Chen (singer)

Kim Jong-dae (born September 21, 1992), better known by his stage name, Chen, is a South Korean singer and songwriter. He debuted in 2012 as a member of the South Korean-Chinese boy band Exo and its subgroup Exo-M, and has since further participated in SM Entertainment's projects Exo-CBX and SM the Ballad. He is predominantly known for his role as the main vocalist of Exo. Apart from his group's activities, Chen has also recorded songs for various television dramas, most notably "Best Luck" for It's Okay, That's Love (2014) and "Everytime" for Descendants of the Sun (2016).

Chen
김종대
Chen at April, and a Flower showcase in April 2019
Born
Kim Jong-dae

(1992-09-21) September 21, 1992
Daejeon, South Korea
Education
Occupation
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Children1
Musical career
Genres
InstrumentsVocals
Years active2011–present
Labels
Associated acts
Websitechen.smtown.com
Korean name
Hangul
김종대
Hanja
Revised RomanizationGim Jong-dae
McCune–ReischauerKim Chongtae
Stage name
Hangul
Revised RomanizationChen
McCune–ReischauerCh'en
Websitechen.smtown.com
Signature

In 2019, Chen made his solo debut with the extended play April, and a Flower, which peaked at number two on South Korea's Gaon Album Chart and spawned the hit single "Beautiful Goodbye". Continuing his success, his second extended play Dear My Dear was released later the same year and charted at number one upon release.

Career

2011–2014: Career beginnings

Chen became a trainee through SM Entertainment's Casting System in 2011 when he was 19 years old. On December 29, 2011, he was formally introduced as the fourth member of Exo. He made his first public appearance as an Exo member alongside Luhan, Tao, and Kai at the 2011 SBS Gayo Daejeon.[1]

In 2014, Chen joined the ballad group SM the Ballad, initially formed by SM Entertainment in 2010. On the group's second album Breath, he sang the Chinese version of the lead single "Breath" with Zhang Liyin. He also sang a duet with f(x)'s Krystal titled "When I Was... When U Were...", and "A Day Without You" with Shinee's Jonghyun. Chen performed his duets with Krystal and Jonghyun live at the SM the Ballad Joint Recital on February 12.[2]

In July 2014, Chen released his first solo song since debut titled "The Best Luck" as an original soundtrack for the SBS drama It's Okay, That's Love, which stars his fellow Exo member D.O..[3][4] "The Best Luck" was awarded the "Best OST by a Male Artist" and "Best OST Song" at the 5th So-Loved Awards and the 16th Seoul International Youth Film Festival respectively. Chen was also invited as a special performer at the 3rd APAN Star Awards on November 11, 2014, where he performed the track live.[5]

2015–2018: Solo activities and Exo-CBX

In June 2015, Chen co-wrote the lyrics for "Promise," a song from the reissued edition of Exo's second studio album Exodus, along with fellow members Chanyeol and Lay. In August 2015, he made his musical theatre debut playing the role of Benny in the SM C&C production In the Heights.[6] He also participated in and became the runner-up in the eleventh round of the music television show King of Mask Singer under the alias "Legendary Guitar Man".[7]

In January 2016, Chen performed John Lennon's song "Imagine" with world-renowned pianist Steve Barakatt at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, as part of UNICEF's "Imagine Project."[8] In February 2016, Chen and South Korean singer Punch released a duet titled "Everytime" as a soundtrack for the KBS drama Descendants of the Sun.[9] The song debuted at number one on Gaon's weekly digital chart.[10]

Chen at Melon Music Awards in 2016

In April 2016, Chen and South Korean rapper Heize released "Lil' Something", a song produced by Vibe member Ryu Jae-hyun, as the ninth weekly single of SM Entertainment's Station music project.[11] In August 2016, Chen collaborated with fellow Exo members Xiumin and Baekhyun on an original soundtrack titled "For You" for the SBS drama Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo.[12] In October 2016, he collaborated with DJ Alesso on another song for the Station project titled "Years".[13][14] Later in October, together with Baekhyun and Xiumin, Chen became a member of Exo's first sub unit Exo-CBX. The group made their debut with the extended play Hey Mama!.[15]

In January 2017, Chen collaborated with Dynamic Duo in a song titled "Nosedive", becoming the first artist to be featured in the group's collaboration project "Mixxxture".[16] The song reached number two on the Gaon Digital Chart.

