50 Most Influential K-Pop Artists: 47. Solid

[Series Index]

47.  Solid [솔리드]

Years of Activity:  1993-1997

Members: 

Lee Joon [이준] - Rap
Kim Johan [김조한] - Vocal
Jeong Jae-Yoon [정재윤] - Vocal

Discography:

Regular Albums

Solid Vol. 1 (1993)
Dream [꿈] (1995)
Light Camera Action! (1996)
Solidate (1997)

Special Albums

Solid Live (1996)
Solid to be Unlimited Solid (1999) - compilation

In 15 Words or Less:  The herald of R&B in Korea.

Representative Song:  Holding the End of This Night [이 밤의 끝을 잡고], from Dream

이 밤의 끝을 잡고

Holding onto the End of This Night

다신 널 볼 수 없겠지

I will never be able to see you again

나의 입술이 너의 하얀 어깨를 감싸 안으며

My lips hugged your white shoulders

그렇게 우린 이 밤의 끝을 잡고 사랑했지만

Although we loved like this, holding onto the end of this night

마지막 입맞춤이 아쉬움에 떨려도

The last kiss might tremble in longing

빈손으로 온 내게 세상이 준 선물은

To me, who arrived with empty hands, the gift the world gave me

너란 걸 알기에 참아야겠지

Was you, I know, so I must endure

내 맘 아프지 않게

So my heart does not break

그 누구보다 더 행복하게 살아야 해

You must live happier than anyone else

모든 걸 잊고

Forgetting everything

이 밤의 끝을 잡고 있는 나의 사랑이 더 이상 초라하지 않게

So my love holding onto the end of this night does not become more pathetic than it is now

나를 위해 울지마 난 괜찮아

Don't cry for me, I am ok.

[Narration]

그래 어쩌면

Yes, perhaps

우린 오랜전부터 우리의 사랑에 어쩔수 없는 이별이 찾아 올지도 모른다고 생각했어

We since long ago have thought the inevitable separation will come to our love

하지만 울지마

But don't cry

이밤의 끝은 내가 잡고 있을테니

I will hold onto the end of this night

넌 그렇게 언제나 웃으면서 살아야 돼

You must live on, always smiling like that

제발 울지말고 나를 위해 웃어줘

Please don't cry, smile for me

제발

Please

마지막 입맞춤이 아쉬움에 떨려도

The last kiss might tremble in longing

빈손으로 온 내게 세상이 준 선물은

To me, who arrived with empty hands, the gift the world gave me

너란 걸 알기에 참아야겠지

Was you, I know, so I must endure

내 맘 아프지 않게

So my heart does not break

그 누구보다 더 행복하게 살아야 해

You must live happier than anyone else

모든 걸 잊고

Forgetting everything

이 밤의 끝을 잡고 있는 나의 사랑이 더 이상 초라하지 않게

So my love holding onto the end of this night does not become more pathetic than it is now

나를 위해 울지마 난 괜찮아

Don't cry for me, I am okay.

나의 가슴으로 너와 함께 나누었던 이 밤을 간직한 채

Keeping this night that my heart shared with you

잠시 널 묻어야 하겠지

I must bury you for the moment

나의 눈물이 널 붙잡고 있지만

My tears are holding you now but

니가 힘들지 않게 웃으며 보내야 겠지

I must send you away with a smile so that you no longer feel pain

내 맘 아프지 않게 그 누구보다 더 행복하게

So my heart does not break, be happier than everyone

모든 걸 잊고

Forgetting everything

 이밤의 끝을 잡고 있는 나의 사랑이 더 이상 초라하지 않게

So my love holding onto the end of this night does not become more pathetic than it is now

나를 위해 울지마 난 괜찮아

Don't cry for me, I am okay.

Translation Note:  Does anyone have a better suggestion for 아쉬움 and 초라하다? Also, the sentence construction in English became decidedly inelegant and unpoetic -- the Korean welcomes suggestions.

Maybe they should have been ranked higher because...  Being the granddaddy of a major style like R&B could count for more.

Maybe they should have been ranked lower because...  They had a relatively short run.

Why is this band important?

American pop music always had a strong influence over Korean pop music from the very beginning. Most major trends in K-pop -- the advent of rock n'roll in Korea, for example -- had a precursor trend in the United States that occurred a few years earlier, which was later trickled into Korea and adjusted to fit the local sensibilities. But beginning in mid-1990s, the flow became much, much more accelerated. Solid was riding the beginning of that wave. The three members of Solid were Korean Americans from California, and arguably the ones who started off the steady stream of Korean Americans who hit it big in Korean pop music scene -- a major trend in K-pop in its own right.

A few K-pop artists tried out R&B prior to Solid's appearance, but none was as committed to the genre as Solid was. With good voice and considerable (albeit not necessarily overwhelming) talent, Solid managed to popularize R&B as a genre in Korea. Strictly speaking, Solid's music was OK, but not exactly earth-shattering. But they had enough talent and the "it" factor to popularize a wholly new kind of music in Korea -- the kind will go on to forming a major branch (or perhaps sub-branch) of K-pop, paving the way for more talented musicians to pursue the genre and transform it to reflect Korean sensibilities. (For example, Brown Eyes.) While no R&B artist in Korea may properly be called "world-class" at this time, the day when a world-class Korean R&B artist emerges does not seem to be too far off, considering the globally increasing popularity and likewise increasing quality of K-pop. And when that day does come, that artist will have Solid to thank.

Interesting Trivia:
Both Kim Johan and Jeong Jae-Yoon married women three years older around the same time.

Got a question or a comment for the Korean? Email away at askakorean@gmail.com.