John Park ‘knocks’ on the door of success
Korean-American singer John Park, best known in Korea for his third-place finish in the popular singing competition "Superstar K2" and as a shortlisted "American Idol" contestant, has released his debut album "Knock" last February 22.
John Park's debut was met with critical and peer acclaim, hailing the unique adult contemporary sound the artist offers. In fact, within the week of its release, John Park's "Knock" has been praised by K-Pop luminaries like Girls' Generation's Yoona, veteran Korean singer Lyn, and respected musician Jung Jae Hyung, who all tweeted about the quality of the songs on "Knock."
Park's debut album is literally an effort to "knock" on the door of the K-Pop world. "Knock" features the smoky carrier single "Falling," a musical collaboration with Andy Platts of British soul funk band Mamas Gun. Park's sincerity and dramatic vocal delivery on "Falling," along with the MV, have resulted in more than 600,000 views on YouTube to date.
The singer admitted that he felt a lot of loneliness during the time he was working on the album and this somber mood influenced the final material in "Knock." Producer Kim Dong Ryul worked hard with Park to ensure that the resulting sound was uniquely his and many are praising the young singer for focusing on the quality of his voice, rather than just flashy production.
John Park's hard work has paid off. "Knock" sold 13,000 copies on the day of its release, and reached the top 10 charts of many digital and music airplay sites, including a #1 finish in an online music retailer Hanteo. Park is currently making the rounds of the music shows, having already performed on popular shows M! Countdown and Music Bank.
To experience the unique brand of K-Pop offered by John Park, click the video below.
John Park "Falling"
Catherine Deen blogs for Yahoo! Philippines OMG! She lives, eats and breathes Korean music, cuisine, telenovelas, and pop culture. Follow her on Twitter @cathsdeen.
