Sohyang

Kim So-hyang (Korean: 김소향, born April 5, 1978), credited as Sohyang, is a South Korean singer known for her controlled, skillful, and developed voice who has been dubbed by the international media as the "Korean Mariah Carey".[1] According to Sohyang, her goal is to use her voice to comfort people who are going through difficult times.[2] Sohyang is also an author of fiction, who has published multiple fantasy novels since 2013,[1] the most well-known of them being Crystal Castle and Anaxion.[1]

Kim Sohyang
소향
김소향
Sohyang in 2018
Background information
Birth nameKim So-hyang
Also known asSohyang
Born (1978-04-05) April 5, 1978
Gwangju, South Jeolla Province, South Korea
GenresCCM, gospel, R&B
Occupation(s)Singer, author
InstrumentsVocals (lyric soprano), guitar
Years active1996–present
Associated actsPOS, Michael Bolton, JinJoo Lee, David Foster, Brian McKnight, Kirk Franklin
Websitecafé.daum.net/sohyang

Life and career

Career

Sohyang made her debut in 1996 with the song "Mr."(선생님). She was practicing in a recording studio and composer Jo Hwan-gon heard her singing and asked her to record a song with him. After being tested by him, Sohyang released her first single and then went on a tour with Jo Hwan-gon and participated in many concerts and musical performances.[3] She joined her husband's family band "POS" and released several CCM albums. Sohyang became one of the most popular and influencing CCM singers of Korea. She held concerts in around 50 countries until now.[4] In 2014, she became the first South Korean artist to sing the American national anthem at an NBA game.[5] She achieved further fame when she sang with Kirk Franklin.[6]

Since 2012, Sohyang has participated multiple times on various television music competition programs Immortal Songs 2, King of Mask Singer, and I Am a Singer 2, winning twice on Immortal Songs 2 with songs "Lean on Me" and "Bridge over Troubled Water", and setting up a new record on King of Mask Singer.

After winning the Michael Bolton special episode on Immortal Songs 2 with a score of 442 points (fifth-highest ever), Michael Bolton—who described Sohyang as a "virtuoso"[7][8]—asked Sohyang to tour South Korea with him, and they performed many concerts together throughout the country.[9] Furthermore, her performance of "Lean on Me" won an award at the 2015 Banff World Media Festival.[10]

In 2016 Sohyang was awarded the Grand Prize of the Seoul Success Award in the Culture category.[11][12] In Disney's movie Moana, Sohyang provided the singing voice of the protagonist in the Korean-dubbed version.[13][14] Sohyang also gives lectures about singing and vocal technique at Baekseok University in Cheonan City.[15]

In the first half of 2017, Sohyang appeared on MBC's King of Mask Singer as "Spirited Lady" for the show's 2nd anniversary and became the winner six consecutive times (Generation 53-58), making her the female singer with the highest number of consecutive wins ever achieved to that time (second highest overall) before losing her crown in July 2017 and departing from the show after appearing for 14 consecutive weeks.[16] Sohyang sang the main OST, "Wind Song" (바람의 노래), which is a remake of Cho Yong-pil's original song, for the Drama Confession Couple (고백부부). This OST was at No. 1 on the charts on Melon (online music service) for several weeks and additionally won the 1st place on Music Bank on November 24 in 2017.[17] She was given a special stage on which to perform the main OST "Wind Song" at the KBS Drama Awards on the last day of 2017.[18] Sohyang performed at the MBC Entertainment Awards 2017 and was awarded the Special Prize in the Music Show category for her participation in King of Mask Singer.[19][20] She became the King of the show with the highest number of consecutive wins ever achieved as a female contestant.

