Kim Chang-wan of the Kim Chang-wan Band captivated the audience with a solo classical guitar performance lasting about an hour.
On the afternoon of the 27th, Kim Chang-wan Band held a press conference at a cultural complex in Jongno-gu, Seoul, to commemorate the release of their single 'Seventy'.
Kim Chang-wan took the stage alone with his classical guitar. He explained, "I thought it would be nice to sing a few songs, so I brought my guitar," adding, "I was debating whether to name the song 'Seventy' or 'Seventy Years Old', but I decided on 'Seventy' to avoid it sounding too much like an old man's story."
He emphasized his concern about the song being perceived as an old man's lament, stating, "While it does contain stories of an elder's regrets, I wanted to highlight how beautiful and precious the times of youth are. I aimed to create a song that makes people realize the value of their own time."
Reflecting on the theme of time, Kim Chang-wan began performing Sanulrim's iconic song 'Youth'. After finishing, he mentioned, "I found the sheet music on February 22, 2022, and have been playing it countless times until this morning. Now, I'll perform 'Moonlight' for you."
Kim Chang-wan shared, "While the song is often associated with tales of love's pain, I focus on the beauty of the music itself. This piece remains timeless and continues to inspire artistic passion," as he began playing Beethoven's 'Moonlight Sonata' on his classical guitar. He then sang Sanulrim's 'Baeghong' and performed Erik Satie's 'Gymnopédies'. The performance continued with his recent works 'Time', 'Old Man's Bench', 'A Day', and 'Seventy'.
The entire performance was delivered solely with Kim Chang-wan's classical guitar and his sincere voice, evoking deep emotions. His live rendition of 'Time', which began with a narration, highlighted his seasoned and comforting voice.
'Seventy' marks Kim Chang-wan Band's first new single in a decade since 'Time' in 2016. The album includes the title track 'Seventy' and 'I Love You'. 'Seventy' captures Kim Chang-wan's insights and reflections as he surpasses seventy, featuring a dark rock vibe with electric guitar accompaniment and a soothing voice. 'I Love You' embodies the familiar warmth of Sanulrim, expressing pure and joyful emotions with children.
Meanwhile, Kim Chang-wan Band's single 'Seventy' will be released on various music streaming sites at 6 PM on the 27th.
Reported by Min-kyung Lee, Ten Asia 2min_ror@tenasia.co.kr