Music critic Kim Young-dae mentioned the shock he felt when he first heard the late Wheesung's 'With Me.'
On the 19th, a video titled 'The giant tree, Wheesung' was uploaded to the YouTube channel 'AMPLIFIED Podcast.' Rapper and host UMC and music critic Kim Young-dae held a time of remembrance, reflecting on the late Wheesung's career as a singer and his musical life.
After listening to the track 'With Me' from his second album, UMC noted, "The biggest role in injecting hip-hop and R&B into our country was by YG Entertainment and the artists under its label. Outside of that, Wheesung is the first name that comes to mind."
Kim Young-dae stated, "Wheesung was from the agency (Mboat) that had a partnership with YG, and he was one of the moments that shocked me about ten times in my personal history of popular music and K-pop history. There are cases where even greater songs don't shock you upon first listening, but 'With Me' was too surprising. I thought, 'This is possible.' The previous generation had R&B, and Wheesung didn't bring R&B into our country; people like Yoo Young-jin and Solid had all attempted that."
He further recalled, "Knowing the starting point of a singer named Wheesung, there were the big two represented by Real Slow (Wheesung's nickname) and Tae-wan that were boasted by the SNP (NowNuri's hip R&B club). It felt like one song had been thrown in that could change the history of the music industry. That feeling was very unique," adding, "It wasn't admiration or respect looking back at my upper generation, but a thrill from realizing 'My younger generation is accomplishing what we and our older brothers couldn't.'"
Meanwhile, the late Wheesung was discovered in cardiac arrest at his home located in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, around 6:29 p.m. on the 10th. He was 43 years old.
The funeral service and burial for the deceased were held on the 16th at Seoul Samsung Hospital Funeral Hall, witnessed by colleagues and fans, with the burial site at Gwangneung Memorial Park.
Wheesung, who made his official debut in 2002 with his first regular album 'Like A Movie,' rose to fame with 'Can't I?' and gained great popularity with numerous hits including 'A story that can't be told,' 'From the sky,' 'With Me,' 'The day we meet again,' 'Beauty,' 'Good-Bye Luv,' 'In a year,' 'I'm Missing You,' 'I thought of marriage,' 'A heart-wrenching story,' 'Masterpiece called you,' 'Incurable disease,' 'Drip,' 'Love is delicious,' 'Insomnia,' and 'Love... that horrible disease.' His hit songs continue to receive immense love even now.
[Photo] OSEN DB, screen capture from 'AMPLIFIED Podcast' channel
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