During the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, ice dancer Yura Min and Alexander Gamelin performed to Sohyang's rendition of "Arirang Alone".[21] Furthermore, during the opening ceremony of the 2018 Winter Paralympics in Pyeongchang Sohyang performed, together with Sumi Jo, the song "Here as One", which they both recorded specifically for this occasion.[22]

Personal life

Sohyang is a devout Christian. She first began singing in her local community, with no aspirations of pursuing a career as a professional singer.[1] Sohyang's parents divorced when she was in her third year of high school. Due to this, Sohyang experienced great financial difficulties, and, according to her, was often very sad as a result. She has said that she used to listen to artists Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, and Celine Dion often, whose music helped her to get through these difficult times.[23] In 2017 she was quoted as having said that her favorite album is still Mariah Carey's Music Box.[24][25] In 1998, at the age of twenty, Sohyang married Kim Hee-jun, the drummer of her band POS. Soon afterwards she was diagnosed with uterine cancer; due to the early detection, she was able to survive the cancer, but was rendered infertile.[2][26] Her sister-in-law is the guitarist JinJoo Lee from DNCE.[27][28]

Discography

POS albums
Album title Album details
소향 (POS)
  • Released: 1999
  • Label: 정규 Studio
  • Format: CD

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Under The Wing (ko. 주 날개 아래)"POS (포스)4:17
2."Whisper (ko. 속삭임)"POS (포스)4:20
3."I Swear"POS (포스)4:34
4."I Love Him (ko. 그를 사랑해)"POS (포스)3:56
5."The Lord Protects You (ko. 주가 널 지키시는 건)"POS (포스)4:28
6."Understanding (ko. 이해)"POS (포스)4:19
7."Into Lord's Desert (ko. 주의 광야로)"POS (포스)4:06
8."Truly (ko. 진짜야)"POS (포스)3:32
9."Light (ko. 빛)"POS (포스)4:40
10."Towards The Gates of Heaven (ko. 천성을 향해 가는 성도들아)"POS (포스)6:00
Total length:42:52


Album title Album details
Letter to the Sky
  • Released: 2001
  • Label: 정규 Studio
  • Format: CD

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Shelter (ko. 피난처)"POS (포스)4:49
2."Letter to the Sky"POS (포스)4:57
3."Calling"POS (포스)4:11
4."Upon This Rock (ko. 반석위에)"POS (포스)5:04
5."Jesus Loves Me (ko. 예수 사랑하심은)"POS (포스)5:14
6."Hold On"POS (포스)4:14
7."Tears (ko. 눈물)"POS (포스)5:02
8."Confession (ko. 고백)"POS (포스)4:11
9."Deliver (ko. 전하리)"POS (포스)4:33
10."Oath (ko. 맹세)"POS (포스)4:13
11."A Gift of Love (ko. 사랑의 선물)"POS (포스)3:43
12."Waiting (ko. 기다림)"POS (포스)4:04
13."Yearning (ko. 그리움)"POS (포스)4:10
14."O Holy Night"Adolphe Adam4:42
15."Shelter MR (ko. 피난처 (MR))"POS (포스)4:46
Total length:65:53


Album title Album details
Butterfly
  • Released: 2004
  • Label: June Music
  • Format: CD

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Butterfly (ko. 나비)"POS (포스)4:53
2."Wings (ko. 날개)"POS (포스)3:48
3."A Passionate Desire (ko. 열방의 소망)"POS (포스)4:27
4."Until The Lord Returns (ko. 주님 다시 오실 때까지)"POS (포스)4:18
5."You in Heaven (ko. 천국에서 그댈)"POS (포스)3:52
6."Light"POS (포스)4:07
7."Rose (ko. 장미)"POS (포스)4:46
8."I Love You (ko. 널 사랑하는 걸)"POS (포스)3:52
9."Heaven"POS (포스)3:34
10."I’m Always With You"POS (포스)3:25
11."You (ko. 난 널)"POS (포스)4:27
12."Butterfly (Inst.) (ko. 나비 (Inst.))"POS (포스)4:53
13."A Passionate Desire (Inst.) (ko. 열방의 소망 (Inst.))"POS (포스)4:24
Total length:51:66


Album title Album details
Dream
  • Released: 2007
  • Label: CCM Sky
  • Format: CD

