After Winning Hearts, Song Sohee’s “Not a Dream” Gets an Official Release
First, it captivated viewers on YouTube. Then, with its official release on March 21, it became an instant hit. Song Sohee’s “Not a Dream” is a spellbinding fusion of Gugak (Korean traditional music) elements and a vocal style reminiscent of Dolores O’Riordan’s. Here’s a closer look at how this unique song is making waves.
“Not a Dream" is a self-composed song by South Korean singer-songwriter Song Sohee (송소희), born in 1997. She first performed it during her inaugural solo concert, Song Sohee 1st Concert: 風流(풍류), in December 2024. Then, on January 9, 2025, the live clip of that performance was uploaded to her official YouTube channel, accompanied by the English translation of the lyrics, and quickly gained popularity, reaching over 120,000 views within three days and securing the second spot on the trending music charts. At the time of writing, the YouTube video has over 13 million views.
Song Sohee made her debut in 2004, when she was in the first grade of elementary school, by appearing on KBS’s National Singing Contest (전국노래자랑). Later, in 2008, as a fifth grader, she performed “Changbu Taryeong” (창부타령) and rose to stardom, winning first place in both the mid-year and year-end finals.
She has frequently appeared on KBS’s Immortal Songs 2 (불후의 명곡2), winning multiple times. During a broadcast, her singing voice was noted for being so clear and powerful that it remained distinctly audible even through a waterfall, drawing comparisons to singer Kim Jongkook, whose voice was overpowered by the sound of the falls.
In her career, she has managed to push the unique allure of Gugak into the realm of mainstream music, drawing attention to traditional Korean music while seamlessly incorporating elements of fusion and pop into her songs. She is particularly known for her mastery of Gyeonggi folk singing (called Gyeonggi Minyo, 경기민요), a particular subset of Korean traditional music marked by a cheerful, lyrical tone and the use of a five-tone scale known as the “gyeongtori” melodic style.
It’s a style that Song Sohee made hers, blending it with modern elements: “Not A Dream” is the latest and most popular example of such musical prowess. As mentioned before, Sohee evokes comparisons to Western artists such as the late Irish singer-songwriter The Cranberries’s Dolores O’Riordan (1971-2018). There is a similarity in their singing styles, both delicate and powerful, and intricate; it also has to do with the distinctive features of Gyeonggi Minyo, particularly its ornamental techniques known as Sigimsae (시김새), used to add expressiveness, depth, and emotion to melodies. They involve subtle pitch bending, vibrato, and dynamic control, somewhat similar to glissando, portamento, or vocal inflections in Western music
The ability to master these traditional techniques is exactly what allows Song Sohee to create a radiant and uplifting atmosphere, especially in the song’s soaring chorus. Upon the release of the single, Song Sohee's agency, Magic Strawberry Sound, released a live recording filmed against the backdrop of Jeju Island's green landscape.
The lyrics of "Not a Dream" convey a message of self-encouragement and the pursuit of happiness. Song Sohee described the song as “A reflection on the past, a message of comfort, and the courage to embrace happiness.”
“Let go of your heart
It calls me from this place
Wipe away the tears
Look at the path I’ve run to reach”
Are you ready to be carried away by Song Sohee's voice?