Eru (singer)

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Eru
이루
[[Image:‎|220px|]]
Background information
Birth name 조성현 (Jo Sung-Hyun)
Also known as Andrew (Andy)
Born July 5, 1983 (1983-07-05) (age 24)
Origin Flag of the United States New York, U.S.
Genre(s) Ballad, K-pop, R&B,
Occupation(s) Singer, musician, Songwriter,Composer
Instrument(s) Piano
Years active 2005 - present
Label(s) Flag of South Korea JIN-A Entertainment
Website www.hi-eru.com
Stage name
Hangul 이루
Revised Romanization Iru
Birth name
Hangul 조성현
Hanja 趙成鉉
Revised Romanization Jo Seong-hyeon

ERU (Korean: 이루) (born on July 5, 1983) is the stage name of K-Pop singer-songwriter Jo Sung Hyun.


Contents

[edit] Early Life

Eru was born on July 5, 1983 in New York,USA to Korean parents.[1][2]He is the second and youngest son of one of the most popular and veteran korean trot singer, Tae Jin Ah (real name: Jo Bang Hun)[3]. Eru lived in New York until he was 7 years old[4], then his family moved to South Korea.

Eru always wanted to be a producer so he composed many songs.[3] But after a while, he decided that he didn’t want other people to sing his songs. He wanted to sing them himself. He thought that the person who composes the songs understands them better. That's when he decided to become a singer.[3]

In 2003, Eru attended the prestigious Berklee College of Music (Piano Department) in Boston.[5] [4][6] Eru entered the K-Pop scene himself during a break from Berklee College of Music.[5]

[edit] Career

Eru went through two years of training before making his debut as a singer in 2005.[5] Eru's debut album included works from musicians such as Joo Young Hoon, Lee Hyun Jung (the composer of Big Mama's "Break Away"), and vocal trainer No Young Joo, who trained BoA, Fly to the Sky and Lee Soo Young.[5] A 100-member string orchestra also participated in his debut album[5]. The first single from his 1st album was "다시 태어나도" ("Rebirth").

Eru released his 2nd album Level II on September 16, 2006. The first single from his 2nd album, "까만안경" ("Black Glasses") which features singer Daylight, gained significant popularity among young people and topped on- and offline charts.[7] The song would later be showered with numerous awards, including Jukeon's song of the month (October 2006) and SBS's Bonsang Award [8]. The music video for "까만안경" was also popular among his fans, as it featured Kim Hyun Joong of SS501, Lee Young Ah and Ahn Sung Ki.

After the huge success of "까만안경", Eru released his second single "흰눈" ("White Snow"), which he wrote himself [9]. "흰눈" was also successful, reaching #1 on various online charts and winning several awards, including Cyworld's Song of the Month (January 2007)[10] [11]. The music video for "흰눈" was shot in Sapporo,Japan[9] and featured Eru and entertainer Lee Hyun Ji. Aside from his own music videos, Eru appeared in female singer Magolpi's debut music video "Flight Girl", where his role was as a composer, along with six other korean artists, including Micky YooChun of TVXQ, Kang In, Hee Chul and Shin Dong of Super Junior, Park Joon Hyung of G.o.d., and Kim Jang Hoon.

In March 2007, Eru received an offer to appear in a Japanese movie titled Three Tattoos. Eru's agency stated that the offer was quite tempting, as the movie was being directed by Sukimori Hitomi and would likely be exported overseas. However, Eru's agency also stated that Eru would reject the offer as he has yet to establish himself in Korea as an artist.[12]

Eru released his 3rd album Eru Returns on September 19, 2007 and it became the #1 album during October 2007, selling 42,228 copies in South Korea[13]. The lead single from this album, "둘이라서" ("Because We Are Two"), enjoyed enormous popularity, winning SBS's Bonsang Award[14]. The music video for this song featured celebrities Ahn Sung Ki, Bong Tae Kyu and Park Joong Hoon. Eru also released "겨울나기" ("Wintering") and "마네킹" ("Mannequin")" as singles from Eru Returns. The star-studded music video cast for "겨울나기" included Eru, actress Lee So Yeon, trot singers Tae Jin Ah and Song Dae Gwan, comedians Lee Kyung Kyu and Ji Sang Ryul, actors Park Sang Myun and Kim Ja Ok, singer Kim Heung Gook, and others.[15]

In late December 2007, Eru released a statement revealing his intentions of fulfilling his military service duties in the latter half of 2008, since he became a Korean citizen 2 years ago.[2]

His first solo concert took place on February 16, 2008 in South Korea.[16]

In addition to his singing activities, he was attending Dankook University.[17]

In May 1st 2008, Eru entered the boot camp to start his mandatory military service at Nonsan Military Training Center. Eru will stay there for four weeks to receive basic training and then be assigned to public service duty [18]. Eru will be on duty 2 years and 2 months.

