Yes, I fill in with what Tom said. Have heard many very knowledgeable people say. That SoHyang is one of the best "lyrical sopranos" in the world... Among others, like Morissette, for example. (Remember to separate different genres... And also in the context of our current time.) If you dive into her history, she is also impressive as a person. Have not only had an easy life. She also strangely share one thing with Britney Slayes from Unleash the Archers. She is an awesome Fantasy author. And her main goal is to comfort people and give people hope with her voice. A very very heartwarming and likable person....
So Hyang is considered by many voice critics to be one of the very best female voices on earth, if not the best. I haven't heard anyone as gifted here in the States. She does her own arrangements along with her team. She is a savant, no doubt. Her version of 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' from KBS TV K-Pop is stunning. Her 'I Have Nothing' from the DMC Festival is otherworldly, and her Korean song 'Everyone' is a masterclass. Thanks for the great reaction!
You are actually the first Sohyang reactor to know the song Arirang. Others think that Sohyang's version is the traditional version. I love Sohyang so much and I have mad respect for her. She is the best vocalist to me ! One of a kind. If you could react to Immortal show version of Bridge over troubled water and Raise me up. Thank you
what I love about that middle section is how it reflects the lyrics to Arirang. the instruments get so packed and intense as of there is a struggle or a fight and once she sings "and it be became one" boom! we get a release where the instruments are more complementary to one another.
Sohyang❤…my Most favourite FEMALE singer in the world since I discovered her existence in 2023. Her becoming known to me was due solely through her fellow countrymen in Forestella, a crossover vocalist group that I had first encountered also in 2023. Both artists do their own arrangements. I heard Forestella sing another lovely version of this song arranged for their beautiful vocals on 13th October 2018 Immortal Songs which then was followed by a recommendation for Sohyang’s version….I’m so glad I clicked that button that day.😅 Forestella has introduced me to so many singers, groups and songwriters through their performances …but these two artists are curled up in my heart as my favourites ….with Forestella and its four members being my All-Time favourites.
Arirang is a song that embodies the painful history and the soul of the Korean people... Many Koreans unknowingly shed tears when they hear this song.. Dok do Arirang is an original song composed a long time ago, and the current arrangement is said to be done by Hwang Sung-jae (BJ music).. I hope you get to experience more of her songs. In new media, she is called the Queen, and Dimash is called the King...
So Hyang is just on another level. Fantabulous belter. I would recommend to you to react to Regine Velasquez's Lupang Hinirang, the Philippines National Anthem
Seth Riggs, Michael Jackson vocal coach was her coach. She has great teaching but she has mastered most of this on her own. Like I said before, she is a perfectionist. She is in my opinion, the best female vocalist on the planet. She is not that popular because she chooses not only sing for fame or fortune. She is a Christian singer and sings for Gods glory. She just never realized she would be the works best one day. You have just dipped your toe into her world. Now you will be hooked once you hear all the other stuff with even higher notes.
thank you for reacting sohyang ~~ She is definitely a world class. please react to her cover song "upon this rock","i have nothing","bridge of troubled water" !!
This is what she is best known for,taking a song and remoulding it into a work of art.Think you know Bridge Over Troubled Water🤣think again,I Have Nothing?nah,complete upgrade, You Raise Me Up? Who is Josh Groban🤭 Lean On Me,unrecognisable and my personal favourite One Million Roses,what she did with this song is mind blowing and although I loved it I didn't really appreciate the utter genius of it until I watched another Korean girl sing what I imagine was the usual version,the difference although the girl sang it beautifully it was mind alteringly amazing.Just for your own comparison have a look at Ailee do her version of Everyone on a different season of the same show then watch Sohyang rip the arse off it.she is another level to anyone I have seen in the last thirty years,maybe longer.
Also, SoHyang arranges all of her covers she sings. She is the boss of ever thing you hear. Every musician and every backing vocalist, they all do as she wants them to. She is a perfectionist. She also has a 5 octave range. She mainly shows most of the 4 though.
