ALi has a
singular voice. The kind of voice you can recognize right away, that gives you
goosebumps all over your body and makes you craving for more. That’s at least
the emotions she gives me every times she sings.
ALi, whose real name is Jo Yong Jin, made herself a name after appearing in the tv programme Immortal Song 2. Recognized for her powerful voice (her interpretation of I Could Love You Again, originally sung by Yim Jae Bum, is constantly on replay on my ipod. No joke, it’s awesome.) She surely won me over with that powerful performance even if she didn’t win that day (she still holds the record of singer with the most winning trophy on the programme. Seven in total.)
I think you got it: I fell in
love with her voice but also with her way of interpret the songs and the
emotions she puts in most of them.
The one who’s also nicknamed
as the ‘female Bobby Kim’ is finally back. She released her 3rd
mini-album called Turning Point on
November 12th . It’s the
successor of two previous mini-albums (After
The Love Has Gone and Eraser
respectively released in 2009 and 2012) and a first album SoulRi released in 2012. I was impatient to her something new from
her. Not that she stayed silent the whole time. I mean if Beak Ji Young is known for
being the queen of OST, certainly ALi isn’t somewhere far. She collaborated in
many OST : Faith, Rooftop Prince, Golden Rainbow and lately for Joseon
Gunman with a beautiful ballad, Flower
Through The Rock.
ALi made me wait but the
first song of Turning Point is simply
amazing. A pure moment of pleasure. The harmonious Cry/Pung Pung, offers a room for ALi to display her talent and her
range of emotions. She has an ability to put passion into her performance, that
amazed me. Cry/Pung Pung is all about
a sad and tearful break up. The girl is torn and even though she stays strong
she can only cry over the relationship that’s over. Sometimes all you can do is
let the tears fall off to be able to let go of your lost love.
ALi is at a turning point in
her career and image. Indeed the photos as well as the cover of the mini album
intended to show a more mature look for her. One of her representative declared:
“We intentionally used a lot of dark colors for this album’s photo shoot. That
included her hair, as well as her clothes. She has transformed into a mature
woman who harbors deep sadness, but still retains strength.” Hence the
mini-album’s title and the choice of sad but powerful songs.
I would patiently wait for
her second long-length album, hoping that I won’t have to wait too long though.
But hey I became an expert in waiting anyway. So another year or two won’t surely
kill me.
Here below How Could This Be (from SoulRi) one of her songs that leaded me
to put her on my list of favourite Korean artists and of course Cry/Pung Pung from the last mini-album. As well: a YouTube
link to her performance of I Could Love
You Again on Immortal Song 2 (the
subs are in Spanish but hey it’s YouTube guys) and sorry for the poor quality
it’s all I could find. I also added the lyrics of Cry/Pung Pung just to push the pleasure to the fullest. Enjoy
everyone!
Geureonpyojeong hajimayo apa nuneul gameumyeon
dajeonghaetdeon moseupgwa neoui utneun moseubi tteoolla
Jaljinaeran mareunmayo seulpeojiryeo halttaemyeon
ttatteutaetdeon moksori jakku naegwitgae maemdoraseo
Oneuldo neol ijeoboryeo aesseodo
angamhimeul sseobwado ichyeojijiga anha
Peongpeong ulgosipeun naren neol bogosipeun naren
geuriumi ulkeok chaolla michyeonnabwa
Eongeong ulgosipeun naren neol angosipeun naren
saranghanabwa nan ajikdo
Geureonmareun hajimayo jeomjeom himideulttaemyeon
saranghadan malboda charari mojilge tteonajwoyo
Ganeyo jeomjeom meoreojyeo ganeyo
butjameuryeo haebwado eojjeolsuga eobtjana
Peongpeong ulgosipeun naren neol bogosipeun naren
geuriumi ulkeok chaolla michyeonnabwa
Eongeong ulgosipeun naren neol angosipeun naren
saranghanabwa nan ajikdo
Geurae ijjeumeseo geuman nohajwo ibyeolhaetjanha
deoisang nunmul heulligo sipjianha
Saranghan gieokdo hamkkehan chueokdo jiwo jiwo
peongpeong ulgosipeun naren neol bogosipeun naren
Geuriumi ulkeok chaolla michyeonnabwa
eongeong ulgosipeun naren neol angosipeun naren
Saranghanabwa nan ajikdo
English:
On days I want to cry my eyes out
On days I miss you
My longing for you fills up my throat
I think I’m crazy
On days I want to sob and cry
On days I want to hug you
I am still in love with you
Don’t say those words
When things get harder and harder
Instead of saying you love me
Just cruelly leave me instead
You’re leaving, you’re leaving farther and farther away
I try to hold onto you but I can’t do anything
On days I want to cry my eyes out
On days I miss you
My longing for you fills up my throat
I think I’m crazy
On days I want to sob and cry
On days I want to hug you
I am still in love with you
Fine, I’ll let you go now, we are broken up
I don’t want to shed any more tears
Memories of being in love, memories of being together
Erase them now
On days I want to cry my eyes out
On days I miss you
My longing for you fills up my throat
I think I’m crazy
On days I want to sob and cry
On days I want to hug you
I am still in love with you
OR 