We all wonder if Sohyang is human or from another planet. Current odds are that she’s from another planet, with an outside chance she’s actually an angel come down from Heaven. 😇 We have never heard anyone sing like her, or be able to hold an audience in the palm of her hand until she lets them go. Her voice is, as one person described it, like liquid gold. Perfection in clarity and pitch, and she doesn’t fade in the upper octaves, which is startling when you hear her hit those 5th and 6th octave notes with such _POWER_ it actually gives everyone goose bumps-and makes us bald guys’ hair stand on end! As she says, her voice “is from God.” She does all the musical arrangements herself, with the input of her in-law family and musical assistants, teaches vocal technique at a South Korean university and speaks four languages: Korean, English, Vietnamese and Chinese, as well as reading French and Greek! Let me catch my breath. OK. She is a cancer survivor from uterine cancer at the age of 20, just after getting married, and states very plainly that God saved her life due to the prayers of her church. But this left her without the ability to have children so she decided to dedicate her life to being a Contemporary Christian Gospel singer and has refused recording contracts from the biggest corporations in the world. She only wants to sing for charities, churches and while doing missionary work, to strengthen those suffering through difficult times. David Foster, Josh Groban, Michael Bolton and others have all eagerly worked with her when they were in Asia. She contracted hepatitis B from a blood transfusion during her cancer surgery and it clings to her to this day. Because of this she is prone to catching pneumonia but has sang perfectly while suffering from it in her live performance of “You Raise Me Up” before Shane Filan of Westlife on South Korean TV: ua-cam.com/video/te_L9ofhUt8/v-deo.html She has asked those who love her singing to pray that God keep pneumonia away from her, she has suffered from it on so many occasions. Imagine how she must feel with this coronavirus floating around everywhere! She just turned 46 on April 5, 2024, though in Korean culture she would be 47 because you are deemed to be one year old when you are born. She was about 37 when she sang this version of “Arirang Alone,” their unofficial national anthem based on a 600 year old folk song expressing their desire to reunify north and south: vimeo.com/308253527 While being sick with pneumonia eight times from 2016 through to 2020, and considering giving up singing altogether, she decided to enter a televised singing contest called “King of the Masked Singers” in 2017 and won six consecutive times, which has catapulted her into international attention from the performances being posted on UA-cam. Whitney Houston’s former manager saw her on UA-cam and showed her to Oprah Winfrey, who brought her to David Foster’s attention. Foster then contacted Sohyang and went to Japan in order to have her perform eight concerts with him at Tokyo’s famous Blue Note Club in late-2018. For those who don't know, David Foster was Whitney Houston's producer for some of her songs, wrote "I Have Nothing," her most iconic song, and is the most famous and influential music producer in the world. He places Sohyang right beside Whitney and the rest of the top tier divas. Here is the interview where Sohyang related the events: ua-cam.com/video/EqeE_1nP-Kk/v-deo.html (Be sure to turn on English subtitles.) Here is the version of “I Have Nothing” Oprah, David Foster, Whitney's former manager and the rest watched on UA-cam: ua-cam.com/video/T4UyIMkdy4M/v-deo.html She preceded it with this blockbuster: vimeo.com/312061203 She could be an international Super Star if she wanted to be but has decided that it would ruin her spiritually, quoting Proverbs 16:25 “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” In a South Korean television interview Sohyang conceded that she struggled with her desire for fame for a number of years, going into the basement in her home numerous times and closing the door so she could complain vehemently to God that He was holding her back from becoming famous due to her health problems and other unforeseeable events. Then she later saw a Korean TV drama where the talented daughter of a very successful businessman was positive she would take over when her father retired. But he left the management of the company to a woman she hated, so she had a fit and lay kicking and screaming on the floor. Sohyang says she saw herself in that young woman and then understood that God was keeping her from developing self-destructive character by withholding international celebrity status from her. ua-cam.com/video/rl-jX9kBsEs/v-deo.html (Again, turn on English subtitles.) So as a consequence she does not pursue fame or fortune and actually has no interactive social media presence whatsoever. What can one say about such a person? She is a literal Wonder Woman! And we need about a billion more just like her! And whether Sohyang likes it or not, fame has found her, run her over and then backed up and run over her again! On Oct. 5, 2020, it was revealed that Sohyang turned down _yet another_ contract offer, this time from Sony Music US. www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20200921000995 “Debuting in [the] US was my utmost goal for the past 20 years. But when I got a call from the US agency, I politely rejected, as I realized that what I wanted most was not becoming famous,” she said. “I think singers are very susceptible to arrogance, especially when they hear the screaming from crowds on stage. It can make you feel like as if you’ve become God.” “And I’m perfectly okay with sharing my music via UA-cam, which can reach tens of millions of people all over the world without making me feel stuck up. Maybe that’s why I was born in this era.” Sohyang is just the most amazing singer, Christian and human being. She is beautiful both inside and out, and so humble and genuine, with a stage charisma, facial expressions and smile that is off the charts. In Korean dictionaries 소향--Sohyang--has several meanings. • First is a type of Korean traditional music. • Second is to burn incense on a burner. • Third is to go toward. But these meanings are rarely used today. Sohyang is also the name of a heroine in a Korean traditional novel. Yet for the definitive answer Sohyang has stated in an interview that her name means "enjoy the light." Her grandmother named her. Please analyze her performance of “Bridge Over Troubled Water”: ua-cam.com/video/C6iHh4yBxCo/v-deo.html Also, please react to her version of “The Power of Love”: ua-cam.com/video/LrNkVRrK7_I/v-deo.html Plus this beautiful duet with her friend Lee Hi where they do Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons’ “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You”: vimeo.com/439148918 And this version of her singing “Oh Holy Night”: vimeo.com/322716334 Here she performs “Lean On Me” before Michael Bolton, who called her a vocal “virtuoso” after her performance: ua-cam.com/video/GvsgCllcNPE/v-deo.html Wait until you see her duet of David Foster's “The Prayer” with Jeong Ui Geu: ua-cam.com/video/rte-q3kunp8/v-deo.html Her performance of "Fate" in Korean requires no translation: vimeo.com/198161448 And finally “Will You Be There”: ua-cam.com/video/nBdSpexUxik/v-deo.html