Singer Shim Shin

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

After a long absence from the Korean music scene, former pop idol Shim Shin is making a comeback with a new album.

The 40-year old singer is showing a mature musical style with his new album ``Body and Soul with You.'' Shim may still be remembered as a teen idol with a number one hit, who sold a million albums and staged sold-out concerts in Korea. However, his succeeding albums failed to replicate his earlier success, and he soon disappeared from the public eye.

In an interview with The Korea Times, Shim said he became depressed when his album ``Libero,'' which was released in 2001, failed to impress audiences.

``I was depressed for a long time because of that difficult situation. But I didn't want to give up. I told myself I have to keep on fighting. That's why I moved to the U.S. in 2002. There, I studied jazz music and the musical styles of Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Elvis Presley'' he said.

Shim wanted to continue making music in the U.S., so he performed in various jazz clubs and concerts in Korean communities. Living in the U.S. with his wife and two children was not easy, but Shim said it was a good experience that contributed to his growth as a musician.

``Even while I was there in the U.S., I would still see some of my fans encouraging me by leaving messages on my fan club Web site. I thought I have to do something for my fans, who supported me," he said.

So he decided to come back to Korea last December to produce a new album. Knowing how fickle the Korean audiences were, Shim admitted he was quite apprehensive about the reaction to his album, especially because of his long absence.

``I was very nervous about coming back because people have not seen me or heard my music in the past few years. But I was always practicing, singing and making music in the U.S. I would practice six hours a day," he said.

With today's pop music scene littered with dozens of young ballad singers, Shim said he does not feel the need to be competitive. After all, he already went through the pop idol phase.

Shim, who still looks youthful, can vaguely recall the exciting times of his idol days. He said it almost feels surreal when he remembers how thousands of fans would scream his name during concerts. Shim laughed, saying even his children don't quite believe he used to be a pop star.
``I'm no longer a teen idol. I'm in a different category now. I'm doing ballads now. I'm like old wine that has a matured,'' he said.

Older and wiser, Shim said his music has a more soulful sound and deeper lyrics. His album ``Body and Soul with You'' features a mix of ballads, jazz and Latin-inspired music, a far cry from the pop music he became famous for in the 1990s. The first single ``Shadow'' has received positive feedback from audiences.

Shim is heartened by the good reception he received from his fans during a recent concert he held. This only bolstered his confidence to pursue his music career. ``I'm happy and proud because I'm still fighting. I will continue to make my music. I will never give up,'' he said.

cathy@koreatimes.co.kr