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Rainbow (ko. 무지개)"POS (포스)3:18
2."Dream (ko. 꿈)"POS (포스)3:56
3."Look at the Sky (ko. 하늘을 봐요)"POS (포스)3:55
4."Hallelujah (ko. 할렐루야)"POS (포스)4:09
5."I Love You (ko. 사랑할께요)"POS (포스)5:11
6."Waiting (ko. 기다리고)"POS (포스)3:29
7."Love and Pain (ko. 사랑하고 아파하고)"POS (포스)4:22
8."YOU"POS (포스)3:56
9."Where You Are (ko. 그대있는 곳에)"POS (포스)3:24
10."You Raise Me Up"Secret Garden3:59
11."Hosea (ko. 호세아)"POS (포스)3:35
12."Dream (Inst.) (ko. 꿈 (Inst.))"POS (포스)3:56
13."Hallelujah (Inst.) (ko. 할렐루야 (Inst.))"POS (포스)4:05
Total length:48:45


Album title Album details
Story
  • Released: 2009
  • Label: Judy's Fashion
  • Format: CD

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."My Lord (Psalms 139) (ko. 내 하나님 (시편 139편))"POS (포스)4:25
2."Eternal Friend (ko. 영원한 친구)"POS (포스)4:09
3."Thorn Tree (ko. 가시나무)"POS (포스)4:31
4."Stay With Me"POS (포스)3:06
5."Are You Too Far? (ko. 너무 멀리 왔나요)"POS (포스)4:43
6."Story (ko. 이야기)"POS (포스)4:06
7."To Where You Are (ko. 그대 있는 곳 까지)"POS (포스)3:58
8."Good Enough"POS (포스)3:25
9."Grown Up"POS (포스)3:38
10."I Miss (ko. 그리워)"POS (포스)4:14
11."Emmanuel"POS (포스)4:26
12."Story"POS (포스)4:06
13."Miss You Now"POS (포스)4:14
14."Dream"POS (포스)3:56
Total length:54:57

Filmography

Variety shows
Year Title Network Notes
2012I Am a Singer 2MBCContestant, 3rd place
2014–2016, 2018Immortal Songs 2KBS2Contestant, 6 Episodes, 2 Final wins
2017King of Mask SingerMBCSpirited Lady, Episodes 105–118, 6 wins
2018You Hee-yeol's SketchbookKBS2Guest, Episode 406
2020Begin AgainJTBCCast member, Season 4, Episode 6-10

Sohyang: I Am a Singer 2 song and rank list
MonthRoundSongOriginal ArtistResult
JulyGroup B "I Have Nothing"Whitney HoustonRank 1
Singer of July "In the Flower Garden" (꽃밭에서)Jung Hoon HeeRank 3
AugustGroup A "Running to the Sky" (하늘을 달리다)Lee JuckRank 1
Singer of August "Never Ending Story"BoohwalRank 1 / Singer of August
SeptemberSinger of September "Beauty and the Beast", duet with Park Wan-kyuCeline DionSpecial Stage
Super DecemberOpening "Dream" (꿈)Sohyang - POSRank 2
Week 1 "Where Are You" (그대는 어디에)Yim Jae-beomRank 2
Week 2 "As I Live" (살다가)SG WannabeRank 2
Week 3 "I Always Miss You" (나 항상 그대를)Lee Sun-heeRank 3
Week 4 "For Thousands Days" (천일동안), duet with The OneLee Seung-hwanRank 2
"Fate" (인연)Lee Sun-heeRank 1
Semi-finals "O Holy Night"Adolphe Charles AdamRank 2
"It's Only My World" (그것만이 내 세상)Deulgukhwa3. Rank / Drop out

Sohyang achieved the highest average rank of every contestant on I Am a Singer 2 ever.[29] Furthermore, she never placed outside of the Top 3 during the whole time she was present in the show.

Records and statistics
Rank 1Rank 2Rank 3Average Rank
4 Times5 Times3 Times1,9 (highest ever)

Sohyang: Immortal Songs 2 episodes list
Main article: Immortal Songs: Singing the Legend

(If the number of rounds won is written in bold, this means that she won the most rounds in that episode.)

