Clarification: I named my blog after the song "Met You By Chance" JDH performed in May 2014. I never really met the guy. I "met him by chance" on Youtube.
Now, October 2014 I'm starting to write these ramblings because I want to sort out my thoughts and feelings about 정동하 - Jung Dong Ha, a South Korean singer who won me by storm sometime in February 2014.
I will be musing about him, make remarks about his voice, his talent as a performer, his looks, and basically everything.
I'm a FAN again!
First concert in Busan today! This is the tour that I am secretly dreaming of attending at some point, because it is most likely going to be extended through July and August. I have plans to go to Korea in the Summer, to visit Miki in Incheon. So, yes, the name Dream for this tour, is meaningful to me, as in "dream come true".
This first concert in Busan has already taken place, as there are 13 hrs difference between NC and Korea.
I don't know what he sang. But I have a funny report, that Jung Dong Ha , took off his boots, and went barefooted on stage. Apparently the stylist made him wear very high heels, and maybe he wasn't comfortable. Thus, the fans witnessed another "streaptease". There are even pictures of his naked feet, but I will not post here out of respect. ^_^
He brings me to tears sometimes. This is from Jeju concert with Sonya, a couple of days ago, squeezed in between his Turandot shows.
Thank you Cafri, whoever you are, for posting great videos and pictures of this singer.
I read some fans comments under pictures of Dong Ha in his costume from the musical. One of them said:
" Was he a prince in his previous life? Because this role suits him so well"
The show is still going on, and there are 4 more dates with Dong Ha as Prince Khalaf.
One thing I noticed, while viewing pictures from various days of the shows, is that the other two actors who also play Khalaf, always wear a necklace. Dong Ha doesn't. I keep wondering why. He in fact almost always wears necklaces during concerts. So it's puzzling he is not wearing one in this musical, while other actors in the same costume, decorate their necks.
I am posting a couple of "Turandot" related videos, because it is still on-going in Seoul right now, until March 13, 2016. One video is from curtain call on Feb. 28, 2016. There are many of these curtain call videos posted on Youtube, from all the shows Dongha is in. I really love checking these out, since the music is so good, and the costumes spectacular. The curtain call from Feb 28th is so nice, because Jung Dong Ha is particularly animated and happy. It must have been a very good audience on that day.
"Turandot-The Musical" is such a world class production!!!I admire the actors/singers, but also all those people who are responsible for putting everything together: directing a large group of people to make sure the message of the story is well conveyed, both by the music, the acting and singing, the costumes, the lighting, the emotions, and to make it all finally run smoothly, and give beautiful, unforgettable experience to the viewers. I am so proud and happy that Dongha is part of it. * * *
The second video, is Jung Dong Ha performing his leading song of Prince Kalaf "I Cannot Reveal My Name", at a KBS special concert, on February 3rd, 2016. The video is blocked from embedding, so I converted it to mp4, and I include the Youtube link.
It was a "striptease" Jung Dong Ha style, LOL. Since we are having an extra day this year (leap year), it should be dedicated to something light an enjoyable. So, during the Tour of 2015, JDH took off his shirt on stage, after having complained about the concert hall being hot. He hesitated a few times. But he was greatly encouraged by wild Korean fans, who apparently yelled "take it off!!!" The composite video gives the picture of how that "incident" unfolded. Quite funny.
And that was during the very first concert of the tour, so when the videos and pictures had been posted online, there was and excitement going on in the fandom. Fans were posting they were hoping for MORE striptease in the upcoming concerts. Alas, he never did that again. That was the only time. However, because of that hot concert hall in Busan, on May 23, 2015, we got a video of Dong Ha singing "The Sun Will Shine Again" while being "undressed". Very unique video.
A couple of days after the very successful debut in Seoul as Prince Kalaf in Turandot The Musical, Dong Ha had two wonderful public, very much appreciated, performances. He must have been very happy with these successes, because they involved performing songs by his two most favorite singers/songwriters.
Dong Ha have spoken very often, and quite emotionally about those two. They are both named KIM, by their last name, they are both deceased, and they both died in a tragic way, around of age of 30. They both are treated with highest reverence by the Koreans, who appreciate these guys talents (also, there is something about Koreans that they seem to dwell on death a lot). I have often mixed the two of them, couldn't remember which song was by whom, so I will put them here in my blog, so that I can always go back, and remind myself about them.