Here’s an English language interview with her that I’m sure you will enjoy: ua-cam.com/video/N2u_pmoWxj8/v-deo.html Her English is perfect when she sings and almost perfect when she is doing interviews. OK, I’ll stop gushing now. Well, one more gush. In an interview with a Turkish music producer Sohyang's assistants revealed (a bit to her chagrin, as she is a self-effacing person) that she can hit Eb7 and D7 in practise. However, she never goes above the 6th octave in performances. Since she starts at D3 that is more than a 4 octave range ... so how about them apples???! Here it is: ua-cam.com/video/VnPAkryrygQ/v-deo.html I know, bananas isn’t it? Oh, I just remembered, she is also a published fantasy novelist and has a theological treatise on the Book of Revelation in print. In addition, she is a very good stage actress, which she proved by playing Julie Andrews’ part in the South Korean stage production of “The Sound of Music.” Moreover, she sang the “Moana” part in the Korean version of the Disney film, does the musical vocals for many South Korean television dramas, and is a talented artist and cartoonist. She taught herself English by watching Disney's "The Little Mermaid" 'about one hundred times' when she was just a kid, speaks English with a _perfect_ North American accent and has an outgoing and bubbly personality. She can also play the piano and guitar. Is there anything this genius level woman can’t do? Ironically, Sohyang stated in another interview that both she and her in-law family were surprised to discover that she could sing so excellently! Though she is maybe 5' 4" and only about 100 pounds, Sohyang simply transcends the thresholds of music and takes you there with her. She becomes the song when she sings it, and then re-emerges when she is done. An experience like no other. I don’t know what else to say. I’ve spent _entire days_ listening to her, and shed more than a few tears of joy along the way. I really must also compliment the choir, orchestra and audio/video production people Sohyang works with. They are all top notch from what I can see and hear, and that is important to note as these are _essential_ elements of any great musical production. The Korean people are easily as talented as anyone else. As you can see, I am a shameless fan. 😉
Arirang is imaginary hill to pass through huge, mystic Mountains blocking reunification of Korea. If we follow the wavy Arirang pass then we will meet our lost families(from Korean war)
Rick, welcome. The others have given you details about this ancient Korean Folk Song, and more. I often repeat them - and myself. My friend Todd Sauve has given you a ton of bio on Sohyang, which is great. Two things I want to share. Sohyang and her small group develop the full musical and physical arrangements for all of her TV and Stage performances. She is a musical genius and it is on display whenever she performs. Second, Sohyang is not SINGING. I will explain; she has been gifted with a voice that is a musical instrument. She has perfected playing it. She is not well known by choice, but Sohyang is the finest Soprano alive, maybe ever. Why? Others sing. She plays a musical instrument that is so precise it exceeds the power and beauty of a Stradivarius - and it can form words. Follow her and you will discover this to be true. It's great to have you along. Cheers.
Others know much more but generally this is a Korean "Folk" song from many years which has evolved into a song hoping for the reunification of North & South Korea. So Hyang is an independent singer refusing big record company deal so that she can best achieve her goal of comforting those going through hard times. She originally was a CCM singer with her family band, POS, who began to enter singing contest where she covered many secular songs. She is also a writer of novels and Christian books, sings on many drama OST's and even a video game OST. She has become a composer and her team arranges her major performances. She has an album coming out this fall and has released a 90's style power ballad, "'Til You Love Me Again". She survived cancer at age 20 which left her infertile and a bad transfusion gave her Hep-B, which left her vulnerable to a form of pneumonia which she had many times in the 2017-2020 years. Now 46, her doctors seem to have her health under control and she is performing at the highest level. You will find all of her performances, most of which are on You Tube, to be at the highest level. You will doubtless get numerus titles to review, such "Bridge Over Troubles Water", "Lean On Me", "Everyone"(Get a version with CC), and "You Lift Me Up". I look forward to your next So Hyang reaction.
The Song is now come to be about the peaceful reunification of North and South Korea! The story starts out calmly as a group of Friends and Family gather and walk down to the shore, hand in hand and board a boat to go to Arrirang hill on arrirang Island! Then as the start crossing over to the Island a Storm comes up quickly and it is a fierce storm and hits them hard tossing them about in the boat( that’s when she dives off the deep end and takes you with her! They make it and get off the boat and she asked a fellow if is okay then joining hands they all climb Arrirang Hill together! Usually go with your gut feelings , she is a great story teller and if you allow yourself you will figure it all out yourself! She also directs herself with her hands, it’s almost like the Hula dancers in Hawaii - the hand tell the story but it her whole body , face, voice and hands that tell the story! I suggest for your second song you pick either,Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon and Garfunkel or Lean on Me by Bill Withers and made popular again by Micheal Bolton ( who you see in the Audience as it’s a tribute to him and songs her wrote or had Hits with. SoHyang has a small team of Family and friends that help her re-arrange all the song to fit her style and make them her own and they very good at it! Bridge Over Troubled Water vimeo.com/308504033 SoHyang, Lean On Me vimeo.com/306340349 Micheal Bolton, reacts to SoHyang’s Performance ua-cam.com/video/vgXcO88ctVs/v-deo.html Here is a gospel song she co-wrote with Petra Called -Freedom Freedom composed by SoHyang and Petra( Byoung Eun)(right side),performed with them and guest. (also back ground voices by SoHyang , Petra)with guest vocalist Young Jin( left side) ua-cam.com/video/5-WPK-DlZ3Y/v-deo.html Here is a Jazz standard, I love from 1959, Misty Misty, from, Begin Again Korea( with English subs) Listen to comments of her fellow musicians ( who didn’t know her before this and who all were probably bigger Stars in Korea then she was,at the very end(English subs) vimeo.com/464878995 Here are two songs she has written and recorded Higher ( acoustic version ) 1 1/2 ago and Till You Love Me Again 1 month ago! ua-cam.com/video/L1kXDijEJOk/v-deo.htmlsi=l4-tswGO7OmuvmD0 Higher , acoustic version Written by SoHyang ua-cam.com/video/Of08aublKTE/v-deo.html&si=2joiOp_yVt5GR96m
So Hyang is considered by many to be the best female voice on earth. She seems to have an unending set of vocal skills. She sings in English and Korean. Her rendition of 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' KBS TV K-pop version, is otherworldly, as are countless others of her live performances. Thanks for the reaction.
