Fourteen-year-old Kim Tae-yeon has returned with her first regular album "Excitement."
On the 9th, a media showcase for Kim Tae-yeon's first regular album "Excitement" was held at the Ilji Art Hall in Gangnam, Seoul.
Now a middle school student, Kim Tae-yeon returns with a deeper expressive power and energy, which she has honed through her childhood training in pansori. The first regular album captures her stage experiences, genuine love for music, and the bright energy unique to a teenage girl. Since this is her first regular album, Kim Tae-yeon participated in the album production process, from the design to the concept, with great care. In particular, she will showcase a total of 11 songs including the double title tracks "Encore" and "The River of Time," demonstrating her solidified vocals and rich musical color.
The showcase was hosted by news anchor Kim Sung-joo, known as an "audition specialist MC." Kim Sung-joo noted that while he had been MC for production presentations in the past, this was his first time hosting a showcase. Regarding his showcase debut, Kim Sung-joo said, "Having hosted auditions, I kept an eye on the kids who came out and watched how they grew. One of those kids asked me to host this showcase. I've never done a showcase before, and if it were anyone else, I would have refused. I couldn't turn down a friend who asked, especially since she's around the same age as my youngest daughter. When my daughter asks her dad, I can't refuse, so I stood here saying I would do my best, though I'm not sure how well I can do. This is a media showcase today, so I ask everyone to support both Kim Tae-yeon and myself."
He continued, "It turns out I met this friend 1,574 days ago. On December 17, 2020, it was a very cold day, and she was the youngest child at the time. She was 9 years old, but she didn't look like it. She seemed nervous, and her very big eyes became even rounder. I was worried if she could perform well, but once she started singing, she showed a prepared stage as if it was nothing," adding, "That small and young girl now has become 14. She's a middle school student, has been on countless stages, and I believe she still feels the same nervousness as before. I still feel nervous after a long time since my debut, and I think she will still be nervous, too. This is the first time she is releasing a regular album. I'm not sure if she realizes the weight of this, but I hope everyone supports her beautifully."
Appearing together with host Kim Sung-joo, Kim Tae-yeon first showcased the title track "Encore." She greeted the audience by saying, "I am Kim Tae-yeon, the 'girl tiger' who has transformed from a 'baby tiger.'" She noted she has grown from a "baby tiger" to a "girl tiger" and said with a smile, "I am super nervous." Having experienced a showcase three years ago during the release of her digital single, Kim Tae-yeon expressed, "Today feels much more nerve-wracking than that time. Up until just before entering, for 5 minutes I was thinking, 'Why am I nervous?' But the moment I stepped on the stairs, I became so nervous. I hope you all enjoy it since I am so nervous."
Hearing this, Kim Sung-joo commented, "I believe she will do beautifully. In fact, I am the same age as Kim Tae-yeon's mother. I have three kids, while her mother has just her. My youngest at home is like a cold rice meal, while Kim Tae-yeon is treated like gold."
Having entered middle school this year, Kim Tae-yeon balanced her studies with preparing for her regular album. When asked if it was difficult, she replied, "Entering middle school, it's definitely very different from elementary school. In elementary school, it was like heaven. I didn't understand when the older girls said, 'That time was good.' Now that I'm in middle school, I can already feel it," adding, "Overall, it's different. The relationships with friends have changed, and the level of studies has certainly changed. It's become harder."
While balancing her studies and singing, her first regular album has been released. Kim Tae-yeon stated, "There were hard times, but I enjoyed making the regular album. I thought I would release it as an adult, but I was able to do it at 14. Even if it might be lacking, I made it with the hope that my fans would view it kindly."
When asked whether she prefers studying or singing, Kim Tae-yeon replied, "I definitely think I feel better when I sing. When studying, my head hurts. I relieve my stress from studying by singing. Singing isn't easy either, but it seems less difficult than studying," adding, "However, my mom does want my grades to be good."
Kim Sung-joo quoted a close associate, saying, "I heard Kim Tae-yeon screamed when they released the choreography video for this song," to which Kim Tae-yeon responded, "As I mentioned earlier, I love to dance. But I wonder how great the choreography could turn out. When I saw the draft, my heart skipped a beat, and I really liked the choreography video. When I first received the choreography video, I think that was the most exciting time. Initially, I didn't like it that much, but I told the Director General that I didn't like this part, and they fixed it."
When asked whether the choreography for "Encore" was influenced by Boom, Kim Tae-yeon denied it, saying, "I received nothing from him." According to Kim Sung-joo, Kim Tae-yeon has been following Boom around before and after recordings. Kim Tae-yeon acknowledged, "Actually, it's true. Thanks to Uncle Boom, my dancing has improved. Ideas came to mind, and I think good choreography was possible because of that." Kim Sung-joo joked, "Isn't Uncle Boom amazing? He never seems to get tired," while Kim Tae-yeon agreed, "It's amazing."
Kim Tae-yeon recalled the process of preparing for her first regular album, saying, "There was the longest meeting in my 14-year life. Since my main job is a student, I would go to school, then practice choreography, go to the office, and have meetings from evening until 12 hours straight. I realized how time flies; I should have been tired after a 12-hour meeting, but it wasn't tiring at all, and I enjoyed it. It was around 4 a.m., and since I had to go to school the next day, I slept for 2 hours, but even when I went to school, I wasn't tired at all."
Additionally, Kim Tae-yeon described the title track "Encore," stating, "'Encore' is a really nice word. When you say, 'No encore song, everyone,' if you shout encore, it gives me strength. I hope that those who are tired and weary will listen to this song and find strength once again." In particular, Kim Tae-yeon demonstrated the key choreography point where she spreads her palms and passes the microphone to the audience, prompting Kim Sung-joo to immediately stand up and dance along.
Regarding another title track "The River of Time," Kim Tae-yeon explained, "It means that time flows like a river, and it signifies keeping precious memories for a long time." Furthermore, she described the included track "Thorn Star," saying, "The thorn and the star have met, which is why it is 'Thorn Star.' It's about singing words I couldn't express." She noted that "Thorn Star" is a tribute song dedicated to Park Jeong-ah, who passed away last year after battling breast cancer.
Kim Tae-yeon shared the driving force behind her ability to release this regular album, stating, "I think it's thanks to my fans. My fans give me a lot of love, and as I think about how to return the love I've received, the idea of a regular album came to mind. I worked hard to prepare this regular album as a way to repay that love." Responding to Kim Sung-joo's playful call for her to be honest, Kim Tae-yeon said, "My mom has a whip. When she tells me, 'If you don't do this now, your singing won't improve,' I feel hit by that. Since I might get scolded if I don't do it, I feel I need to hurry and do it," eliciting laughter.
Meanwhile, Kim Tae-yeon's first regular album "Excitement" was released at noon on the 9th.
[Photo] Lee Dae-seon, reporter.
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