[edit] Awards

Year Award
2005
  • Mnet 20th Golden Disk Awards - Popularity Award (December 7)
  • Mnet 20th Golden Disk Awards - Yepp New Artist Award (December 7)[19]
2006
  • Jukeon Digital Music Awards - Digital Music Award "Black Glasses" (December 22)
  • MTV 16th Seoul Gayo Daesang Awards - Digital Music Award (December 1)
  • MTV 16th Seoul Gayo Daesang Awards - Bonsang Award (December 1)
  • Mnet 21st Golden Disk Awards - Digital Popularity Award (December 14)[20][21][22]
  • SBS Gayo Daejun - Bonsang Award (December 29). [8]
2008
  • 17th Seoul Music Awards: Bonsang Award (January 31)[14]

[edit] Discography

Album cover Album Info Track listing; Singles in bold
Begin to Breath
  1. Rebirth (다시 태어나도)
  2. Sorry (미안해)
  3. Finding Lost Memories (숨은추억찾기)
  4. What Do I Do? (어떡해)
  5. Speak (말해요)
  6. The Similar Person (내가 닮은 사람)
  7. If I Could Go Back (돌아갈 수 만 있다면)
  8. Life
  9. You Don't Know (모르잖아요)
  10. Until Forever After (영원 그 다음까지)
  11. Always (내내)
Level II
  1. Black Glasses (까만안경)
  2. Come Back to Me (돌아와 내게)
  3. Not to be Late (늦지 않기를..)
  4. I'll Promise
  5. Leave (떠나가)
  6. With You
  7. Heartbreak (가슴앓이)
  8. White Snow (흰눈)
  9. Because I Love You (사랑하니까)
  10. Okkyungi (옥경이)
Eru Returns
  1. Because We Are Two(둘이라서)
  2. Did you loved me (사랑했나요)
  3. Wintering (겨울나기 )
  4. Love is sad talk (사랑이라는 슬픈얘기)
  5. Mannequin (마네킹)
  6. I Love You (사랑해)
  7. Disguise (가면)
  8. I'm Happy (행복합니다)
  9. She's Crying 그녀가 울어요
  10. One Word (한마디)
  11. Greetings (인사말)
Eru Returns Repackage (Single)
  1. Mannequin (Chorus Edit) (마네킹)
  2. Handkerchief (손수건)
Eru Digital Single Album
  1. Last Concert Feat. Brian, Mithra Jin, McMong (마지막 콘서트)
  2. Left Alone (홀로 된다는 것)

[edit] OSTs

  • [2006] KBS Drama The Vineyard Man OST (Track 04. Good Lady)
  • [2007] KBS Drama Capital Scandal OST
  • [2008] SBS Drama First Wives Club OST

[edit] CFs

  • [2007] Chamisul Fresh soju

[edit] References

  1. ^ (Korean) Sports Seoul. 이루, 미국에서의 어린 시절 (Eru, Childhood in the United States). Retrieved March 14, 2008.
  2. ^ a b (English) KBS World. Eru to Join Military Next Year. December 26, 2007. Retrieved March 14, 2008.
  3. ^ a b c (English) The Korea Times Soaring Higher than an Eagle, Eru. Retrieved March 15,2008.
  4. ^ a b (Korean)Sports Hankooki.이루 음악위해 "45kg 체중 뺐다". Retrieved March 15,2008.
  5. ^ a b c d e (English) KBS World. Eru. Retrieved March 14, 2008.
  6. ^ (Korean) Epg.이루 (ERU). Retrieved March 15, 2008.
  7. ^ (English) KBS World. Ballads Likely to Enjoy Popularity. Retrieved March 14, 2008.
  8. ^ a b (Korean) MediaDaum News.이루, ‘2006 SBS 가요대전' 본상 수상 (Eru, 2006 Bonsang Award). Retrieved March 15,2008.
  9. ^ a b (English) Arirang tv.Eru-White Snow. Retrieved March 15,2008.
  10. ^ (Korean) Empas News.이루 ‘흰눈’ 싸이월드 가장 인기있는 ‘Song Of The Month’ 수상 (Eru 'White Snow' Cyworld Most Popular 'Song Of The Month' Award). Retrieved March 15, 2008.
  11. ^ (Korean) My Daily.이루 "제 노래 알아봐준 네티즌에 감사" . Retrieved March 15,2008.
  12. ^ (English) KBS World. Eru Offered Big-screen Role in Japan. Retrieved March 14, 2008.
  13. ^ (Korean) Miak. Music Industry Association of Korea: Album Sales For The Month Of October 2007. Retrieved March 15,2008.
  14. ^ a b (English) KBS Global.The 17th Seoul Music Awards Winners. Retrieved March 15,2008.
  15. ^ (English) Arirang TV. Another dream team stars in Eru's music video! Retrieved March 14, 2008.
  16. ^ (Korean) GoNews.이루, 첫 번째 단독콘서트 (ERU 1st Concert). Retrieved March 15,2008.
  17. ^ (Korean) Daum.이루 (ERU). Retrieved March 15,2008.
  18. ^ (English) KBS World.Eru Starts Military Duty Retrieved May 4,2008
  19. ^ (English) Arirang tv. The 20th Golden Disk Awards . Retrieved March 15,2008.
  20. ^ (Korean) 일간스포츠.이루 디지털 음원 인기상 (Eru Digital Popularity Award). Retrieved March 15, 2008.
  21. ^ (Korean) KBS News.제21회 골든디스크상 대상 수상 (21st Golden Disk Award). Retrieved March 15,2008.
  22. ^ (Korean) My Daily.이루, 골든디스크 디지털 최고인기 (Eru, Golden Disk Digital Popularity). Retrieved March 15,2008.

[edit] External links