'Arirang' is a group of folk songs in Korea. They all differ in melody, context and mood region to region apart from the fact they share the word 'Arirang' in the chorus. The word 'Arirang' can mean nothing and everything, and has to be interpreted in the given song's context (it's a bit like the word 'Oom-Pah-Pah' in the musical 'Oliver!'). The most famous version of Arirang is from Seoul region, and it became the favourite of the nation in the 20's when it was sung in then a hit film of the same title. Its soulful simple tune landed itself to be sung in both joyous and sad occasion and with different lyrics. The song went wherever Koreans went during the colonial time - whether as hard labourers to Pacific islands or so-called 'comfort women' to Southeast Asia. The local natives who contacted these Koreans, who were dislocated forcefully by the Imperial Japan, still remember the tune of Arirang after half a century. Now, 'Arirang Alone' is a modern variation of this famous folk tune. It assumes a lone voice wishing for the reunification of North/South Korea (hence Arirang 'Alone'), picturing the image of a sea journey from Halla-mountain in the South to Baektu-mountain in the North. The journey is going to be rough (and in this context, 'Arigang Hill' represents the obstacle to overcome), and may be forced to break down occasionally... but the lone voice still encourages to carry on and others to join in hand-in-hand. In this Sohyang arrangement, she turned the simple ditty to a full blown journey - starting off as a somewhat naive, childlike lone voice hoping for the journey to reunification. It soon meets the rough sea and obstacles as represented by the dramatic transition, but, as Korea's modern history proves, she wouldn't give up the spirit and carry on with renewed energy. When the song reaches the chorus of the famous folk tune, which literally every Korean knows, she encourages the audience to join in, symbolically to join in, hand-in-hand, to this journey to reunion. But at the end, she comes back as the lone voice, now somewhat more melancholic because indeed the journey to reunification is still far and rough... but as the closing line says ('We're going over Arirang Hill'), she wouldn't let go of the hope. With this historic and cultural context, one would be able to understand better why this Sohyang rendition of 'Arirang Alone' struck the heart of Korean public.
Arirang has no direct translation to English but the idea it represents is along the lines of very hard work or diligent struggle. The song is based on a Korean folk song that has evolved over a period of 600 years and now is an allegory for their desire to reunite north and south. Sohyang is difficult to rationally explain. She might have died from cervical cancer when she was 20 but credits God with her healing. Yet a bad blood transfusion at the time of the surgery left her with hepatitis B. Normally that is easily cured with antibiotics but this was the rare incurable variety so it plagues her to this day with a compromised immune system and she contracts pneumonia rather often. For a four year period from 2016 to 2020 she was battling it eight different times and was almost out of circulation in the musical community. Thus Sohyang knows what it is to be chronically ill for a lengthy period of time but again credits God with teaching her invaluable spiritual lessons from it. She has largely been fine since then but did come down with covid19 for two weeks in the summer of 2022. Thankfully she recovered well and at the age of 46 sings as excellently today as she ever has. You are right when the thought comes to mind that there is no way this woman is 46! She looks 10 or 15 years younger, at least! But it is true. She was born on April 5, 1978! 🤷♂ Professional "super star" level music producers (David Foster), singers (Michael Bolton and Josh Groban), teachers (Seth Riggs) and vocal coaches by the boat load are pretty well stupefied at how much talent is wrapped up in this tiny five foot four inch, 100 pound woman. Sohyang has trained her central nervous system to the point, and developed such articulate muscular control, that her singing technique is perfect. She is considered a master singer. Literally. Again Sohyang gives the credit to the divine entity, stating her voice "is from God." Obviously she has taken her singing talent to the nth degree, and tells others who want to enter the world of professional singing that they must be born with a good voice and then work very hard to develop it. But this barely scratches the surface of who Sohyang is and how talented she is on stage. Her stage presence and body language are unmatched in my experience, much like what Elvis Presley had fifty years ago but different, of course, since she is a sincere Christian woman and believes in presenting herself in modest yet excellent quality theatrical attire and with absolute confidence and purpose at all times. I have also found these high production value South Korean music presentations to be as good as you will find anywhere on the planet. They show Sohyang in the best fashion possible and these seem, to me, as good as you would find at _any_ of the Grammy Awards in their heyday. When you add a Super Star talent like Sohyang to the show, everyone who watches it is quite rightly blown away. 👀😮💥👌😎🎸🎙👽🛸💖💖💖
Bro, you are seeing a living legend of singing in this century, along with Lara Fabian, Dimash and Morissette Amon they are the 4 greatest vocal phenomena of this century, there are several phenomena but these 4 are the most impressive.
