[J/K Artist] K (Kang Yoon Sung)
K (Kang Yoon Sung)
Birthdate: 16 November 1985
Birthplace: Goyang, South Korea
Years Active: (Korea) 2004 - Present; (Japan) 2005 - Present
Labels: Sony Music Entertainment / Studioseven Recordings
(credits to Wikipedia)
K, whose original name is Kang Yoon Sung, is a Korean artist who crossed over to Japan after the failure of his first album, K, in 2004. In Japan he achieved modest sucess with his first Japanese album, Beyond the Sea, ranking second in the Oricon album charts. He has continued to operate in Japan, eventually recording theme songs for dramas such as H2 ~ Kimi to Itahibi and 1 Litre of Tears.
Albums
K (2004)
Beyond the Sea (2006)
Beautiful Smile (2006)
Music in My Life (2006)
The Timeless Collection Vol. 1 (2007)
Singles
Over.... (2005)
Dakishimetai (2005)
Girlfriend (2005)
Only Human (2005)
The Day (2006)
Brand New Map (2006) -- *Ending theme song to the anime Blood+
First Christmas (2006) -- *Theme song to the movie Shichigatsu Nijyuuyoka Toori no Christmas
Birth of Treasure (2007) -- *Used as the song for the CM for Yamazaki Bakery
Kono Uta wo (2007) -- *Collaboration with ET-KING; released under KxET-KING
My thoughts...
I first heard about this artist when I was watching H2~Kimi to Itahibi, mainly because of Ishihara Satomi, and when I heard the ending song I was really surprised, since most of the Japanese artists that I've heard (and assumed, which is really bad about me >.<;;) have a more "nasal" quality than other Asian artists--his voice was very clear. Unfortunately, I didn't get much information on him, so I looked him on youtube and listened to some of his songs, and....
Wow.
He has what I would call a "Korean" voice--not that I would know, even though I AM a Korean by blood. His voice had a very soothing quality that I got instantly hooked on. When I read that the reason he was in Japan because he didn't succeed in Korea, I wondered just HOW he managed to fail with that kind of voice and face (he is VERY pretty). My friends listened to his songs and their reaction was, like, "EEEEEHHHH???????????" when I told them that he was Korean but went to Japan for his career.
Here is his "Over..." PV, the song that got me hooked on this artist. Enjoy~