Source: Yes24/ Credit translation: Han Ahreum

The “heavenly voice”, Queen of “R& B” and the best diva in Korea is back with her 7th album ‘Hwayobi”, in celebrating her 10th anniversary.  The album titled “Hwayobi” has a very deep meaning to her facing the 10 years as an artiste. This album is indeed special as she was involved in the full production not just as the lyricist for all the songs, but also composing 6 of the songs ((Bye Bye Bye / Baby Gone Baby Gone / More Than Love / iLuvMe / Zero / Cloud 9). This is indeed an  impressive effort by her. As the album concept is showcasing “the TRUE Hwayobi” as she has selected music that she desires.

The title  song “Bye Bye Bye” that she wrote and composed, portrays her powerful and charismatic attraction, which is contrary to her previous image. In this song, Hwayobi described a girl who left without looking back after a break up. But at the back of her mind, she can’t accept the separation. But she has faced the man and gave him a last parting message grandly. It’s a song about parting which is not so heavy yet not so light either. Instead of using strong synthesizing sound which is rather popular recently, mysterious synthsound was used to portrays mournfulness. “Bye Bye Bye” has strong beats and gives an attack impression which might express the feeling that the heart is smashed impactfuly during the moment of separation. This song lyrics which is accompanied with a mournful groove tempo music  may gives you the mysterious (strange) ambivalent feelings.

My heart kind of pounding reading this article, pounding with anticipation and excitement. Yobi ever said before that she would like to produce music that is distinctly hers.  I feel that she has indeed achieved it with her “Half” & “Rose” but being a true musician she is, Yobi ssi is definitely working hard and always exploring in pursuing her passion.  Yobi ssi, we are so proud of you !

Thanks to a dear kind soul, Han Ahreum for the translation & Begnasis for the high quality image. 감사합니다 !

Hwayobi's 7th album Pre- order now !

Yatta our charming diva is back ! Yobi’s 7th album will be available on 31 Mar 2010 and you can PRE- ORDER it here. She looks mysteriously sexy and calling in the front cover. I am loving this image if this is what she will be portraying in her performance. A mysterious charm that suits her, embodies a diva she is. Definitely….definitely anticipating the return of the diva who will be serenading us with her title track “Bye Bye Bye”,  a song about farewell. I will post more infos if i get it translated….omona less than a week more to go.  Yobi fighting !!! We’ll be waiting.

Tracklist

  • 01. Booty Call
  • 02. Bye Bye Bye
  • 03. Ssso What (Feat. Beenzino)
  • 04. Baby Gone Baby Gone (Feat. Outsider)
  • 05. 2CreAm NoSuGar
  • 06. Sometimes .. Man ..
  • 07. More Than Love
  • 08. iLuvMe
  • 09. Zero
  • 10. Cloud 9

Source: Yes24/ credit: chwayobi @lovinghwayobi fancafe