She is the best female vocalist in this world. Michael Bolton had a concert in Korea 2023, and she sang "Oh Holy Night" there, which was so powerful. ua-cam.com/video/XCRT1qrNdIE/v-deo.html Another is "Upon this Rock," which she sang at the concert. ua-cam.com/video/m9gSi3yk6g0/v-deo.html You have to listen to her best performance "everyone" ua-cam.com/video/S9J1k_zmo24/v-deo.htmlsi=Lv13TpTgkbDYJFgB [Sohyang List] - You raise me up (Immortal songs 2) - Bridge over troubled water (Immortal songs 2) - I have nothing (I am a singer legend) - Lean on me (Immortal songs 2) - I'll always love you (begin again Korea) - Oh holy night (I am a singer 2) - Everyone (Immortal songs 2) - Arirang alone (Immortal songs 2) - Power of love (2014 live) - Never enough (begin again Korea) - Misty (begin again Korea) - I'll be there (begin again Korea) - I won't give up (Open Concert) - Amazing Grace (Global Church Blessing 2020) - Mona lisa (King Of Masked Singer) - Fate (I am a singer 2) - Wild flower (Immortal songs 2) - Where are you (I am a singer 2) - Dear love (King Of Masked Singer) - Never Ending story (I am a singer 2) - If I ain't got you (begin again Korea) - The prayer (Jeong Ui Geun & So hyang) - My favorite things (begin again Korea) - As I live (I am a singer 2) - Breathe (King Of Masked Singer)
Thank you for your reaction to this song. In my memory, you are the first person who asked for the interpretation of the song musically. I would like to give my thoughts on the interpretation and clarify some explanation of Arirang. Arirang does not mean deeply wanting the unification of Korea. Arirang means a huge mystic hill, but also loving someone deeply and missing the person. The most well known "Arirang" folk song sings about the deeply loved person who left and going over Arirang hill. Having said that the original version of "Arirang Alone" sings about longing for Korean unification. I guess the singer deeply miss the One Korea probably missing family members in North Korea. Even though it was written in 90s, the song's style is in 60s-early 80s style. Moreover, the original version doesn't have the original tune of most well known Arirang folk song at all. Sohyang revised this song to musically really express the lyrics of the song. This song basically says (and you could read the translation of the lyrics) that the water from Baekdu Mountain (the most North of Korea and the tallest mountain of Korea) and the water from Halla Mountain (most South of Korea and the second tallest mountain of Korea) meet in the middle of Korea in East Sea at Dokdo (the most East territory of Korea, a small island). Sohyang begins this song with hopeful and angelic voice saying let's go over this big hill of unification and then it suddenly turns into minor and the violin solo comes out and it becomes dissonant and chaotic. I believe she expressed how different North and South Korea are brilliantly and then as she sings "become one" it turns into major and the song becomes bright as she sings that the two waters from North and South become one and our hearts will become one as well. Then she adds the original tune of most famous Arirang after singing "let's go together" and gets the audience sing along with her. Then, her solo part seems to be a celebration and yet also seems to be a realization of the hardship of climbing that hill (the difficulty of the unification still). Then going back to the beginning part to finish the song with still with the weak and lone but firm decision to keep going over the hill. This was brilliantly done and nothing like the original song as her most of the Immortal Songs 2 songs are. Hopefully, this helped you to understand the song better or appreciate more. For one thing for sure, she has a reason why she sings the way she arraged her covers because she sings with a mission. Whether her meaning is reached to the audience is not known for sure, but her singing touches your heart because her voice with passion penetrates your soul. Hope to see more of your Sohyang reactions.
Please check out and react to her singing Easy On Me -- ua-cam.com/video/sxaV21Si0s0/v-deo.html -- she recorded and posted it to her own channel last year so no copy right filters required. Other songs of hers to check out: Bridge Over Troubled Water, I Have Nothing, Lean On Me, Misty (Begin Again performance) and Mona Lisa (King of Masked Singer performance)
Sohyang is the real deal as far from fakery/gimmick you could possibly come! I know it's one major cliché saying someone sings from the heart but if anyone actually does it's Sohyang. She's not intrested in fame and fortune so to speak in fact she has turned down offers from every major label there is. She felt that she might had to compromise with her own personality and her faith, she's a devout Christian, if singing to a major label. Her goal with her music is to try bring comfort to those who are struggling and suffering in life.
@@B-Drags-Den Rick look for Thomas Bergersen he is Norwiegan composer . He does so so nice music to. Two steps from hell . Have a nice day my freind Take care and stay safe brother of music🌹😉🤘🏼
![SoHyang - Arirang Alone [Immortal Songs 2 #1] THE WOLF HUNTERZ REACTIONS](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/bSHngtAeRxo/mqdefault.jpg)
We all wonder if Sohyang is human or from another planet. Current odds are that she’s from another planet, with an outside chance she’s actually an angel come down from Heaven. 😇 We have never heard anyone sing like her, or be able to hold an audience in the palm of her hand until she lets them go. Her voice is, as one person described it, like liquid gold. Perfection in clarity and pitch, and she doesn’t fade in the upper octaves, which is startling when you hear her hit those 5th and 6th octave notes with such _POWER_ it actually gives everyone goose bumps-and makes us bald guys’ hair stand on end! As she says, her voice “is from God.” She does all the musical arrangements herself, with the input of her in-law family and musical assistants, teaches vocal technique at a South Korean university and speaks four languages: Korean, English, Vietnamese and Chinese, as well as reading French and Greek!
Let me catch my breath. OK.
She is a cancer survivor from uterine cancer at the age of 20, just after getting married, and states very plainly that God saved her life due to the prayers of her church. But this left her without the ability to have children so she decided to dedicate her life to being a Contemporary Christian Gospel singer and has refused recording contracts from the biggest corporations in the world. She only wants to sing for charities, churches and while doing missionary work, to strengthen those suffering through difficult times. David Foster, Josh Groban, Michael Bolton and others have all eagerly worked with her when they were in Asia.
She contracted hepatitis B from a blood transfusion during her cancer surgery and it clings to her to this day. Because of this she is prone to catching pneumonia but has sang perfectly while suffering from it in her live performance of “You Raise Me Up” before Shane Filan of Westlife on South Korean TV: ua-cam.com/video/te_L9ofhUt8/v-deo.html She has asked those who love her singing to pray that God keep pneumonia away from her, she has suffered from it on so many occasions. Imagine how she must feel with this coronavirus floating around everywhere!