DateEpisode TitleEpisode No.SongOrderResult
October 18, 2014 Michael Bolton SpecialEp.169"Lean on Me"7/7442 Votes, 1 Round won, Final Win
February 21, 2015 Traditional Folk Songs SpecialEp.187"Arirang Alone" (홀로 아리랑)1/7411 Votes, 1 Round won
May 9, 2015 English Pop Songs SpecialEp.198"Bridge over Troubled Water"4/7416 Votes, 4 Rounds won, Final Win
December 26, 2015 The Immortal Big Match SpecialEp.231"Everyone" (여러분)4/7Votes unknown, 0 Rounds won
July 23, 2016 Summer Story With Friends SpecialEp.261"Childish Adult" (어른 아이) ft. JK Kim Dong-wook1/7Votes unknown, 0 Rounds won
May 12, 2018 Shane Filan SpecialEp.354"You Raise Me Up"3/6414 Votes, 2 Rounds won

King of Mask Singer song list
Main article: List of King of Mask Singer episodes (2017)
Generation #Episode #Round #SongOpponentResult (Score)Notes
531051 "I Miss You" (보고 싶다; Kim Bum-soo)MinzyWin (58:41)Advanced to the second round
1062 "Atlantis Princess" (아틀란티스 소녀; BoA)Lee Sang-wooWin (60:39)Advanced to the third round
3 "Dear Love" (사랑아; The One)Bae In-hyuk (Romantic Punch)Win (74:25)Advanced to the final round
Final Voting based on the first three songsLee Hae-ri of DavichiWin (58:41)Mask Queen 1st time
54108 "Do You Know" (아시나요; Jo Sung-mo)Park Seon-jooWin (66:33)Mask Queen 2nd time
55110 "Hug Me" (안아줘; Jung Joon-il)Lee Se-jun (Yurisangja)Win (77:22)Mask Queen 3rd time
56112 "Mona Lisa" (모나리자; Cho Yong-pil)Hwang Chi-yeulWin (67:32)Mask Queen 4th time
57114 "Breathe" (한숨; Lee Hi)Park Hye-naWin (76:23)Mask Queen 5th time
58116 "Home" (Park Hyo-shin)John ParkWin (74:25)Mask Queen 6th time
59118 "Day Day" (Bewhy)Johan KimLose (43:56)Drop out

Records and statistics
Most Wins (Females)Most WinsAverage Score
2nd rank3rd rank66 of 99 Votes
former 1st rankformer 2nd rank

Sohyang was the first female singer to ever achieve 6 consecutive victories at that time and therefore set a new record, which was later broken by Son Seung-yeon ("The East Invincibility"). Sohyang received an average of 65.96 votes out of 99 every round, which was ranked in Top 10 of highest average scores of all Mask Kings and Top 3 highest average score of all female Mask Kings for a period of time.

Awards
YearAwardsCategoryNominated workResultRef.
20168th Seoul Success AwardsCulture Grand PrizeN/AWon[11][12]
2017MBC Entertainment AwardsSpecial Award in Music ShowKing of Mask SingerWon[30][31]
2019Ten Korean WinnersSingerHerselfWon[32]

KBS's Music Bank
YearDateSongAlbumRef.
2017November 24Wind Song (바람의 노래)Confession Couple (Original Television Soundtrack), Pt. 2 - Single
gollark: Release apiforms.
gollark: This is incorrect. Apioforms originated from somewhere else and may predate emergence of heavserver in this universe.
gollark: Hi oreole!
gollark: ++help
gollark: Oh, it's just that, huh.

