Kim Dong Wan - Afterimage
Album Introduction #
The indelible traces of a love that has ended. Kim Dong Wan’s mini-album [TRACE OF EMOTION]
Breaking a two-year hiatus since his 2015 mini-album “W” released at the threshold between autumn and winter, Kim Dong Wan returns with a mini-album [TRACE OF EMOTION] that captures the maddening sorrow of a man after a breakup.
As the title [TRACE OF EMOTION] suggests, this mini-album tells the story of a man’s ’emotional traces’ that must be felt, that cannot help but be felt, even after love has ended. The album consists entirely of authentic ballads that excellently express Kim Dong Wan’s unique color in portraying the endless ‘gloominess’ felt after leaving all happy times behind following a breakup, and the lonely ‘solitary emotions’ among countless feelings. Furthermore, to fully express the texture of these emotions, the album is released in two versions: “GLOOMY” and “SOLITARY,” with both the cover and booklet photographed entirely with film cameras, allowing listeners to fully experience Kim Dong Wan’s unique wistfulness and loneliness interpreted through analog projection.
The title track “Afterimage” (헤어지긴 한 걸까) features music by the hit composer ‘Kim Chang Rak’ team, who has produced works for top idol groups like ‘B.A.P’, ‘AOA’, and ‘Girl’s Day’, along with lyrics by the trusted lyricist ‘Min Yeon Jae.’ Together, they more deeply express the emptiness and sense of loss of a man after a breakup, instantly captivating listeners’ ears. Additionally, the album is filled with tracks like “Hello, Wait” (안녕, 잠시만) and “Going Crazy” (미치도록), which allow listeners to feel even more deeply the emptiness and sense of loss trapped within the lingering traces of emotions felt endlessly after a breakup. This album will approach listeners who want to fall into ‘perfect sadness’ in a particularly special way.
This album, which maximizes not only Kim Dong Wan’s seasoned experience built through diverse activities in singing, musicals, dramas, and variety shows, but also his vocal capabilities cultivated without a single moment of negligence on stage, is sufficient to feel Kim Dong Wan’s outstanding musical maturity more than ever before.
Lyrics #
When I wake up late and skip breakfast I hear you telling me to take care of myself When I sit on the empty sofa and turn on the TV I see you leaning against me
Walking alone on the road I meet you waving your hand As if you’d hug me asking why I came so late Painful memories call out to me
Did we really break up? Wherever I go, memories of you never cease No matter how hard I try to tear them away I’m someone who couldn’t part from you from back then
Sometimes when it rains I worry about you shivering You who used to ask me to hold you tight, saying your fingertips were cold It feels like you’re right in front of me
Did we really break up? Wherever I go, memories of you never cease No matter how hard I try to tear them away I’m someone who couldn’t part from you from back then
Do you know about my days That start with you and end with you?
If I could break up for just one day If I could live without you for just one day Even when I try to forget you for a long time as if to show off Memories that resemble you follow me around Making me cry because I can’t function without you