She just turned 46 on April 5, 2024, though in Korean culture she would be 47 because you are deemed to be one year old when you are born. She was about 37 when she sang this version of “Arirang Alone,” their unofficial national anthem based on a 600 year old folk song expressing their desire to reunify north and south: vimeo.com/308253527
While being sick with pneumonia eight times from 2016 through to 2020, and considering giving up singing altogether, she decided to enter a televised singing contest called “King of the Masked Singers” in 2017 and won six consecutive times, which has catapulted her into international attention from the performances being posted on UA-cam.
Whitney Houston’s former manager saw her on UA-cam and showed her to Oprah Winfrey, who brought her to David Foster’s attention. Foster then contacted Sohyang and went to Japan in order to have her perform eight concerts with him at Tokyo’s famous Blue Note Club in late-2018. For those who don't know, David Foster was Whitney Houston's producer for some of her songs, wrote "I Have Nothing," her most iconic song, and is the most famous and influential music producer in the world. He places Sohyang right beside Whitney and the rest of the top tier divas.
Here is the interview where Sohyang related the events: ua-cam.com/video/EqeE_1nP-Kk/v-deo.html (Be sure to turn on English subtitles.)
Here is the version of “I Have Nothing” Oprah, David Foster, Whitney's former manager and the rest watched on UA-cam: ua-cam.com/video/T4UyIMkdy4M/v-deo.html
She preceded it with this blockbuster: vimeo.com/312061203
She could be an international Super Star if she wanted to be but has decided that it would ruin her spiritually, quoting Proverbs 16:25 “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.”
In a South Korean television interview Sohyang conceded that she struggled with her desire for fame for a number of years, going into the basement in her home numerous times and closing the door so she could complain vehemently to God that He was holding her back from becoming famous due to her health problems and other unforeseeable events. Then she later saw a Korean TV drama where the talented daughter of a very successful businessman was positive she would take over when her father retired. But he left the management of the company to a woman she hated, so she had a fit and lay kicking and screaming on the floor. Sohyang says she saw herself in that young woman and then understood that God was keeping her from developing self-destructive character by withholding international celebrity status from her. ua-cam.com/video/rl-jX9kBsEs/v-deo.html (Again, turn on English subtitles.)
So as a consequence she does not pursue fame or fortune and actually has no interactive social media presence whatsoever.
What can one say about such a person? She is a literal Wonder Woman! And we need about a billion more just like her! And whether Sohyang likes it or not, fame has found her, run her over and then backed up and run over her again!
On Oct. 5, 2020, it was revealed that Sohyang turned down _yet another_ contract offer, this time from Sony Music US. www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20200921000995
“Debuting in [the] US was my utmost goal for the past 20 years. But when I got a call from the US agency, I politely rejected, as I realized that what I wanted most was not becoming famous,” she said.
“I think singers are very susceptible to arrogance, especially when they hear the screaming from crowds on stage. It can make you feel like as if you’ve become God.”
“And I’m perfectly okay with sharing my music via UA-cam, which can reach tens of millions of people all over the world without making me feel stuck up. Maybe that’s why I was born in this era.”
Sohyang is just the most amazing singer, Christian and human being. She is beautiful both inside and out, and so humble and genuine, with a stage charisma, facial expressions and smile that is off the charts.
In Korean dictionaries 소향--Sohyang--has several meanings.
• First is a type of Korean traditional music.
• Second is to burn incense on a burner.
• Third is to go toward.
But these meanings are rarely used today. Sohyang is also the name of a heroine in a Korean traditional novel. Yet for the definitive answer Sohyang has stated in an interview that her name means "enjoy the light." Her grandmother named her.
Please analyze her performance of “Bridge Over Troubled Water”: ua-cam.com/video/C6iHh4yBxCo/v-deo.html
Also, please react to her version of “The Power of Love”: ua-cam.com/video/LrNkVRrK7_I/v-deo.html
Plus this beautiful duet with her friend Lee Hi where they do Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons’ “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You”: vimeo.com/439148918
And this version of her singing “Oh Holy Night”: vimeo.com/322716334
Here she performs “Lean On Me” before Michael Bolton, who called her a vocal “virtuoso” after her performance: ua-cam.com/video/GvsgCllcNPE/v-deo.html
Wait until you see her duet of David Foster's “The Prayer” with Jeong Ui Geu: ua-cam.com/video/rte-q3kunp8/v-deo.html
Her performance of "Fate" in Korean requires no translation: vimeo.com/198161448
And finally “Will You Be There”: ua-cam.com/video/nBdSpexUxik/v-deo.html
Here’s an English language interview with her that I’m sure you will enjoy: ua-cam.com/video/N2u_pmoWxj8/v-deo.html Her English is perfect when she sings and almost perfect when she is doing interviews.
OK, I’ll stop gushing now.
Well, one more gush. In an interview with a Turkish music producer Sohyang's assistants revealed (a bit to her chagrin, as she is a self-effacing person) that she can hit Eb7 and D7 in practise. However, she never goes above the 6th octave in performances. Since she starts at D3 that is more than a 4 octave range ... so how about them apples???! Here it is: ua-cam.com/video/VnPAkryrygQ/v-deo.html I know, bananas isn’t it?
Oh, I just remembered, she is also a published fantasy novelist and has a theological treatise on the Book of Revelation in print. In addition, she is a very good stage actress, which she proved by playing Julie Andrews’ part in the South Korean stage production of “The Sound of Music.” Moreover, she sang the “Moana” part in the Korean version of the Disney film, does the musical vocals for many South Korean television dramas, and is a talented artist and cartoonist. She taught herself English by watching Disney's "The Little Mermaid" 'about one hundred times' when she was just a kid, speaks English with a _perfect_ North American accent and has an outgoing and bubbly personality.
