Yu Huiyeol's Sketchbook (You Hee-yeol's Sketchbook / 유희열의 스케치북)

Hello. It's nice to meet you. Welcome to Sketchbook, everyone.

I'm Yu Hui Yeol.

These days, we call those that are talented, "legendary".

Those who look good in person have legendary looks,

and the same goes for those like me with broad shoulders.

We just add the word "legendary".

Those with sweet voices that mesmerises and enchants us...

to want to hear more from them are called legendary as well.

The reason I'm saying this is because...

everyone here is very lucky today.

The artists you'll be hearing from are all known to have great voices.

So let's me introduce you to today's first artist.

Her voice makes every song sound warm and cozy.

She's a relatively young artist,

but her voice is tender, much like a mother's embrace.

That's the power she possesses.

So here she is.

The main vocalist of Apink...

is here today as a solo artist. Please welcome Jeong Eun Ji.

Okay, here she is. Please welcome Jeong Eun Ji.

Hello, I'm Jeong Eun Ji. Nice to meet you.

- Isn't she pretty? - Yes!

Her song is beautiful and so is she.

It's your first time on Sketchbook as a solo artist.

How does it feel to be here?

It's a bit lonely without the members of Apink here.

I don't know exactly how to put it, but...

Actually, I sang a duet with you a few years ago on this show.

- A song called "Our Love". - On the Yoo Jae Ha Special.

- We sang together. - That's right.

People got to see who was the better vocalist.

That's right. It was extremely close.

- Anyway, being here today... - You've gotten cheekier.

The song she just sang for us is "Hopefully Sky",

and it's been loved by many people for a long period of time.

Even when the entire nation was crazy over "Descendants of the Sun",

her song still did well on the charts.

You cried your eyes out when you won Song of the Week.

- Yes, quite recently. - How was it?

I was feeling pressured since it's my first solo album,

and it was packed with stories that I wanted to sing about.

But you've won a lot of trophies as Apink.

It felt a bit different though.

When I win as Apink, I'm just happy and that's it.

However with my solo album, I guess I felt...

a bit relieved in a way.

I see.

I guess you felt the pressure that you had to do well.

Mainly because I'm the first of Apink to release a solo album.

- I bet you were happy though. - Of course I was.

So the lead single of your first album is "Hopefully Sky".

It must mean a lot to you since you wrote the song and lyrics.

How did the song come about?

My dad works overseas.

- Where? - In Turkmenistan.

- Turkmenistan? - Yes, it's quite far away,

and it's not a familiar country.

Anyway, he's miles away and one day, on his birthday,

I was thinking of what I should give him.

It would take too long to send him a package,

so I thought of something that only I could do.

- As a musician? - Yes, something only...

a singer can do.

So I wrote some lyrics and my father loved them.

If my daughter wrote a song for me like this, I'd cry my eyes out.

Seriously. How sweet is that?

Your mother must've been upset though.

Yes, this song really isn't about her.

- I know. - Before the album was released,

I went to Busan, my hometown, to shoot my music video.

I sang the song for her by changing the lyrics to "Mum".

- Did she like it? - She cried.

- She loved it. - My gosh. I totally get it.

Parents are proud of anything their children do.

It'd be a blessing to have a daughter like Eun Ji.

Since you're quite young, I thought that your lead single...

would be about love or farewell.

Actually, there were many contenders.

Most of them were, in fact, love songs.

However, I didn't want my first single to be about love.

The reason I fell in love with music is because...

I could relate to them on a personal level.

- They had the power to heal. - I see.

I wanted my first single to be...

a song that could heal those listening to it.

That's why I decided to go with "Hopefully Sky".

She's been in love so many times that...

it's mundane to her.

Since when did you fall in love with singing?

I started singing when I was a kid,

when I was in middle school.

That's when I first thought that I wanted to be good at singing.

A video of her singing at a children's singing competition...

created quite a buzz a few years back.

I've seen it, too.

But for those who haven't seen it,

our production team...

prepared the footage. You see the screen over there, right?

- It'll play on that screen. - It might shock you.

Show us the footage from the children's singing competition.

