Singer wants to be next Eric Clapton
Han Dong-geun’s new single ‘Crazy’ tops major charts
Popular ballad singer Han Dong-geun of Pledis Entertainment topped the five local online charts with his new title track “Crazy” on Monday.
The song “Crazy” ranked No.1 on major charts like Olleh, Monkey 3 Music and Soribada, three days after he released his first studio album “Your Diary.” It his first-length album since he debuted three years ago.
Producer XEPY wrote the title track, attempting new style of ballad by adding synthpop style tune of 90s.
Han tried to express his longing for loving one in “Crazy” as well as his attachment to the music that he has long been sticking to.
“Crazy was one of the songs that XEPY showed along with my last digital single Amazing You,” said Han during the press showcase at Olympus Hall in Samseong-dong, Seoul, last Thursday. “I told him to keep the song for me that I will sing it for my next album. Although it is a tough song to sing, I am very happy to have it as my new title,” said Han.
Han wrote six of 10 tracks in “Your Diary” including jazz music “Anniversary.”
The singer tells he has been hiding them because he was embarrassed to show it to professional producers.
“I don't remember when I started to write songs, but it was definitely before I first appeared in the audition program on TV. Then, when I sang Anniversary at Yoo Hee Yeol's Sketchbook, many people liked it. I guess I got confidence to reveal my own music from then,” added Han.
Yoo Hee Yeol's Sketchbook is a popular TV music show on KBS, hosted by singer-songwriter Yoo Hee-yeol.
Han first appeared in the K-pop scene through the TV audition series “Star Audition: The Great Birth 3” on MBC in 2012. Although he became the winner of season three and released two extended plays (EPs), he was forced one year of hiatus when he failed to hit his digital singles.
He almost gave up his career as musician until he auditioned for the musical “Gone with the Wind” and changed his mind to continue.
“I met a lot of musicians there, who were in not so much different situation from where I was back then. I had to do something. And it was then that I received request from the popular TV show King of Mask Singer,” said Han.
Han instantly rose to stardom with his appealing vocal in the show and his song “Making a New Ending for This Story” was brought back into spotlight in two years. His old song topped the major music charts for long time - winning him Rising Star Award and Best Newcomer Award at Asia Artist Awards and MBC Entertainment Awards, respectively, in 2016.
Han's next digital single “Amazing You” also received big love - giving him EPK Discovery Award and Discovery of the year at Seoul Music Award and Gaon Chart Music Awards, respectively, this year.
“I wish my album does well on the chart but I think I've already made my dream come true by releasing first studio album and that my company is satisfied with it.
“In the long term, I want to become a singer like Eric Clapton. He played rock when he was young, but now he sings folk songs and play jazz. I want to write various songs and try many different music that appeals to me in certain age,” said Han.