She can also play the piano and guitar. Is there anything this genius level woman can’t do? Ironically, Sohyang stated in another interview that both she and her in-law family were surprised to discover that she could sing so excellently!
Though she is maybe 5' 4" and only about 100 pounds, Sohyang simply transcends the thresholds of music and takes you there with her. She becomes the song when she sings it, and then re-emerges when she is done. An experience like no other. I don’t know what else to say. I’ve spent _entire days_ listening to her, and shed more than a few tears of joy along the way.
I really must also compliment the choir, orchestra and audio/video production people Sohyang works with. They are all top notch from what I can see and hear, and that is important to note as these are _essential_ elements of any great musical production. The Korean people are easily as talented as anyone else.
As you can see, I am a shameless fan. 😉
Thanks for the links. 😊
@@B-Drags-Den You are welcome! Each of those songs are worth their weight in platinum, LOL! 💖💖💖
Love her...She is a wonderful, beautiful Christian lady. Amazing vocals.
Welcome to The Queen So 🙏👍 in her full pure mode 🎉😮
Thanks from Perú 😊
Thanks for watching 😊
Arirang is imaginary hill to pass through huge, mystic Mountains blocking reunification of Korea. If we follow the wavy Arirang pass then we will meet our lost families(from Korean war)
welcome to the incredible world of sohyang world class is what she is inside and out love from the uk
Rick, welcome. The others have given you details about this ancient Korean Folk Song, and more. I often repeat them - and myself. My friend Todd Sauve has given you a ton of bio on Sohyang, which is great. Two things I want to share. Sohyang and her small group develop the full musical and physical arrangements for all of her TV and Stage performances. She is a musical genius and it is on display whenever she performs. Second, Sohyang is not SINGING. I will explain; she has been gifted with a voice that is a musical instrument. She has perfected playing it. She is not well known by choice, but Sohyang is the finest Soprano alive, maybe ever. Why? Others sing. She plays a musical instrument that is so precise it exceeds the power and beauty of a Stradivarius - and it can form words. Follow her and you will discover this to be true. It's great to have you along.
Cheers.
Thanks for the info. Cheers. 😊
@@B-Drags-Den Welcome.
She is the best singer in the world who shares emotions through singing!!
She's an amazing vocalist! Thanks for reacting to SoHyang's cover. 🎉
My pleasure!!
Others know much more but generally this is a Korean "Folk" song from many years which has evolved into a song hoping for the reunification of North & South Korea.
So Hyang is an independent singer refusing big record company deal so that she can best achieve her goal of comforting those going through hard times. She originally was a CCM singer with her family band, POS, who began to enter singing contest where she covered many secular songs. She is also a writer of novels and Christian books, sings on many drama OST's and even a video game OST. She has become a composer and her team arranges her major performances. She has an album coming out this fall and has released a 90's style power ballad, "'Til You Love Me Again".
She survived cancer at age 20 which left her infertile and a bad transfusion gave her Hep-B, which left her vulnerable to a form of pneumonia which she had many times in the 2017-2020 years. Now 46, her doctors seem to have her health under control and she is performing at the highest level. You will find all of her performances, most of which are on You Tube, to be at the highest level. You will doubtless get numerus titles to review, such "Bridge Over Troubles Water", "Lean On Me", "Everyone"(Get a version with CC), and "You Lift Me Up".
I look forward to your next So Hyang reaction.
Thanks for watching 😊 and the info
Welcome to Sohyang world!
Thanks for the reaction.
Thank you too!
The Song is now come to be about the peaceful reunification of North and South Korea! The story starts out calmly as a group of Friends and Family gather and walk down to the shore, hand in hand and board a boat to go to Arrirang hill on arrirang Island! Then as the start crossing over to the Island a Storm comes up quickly and it is a fierce storm and hits them hard tossing them about in the boat( that’s when she dives off the deep end and takes you with her! They make it and get off the boat and she asked a fellow if is okay then joining hands they all climb Arrirang Hill together! Usually go with your gut feelings , she is a great story teller and if you allow yourself you will figure it all out yourself! She also directs herself with her hands, it’s almost like the Hula dancers in Hawaii - the hand tell the story but it her whole body , face, voice and hands that tell the story! I suggest for your second song you pick either,Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon and Garfunkel or Lean on Me by Bill Withers and made popular again by Micheal Bolton ( who you see in the Audience as it’s a tribute to him and songs her wrote or had Hits with. SoHyang has a small team of Family and friends that help her re-arrange all the song to fit her style and make them her own and they very good at it!
Bridge Over Troubled Water
vimeo.com/308504033
SoHyang, Lean On Me
vimeo.com/306340349
Micheal Bolton, reacts to SoHyang’s Performance
ua-cam.com/video/vgXcO88ctVs/v-deo.html
Here is a gospel song she co-wrote with Petra
Called -Freedom
Freedom
composed by SoHyang and Petra( Byoung Eun)(right side),performed with them and guest. (also back ground voices by SoHyang , Petra)with guest vocalist
Young Jin( left side)
ua-cam.com/video/5-WPK-DlZ3Y/v-deo.html
Here is a Jazz standard, I love from 1959, Misty
Misty, from, Begin Again Korea( with English subs)
Listen to comments of her fellow musicians ( who didn’t know her before this and who all were probably bigger Stars in Korea then she was,at the very end(English subs)
vimeo.com/464878995
Here are two songs she has written and recorded Higher ( acoustic version ) 1 1/2 ago and Till You Love Me Again 1 month ago!
ua-cam.com/video/L1kXDijEJOk/v-deo.htmlsi=l4-tswGO7OmuvmD0
Higher , acoustic version
Written by SoHyang
ua-cam.com/video/Of08aublKTE/v-deo.html&si=2joiOp_yVt5GR96m
Thanks for the info and links. 😊
Welcome to Sohyang's world.
