CNBLUE’s Jung Yonghwa is The Shooting Star of Your Summer Nights
Photo: FNC Entertainment
CNBLUE’s Jung Yonghwa has returned with a deeply personal and emotionally rich mini-album to mark a special milestone in his career. On July 3 at 6 p.m., the singer-songwriter released his third EP One Last Day, a whole two years after his latest one. It’s also worth mentioning that this year marks the tenth anniversary of his solo debut; it’s been a decade of growth, experimentation, and connection with fans that shows no signs of stopping.
The mini-album One Last Day revolves around the concept of “space,” which is intended as the realm of limitless possibilities in Jung Yonghwa’s music, and a personal space inhabited by his thoughts and feelings for his fans. As the singer explained, this album captures “only the moments you want to hold on to in a day that seems to pass by.”
Jung Yonghwa (정용화) led the entire creative direction of the project. Just like he did in his previous solo project, he took care of the songwriting and composition for all tracks (excluding the instrumental “Intro,” the first of the seven songs that make up the tracklist), and oversaw everything from concept photography to music video production. He said: "I wanted every aspect—the mood of the song, the concept photos, the music video content, the concert—to fit together, so I took the lead in the overall direction."
He continued: "The part I focused on most was looking inward to create songs that are most true to myself. I tried to capture the emotions I felt while making the songs and express them well in the album. For those who have listened to a lot of my songs, I think you might discover a new side of me."
One Last Day includes the title track, "Night Runner (Shooting Star)" (나이트 러너), as well as the instrumental "INTRO," "WOULD YOU" (우주에 있어) which likens the feeling of falling in love with another person to being sucked into a black hole in space, "Almost Forever" (올모스트 포에버), which tells the story of a love that was supposed to last a lifetime but unfortunately ended. The fifth track is “Espresso Martini” (에스프레소 마티니), an alternative R&B song with colourful vocal harmonies. Then we find “Love me baby love me (LMBLM)” (러브 미 베이비 러브 미), a song that makes you feel excited with its lovely lyrics, and finally “RED” (레드), a mid-tempo pop song with a rhythmic drum beat and lo-fi sound that leaves a strong impression.
Night Runner (Shooting Star)
The title track "Night Runner" is a pop song with a lyrical piano melody and guitar sound that creates a dreamy and wistful atmosphere. The lyrics draw a poignant parallel between a shooting star and the artist’s journey: falling brightly, carrying the wishes of many, and eventually fading into the night sky, but with the hope of remaining forever in people’s hearts.
In the words of the singer, it contains the message: “'Even if I disappear from this night, my dreams and wishes will stay in the sky forever.” Jung Yonghwa also said: “A shooting star that falls while carrying the wishes of many people is described as a 'Night Runner’. I think it would be even better if you listen to the song while reading the lyrics,”
About the ending, the artist commented: “The song ends with a fade-out, and since the sound was crafted with the image of a meteor gradually burning out and disappearing, I hope you pay special attention to this part when listening.” Certainly, an evocative image to depict the fleeting but beautiful nature of life and fame. Another highlight of the song is the stripped-down bridge where Jung Yonghwa’s raw vocals take center stage on the backdrop of a minimal arrangement—a combination that intensifies the emotion and leaves a lingering impression.
Accompanying the song is a music video filmed entirely in New York City. Set against the city’s cold yet romantic nightscape, the visuals amplify the song’s introspective mood. The bustling yet silent streets of New York are a powerful metaphor for the duality that shapes the life of a celebrity, where solitude and stardom coexist.
Jung Yonghwa looks back at the last 10 years as a solo artist
In the interview published by Newsis (뉴시스), which has been quoted above, Jung Yonghwa reflected on his ten years as a solo artist, revealing that he hopes to be “remembered as an artist who has continuously grown.” He added: "Like my new song 'Night Runner,' even if the day comes when I disappear, I hope the songs filled with happiness, laughter, and dreams that I gave to many people will remain in the sky forever."
10 years is not a short span of time, yet the artist commented: "Time really seems to have flown by. I'm always grateful for your support, and I'll continue to work hard to bring you great music. I hope my music can stay by your side for a long time, protect you, and repay you.”
With the release of his new album, Jung Yonghwa will hold his solo concert Director's Cut: Our Fine Days at Olympic Hall in Olympic Park, Seoul, from July 18 to 20, where he will meet his fans.
Edited by Sandy Ou