It's Contestant Number Three, Jeong Hye Rim. Congratulations.

Jeong Hye Rim?

- Yes. That's my real name. - I see.

Is that you, Eun Ji?

- Yes, it's me. - I'm really happy.

With whom do you want to share this joy?

With my aunt and my family as well as...

- with my relatives who are here. - Is that a military uniform?

I see. I look forward to watching your performance.

Gosh, your shoulders used to be so broad.

- I know. - Wow.

I've slimmed down a lot.

Oh, my! Let's give her a round of applause!

That was cute. You were so adorable.

You were a great singer even as a kid.

Did you always have such a clear voice like that?

I'm not sure. I don't know if that's the case,

- You have such a beautiful voice. - but my parents are great singers.

I'm sure you used to practise singing when you were young.

What was your voice or singing style like back then?

My voice was very husky back then.

- Did it change all of a sudden? - Yes. During my puberty,

I did a lot of vigorous outdoor activities...

where I had to shout a lot.

- I guess you screamed a lot. - I was like, "Pass me the ball!"

Oh, I think I've seen you doing that on "Reply 1997".

- Just like that, right? - Exactly. So my voice...

used to be very husky then.

Then I guess your voice changed again after that.

The agency didn't think that my voice suited Apink.

They suggested that I should try and change my voice,

- so I did. - Through vocal training?

Yes, that's right.

- You didn't sound like this before. - Yes. In the past...

I'll show you an example.

I know that you're scared

Even if your heart is racing

My voice sounded heavier like this. It sounds a lot lighter now.

- What do you sound like now? - Now? For example...

Don't be sad, no, no, no

You're not alone, no, no, no

- I sing like this. - Sing this with your old voice.

Don't be sad, no, no, no

You're not alone, no, no, no

- You just lowered the pitch. - It's like this.

Don't be sad, no, no, no

- Your tone completely changes. - Yes.

Why do you sing like that for Apink?

Because it suits the kind of music the team is pursuing.

- Right, you guys are a girl group. - That's right.

A higher-pitched girl voice suits the team better.

Right? It just sounds better.

As I'm talking to Eun Ji, I'm getting curious...

about the direction she will take as a musician in the future.

What kind of music would you like to pursue?

I'd like to sing songs that many people can empathise with.

I want to be able to console people's hearts...

through the songs I'll be singing in the future.

Now, it's time to watch Eun Ji's next performance.

I saw that you chose a song that wasn't really expected.

Yes. The next song I'll sing is Kim Gun Mo's "Lack of Filial Piety".

Why did you choose this song?

One day, I was just listening to a bunch of songs,

and I cried so much when I heard "Lack of Filial Piety".

The lyrics go like this. "Even if I try to draw your face,"

"I end up throwing out the drawing because of my tears that ruin it."

It's about the memories of your mother fading away.

I think it was when I was in elementary school. It was...

the first time that I thought about how my mum won't be around forever.

"What if my mum isn't around?"

I began thinking, "My mum might not be around forever."

When I heard that song, I ran to my mum and cried so much.

"Mum, why did you do that to me?"

"Mum, don't go anywhere."

No, that's not what I said. Anyway, I was crying so much,

so my mum asked me, "What's wrong? Why are you crying?"

And I just said, "Don't worry. It's nothing."

Oh? Did you just act?

Yes. I showed you a little skit.

She's good. You're so charming.

All right. So that's the song you'll sing for us today, right?

- Yes. - It'll make you think of your mum.

Great. All right. With this song,

we'll say goodbye to Eun Ji. Thank you for joining us today.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Let me introduce the next guests.

Their lyrics are unique and energetic.

And they have such lovely, delightful voices.

Just like their name, their music exudes fun,

playful and optimistic vibes.

Listening to their songs always cheers us up and lifts our spirits.

Well, they're still young.

But they're awesome songwriters and lyricists.

Let's meet the lovely siblings now. Please give it up for AKMU.

- Thank you. - Thank you.

Aren't their songs lovely?

They are cheerful, too.

We have AKMU here. Nice to meet you.

Hello, we are AKMU.