Thanks 😊
A warm welcome to Sohyang world.
Try react to her latest song “till you love me again”
Its one of a kind of song that not much singers sing anymore
Added thanks. 😊
So Hyang is considered by many to be the best female voice on earth. She seems to have an unending set of vocal skills. She sings in English and Korean. Her rendition of 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' KBS TV K-pop version, is otherworldly, as are countless others of her live performances. Thanks for the reaction.
Thanks for watching 😊
'Arirang' is a group of folk songs in Korea. They all differ in melody, context and mood region to region apart from the fact they share the word 'Arirang' in the chorus.
The word 'Arirang' can mean nothing and everything, and has to be interpreted in the given song's context (it's a bit like the word 'Oom-Pah-Pah' in the musical 'Oliver!').
The most famous version of Arirang is from Seoul region, and it became the favourite of the nation in the 20's when it was sung in then a hit film of the same title. Its soulful simple tune landed itself to be sung in both joyous and sad occasion and with different lyrics. The song went wherever Koreans went during the colonial time - whether as hard labourers to Pacific islands or so-called 'comfort women' to Southeast Asia. The local natives who contacted these Koreans, who were dislocated forcefully by the Imperial Japan, still remember the tune of Arirang after half a century.
Now, 'Arirang Alone' is a modern variation of this famous folk tune. It assumes a lone voice wishing for the reunification of North/South Korea (hence Arirang 'Alone'), picturing the image of a sea journey from Halla-mountain in the South to Baektu-mountain in the North. The journey is going to be rough (and in this context, 'Arigang Hill' represents the obstacle to overcome), and may be forced to break down occasionally... but the lone voice still encourages to carry on and others to join in hand-in-hand.
In this Sohyang arrangement, she turned the simple ditty to a full blown journey - starting off as a somewhat naive, childlike lone voice hoping for the journey to reunification. It soon meets the rough sea and obstacles as represented by the dramatic transition, but, as Korea's modern history proves, she wouldn't give up the spirit and carry on with renewed energy. When the song reaches the chorus of the famous folk tune, which literally every Korean knows, she encourages the audience to join in, symbolically to join in, hand-in-hand, to this journey to reunion. But at the end, she comes back as the lone voice, now somewhat more melancholic because indeed the journey to reunification is still far and rough... but as the closing line says ('We're going over Arirang Hill'), she wouldn't let go of the hope.
With this historic and cultural context, one would be able to understand better why this Sohyang rendition of 'Arirang Alone' struck the heart of Korean public.
Thanks for watching and the info.😊
she got you going.....welcome to the Queen.
Yep
Great reaction! Please react to her rendition of Bridge Over Troubled Water, Immortal Songs version. Thank you!
Added. Thanks 😊
Her performance of Everything or I have nothing from the DMC festival are mind blowing.
Arirang has no direct translation to English but the idea it represents is along the lines of very hard work or diligent struggle. The song is based on a Korean folk song that has evolved over a period of 600 years and now is an allegory for their desire to reunite north and south.
Sohyang is difficult to rationally explain. She might have died from cervical cancer when she was 20 but credits God with her healing. Yet a bad blood transfusion at the time of the surgery left her with hepatitis B. Normally that is easily cured with antibiotics but this was the rare incurable variety so it plagues her to this day with a compromised immune system and she contracts pneumonia rather often. For a four year period from 2016 to 2020 she was battling it eight different times and was almost out of circulation in the musical community. Thus Sohyang knows what it is to be chronically ill for a lengthy period of time but again credits God with teaching her invaluable spiritual lessons from it. She has largely been fine since then but did come down with covid19 for two weeks in the summer of 2022. Thankfully she recovered well and at the age of 46 sings as excellently today as she ever has. You are right when the thought comes to mind that there is no way this woman is 46! She looks 10 or 15 years younger, at least! But it is true. She was born on April 5, 1978! 🤷♂
Professional "super star" level music producers (David Foster), singers (Michael Bolton and Josh Groban), teachers (Seth Riggs) and vocal coaches by the boat load are pretty well stupefied at how much talent is wrapped up in this tiny five foot four inch, 100 pound woman. Sohyang has trained her central nervous system to the point, and developed such articulate muscular control, that her singing technique is perfect. She is considered a master singer. Literally. Again Sohyang gives the credit to the divine entity, stating her voice "is from God." Obviously she has taken her singing talent to the nth degree, and tells others who want to enter the world of professional singing that they must be born with a good voice and then work very hard to develop it. But this barely scratches the surface of who Sohyang is and how talented she is on stage. Her stage presence and body language are unmatched in my experience, much like what Elvis Presley had fifty years ago but different, of course, since she is a sincere Christian woman and believes in presenting herself in modest yet excellent quality theatrical attire and with absolute confidence and purpose at all times.
I have also found these high production value South Korean music presentations to be as good as you will find anywhere on the planet. They show Sohyang in the best fashion possible and these seem, to me, as good as you would find at _any_ of the Grammy Awards in their heyday. When you add a Super Star talent like Sohyang to the show, everyone who watches it is quite rightly blown away. 👀😮💥👌😎🎸🎙👽🛸💖💖💖
I’d love to see you do a Sohyang reaction channel. I’d subscribe in a heartbeat! Again, thanks a million for your warm comments. Take care
Thanks for the info. 😊
@@slimbikr You are welcome slimbkr! 👌😉😎
@@B-Drags-Den You are very welcome! We all learn to love Sohyang like no other vocalist in short order, LOL! 👀👌😉😎🎙💖
Great reaction mate
Appreciate it
Bro, you are seeing a living legend of singing in this century, along with Lara Fabian, Dimash and Morissette Amon they are the 4 greatest vocal phenomena of this century, there are several phenomena but these 4 are the most impressive.
react to sohyang bridge over troubled water
Added. Thanks 👍
Wow !!