so hyang--bridge over troubled water/i have nothing/o holy night/arirang alone/everyone/upon this rock/us national anthem/hero/power of love/let it go/breathe/hug me/amazing grace/i will always love you/misty/ if i ain't got you
The original, and most other, versions of arirang are very simple as it is a traditional Korean folk song, but the theme of that show was to do your own version of a traditional song & not only has sohyang got, imo, the best female voice but she is an extremely talented arranger & this this arrangement is hers, as is the arrangements of all her performances. She is actually a university lecturer in singing so she has to have a fair amount of musical knowledge. You should check out her other performances because this beautiful woman is like no other & can literally sing any genre, rock,pop, blues/jazz, obviously the power ballads, but her heart is with gospel & elements of gospel can be found in her arrangements of songs that aren’t usually associated with the genre in their original form. I have just seen your channel for the first time, because I am a huge sohyang fan & I have just heard you mention Dimash which is quite fitting because where Dimash is often referred to as the ‘king’ of vocals, it is usually sohyang that carries the title of his’queen’. Unlike Dimash though & his alliance with igor krutoy, sohyang, as I said before, is responsible for her own arrangements, along with the input of a few members of her husbands family who sang with sohyang as a ccm group. Her arrangements are so exciting & dynamic but they can afford to be because she has the voice to play along with it. I think the more you know about music & singing, the more you’ll appreciate Sohyang’s talents, I sometimes think she’s wasted on us mere mortals. You have so many amazing performances to look forward to, she doesn’t know how to do a bad one & she is remarkably always on pitch & sings live, except for the odd music video, which is obv recorded but surprising in other ways!!!!! Check out her back story, she is a an amazing human being & so humble. I am sure you will be provided in the comments with long lists of recommendations accompanied by the links to the actual performances that 99% of the reactors etc watch & are the ‘iconic’ performances that she’s known for. Welcome to the amazing world of Sohyang & I look forward to many more Sohyang reactions from you. Prepare to be blown away my friend because what you heard today was only a fraction of what she is capable of. A new subscriber😊
Sohyang seems to always rearrange songs and make them her own. Check out for example her version of Bridge Over Troubled Water, Lean On Me, and I Have Nothing. She also did an amazing cover of Easy On Me last year with just a keyboard player outdoor under a huge bridge structure. Please react to more Sohyang!
Welcome to the world of SoHyang~!!! She is CCM/GOSPEL SINGER of South KOREA and cancer survivor. . She is one of the greatest vocalist in the world.But She wasn't known as well as popular because She sing for GOD and Comfort people who has hardtime Not for fame or money. ..In her youth, she turned down all offers from mega agencies for her beliefs...and now she is 46years old. .She has so many legendary live performances . She always sings with sincerity whenever and wherever. So it comforts those who listen to her song...That's why I love her...And her singing skills are the best, not to mention... This performance is just tip of iceberg.. . Thanks for your reaction of Queen Sohyang ♥
You are witnessing greatness and a true blessing to many. Best to you and you will enjoy the So Hyang journey. She has gone through so much but she sings so that others can feel joy and comfort while she sings. God blessed her and she blesses us in return . Our Queen. Best to you always
Welcome to Sohyang's world. This is Sohyang's rearrangement of Arirang Alone written in the 1990's, based on the old folk song. The artists on this show are tasked with rearranging the song of choice that fits that nights theme, with this show being about traditional music. So no you would not have heard this arrangement before. Sohyang is one of the worlds top female vocalists but also a song writer and arranger, an author and a cancer survivor. You have quite a journey ahead, as finding her is like going down the rabbit hole. Sohyang remains an independent artist due to her faith and health, which may be why you have not heard of her before.
You ain’t seen nuttin’ yet man 😊😊😊😊. But you missed a big theme re. Sohyang…. Even a deaf person hears her just by looking at her expressions and hand gestures as she seems to sing directly to your soul. BTW, arrangements all done by her and her team of musicians. Looking forward to your journey into Sohyang and excellent musicology. Thanks man. ❤❤❤❤
Sohyang and her own team makes the arrangement for the songs she performs, often for her emphasis on the expression of the underlying theme and alignment with Sohyang's vocal range.
I regret watching your reaction right before I went to bed and that I waited a few days. I liked your reaction so much that I have to stay up and fill you in with some info on the song and Sohyang. By the way, your pronunciation of her name is perfect. This song "Arirang Alone" is written in 90s and not a traditional song, but written in Korean 70s style. Also, the original song doesn't have the traditional Arirang tune at all except a few measures of the theme tune. Sohyang's version is totally different from the original "Arirang Alone" as you will realize that her cover of many songs are way different from the original. Sohyang plays a major role in arranging songs and her husband is a composer and music producer and I believe he has a major role as well. This song is a song about hoping for the unification of Korea. Since "Arirang" is a song about Korean's unique expression of deep sorrow, the original song used the word Arirang to sing about the unification. Thus, the song sings about the water from Baekdoo Mountain (the highest mountain in Korea which is in the North end of North Korea) and Halla Mountain (the second highest mountain in Korea which is in the South end of South Korea) meet at the middle of Korea in the East Sea where Dokdo, a small island in the East end of Korea. The original song is meaningful because of the lyrics, but music itself is simple. Sohyang turned this into very meaningful musically and focused on oneness. The section where violin solo was introduced and the instrumental play followed started in minor and I believe she portrayed North Korea and the dissonant part was portraying how different North and South Korea are, but as she sing "as become one," she brought the song in harmony and the song's mood changed to bright. And where you liked the rhythm was the Korean traditional rhythm played with percussion and Korean traditional instrument and then added the original "Arirang," which is not in the original "Arirang Alone" and got the audience involved. My interpretation of the end is that after the good mood, as the lyrics expressing going over the hills, the unification didn't happen yet and we still climb hills one by one and walking toward the unification with the deep sorrow of Arirang. Sohyang did a phenominal job of expressing the meaning of the original song with both arrangement and her singing performance. Thank you so much for your reaction and looking forward to other Sohyang reactions.