Kim Hyun Sik
Kim Hyun Sik–basically died of overdrinking. The truth is,
he was an alcoholic. WIKIPEDIA: “ he was one of the most popular singers in
Korea, in the 1980s, with his unique vocal style that ofteninvolved shouting. He died of liver disease
on November 1, 1990, at the age of 32”.He left a son behind.
Jung Dong Ha's legendary performance on Immortal Soong2 in the past, has been Kim Hyun Sik's "Like Rain, Like Music". The song, together with video clips of the late singer, was later incorporated into Dong Ha's live concerts on stage. I have seen it in 2014, and it was a beautiful tribute. I could sense, it was truly heartfelt.
* * *
Immortal Song 2 logo
February 20, 2016 - Immortal Song 2 show, broadcasted on this day (recorded in front of live audience about a month earlier), was dedicated to Kim Hyun Sik. OMG, Dong Ha won another trophy! He won!!! The audience chose him as the best on that day! That was so unexpected, especially that he won already a month before. I didn't have high expectations, because he sang "My Love By My Side", which he had performed before in concerts. The other fans , however, were highly excited, anticipating that Dong ha would change the song. And he did!!! Oh, my goodness, when I listened to it, I new it must become another legendary performance by Jung Dong Ha.
When I heard that initial scream of his, I was almost knocked out. I lost a heartbeat for a second, and stopped breathing. It stunned me so much, and shook me to the core. That was probably the intended effect. He has never done it before, it's a totally new "trick". Dong Ha changed the very beginning of the song, and the very end of it, leaving the middle the way he usually sings, but with more emotion. His performance is so spot on, considering the sad fate of Kim Hyun Sik, and considering his singing style.
Below is the Youtube link to the official KBS video, that is blocked from embedding. It's worth checking to see the comments, and people's reactions.
This picture reminds me of actor Song Joong Ki somehow.
Jung Dong Ha on Immortal Song stage, KBS - February 20, 2016
* * *
On the same day, that Dong Ha was on the KBS-TV with his spectacular winning performance, he participated in a very special, live event. It's an annual concert dedicated to Kim Kwang Seok.
Every year, around his death anniversary, there is a commemorative show prepared, with many young singers singing his songs, as a way to do a tribute to him, and to celebrate his talent. He is really a beloved artist of Korea.
Kim Kwang Seok
Kim Kwang Seok - He was a tragic person. It seems, he suffered from depression all his life. He committed suicide by hanging on January 6, 1996 at age 31. He did not leave any children. So this year is the 20th anniversary of his death. At some point, some people questioned his death, and suspected a murder, but it had never been proved. He is described as rock/folk singer, but it seems to me that most of his songs are either melancholic ballads, or some of them are a little joyful. Jung Dong Ha performed the song " About The Age of Thirty" where the singer reflects on his age, and experiences.
I found an interesting quote, perhaps it was by Kwang Seok himself: "Hey, do you know what is the best side dish for soju? That is… Kim Kwang Seok’s song. His songs are the best side dish for soju."
I wonder if this is why Jung Dong Ha started his performance sitting by a bottle of soju.
I am told, that reviews have been very good after the first 2 shows of TURANDOT in Seoul, with Dong Ha as heroic Prince Khalaf, on Feb. 17, and Feb 19th, 2016. The reviewers said good words about his acting, and especially about his singing skills. Compared to Daegu show, certain things have been changed, like the costumes and hairdos of the supporting characters. Some things were added, like a duet of Prince Khalaf and Turandot, which made me quite happy. From the video clips, I could tell that the orchestra is playing in a different way, than the Daegu orchestra. The sound of the Seoul orchestra is more sharp - I wonder if it is because different instruments are in the forefront? The effect is louder, bolder music with a touch of sharpness. Maybe more dramatic.It's just my personal taste - but I liked the sound of Daegu orchestra more, because it was more suppressed, and more mellow. It was more suitable for the "underwater kingdom", where the story takes place.
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This duet is very good. It seems that Turandot is already falling for the prince, but they are still fighting against each other. They will overcome their difficulty. Prince Khalaf is very strong and decisive, trying to convince her about something, probably about her being wrong to be so icy cold. He is forceful, but not brutal. He is much stronger than Turandot, and he will be the leader in their relationship. She will follow, out of love. That's what my understanding of this duet is. @@@
There are many pictures after the show, at curtain call, and also during press interviews.
Here is one comment from a fan: "it's funny how jdh transforms from being majestic to being a cutie after the show ends"
