Kim Bum Soo

Infobox musical artist

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Name = Kim Bum Soo
Img_size =
Born = birth date and age|1979|1|26
Origin = South Korea
Instrument = singing
Genre = Pop
Occupation = singer
Years_active = 1999 —
URL = [http://www.kimbumsoo.co.kr Official Site]

Kim Bum Soo (김범수) born January 26, 1979, is a South Korean R&B and soul singer (see also K-pop) famous for his smooth vocals and emotive ballads. Particularly, he is noted for the song 보고싶다 (bo go ship da), the title of which means 'I miss you' in English. This song became the theme song of Korean drama 천국의 계단 (Stairway to Heaven).Kim Bum Soo is the first Korean artist to make a mark on the North American music charts, with his song 'Hello Goodbye Hello' making the US Billboard Hot 100 in 2003.

Soo decided upon pursuing a music career at the age of 20, inspired and encouraged after singing with the local church choir throughout his youth.At Seoul Institute of the Arts, [http://www.joongbu.ac.kr/english/ Joongbu University] , he majored in music. Shortly after graduating, Soo attended an audition, where he landed a recording contract with the label 'Team Entertainment'. Subsequently, his debut album was not released for another two years.

Prior to 'bo go ship da', another of Soo's songs, 'Promise', from the album of the same name, had also been used for the popular MBC drama, 'Watch and Watch Again'. (1999) establishing Soo's staple image as a ballad singer. Critic and writer Catherine Chan recals the feeling surrounding the song as a, 'sentimental lovers' favorite', describing how the song 'had all the ingredients - a tender voice, lovely melody and dreamy lyrics.' (source: http://www.koreahkfriendship.org)

Soo's most recent album, 'Remember Kim Bum Soo 5th & So Long...' (2003) was so titled as a reference to the fact that Soo released it right before he was about to start his two-year compulsory military service. This is in accordance with South Korean nationality law.Just prior to beginning his service, Soo had produced the song 오아시스 (Oasis), which was only finally released as a track on his 5th album.The song has a slightly more commercially American R&B feel than the bulk of his music, demonstrating the stylistic growth Soo has experienced over the years.

On Soo's 5th album, he also pays homage to those that have inspired and influenced him on the track, 'Like'. Amongst those he names are Stevie Wonder, Eric Benet, Brian McKnight, Babyface, R Kelly, Mary J. Blige and Lenny Kravitz.He has also incorporated covers of songs by some of these artists in his live concerts. Noticabley Stevie Wonder's 'Lately' and R Kelly 'I Believe I Can Fly'.The first and only of his albums to be produced in the US, 'Remember Kim Bum Soo 5th & So Long...' also references Soo's connection to the Christian faith, with the, gospel inspired, CCM track, 'The One In My Life'. The song clearly alludes back to Soo's childhood church choir days, giving the 'goodbye-and-remember-themed' album a nostalgic sense of 'ending at the beginning'.

Soo continues to do performances in several countries within East Asia, but also in other parts of the world; notably, North America where the popularity of Korean pop culture (drama and music) has skyrocketed within the last decade. Past events have been held in Hawaii, New York and Los Angeles and Boston, as well as in parts of Canada.

Discography

Albums

* 1 - "a promise", 1999
* 2 - "remember", 2000
* 2.5 - "new song & special", 2001
* 3 - "보고싶다", 2002
* 4 - "The 4th Episode", 2004
* 5 - "Remember Kim Bum Soo & So Long", 2006
* 6 - "Sad Inflection", 2008

Websites

* [http://www.kimbumsoo.co.kr Official Site]

References

* [http://people.empas.com/people/info/ki/mb/kimbumsoo/ Kim Bum Soo in empas people]
* [http://www.koreahkfriendship.org]

External links

* [http://www.hawaiiromancefestival.com/ Kim Bum Soo featured at the Waikiki Shell, Hawaii Romance Festival, May 2008]