Selasa, 08 November 2011

[Article] Kim Hyun Joong (김현중) : My Stage, My Life

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Many, many moons ago there was a child lost in a park , found later to have gone on stage to watch the musicians play at close range. Was it providential ,destiny,fate that he would shine nineteen years later on a stage with his peers ? Fast forward to 2011, the boy now a man named Kim Hyun Joong have the stage all to himself . All the lights were on him , the adulation of the crowd given to him and only him . In that stage after stage of performances, the man recieved his numerous recognition.


What was it like to be on the stage leading a group ,winning a once in a lifetime newcomer award? Were the tears and the breaking voice enough to show the very first choke of happiness and fulfilled challenge that stage provided? There will be many more stages,each one making the previous stage intangible memory. 

Performing in Japan, the very first stage outside of korea must have been nerve wracking what with the singing , and attempting to speak Japanese as well. The American stage was no different . And other stages in other Asian countries. But the group had each other.

There was a stage to cheer for the country’s participation in the FIPA World Cup in 2006. And in between the group being on the stage were solo stages though temporary.

When Kim Hyun Joong went solo he was criticized for that career choice. But why should personal growth and development be questioned? Time and again , his decisions proved him right. Since then his stage perfomance portfolio is getting thicker. Its pages started with a Concert in Manila, then followed though not immediately as there was a drama to act in between, singing for the Asean Games in China and Hohoemi Charity Concert in Japan , his two mini album were launched after several months came one after another and promoted in music shows and in Japan, recent still fresh performances in Korean Music festivals. At the 2011 Style Icon Award he opened the program with his rousing street performance dancing his way into the show. He is currently preparing for the seven city music tour in Japan to round out his activities in 2011.

Interviews forced him in a way to look back and acknowledged he is no longer nervous, and that he trained hard to sing and dance. But he admitted it is more difficult now because he has to do everything. But even then he used the opportunity to be more involved now with production not only in the performance itself. Called by Media a legend among his peers early on, it has now surpassed its original meaning. He is now more than ever driven by the desire to show his fans in spite of awards his best performances are still to come. He tells them to continue supporting him. He has not lost the fire of performing on stage,in fact the fire rages on ,consuming him as his co-worker in his last drama observed, the sparkle was there in his eyes when he talk of his singing and dancing.

If only Kim Hyun Joong can keep still for a moment to write down all that transpired in his various stage performances, it is the true to life of an artist- its episodes framing the highs and the lows of that human drama. Perhaps too early to write a memoir?

We only see the smiles in that handsome face. We only see on the stage the flawless dancing shaped by mornings and nights of practices. We only hear the upbeat songs that must have crossed the oceans to reach him and those penned by him. We were able to catch glimpses of Behind the Scenes and testimonies of people who work with him. We get only one conclusion:he is a fearless,tireless force.

Kim Hyun Joong only know too well like other performers before him and those who will come after him that one is only as good as their last performance. One must strive to continously hone his/her craft . To reach that zenith,the highest point in one’s career is the utmost goal. But the road towards that zenith can be nebulous, it is not all roses strewn at one’s path and certainly the red carpet will not be unrolled for one all the time.

Such is the pulsating, dynamic and yet stress filled life of a performer to go on until one day the final bow is given and the curtain goes down.

But Hyun Joong is still young , though the road of success can be bumpy and rough – one can do numerous detours if need be. He has just began the solo journey, the world is waiting to be his stage.

He is on full speed ahead, answering the call of the stage whenever,wherever it beckons.


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