When hit songs are performed on stage, the efforts made by the singers usually receive the most attention. However, there are many of those behind the stage in addition to the singers that contribute to such successful music with constant hard work. Lyricist Yunkyung Cho, a Graduate of the Department of Korean Language and Literature of Hanyang University has been writing lyrics since 2002 for K-POP that have been maintaining popularity for years, including “Sherlock,” “Loveshot,” “Mr Mr,” “Lotto,” and “Rookie.”
- Can you introduce yourself briefly?
Hello, I am Yunkyung Cho and I am working as a K-POP lyricist. I have recently gotten interested in collecting photo cards and just today, I bought some of them through Twitter for the first time in my life. Juniors, I am in my 30s and I still have so many things that I am new at! If you are hesitating to try something new because you are shy, thinking that you are too old for it, just give it a try. Shyness won’t last long, but your experience will for a pretty long time.
- What is your favorite song among the songs you have worked on so far? Is there any particular reason?
I actually answer this question differently every time I receive it, and for today, I would like to say Magic Carpet Ride by NCT 127. One of the reasons is because it’s dawn at the moment I’m answering this, so I am a bit sentimental. I also recommend this song in hopes of going to concerts again like the times before COVID-19 as soon as the situations get better. Other than these, the vocal line of this song is amazing – the lyrics consist of the motif of the story Aladdin, and the members of the group expressed the soft, dreamlike sense embedded in the lyrics a thousand times more beautifully and firmly with their magnificent voice. I hope the public gets to know from this song that NCT members are of high level not only in performance but also in vocals.
- Where do you usually find ideas for lyrics?
I mostly write down words or emotions that come to my mind in my everyday life. I do not usually do something intentionally under pressure; I feel that once I become too obsessed with something, that whole process becomes boring. The funny thing is that all the memos I make aren’t very much used in my actual work. It is difficult to get the materials ready in advance that can mingle with the keywords of the new songs I receive. But the reason why such pre-work is meaningful is that it always keeps the car engine running.
- What do you think is most important when writing lyrics?
I absolutely think it’s diligence. If you can die happy after writing just one masterpiece that comes out once in a hundred years, it is not a problem investing all your competence simply in “inspiration.” However, if this becomes a “job,” which requires us to make this work as one of my daily routines while blending myself in it, submitting the work that is currently on your list is surely more necessary than being swayed by your feelings.