Kim Hyung-suk concert filled with romance

From left, Kim Kwang-jin, Kim Hyung-suk, Kim Jo-han, and Na Yoon-kwon / Courtesy of K-tune e&m

By Park Jin-hai

Star composer and producer Kim Hyung-suk welcomed spring on Saturday with three long-time friends and collaborators.

Kim Hyung-suk & Friends has been an informal musical event where Kim sits at the piano and is joined by singers Na Yoon-kwon, Kim Jo-han and Kim Kwang-jin, sharing their personal stories with the audience.

He had been holding the annual concert since releasing an album of the same name with various artists in 2006, until 2012.

Dubbed a “hit-song maker,” Kim has written hundreds of hit songs and has more than 1,000 songs registered under his name at the Korea Music Copyright Association.

However, lately he has been better known as a TV celebrity and music commentator, appearing on various talent shows including MBC’s “King of Mask Singer.”

In a welcome return to the public stage after four years, audiences were soaked in a nearly three-hour-long romantic harmony.

Na, a 31-year-old ballad singer originally picked up by composer Kim as a trainee, opened the show with his five romantic and sad songs including “If It Was Me” and “When a Man Loves a Woman,” while singer-songwriter Kim Kwang-jin continued the mood with emotion-evoking ‘90s hits “The Letter,” “Sincere Heart” and “Magic Castle” with his clear voice.

“Kim Kwang-jin’s songs have the power to emotionally disarm people,” said the composer. “His unique vocal style, that doesn’t add up decorations and is true to the music, moves listeners’ hearts.”

Kim Jo-han, an R&B singer and former member of Solid whom the concert host called “master key to all music genres,” heated up the evening with a diverse selection of songs including “I Want to Fall in Love,” “Beautiful Goodbye” and “Like We’re Still in Love” going from romantic to rhythmic and energetic.

A performance of the four singing Earth, Wind & Fire’s “September” wrapped up the evening, moving audiences to stand up and dance to the powerful tune.

“Musical paradigms change with the times. It has become harder to find songs that stand against time and are enjoyed for a long time,” said an official of concert organizer K-tune e&m. “We wanted to provide a healing concert to all people affected by hectic modern life.”

The concert ended with the curtain call song “Because of the Thing Called Love,” written by composer Kim and originally sung by the late Kim Kwang-seok.

“Without composer Kim, half of my favorite 1990s songs would have been gone. Since I was doing music as a member of Solid, he has been a great influence to me and I learned a lot from him,” said Kim Jo-han. “His music has a history that runs from the 1990s to the 2000s.”

Another installment of the Kim Hyung-suk & Friends concert featuring different artists will be held in May.