K-Content News
K-pop musicians make foray into film music
- May 10, 2021
K-pop musicians make foray into film music
Updated : 2021-05-10 10:42
By Kwak Yeon-soo
With "Parasite" and "Minari" earning best original score nominations for the Academy Awards, a number of K-pop artists are foraying into film scoring and helping directors devise musical strategies for their films, buoyed by the Oscars recognitions.
Singer-songwriter Lee Jin-ah debuted as a music director, composing the background score for the film, "Children Are Happy," which hit local theaters on May 5.
The film revolves around a nine-year-old named Dai, whose mother is hospitalized and father never seems to be around. Dai is lonely, but he soon makes new friends at a school he recently transferred to.
Knowing that he'll soon have to say goodbye to his ill mother, Dai decides to visit the hospital all on his own.
"I'm a real fan of Lee Jin-ah. Fortunately, she was interested in doing the soundtrack when I asked her to work on the movie," director Lee Ji-won said at a recent press conference for the film.
"It was very satisfying to work with her, because I could feel her warm personality and generosity in her music. I think she really captured the spirit and emotion of the film."
Lee, who debuted as a singer by appearing on the fourth season of "K-pop Star" in 2015, is known for her soothing voice and composition abilities. The singer-songwriter captures the pure spirit and loveliness of children through her iconic voice and sweet melodies.
Music producer Ecobridge took part in the music-driven film, "The Box," which premiered in March. Starring EXO's Chanyeol, the film is a coming-of-age story of an aspiring musician named Ji-hoon, who can sing only when he is behind a box. He meets a once-popular music producer (Cho Dal-hwan) and busks to overcome his fear and emerge from behind his box.
Ecobridge meticulously arranged popular songs, including Badfinger's "Without You" (popularized by Mariah Carey), Pharrell Williams' "Happy," Coldplay's "A Sky Full of Stars" and Rodgers and Hart's classic "My Funny Valentine."
Besides making a stellar change, he wrote original compositions for the film such as "Break Your Box." He reportedly put great focus on revealing the hidden vocal skills of Chanyeol who is better known to the public as a rapper.
Last year, rapper and music producer Primary also took part in the film, "Time to Hunt," as music director. Filmmaker Yoon Sung-hyun revealed that he asked Primary to work on the soundtrack and the aim was to create a song for the beginning of the film.
"Primary is capable of creating a wide range of music styles, including jazz, R&B, hip-hop, electronic and rock," Yoon said during a press interview for the film, "Time to Hunt."
"Like Hans Zimmer, there are many soundtrack composers who already had successful careers in pop music. Although it was the first film for Primary, we were able to experiment with a wide range of music regardless of genres, such as hip-hop and ambient."
Singer-songwriter Sunwoo Jung-a, who previously was a jazz singer and YG Entertainment producer, has been working on original motion picture soundtracks since 2005. She has participated in films like "You're My Sunshine" (2005) "Two Faces of My Girlfriend" (2007) and "Members of the Funeral" (2018).
In 2018, Sunwoo earned critical acclaim for expressing the sense of despair felt by teenagers through her music in "After My Death" (2018).
With "Parasite" and "Minari" earning best original score nominations for the Academy Awards, a number of K-pop artists are foraying into film scoring and helping directors devise musical strategies for their films, buoyed by the Oscars recognitions.
Singer-songwriter Lee Jin-ah debuted as a music director, composing the background score for the film, "Children Are Happy," which hit local theaters on May 5.
The film revolves around a nine-year-old named Dai, whose mother is hospitalized and father never seems to be around. Dai is lonely, but he soon makes new friends at a school he recently transferred to.
Knowing that he'll soon have to say goodbye to his ill mother, Dai decides to visit the hospital all on his own.
"I'm a real fan of Lee Jin-ah. Fortunately, she was interested in doing the soundtrack when I asked her to work on the movie," director Lee Ji-won said at a recent press conference for the film.
"It was very satisfying to work with her, because I could feel her warm personality and generosity in her music. I think she really captured the spirit and emotion of the film."
Lee, who debuted as a singer by appearing on the fourth season of "K-pop Star" in 2015, is known for her soothing voice and composition abilities. The singer-songwriter captures the pure spirit and loveliness of children through her iconic voice and sweet melodies.
Music producer Ecobridge took part in the music-driven film, "The Box," which premiered in March. Starring EXO's Chanyeol, the film is a coming-of-age story of an aspiring musician named Ji-hoon, who can sing only when he is behind a box. He meets a once-popular music producer (Cho Dal-hwan) and busks to overcome his fear and emerge from behind his box.
Ecobridge meticulously arranged popular songs, including Badfinger's "Without You" (popularized by Mariah Carey), Pharrell Williams' "Happy," Coldplay's "A Sky Full of Stars" and Rodgers and Hart's classic "My Funny Valentine."
Besides making a stellar change, he wrote original compositions for the film such as "Break Your Box." He reportedly put great focus on revealing the hidden vocal skills of Chanyeol who is better known to the public as a rapper.
Last year, rapper and music producer Primary also took part in the film, "Time to Hunt," as music director. Filmmaker Yoon Sung-hyun revealed that he asked Primary to work on the soundtrack and the aim was to create a song for the beginning of the film.
"Primary is capable of creating a wide range of music styles, including jazz, R&B, hip-hop, electronic and rock," Yoon said during a press interview for the film, "Time to Hunt."
"Like Hans Zimmer, there are many soundtrack composers who already had successful careers in pop music. Although it was the first film for Primary, we were able to experiment with a wide range of music regardless of genres, such as hip-hop and ambient."
Singer-songwriter Sunwoo Jung-a, who previously was a jazz singer and YG Entertainment producer, has been working on original motion picture soundtracks since 2005. She has participated in films like "You're My Sunshine" (2005) "Two Faces of My Girlfriend" (2007) and "Members of the Funeral" (2018).
In 2018, Sunwoo earned critical acclaim for expressing the sense of despair felt by teenagers through her music in "After My Death" (2018).
Reporter : yeons.kwak@koreatimes.co.kr