In February 2017, he released an original soundtrack titled "I'm Not Okay" for the MBC drama Missing 9 in which his fellow Exo member Chanyeol played a supporting role.[17]

Chen performing at the Lotte Family Concert in 2018

In July 2017, it was revealed that Chen participated in co-writing the lyrics for "Touch It" and "Ko Ko Bop", two songs from Exo's fourth studio album, The War. In November 2017, Chen collaborated with South Korean singer 10cm on a song titled "Bye Babe" for the second season of SM Entertainment's station project.[18] In December 2017, Chen wrote the lyrics for "Lights Out" for Exo's EP Universe, which he performed alongside fellow members Suho, Baekhyun, and D.O..

On October 16, 2018, Chen released an original soundtrack titled "Cherry Blossom Love Song" for the drama 100 Days My Prince, in which his fellow Exo member D.O. played the lead role.[19] He also revealed that he and Chanyeol had participated in writing lyrics for "Love Shot", the title track from the reissued edition of Exo's fifth studio album, Don't Mess Up My Tempo.[20]

2019–present: Solo debut

On February 7, 2019, Chen released an original soundtrack titled "Make It Count" for the drama Touch Your Heart.[21]

On March 8, 2019, SM Entertainment confirmed that Chen was preparing for his first solo album, which was set to be released in April.[22] Named April, and a Flower and consisting of six songs,[23] the album was released on April 1 with the title song "Beautiful Goodbye"[24] On August 29, it was reported that Chen will make his solo comeback in early October.[25] His second mini-album, Dear My Dear was released on October 1 and consisted of six songs with title track Shall We?.[26] Chen's "Dear My Dear" debuted at No. 1 on the physical album chart and iTunes top album charts in a total of 36 different countries.[27][28]

Personal life

Chen was born on September 21, 1992, in Daejeon and grew up in the Jeongwang-dong neighborhood of Siheung.[29][30] He was accepted into the advertisement media MBA program at Hanyang Cyber University in 2017.[31]

On January 13, 2020, Chen announced his upcoming marriage to a non-celebrity, with a private ceremony attended by both their families. It was also announced that Chen's fiancée was pregnant.[32] Their first child, a daughter, was born on April 29, 2020.[33]

Discography

Extended plays

Filmography

Dramas

Title Year Network Role Notes
Exo Next Door 2015 Naver TV Cast Chen Web drama; minor role

Variety shows

Title Year Network Role Notes
King of Mask Singer 2015 MBC Contestant Episodes 21 and 22; Stage Name : Legendary Guitarman
Travel without Manager 2016 Cookat TV Main cast Episodes 1-8

Music videos

Title Year Ref.
"Dear My Family" (as part of SM Town) 2012 [34]
"The Best Luck" 2014 [35]
"Everytime (with Punch) 2016 [36]
"Lil' Something (with Vibe and Heize) [37]
"Beautiful Accident" (with Suho) [38]
"Imagine" (as part of UNICEF) [39]
"Bye Babe" (with 10cm) 2017 [40]
"Dear My Family (Live Concert Ver.)" (as part of SM Town) [41]
"Beautiful Goodbye" 2019 [42]
"Flower" [43]
"May We Bye" (with Lim Han Byul) [44]
"Shall We?" [45]
Guest appearances
"No.1" (remake; BoA) 2014 [46]

Theater

Title Year Role Notes
In the Heights 2015 Benny Main Role

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominated work Result
2014 16th Seoul International Youth Film Festival[47] Best OST by a Male Artist The Best Luck Won
2017 19th Mnet Asian Music Awards[48] Best Collaboration with Dynamic Duo Nosedive Won
Qoo10 Song of The Year Nominated
9th Melon Music Awards[49] Best Rap/Hip Hop Award with Dynamic Duo Won
2018 7th Gaon Chart Music Awards Song of the Year – January Nominated
2019 2nd Genie Music Awards Male Solo Artist Chen Nominated
Vocal Artist Nominated
Annual Fresh Asia Music Awards[50] TOP 10 Asia-Pacific Gold Song of the Year Make It Count Won
11th Melon Music Awards Top 10 Artists Chen Nominated
Album of the Year April, and a Flower Nominated
21st Mnet Asian Music Awards[51] Best Vocal Performance – Solo Beautiful Goodbye Nominated
Song of the Year Nominated
34th Golden Disc Awards[52] Digital Bonsang Nominated
Disc Bonsang April, and a Flower Nominated
29th Seoul Music Awards[53] Popularity Award Chen Nominated
Hallyu Special Award Nominated
Bonsang Award Nominated
Daesang Award Nominated
2020 Korea First Brand Awards[54] Male Vocalist Won
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References

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