At 14 years old, just two months into being a middle school student, singer Kim Tae-yeon has released her first full-length album since her debut. She has wonderfully grown from a ‘baby tiger’ to a ‘girl tiger’.
On the afternoon of the 9th, a showcase to celebrate the release of Kim Tae-yeon’s first full-length album ‘Excitement’ was held at Ilji Art Hall in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam, Seoul. The venue was filled with reporters eager to see Kim Tae-yeon. She announced her new album at noon that day.
The event was hosted by broadcaster Kim Sung-joo, who drew attention. Introducing himself as an “audition specialist MC,” Kim showcased his exceptional hosting skills and smoothly led the event.
Kim Sung-joo said, “Kim Tae-yeon personally asked me to host. I’ve never hosted a showcase before. I would have refused if it were just any friend,” and added, “This is my first showcase. It feels like a request from my youngest daughter. Please take good care of both Kim Tae-yeon and me. We might make mistakes, so let’s encourage each other and look forward to it.”
He continued, “I first met Kim Tae-yeon 1574 days ago,” recalling her appearance on Miss Trot. Kim Sung-joo said, “At that time, Kim Tae-yeon was 9 years old. She looked nervous and I was worried if she could do well, but once she started singing, she solidly filled the stage as if nothing had happened. That child, who seemed like a fierce beast, is now 14 years old,” expressing his anticipation for the release of her full-length album.
Before Kim Tae-yeon’s first stage, Kim Sung-joo showcased his exceptional MC skills by talking for over five minutes on his own.
Afterward, Kim Tae-yeon performed a live stage of one of the title tracks from her new album, ‘Encore’. She delivered a charming performance with unwavering vocals and dance.
Kim Tae-yeon greeted the audience, saying, “Hello, I am ‘girl tiger’ Kim Tae-yeon. Today is a very special day for me because it’s a day I can greet my fans after a long time.” Now just a middle school student, she added, “I miss my elementary school days. Now that I’m in middle school, I realize how good those days were,” bringing smiles to the audience.
She then passionately sang the double title track ‘River of Time’. Her powerful vocals, which are hard to believe for a middle school student, gave the event a feel reminiscent of a performance by a seasoned singer.
After the performance, Kim Sung-joo hesitated for a moment and said, “Actually, ‘Excitement’ is the standard term. Please understand it’s a professional habit,” humorously pointing out the title of Kim Tae-yeon’s new song. He added, “Since many people know it as ‘설레임’ (Excitement), there’s no problem using it.” He then asked Kim Tae-yeon if she had any recent exciting moments. Kim Tae-yeon replied, “The thought of my first full-length album has occupied my mind and heart for months,” revealing her affection for the new album.
Kim Sung-joo then asked about the choreography for ‘Encore’, saying, “Did you get influenced by (broadcaster) Boom uncle? Didn’t you follow him around a lot during the competition?” To this, Kim Tae-yeon replied, “I didn’t actually get influenced by any dance samples, but it’s true that my dance skills improved thanks to Boom uncle,” smiling.
‘River of Time’ captures unchanging emotions amidst the unstoppable flow of time, like a flowing river. Its calm yet profound melody prompts reflection on the past and evokes precious memories in the heart. The song speaks of feelings one wishes to preserve amidst the transience of life, and is expected to be a song that quietly soaks the heart on nostalgic days. ‘Encore’ carries a warm message of encouragement not to lose hope even in difficult realities, featuring an addictive chorus.
The keywords Kim Tae-yeon personally chose for this full-length album are ‘Start’, ‘Fighting’, and ‘Addiction’. Kim Tae-yeon said, “Now that I’m a middle school student, I’m at a new starting point in my life and music. I want to convey ‘Fighting’ to the fans who have supported me.” She continued, “‘Addiction’ is a keyword that expresses the title track. Please look forward to a melody and emotional line that you won’t forget once you hear it.”
When asked if there’s a different way to express deep emotions at a young age, Kim Tae-yeon replied, “My mother is the subject. I think of all my emotions in relation to my mother. Then, the songs seem to come out naturally.”
This album contains a total of 11 songs, including the double title tracks ‘Encore’ and ‘River of Time’. Regarding the included song ‘Star of Thorns’, she said, “It’s a song I sang while thinking of my teacher Park Jung-ah. It combines ‘thorn’ and ‘star’ to make ‘Star of Thorns’,” conveying her affectionate feelings for her mentor.
Kim Tae-yeon expressed, “I wanted to capture my various voices in this album. Rather than deciding on a concept, I wanted to show what I can do well.” She also stated, “My fans are my driving force. I’m thinking about how to repay the love I’ve received so far,” showcasing her mature side.
Kim Tae-yeon is still too young to have songwriting and composing abilities. The songs included in this album were filled with tracks received from industry producers. When asked if she has criteria for choosing songs, she said, “I just have a feeling. The double title tracks were also chosen by me and my mother,” showing confidence in her intuition.
Having learned pansori in her childhood, Kim Tae-yeon entered the National Traditional Arts Middle School’s Pansori Department this year to enhance her expertise. When asked if her pansori major helps with trot, she replied, “I was originally someone with a strong traditional music style. Now, I’m trying to remove that traditional music style. Personally, I think if I only focus on traditional music, I’m likely to fall behind in trot competitions,” and expressed her belief that “I need to maintain the trot feel while removing the traditional music style.”
She added, “I think I was able to digest trot well because I learned pansori. I feel like my emotions are becoming richer again. I think I understand the songs better.”
In conclusion, Kim Tae-yeon said, “Singing makes me feel good. When I sing, just listening to the intro makes me feel like it seeps into me,” and expressed her ambition to “work hard to become a singer who can make people feel good for a long time.”
After her remarks, Kim Tae-yeon concluded the showcase with a performance of the included song ‘Manrihyang’, bringing smiles to the faces of the reporters.
Kim Tae-yeon made a strong impression through TV Chosun’s ‘Miss Trot 2’ in 2021. She showcased her stage presence with a powerful voice that belied her age. Especially, despite her cute appearance, she delivered sharp and immersive performances on stage, earning her the nickname ‘baby tiger’ at the time.
[Ji Seung-hoon, Star Today Reporter]
