Originally I had intended to write this at a different time. I still have uncertainties in terms of Jaejoong's pronunciation and breathing.
I want to fully describe and explain the qualities of Jaejoong's voice and singing before discussing the content below.
Ah this boy Kim Jaejoong never gives me time, he's always putting me in a rush. I can't sit still until I write about how great he is.
I've noticed lots of people discussing the different versions of 'Insa' and 'Footsteps' (Bal geol eum) circulating around the internet, but I've not paid much attention to it because I wanted to listen to a more refined version of it before coming to any conclusions. (Also it's because I strongly dislike listening to audio tracks of bad quality) I waited patiently for the official release.
The reason I tell Jaejoong fans that they should be proud of Kim Jaejoong is because most singers have a shake foundation in terms of their technique and yet Jaejoong's singing is simply impeccable. His singing is effortless and it is almost regretful that most people are unable to truly grasp how wonderful and amazing he is as a performer. (Unfortunately, this cannot be helped because most people do not understand what it means to be a good singer and it is not a concept that can be realized without first hand experience)
If you think it through carefully, you'll see that Jaejoong has a natural gift, where others may struggle in singing the same song, he is able to accomplish it without much difficulty.
So who is it that has the true talent? Is it really those who sing so loud that they cough up blood?
Up until now, I do not have a proper explanation for this, yet Jaejoong's existence has compelled me to look into this matter.
If a simple and mellow song is not sung properly, it may be considered weak.
Songs that require such a great deal of emotion require the performer to lose themselves into the music and this is much harder than one might think.
The emotion behind Whitney Houston's R&B music is clear and highly conspicuous.
If you look at Yoonsang (Korean singer, composer and producer), his charisma draws the audience's attention to the song itself. In order to feel the full power of the song, one must listen from beginning to end.
Jaejoong is an artist who understands pitch, rhythm and harmony. If Jaejoong were an artist, he'd first consider the problem of framing is finished piece because a good painter knows that the frame can also impact the outcome of the final piece.
Jaejoong completely understands the song.
He is able to seamlessly combine his own voice with the music, and by the end of it, instead of wondering which verse it was that he performed the best or admiring his flawless delivery, we are left reminiscing about the past; why did we break up with so and so? How are they doing? Has that person forgotten about me? Those were the best days of my life' etc. His voice reaches the very bottom of our hearts, awakening memories and emotions that we've long buried away. The kind of feeling is not that of wildness; it has a comforting effect, liberating us from any torment we may have been enduring.
I'm extremely touched by this song, not because Jaejoong did a good job sing it,
but because listening to the song makes me forget that he's the person who sung it.
Listening to this song helps me heal and relieves the pain that has been tormenting me. In a split second, I can feel tears welling up in my eyes but I don't want them to fall.
Allowing the listener to really immerse themselves in his voice, putting them on a roller-coaster ride of emotions. Somebody without a high sense of understanding and vulnerability could not possibly achieve that. It's like when the audience sheds tears from seeing the actors laugh.
The above are the initial thoughts that came into mind when I heard the song. Jaejoong, young as he is, found a way to elevate the song to such a level, creating a perfect masterpiece. He has the skill of a true artist, using not only previous knowledge and skill, but also adjusting his own mindset and changing his delivery according to the song.
SM artists tend to be good dancers and singers, yet more often than not, they change their style and singing technique according to the public's taste and interest. It is undeniable that Jaejoong is full of potential, I used to worry that he wouldn't be able to break free of his constraints, but it seems as though this is unnecessary since, as we all know, he is now free.
Jaejoong has a very good understanding of how this song must be performed. It's style as a whole is drastically different from what he is used to, yet he managed to pull it off effortlessly in the blink of an eye, so quickly that I almost didn't have time to express my feelings of awe and amazement.
Being able to understand and really feel music does not only mean knowing how to perform a song, one must also be familiar with the characteristics of the piece.
It is not a matter of flaunting one's singing ability, it is about helping the people who are watching the movie to immerse themselves in the scene and be moved by it. That is what music is.
Jaejoong achieved this by letting go of the mindset of normal singers and learning that it is not about drawing attention to the singer's ability. He was true to the nature of the OST.
This song demands the singer to not only sing the song, but to also direct and conduct it. They must decide for themselves how far they wish to carry the character and this cannot be achieved without thorough knowledge and understanding.
One must learn the qualities of the OST and use their voices as though it were an instrument, this is a difficult concept to understand for those who have not experienced it for themselves. Nowadays, the ability of an artist is judged based on the high notes they are able to reach and how well their voices project, how many people are truly able to grasp such feelings and emotions?
How many singers are there out there who have this kind of talent? Jaejoong's talent has truly rendered me speechless, how unfortunate would I have been if he hadn't been the one to sing 'Insa'?
