Johnny Lee's Song Album - Johnny Lee (쟈니리 가요앨범 - 쟈니리) - S2 Ep 10
Johnny Lee's song album front cover
Johnny Lee's debut solo album marked the initial release of the beloved track 'Hot Goodbye', which continues to resonate with middle-aged and older audiences. Released in 1966, the album achieved remarkable commercial success, selling 350,000 copies shortly after its launch. It featured the original composition 'Sanoramyeon', also known as 'Tomorrow the Sun Rises'. The album, subtitled 'A Warm Hello with Both Hands Up', was produced by Shinsegi Records and is classified as a regular album, bearing the catalog number Ga 12134.
Johnny Lee's debut process
Johnny Lee, originally named Lee Young-gil (이영길), was adopted by an American named Lax Musum at the Gwangalli refugee camp in Busan during the Korean War. His adoptive father chose the name Johnny Lee due to the child's resemblance to the well-known American singer Johnny Mathis, recognized for his vibrant vocal style and distinctive accent.
In 1952, Johnny Lee moved to New York with his adoptive father but faced racial discrimination, prompting his return to Busan. By 1958, he joined Show Boat, an ensemble established by Shin Chang-kyeon (신창균), the head of the Balladey Show, where he performed as a singer for the 8th US Army. Aspiring to release an album, he showcased his talent at various venues, including Dansungsa, Daehan Theater, Piccadilly, and Kukje Theater.
In 1964, Asia Records approached him for a recording, leading to his debut with the theme song "Love's Green Light" for the film "Blackmail." Following this initial success, he gained public recognition through three compilation albums. As his songs consistently topped the charts, Shinsegi Records began planning for his first solo album.
Johnny Lee's first solo album, a bestseller in the 1960s
Johnny Lee's debut solo album, titled "Johnny Lee Song Album," was launched by Shinsegi Records in 1966 and marked the introduction of the iconic track "Hot Goodbye." This song has maintained its popularity among the middle-aged and older demographics over the years. Upon its release, the album achieved remarkable commercial success, quickly selling out and reaching a total of 350,000 copies.
The album comprises ten tracks, showcasing the talents of five prominent composers. Seo Young-eun, the elder sibling of comedian Seo Young-chun, contributed five songs, including the titular "Hot Goodbye." Other notable contributions include Lee Bong-jo's movie theme song "Five Minutes Before Curfew," Gil Ok-yoon's "The Sun Rises Tomorrow" and "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah," Hong Hyun-geol's "Are You Leaving Without a Word," and Kim Sung-jun's "Love’s Red Light," which served as the theme for the film "Blackmail."
Notably, the original rendition of "Yeah Yeah Yeah," which later gained fame through Patti Kim's interpretation, and the contentious "Tomorrow the Sun Rises," which faced frequent bans in the history of Korean popular music, were initially part of Gil Ok-yoon's earlier work, "Light and Shadow," prior to their inclusion in this album.
The hit song 'Hot Goodbye'
Following the album's release, a tragic incident occurred in Wolmido, Incheon, where a couple took their own lives after writing the lyrics to "Hot Goodbye." This event garnered significant media attention. The song, which achieved remarkable success, earned Johnny Lee the Eagle Award from "Arirang" magazine, along with several other accolades.
Johnny Lee, who rose to prominence, frequently appeared on Lee Jong-hwan's "Midnight Music Letter," broadcast from the music appreciation venues C'est Si Bon and Dussene. Even today, he becomes emotional when performing "Hot Goodbye," reflecting on his challenging upbringing. Notably, the song that sparked this memory was actually Gil Ok-yoon's "Tomorrow the Sun Rises," which had recently returned from Japan.
Johnny Lee's Album Back Cover
Korean popular music, even its roots are weak
The categorization of certain songs as prohibited by the previous military government, coupled with the public's negative attitudes towards popular music, has significantly harmed the landscape of Korean popular music. Consequently, there have been numerous instances where national anthems have been misrepresented as folk songs, or where the original artists have faded from public memory.
This situation highlights the troubling truth that, despite the global acclaim of Korean popular music as a component of the Korean Wave, its foundational elements remain precariously fragile.