References
  1. Hong Dam-young (July 4, 2017). "[Herald Interview] Gospel singer Sohyang of 'King of Masked Singer' breaks out of shell". The Korean Herald. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
  2. ""I Am a Singer 2" Sohyang is a Cancer Survivor". July 8, 2012. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
  3. CCM 디바 소향 "스무살에 걸린 자궁암, 기도로 이겨냈죠" [CCM Diva "It was a 20 years old uterine cancer"]. August 8, 2007. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
  4. "(Youtube) [CC] Sohyang talks about Dream and Love / CGNTV "Healing You" 2014.2.16".
  5. 소향 - 미국 국가 열창 NBA 경기에서. YouTube. March 29, 2014. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
  6. "SoHyang(소향) - Lean on Me(with Kirk Franklin)". YouTube. November 2, 2014. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
  7. "Immortal Songs 2 | 불후의 명곡 2: Michael Bolton Special (2014.11.08)". YouTube. November 8, 2014. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
  8. "Michael Bolton amazed by Korean singer's performance". Korean Times. October 20, 2014. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
  9. "소향(Sohyang) - Lean on Me (2014.11.22. 올림픽 체조경기장 Michael Bolton Conert in Seoul 앵콜송)". YouTube. November 24, 2014. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
  10. "KBS Programs Honored at Banff Media Festival". June 9, 2015. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
  11. "제8회 2016 서울 석세스 대상". Seoul Shinmun STV (in Korean). Retrieved July 13, 2018.
  12. Park Je-cheol (November 29, 2016). "국악예술단 '고창'…2016 서울 석세스 국악 대상 수상". News1 Korea (in Korean). Retrieved July 13, 2018.
  13. "Moana". Charguigou. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
  14. "YESASIA: Moana OST (Mark Mancina) (Korean Version) CD". www.yesasia.com. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
  15. "소향 (Sohyang) 백석예술 대학교 (Special lecture in Baekseok Art College Full Version) 특강 풀영상 2016/10/26" (in Korean). YouTube. December 27, 2017.
  16. Im Joo-hyun (July 2, 2017). "[★밤TView]'복면가왕' 흥부자댁은 소향..新가왕 MC햄버거". Star News (in Korean). Retrieved May 28, 2018.
  17. "소향, '고백부부' OST 참여…조용필 '바람의노래' 리메이크". The Chosun Ilbo. October 18, 2017. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
  18. "소향, 'MBC 연예대상-KBS 연기대상' 특별 축하무대 참여". December 28, 2017. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
  19. "2017 MBC Entertainment Awards Sohyang - Atlantis Princess". MBC Entertainment (in Korean). YouTube. December 29, 2017. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
  20. "Winners of the 2017 MBC Entertainment Awards". Soompi. December 29, 2017. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
  21. "Korea's ice dancers hail from distant shores". December 26, 2017. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
  22. Hong Dam-young (March 8, 2018). "Soprano Sumi Jo, gospel singer Sohyang to perform at Winter Paralympics opening". Korean Herald. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
  23. 소향 “부모님 이혼, 자궁암 투병..노래로 이겨냈죠” [My parents divorced, I had a uterine cancer ... I got through the song.] (in Korean). July 29, 2012. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
  24. "SoHyang praises Mariah Carey, sings Hero and explains why Hero is her jam (LEGENDAS PT)". Thi Hills Music. YouTube. June 22, 2017. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
  25. "[Vietsub] 소향 Sohyang - Star English Talk Fullshow (2009)" (in Korean). YouTube. August 10, 2017. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
  26. "'암 수술' 소향, 아픔견디지 못해 결국…충격!" (in Korean). December 30, 2012. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
  27. "YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  28. "美 록밴드 'DNCE' 이진주 "코리안 파워 포에버!"" (in Korean). May 18, 2016. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
  29. "I Am A Singer 2: Super December Top 4". December 2, 2013. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
  30. Ha Soo-jeong (December 29, 2017). "[MBC 연예대상 종합] 전현무 생애 첫 대상-올해의예능상 '나혼자산다'". OSEN (in Korean). Retrieved July 13, 2018.
  31. Lee Eun-jin (December 29, 2017). "[2017 MBC 연예대상]전현무, 생애 첫 대상… '나 혼자 산다' 8관왕 (종합)". TenAsia (in Korean). Retrieved July 13, 2018.
  32. "'제8회 도전한국인 10인 대상 시상식' 3월 16일 국회서개최". m.kns.tv. February 24, 2019. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
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