A.C.E’s JUNHEE Gifts Us a Song For Every Moment Of The Day
Photo: JUNHEE 박준희 - @ocean__park/Instagram
Those small, precious moments hidden in the crevices of everyday life—JUNHEE’s solo debut album The First Day & Night shines a light on them, marking a delightful beginning to his new musical journey, drenched in sweet pop vibes.
The album, released on September 12, is a collection of eight tracks, sung almost entirely in English, with every title accompanied by a specific time indication; each song is meant by the artist to fit a different moment of the day, from sunrise to sunset and beyond. With these markings, the leader and lead vocalist of A.C.E is suggesting to us a mood or feeling that each tune is best suited to accompany. But of course, the final choice is left up to us listeners. The album boasts the collaboration with global producers Peter Wallevik and Daniel Davidsen, a Danish duo with over 10 million in total record sales.
We already had a taste of the record last month, with the release of the title track “Supernova”, a dance-pop song blending retro and modern elements, completed by JUNHEE’s captivating vocals and powerful energy. In the tracklist of The First Day & Night, it is now paired with the time 00:00, suggesting it best fits late-night listening. So, what would the start of the day sound like?
JUNHEE’s “Umbrella (10:00)” is the answer. It’s a soft, pop song that sounds cheerful, yet conveys the long-standing worries of a love story ending, for the partner only shows up when they need something, leaving the other person feeling abandoned with just their umbrella on rainy days. “Lovin’ you’s a riddle/ And I’m in the middle/ I’ve been tryna work out the plot/ Are you gonna love me?/ Are you gonna leave me?”.
JUNHEE (박준희) has been performing the song on major music shows in Korea these days. He appeared on episode 905 of Mnet’s M!COUNTDOWN, on KBS WORLD TV’s Music Bank, and on MBC’s Show! MusicCore, all of which you can easily find on YouTube.
The day goes on with “Tattoo (12:30)”, which he sings with Lee Jiham, BK, KANG YUCHAN, and Wow. It’s a sweet, shiny walk down memory lane where the singers recall everlasting memories of moments spent together. “Just like a tattoo/ You will be forever in my heart/ Just like a tattoo/ Cool times like this I’ll never forget.”
Then comes the time for “Too Bad (15:00)”. The melody and lyrics express the emotions of a heart undecided on whether to take the leap into a relationship that has been brimming under the surface, or give in to fear and let it go. “Cuz it’s too bad/ That we’re scared as sh--/ Better call it quits/ Never loved something so obvious.”
Things slow down with the soothing R&B track, “Sugar (18:00)”. Seems like evenings are the time for contemplation. JUNHEE reflects on the misunderstandings that seem to always complicate the relationship between two people whose attitudes are hard to reconcile, like salt and sugar. “No, I can’t be bothered/ Too much causing trouble/ Had enough of the hurdles/ Project it to any other”.
In “You Should Come Over (21:00)”, the night is falling, and the desire to meet with the person you can’t stop thinking about gets hold of you: “You, baby, got me caught in a spell/ Every word you whisper, I fell/ Wanna pull you close/ And keep you here for myself”. The pop vibes are etched with a slightly more sensual pulse. It’s that energy when you get ready for a date (and it seems it's a secret one!), ready to spend the night together, maybe just dancing, maybe just walking and talking.
After midnight strikes to the dance vibes of the aforementioned “Supernova (00:00)”, we’re in the dead of night with the heartfelt ballad aptly named “Night (02:00)”. It’s the time you can’t get to sleep because thoughts of what used to be, or what could have been, keep you awake. “Caught in the night/ With the body of the wave in your sight/ In my heart, in my heart/ Was I ever in your life”.
The album ends with a half-English, half-Korean version of “Umbrella (10:00)”, titled “호랑이 장가 가는 날”, which translates to "the day the tiger gets married”. This expression is used to describe the peculiar weather phenomenon we know as a sunshower—when it rains while the sun is shining. Other ways to call these sudden bouts of rain on sunny days in Korean are "여우비" (fox rain) or "여우 시집가는 날" (the day the fox gets married).
JUNHEE’s New Solo Venture
While A.C.E is taking a break as a group so that its members can focus on individual projects, JUNHEE has established his own entertainment agency H&P Entertainment, where he is currently active as both the CEO and an artist. He is also collaborating with PAN Entertainment to expand his global reach through his solo activities. PAN Entertainment is the Korean production company behind a string of successful projects, including critically acclaimed K-Dramas The Killing Vote and Twinkling Watermelon, as well as the breakout Netflix series When Life Gives You Tangerines.
Following the release of his first solo album, JUNHEE is also set to embark on his first solo U.S. tour in November. This tour comes after numerous performances and collaboration offers from regions including North America, Europe, and South America. “I’m preparing new and diverse music and content to repay the love I’ve received from fans around the world,” JUNHEE shared. “I promise to show my unique colors on global stages with PAN Entertainment.”
JUNHEE recently received an explosive response for covering “Your Idol” by the Saja Boys from the hit Netflix animated film KPop Demon Hunters. The cover video has now surpassed 5.6 million on YouTube. It was followed by another cover from the same soundtrack: a collaboration with American K-Pop singer AleXa to cover the duet “Free” by Rumi and Jinu from Sony Pictures Animation hit movie. The cover sparked an even greater reaction from fans online, reaching 6.4 million views on YouTube alone.
It seems like JUNHEE is attracting the attention of many people around the world, so are you ready to spend your day with his songs?