Park Hyo Shin(박효신) - I am A Dreamer Album Thoughts(K-music)

Track List:
01. Home 
02. Shine your light
03. Wonderland
04. Beautiful Tomorrow 
05. The Dreamer (I am A Dreamer)
06. 야생화
07. HAPPY TOGETHER
08. Li-La (리라)
09. 숨
10. I`m your friend
11. 꿈


  Park Hyo Shin has been releasing digital singles for the last few years. He seemed to have fallen under the radar while still having his title of being one of Korea's legendary singers. Hyo Shin is one of the few solo singers that has landed hit after hit in the past. Most recent fans of kpop only know his singles released since 2014 with "야생화" being the most well known. I'll even admit that I didn't pay him much attention to him until 2014 when he started releasing singles again. Now, after an expired contract with his record label and resigning with a new label, Park Hyo Shin returned to the music scene with his seventh album, "I am A Dreamer". 


  The album contains four previously released singles, "Shine Your Light", "야생화"( Wildflower), "Happy Together", and "숨"(Breath). Wildflower was the single that single handedly revived Hyo Shin's career causing buzz online in Korea and abroad. The track is a simple piano ballad undertone with violins consisting of beautiful lyrics. What stands out the most about this song is the way its sung with such vocal power that let everyone know who Park Hyo Shin is. "Shine Your Light" is the follow up single to Wildflower that got the cold shoulder by most listeners because of comparisons. Think sixties RnB and a mellow chorus sung by backup singers with Hyo Shin. The overal result is not as good as Wildflower but nether less a great addition to his discography. "Happy Together" is the sister track to "Shine Your Light" only difference being a more upbeat tempo. "Breath" could be called the introduction for listeners to get an idea of what "I am A Dreamer" would sound like. The track isn't a big attention grabber to me because it doesn't make itself different from other ballads that are out already. Besides Hyo Shin's slaying all life with vocals. "I am A Dreamer" features Park Hyo Shin stripped down raw. During these times you experience just an acoustic guitar accompanied by piano then Hyo Shin singing with unshakable clarity. I'm a huge fan of this new acoustic rock style that tracks like "Home" bring to the album. Not only are these songs a breath of fresh air but they stopped the album from being too secular with ballads. You would think that he would go the ballad only route like most male ballad singers but instead he pulls out the old school funk. "LiLa"  is the perfect blend of old RnB that showcases a soulfulness that might surprise listeners. I can imagine him in the studio while recording the album really moving his body while singing those vocal runs. "Wonderland" will also get the body in the grove also. Park Hyo Shin gets a pat on the back from me foe making an album that was a good mixture of ballads, soul, and acoustic rock while retaining the balance of all three genres. 

  Park Hyo Shin seems like a person who listens to many genre's of music. I can definitely hear the influence from African American singers such as Steve Wonder and Earth Wind and Fire. He also adds a lot of English phrases into his lyrics which is a great style choice if you know what your doing. Both languages go together well enough. The English lyrics don't feel forced to be there either like some other Korean songs. Vocals are soft, sensual, salty, and powerful. He's like a singer that has a lot to get out after being away for a long time. I'm sorry if my pronouns are the same ones you use for food.... I'm actually really hungry as I type this. A raspy quality comes out when he belts out high notes but he's a jack of all trades. With a voice that can tear down a house, this guy can jump back and forth from one music style to another fitting in each one perfectly. Maybe one day I will get the chance to see him in concert.


   I'm happy that Park Hyo Shin didn't let his hit song "Wildflower" defined what kind of album he would create. Ballads are on the album but don't TAKE OVER the album. None can take another boring ballad album where all the songs are so alike that you think your listening to a long medley track. Never let popularity water down your artistry. I would rather listen to a song produce with emotions from your heart in mind over how much the song is going to sell. Of course, production is important too. This is a problem I never have with Park Hyo Shin's music though.