Queen So-hyang..🙏💕
So hyang.(kim so hyang).
queen. Angel
South Korean ccm Amazing singer.writer.
international media korean mariah carey.
World best amazing singer.
Sohyang's cover of "I have nothing" is amazing, too
Added. Thanks 👍
💚💜 Your Voice is also so cool!!I'm watching it again today Wonderful reaction! Thanks for sharing the clip!! I'm a *SUBSCRIBER* 👆👍
Thanks. I appreciate the support.
just subbed good luck whith your channel
Thanks for watching and subbing 😊.
She is the best female vocalist in this world. Michael Bolton had a concert in Korea 2023, and she sang "Oh Holy Night" there, which was so powerful. ua-cam.com/video/XCRT1qrNdIE/v-deo.html
Another is "Upon this Rock," which she sang at the concert. ua-cam.com/video/m9gSi3yk6g0/v-deo.html
You have to listen to her best performance "everyone"
ua-cam.com/video/S9J1k_zmo24/v-deo.htmlsi=Lv13TpTgkbDYJFgB
[Sohyang List]
- You raise me up (Immortal songs 2)
- Bridge over troubled water (Immortal songs 2)
- I have nothing (I am a singer legend)
- Lean on me (Immortal songs 2)
- I'll always love you (begin again Korea)
- Oh holy night (I am a singer 2)
- Everyone (Immortal songs 2)
- Arirang alone (Immortal songs 2)
- Power of love (2014 live)
- Never enough (begin again Korea)
- Misty (begin again Korea)
- I'll be there (begin again Korea)
- I won't give up (Open Concert)
- Amazing Grace (Global Church Blessing 2020)
- Mona lisa (King Of Masked Singer)
- Fate (I am a singer 2)
- Wild flower (Immortal songs 2)
- Where are you (I am a singer 2)
- Dear love (King Of Masked Singer)
- Never Ending story (I am a singer 2)
- If I ain't got you (begin again Korea)
- The prayer (Jeong Ui Geun & So hyang)
- My favorite things (begin again Korea)
- As I live (I am a singer 2)
- Breathe (King Of Masked Singer)
Thanks for the list
🤩
Thank you for your reaction to this song. In my memory, you are the first person who asked for the interpretation of the song musically. I would like to give my thoughts on the interpretation and clarify some explanation of Arirang. Arirang does not mean deeply wanting the unification of Korea. Arirang means a huge mystic hill, but also loving someone deeply and missing the person. The most well known "Arirang" folk song sings about the deeply loved person who left and going over Arirang hill. Having said that the original version of "Arirang Alone" sings about longing for Korean unification. I guess the singer deeply miss the One Korea probably missing family members in North Korea. Even though it was written in 90s, the song's style is in 60s-early 80s style. Moreover, the original version doesn't have the original tune of most well known Arirang folk song at all. Sohyang revised this song to musically really express the lyrics of the song. This song basically says (and you could read the translation of the lyrics) that the water from Baekdu Mountain (the most North of Korea and the tallest mountain of Korea) and the water from Halla Mountain (most South of Korea and the second tallest mountain of Korea) meet in the middle of Korea in East Sea at Dokdo (the most East territory of Korea, a small island). Sohyang begins this song with hopeful and angelic voice saying let's go over this big hill of unification and then it suddenly turns into minor and the violin solo comes out and it becomes dissonant and chaotic. I believe she expressed how different North and South Korea are brilliantly and then as she sings "become one" it turns into major and the song becomes bright as she sings that the two waters from North and South become one and our hearts will become one as well. Then she adds the original tune of most famous Arirang after singing "let's go together" and gets the audience sing along with her. Then, her solo part seems to be a celebration and yet also seems to be a realization of the hardship of climbing that hill (the difficulty of the unification still). Then going back to the beginning part to finish the song with still with the weak and lone but firm decision to keep going over the hill. This was brilliantly done and nothing like the original song as her most of the Immortal Songs 2 songs are. Hopefully, this helped you to understand the song better or appreciate more. For one thing for sure, she has a reason why she sings the way she arraged her covers because she sings with a mission. Whether her meaning is reached to the audience is not known for sure, but her singing touches your heart because her voice with passion penetrates your soul. Hope to see more of your Sohyang reactions.
Great! Your description lets me know that the feelings the song gave me were right. Thanks for the help 😊
자세한 설명 감사 드립니다.
오타인듯하여 수정하자면 한라산은 한국의 남쪽끝에 위치한 섬 제주도에 있는 산 입니다.
❤❤❤
Unification of South and North Korea. That's one interpretation....This song is over 600 years old, so no one really knows.
Please check out and react to her singing Easy On Me -- ua-cam.com/video/sxaV21Si0s0/v-deo.html -- she recorded and posted it to her own channel last year so no copy right filters required. Other songs of hers to check out: Bridge Over Troubled Water, I Have Nothing, Lean On Me, Misty (Begin Again performance) and Mona Lisa (King of Masked Singer performance)
Added. Thanks 😊
^^
Spinka Via
Trantow Keys
Sohyang is the real deal as far from fakery/gimmick you could possibly come! I know it's one major cliché saying someone sings from the heart but if anyone actually does it's Sohyang. She's not intrested in fame and fortune so to speak in fact she has turned down offers from every major label there is. She felt that she might had to compromise with her own personality and her faith, she's a devout Christian, if singing to a major label. Her goal with her music is to try bring comfort to those who are struggling and suffering in life.
Thanks for the info. 😊
I dont know if she is from Japan or Kina but they are really talent musicians from those Countrys🌹 Really beautiful Voice.
Thanks for watching Marita. 😊
@@B-Drags-Den Rick look for Thomas Bergersen he is Norwiegan composer . He does so so nice music to. Two steps from hell . Have a nice day my freind Take care and stay safe brother of music🌹😉🤘🏼
korean..........
Thanks to you Japanse.
South Korea