'If You Live' original song 'Tomorrow the Sun Rises'
The song 'Sanoramyeon', previously regarded as a traditional folk piece, is actually a rendition of 'Tomorrow the Sun Rises', originally performed by Johnny Lee. This track gained significant traction among student activists during the 1980s and experienced a resurgence in popularity when Jeon In-kwon, the frontman of Deulgukhwa, covered it.
Composed by Gil Ok-yoon and penned by Kim Moon-eung, 'The Sun Rises Tomorrow' was first introduced to the public through Johnny Lee, a prominent figure in the theater scene. Although overshadowed by the success of 'Hot Goodbye', it received considerable airtime on Dong-A Broadcasting Radio, highlighting its relevance in the musical landscape of the time.
In 1967, shortly after its release, the song faced a broadcasting ban due to its title, which was perceived as pessimistic regarding reality, despite the actual lyrics. The ban stemmed from the peculiar question, “Why doesn’t the sun rise today but tomorrow?” Johnny Lee later reflected on the song's sophisticated nature and lamented its lack of popularity, noting that it had been misrepresented as a folk song by an anonymous author upon his return from the United States.
'Sanoramyeon', a song of hope disguised as a folk song
This song, initially banned from airplay a year post its 1966 release, resurfaced in the early 1980s as 'Sanoramyeon' within a collection of activist songs sung by college students. During a period marked by a struggle for democracy amidst a bleak social landscape, the song's message of hope resonated deeply with the public.
Jeon In-kwon, the lead vocalist of Deulgukhwa, played a pivotal role in reintroducing this song to the public in 1987, two decades after its original debut. His rendition of 'The Sun Rises Tomorrow,' featured in the play “Cheolsu and Mansu,” showcased his remarkable arrangement skills and vocal prowess, further solidifying the song's significance. Numerous artists, including Jang Pil-soon, Kim Jang-hoon, Crying Nut, Shinhwa, Lazybone, and Cherry Filter, have since covered Johnny Lee’s original, transforming it into an anthem of hope.
The song 'Hot Goodbye' gained renewed attention in 2011 when the band Jaurim delivered a compelling performance on MBC's "I am a Singer" competition, followed by a reinterpretation by the rock band Boohwal on KBS's "Immortal Songs" in 2014. Johnny Lee's debut solo album, featuring both 'Hot Goodbye' and 'The Sun Rises Tomorrow,' is regarded as a significant contribution to the music scene of the 1960s.
Included Songs
The album features a collection of songs primarily performed by Johnny Lee (쟈니리). On Side A, the tracklist includes 'Hot Hello,' with lyrics by Baek Young-jin (백영진) and both composition and arrangement by Seo Young-eun (서영은). Following this is 'Miss Kang with Lots of Pings,' also sung by Johnny Lee, with similar credits for lyrics, composition, and arrangement. The song 'The Sun Will Rise Tomorrow' showcases lyrics by Kim Moon-eung (김문응), while Gil Ok-yoon (길옥윤) is responsible for both composition and arrangement. Another notable track is '예이 예이 예이 (Yey Yey Yey),' entirely crafted by Gil Ok-yoon. The side concludes with 'Love Song of the Sea,' featuring lyrics by Kim Ji-na (김지나) and composition and arrangement by Seo Young-eun.
On Side B, the first track, 'Put Both Hands Up,' has lyrics by Lee Cheol-su (이철수), with composition and arrangement again by Seo Young-eun. '5 Minutes Before Curfew' is another contribution from Johnny Lee, with all aspects handled by Lee Bong-jo (이봉조). The song 'Are You Leaving Without Saying Anything?' features lyrics by Jim Yeong-gil (지명길), while composition and arrangement are credited to Hong Hyun-geol (홍현걸). The side continues with 'It's Raining on the Street Trees,' which has lyrics by Cheon Ji Young (천지영) and composition and arrangement by Seo Young-eun. Finally, 'Love Red Light (Blackmail)' rounds out the album, with lyrics by Kim Moon-eung and both composition and arrangement by Kim Sung-jun (김성준).
