Kim Bum-soo

Kim Bum-soo
Background information
Native name 김범수, 金範修
Born (1979-01-26) January 26, 1979
Origin South Korea
Genres Pop
Occupation(s) Singer
Instruments Vocals
Years active 1999–present
Labels Ilgwang Polaris Entertainment
Website www.kimbumsoo.com
Korean name
Hangul 김범수
Hanja 金範修
Revised Romanization Gim Beomsu
McCune–Reischauer Kim Pŏmsu

Kim Bum-soo (Hangul: 김범수; Hanja: 金範修, born January 26, 1979), is a South Korean R&B and soul singer known for his smooth vocals and emotive ballads.

Particularly, he is noted for the song "보고싶다" (Bogo Shipda), the title of which means "I miss you" in English. This song became the theme song of Korean drama Stairway to Heaven.

Kim is the first Korean artist to make a mark on the North American music charts, with his song "Hello Goodbye Hello" ranked at the 51st spot on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 2001.[1]

He is also known as a DJ for Gayo Kwangjang a radio program on KBS 2FM 89.1mHz.

Early career

Kim decided upon pursuing a music career at the age of 20, inspired and encouraged after singing with the local church choir throughout his youth. At Seoul Institute of the Arts, Joongbu University, he majored in music. Shortly after graduating, Kim attended an audition where he landed a recording contract with the label 'Team Entertainment.' Subsequently, his debut album was not released for another two years.

Prior to 'bo go ship da'(보고싶다), another of Kim's songs, "Promise", from the album of the same name, had also been used for the popular MBC drama, Watch and Watch Again (1999), establishing Kim's staple image as a ballad singer. Critic and writer Catherine Chan recalls the feeling surrounding the song as a 'sentimental lovers' favorite,' describing how the song 'had all the ingredients - a tender voice, lovely melody and dreamy lyrics.' (source: http://www.koreahkfriendship.org)

Fifth album

Kim's fifth album, Remember Kim Bum Soo 5th & So Long... was so titled as a reference to the fact that he released it right before he was about to start his two-year compulsory military service.

The song 오아시스 (Oasis) was released in this album. The song has a slightly more commercially American R&B feel than the bulk of his music, demonstrating the stylistic growth Kim has experienced over the years.

On Kim's fifth album, he also pays homage to those that have inspired and influenced him on the track "Like". Amongst those he names are Stevie Wonder, Eric Benet, Brian McKnight, Babyface, R. Kelly, Mary J. Blige and Lenny Kravitz. He has also incorporated covers of songs by some of these artists in his live concerts, noticeably Stevie Wonder's "Lately" and R. Kelly "I Believe I Can Fly."

The only of his albums to be produced in the US, Remember Kim Bum Soo 5th & So Long... also references Kim's connection to the Christian faith, with the gospel-inspired CCM track, "The One In My Life". The song clearly alludes to Kim's childhood church choir days, giving the 'goodbye-and-remember'-themed album a nostalgic sense of 'ending at the beginning.'

Kim continues to do performances in several countries within East Asia, but also in other parts of the world—notably in North America, where Korean pop culture (drama and music) has skyrocketed in popularity within the last decade. Past events have been held in Hawaii, New York, Los Angeles, and Boston, as well as in parts of Canada.

After military service

Kim returned to his music career after he completed his military service. His sixth album, released in 2008, was titled The Practical Usage of Sadness(슬픔활용법). While delivering several powerful ballads on this album, he also branched out into new genres, such as on the country tune "님아."

Discography

Albums

1 - A Promise... (1999)
2 - Remember (2000)
2.5 - New song & special, 2001
3 - Missing You (보고싶다), 2002
3.5 - Friends, 2003
4 - The 4th Episode, 2004
4.5 - Again, 2005
5 - Remember Kim Bum Soo & So Long, 2006
6 - The Practical Usage of Sadness, 2008
7 - Solista Part.1 (2010), Solista Part.2 (2011)
8 - HIM, 2014

Awards

Mnet Asian Music Awards

Year Category Work Result
1999 Best New Solo Artist "Promise" (약속)[2][3] Nominated
2003 Best Ballad Performance "I Miss You" (보고싶다)[4] Nominated
2011 Best Male Artist "Last Love"[5] Nominated

References

  1. ↑
  2. ↑ "1999 M.net Korean Music Festival Winners list" Archived 2014-10-09 at the Wayback Machine.. MAMA. Retrieved 2014-06-12.
  3. ↑ "1999 Video Music Award part 1". MAMA. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
  4. ↑ "2003 MMF part 1". Mwave. Retrieved 2014-08-20.
  5. ↑ "Mnet Releases MAMA Awards Nominees’ List". Soompi. November 1, 2011. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
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