English isn’t my first language, so I apologize when there are issues with my grammar or structure. Still, I managed to express most of my thoughts about Seungmin, and it’s a very lengthy one, even if some points can come off as generic haha.
Where do I even begin? Seungmin isn’t just a member who sings for the sake of fame; he was truly born to be a singer. His natural talent and genuine passion for music give him the potential to go miles!
When Seungmin sings, his voice may not be particularly distinctive, but something is captivating about it. If I were to describe it, his tone isn’t overly airy, yet it carries a gentle lightness to it. He has a surprisingly large range, from deep notes to falsetto. I would dare say that his voice is just as impressive when he sings in his lower register (e.g., Hellavator intro, Side Effect intro, Christmas Evel bridge, Maze of Memories, Up All Night, Butterflies, DLMLU, Ghost (JB cover), Always Remember Us This Way (LG cover) etc, yes, I’m very eager to hear him sing more in this range) due to how especially natural it is but regardless, he is overall an incredibly versatile singer with the way he can adapt his voice to fit so many different genres, especially when you compare his tone in SKZ songs vs his covers/solo tracks/OST. Another aspect is his ability to convey emotion through his singing. Every time he sings, it feels as though he’s lived through 100 divorces. Twenty-Five Twenty-One is exactly how I’d describe it later on. Furthermore, he also effortlessly transitions between low and high registers while maintaining stability, even during the intense choreographies in most SKZ concerts and performances I’ve watched, especially performing for 3-4 hours during a concert, his singing and stamina are incredibly impressive and one to watch.
I’m grateful that Seungmin created SONGBy, as it showcases the most powerful vocal performance I’ve seen from him. It’s clear why this is the case, especially when he mentioned in EP0 something along the lines of, “I feel like I’ve only been able to show 20% of my natural voice and tone”. All of his covers so far have been so powerful that they’re gradually revealing a new side of him. I don’t need to understand the lyrics to know the specific emotion and feel he was singing from. His recent cover of Twenty-Five Twenty-One by Jaurim in EP7 is a perfect example. As his notes grew stronger and more desperate, his voice had the power to heal, comfort, and evoke a wide range of emotions. Watching him doing his passion in a peaceful demeanour and the decorative background visuals that are reminiscent of so many memories shared with him and his SKZ members, really moved me. His cover of Radiohead High and Dry in EP2 is another one of my favourites, as it feels like a song that truly encapsulates him as a person. I love how he uses his tone and volume to make the song his own while paying tribute to the artist and respecting the essence of the original. What I admire most in this episode is his healthy mindset, he isn’t drunk by his fan’s love and reflects on the importance of maintaining one’s direction and pace, even amidst constantly shifting trends. At that moment, the message of SKZ My Pace resonated with me in a whole new way. The more I learn about Seungmin’s perspective on himself, the deeper its meaning becomes, relevant and applicable to any stage of our lives.
Even though Seungmin is still honing his composing and songwriting skills, his solo work already highlights his artistry and storytelling in a deeply impactful way. At least from my interpretation, each of his solos carries a profound emotional depth to it. As We Are reflects his heartfelt decision to give up baseball, his first love, to chase his dream of creating music. The music video enhances the emotional depth, particularly in the moment when he runs in the opposite direction. The overall message resonates with me, especially in the pre-choruses: We all face worries during life transitions, but despite them, we continue to endure and embrace hope. Another of his latest works, CINEMA, uses the idea of “cinema” as a metaphor to highlight how life itself is an art form, full of moments worth treasuring. It’s about seeing life as a beautiful masterpiece, shaped by the meaningful experiences we share and create. What truly caught my attention with this one is the way everything was composed: the drums playing in the beginning and the slow pacing but as soon as the bridge came, it was a literal goosebump and felt like a closure to an actual movie. Also due to the slow pacing, I have to give Seungmin credit for highlighting Lee Know’s vocals, something we don’t often get to hear outside of LIMBO. This song suits his current vocal abilities, making his parts feel effortless and natural without exceeding his range. At the same time, it showcases how much he has grown after years of vocal training if that makes sense. Moreover, when judging Seungmin’s style of music, it’s all a matter of preference, but whether you like it or not, it doesn’t change the fact that Seungmin is his OWN GENRE.
Outside of singing, his personality is another story. Here I thought he was the MOST SANE out of the group but he’s at worst: a pathological liar, a cheater, and an outright savage, and yet, I love him for that. He’s quite arguably the backbone of SK variety shows because of his role. Just a lesson learned: don’t be fooled by how reserved and innocent-looking he is. When he talks, his transparency, intelligence, and dry humour, really shine through. There are plenty of variety shows that highlight this side of him, but listing them all would turn this into a full-blown essay, which, let’s be honest, it already is LOL.
Lastly, Seungmin has become even more handsome recently, likely due to maturing. This isn’t surprising, as it can take 5-7 years or even longer for some idols to gain significant recognition. 2024 is truly his year for events, he was made for high-fashion jewellery brands like Harry Winston, CHANEL, TASAKI, and recently Chaumet, is on another level of luxury (Okay, I’m exaggerating, but seriously, Seungmin’s aura NEEDS TO BE STUDIED). All these events revealed a princely appearance in him that we hadn’t seen in previous years.
This post is my love and respect for Seungmin. His incredible work ethic and professionalism in singing, paired with his many other admirable merits, are undoubtedly driving forces behind the opportunities coming his way: singing more K-drama OSTs and attending brand events. It’s nice to see his talent being recognized these days, and I can’t wait to discover what surprises he has in store for us next!
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