Man, my friend, you have come across THE BEST female singer in the world. The beauty, power, and control of her voice usually brings tears to my eyes. The voice of an angel. Her audience engagement is second to none. And I understand she does her own arrangements? I could be wrong. Have fun!
Welcome to the best! My opinion 😊. You just touched the surface of the AMAZING woman, go deep with her. Her arrangements of songs are always EPIC, which she is very much involved with. You need to check out her versions of, Bridge Over Trouble Water, You Raise Me Up, Lean On Me. Best vocalist, performer, person, I have ever seen. GREAT reaction 👍
Hello, new subscriber. Most important to know; Sohyang does all of her own arrangements, together with a small team, and especially for her performances in these TV Contest festivals. She determines the musical, choral, orchestral, staging, and lighting arrangements. Here you are seeing a glimpse of this lady's musical genius and her spectacular Coloratura Soprano voice. Notice that she paid respect to the traditional Folk song, even by having an audience Sing-along segment. When David Foster saw her performance of "I Have Nothing" he sought her out. There is an amazing world that just opened up for you - if you will step into it. If so, enjoy the trip. Cheers.
We all wonder if Sohyang is human or from another planet. Current odds are that she’s from another planet, with an outside chance she’s actually an angel come down from Heaven. 😇 We have never heard anyone sing like her, or be able to hold an audience in the palm of her hand until she lets them go. Her voice is, as one person described it, like liquid gold. Perfection in clarity and pitch, and she doesn’t fade in the upper octaves, which is startling when you hear her hit those 5th and 6th octave notes with such _POWER_ it actually gives everyone goose bumps-and makes us bald guys’ hair stand on end! As she says, her voice “is from God.” She does all the musical arrangements herself, with the input of her in-law family and musical assistants, teaches vocal technique at a South Korean university and speaks four languages: Korean, English, Vietnamese and Chinese, as well as reading French and Greek! Let me catch my breath. OK. She is a cancer survivor from uterine cancer at the age of 20, just after getting married, and states very plainly that God saved her life due to the prayers of her church. But this left her without the ability to have children so she decided to dedicate her life to being a Contemporary Christian Gospel singer and has refused recording contracts from the biggest corporations in the world. She only wants to sing for charities, churches and while doing missionary work, to strengthen those suffering through difficult times. David Foster, Josh Groban, Michael Bolton and others have all eagerly worked with her when they were in Asia. She contracted hepatitis B from a blood transfusion during her cancer surgery and it clings to her to this day. Because of this she is prone to catching pneumonia but has sang perfectly while suffering from it in her live performance of “You Raise Me Up” before Shane Filan of Westlife on South Korean TV: ruclips.net/video/te_L9ofhUt8/видео.html She has asked those who love her singing to pray that God keep pneumonia away from her, she has suffered from it on so many occasions. Imagine how she must feel with this coronavirus floating around everywhere! She just turned 46 on April 5, 2024, though in Korean culture she would be 47 because you are deemed to be one year old when you are born. She was about 37 when she sang this version of “Arirang Alone,” their unofficial national anthem based on a 600 year old folk song expressing their desire to reunify north and south: vimeo.com/308253527 While being sick with pneumonia eight times from 2016 through to 2020, and considering giving up singing altogether, she decided to enter a televised singing contest called “King of the Masked Singers” in 2017 and won six consecutive times, which has catapulted her into international attention from the performances being posted on RUclips. Whitney Houston’s former manager saw her on RUclips and showed her to Oprah Winfrey, who brought her to David Foster’s attention. Foster then contacted Sohyang and went to Japan in order to have her perform eight concerts with him at Tokyo’s famous Blue Note Club in late-2018. For those who don't know, David Foster was Whitney Houston's producer for some of her songs, wrote "I Have Nothing," her most iconic song, and is the most famous and influential music producer in the world. He places Sohyang right beside Whitney and the rest of the top tier divas. Here is the interview where Sohyang related the events: ruclips.net/video/EqeE_1nP-Kk/видео.html (Be sure to turn on English subtitles.) Here is the version of “I Have Nothing” Oprah, David Foster, Whitney's former manager and the rest watched on RUclips: ruclips.net/video/T4UyIMkdy4M/видео.html She preceded it with this blockbuster: vimeo.com/312061203 She could be an international Super Star if she wanted to be but has decided that it would ruin her spiritually, quoting Proverbs 16:25 “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” In a South Korean television interview Sohyang conceded that she struggled with her desire for fame for a number of years, going into the basement in her home numerous times and closing the door so she could complain vehemently to God that He was holding her back from becoming famous due to her health problems and other unforeseeable events. Then she later saw a Korean TV drama where the talented daughter of a very successful businessman was positive she would take over when her father retired. But he left the management of the company to a woman she hated, so she had a fit and lay kicking and screaming on the floor. Sohyang says she saw herself in that young woman and then understood that God was keeping her from developing self-destructive character by withholding international celebrity status from her. ruclips.net/video/rl-jX9kBsEs/видео.html (Again, turn on English subtitles.) So as a consequence she does not pursue fame or fortune and actually has no interactive social media presence whatsoever. What can one say about such a person? She is a literal Wonder Woman! And we need about a billion more just like her! And whether Sohyang likes it or not, fame has found her, run her over and then backed up and run over her again! On Oct. 5, 2020, it was revealed that Sohyang turned down _yet another_ contract offer, this time from Sony Music US. www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20200921000995 “Debuting in [the] US was my utmost goal for the past 20 years. But when I got a call from the US agency, I politely rejected, as I realized that what I wanted most was not becoming famous,” she said. “I think singers are very susceptible to arrogance, especially when they hear the screaming from crowds on stage. It can make you feel like as if you’ve become God.” “And I’m perfectly okay with sharing my music via RUclips, which can reach tens of millions of people all over the world without making me feel stuck up. Maybe that’s why I was born in this era.” Sohyang is just the most amazing singer, Christian and human being. She is beautiful both inside and out, and so humble and genuine, with a stage charisma, facial expressions and smile that is off the charts. In Korean dictionaries 소향--Sohyang--has several meanings. • First is a type of Korean traditional music. • Second is to burn incense on a burner. • Third is to go toward. But these meanings are rarely used today. Sohyang is also the name of a heroine in a Korean traditional novel. Yet for the definitive answer Sohyang has stated in an interview that her name means "enjoy the light." Her grandmother named her. Please analyze her performance of “Bridge Over Troubled Water”: ruclips.net/video/C6iHh4yBxCo/видео.html Also, please react to her version of “The Power of Love”: ruclips.net/video/LrNkVRrK7_I/видео.html Plus this beautiful duet with her friend Lee Hi where they do Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons’ “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You”: vimeo.com/439148918 And this version of her singing “Oh Holy Night”: vimeo.com/322716334 Here she performs “Lean On Me” before Michael Bolton, who called her a vocal “virtuoso” after her performance: ruclips.net/video/GvsgCllcNPE/видео.html Wait until you see her duet of David Foster's “The Prayer” with Jeong Ui Geu: ruclips.net/video/rte-q3kunp8/видео.html Her performance of "Fate" in Korean requires no translation: vimeo.com/198161448 And finally “Will You Be There”: ruclips.net/video/nBdSpexUxik/видео.html Here’s an English language interview with her that I’m sure you will enjoy: ruclips.net/video/N2u_pmoWxj8/видео.html Her English is perfect when she sings and almost perfect when she is doing interviews. OK, I’ll stop gushing now. Well, one more gush. In an interview with a Turkish music producer Sohyang's assistants revealed (a bit to her chagrin, as she is a self-effacing person) that she can hit Eb7 and D7 in practise. However, she never goes above the 6th octave in performances. Since she starts at D3 that is more than a 4 octave range ... so how about them apples???! Here it is: ruclips.net/video/VnPAkryrygQ/видео.html I know, bananas isn’t it? Oh, I just remembered, she is also a published fantasy novelist and has a theological treatise on the Book of Revelation in print. In addition, she is a very good stage actress, which she proved by playing Julie Andrews’ part in the South Korean stage production of “The Sound of Music.” Moreover, she sang the “Moana” part in the Korean version of the Disney film, does the musical vocals for many South Korean television dramas, and is a talented artist and cartoonist. She taught herself English by watching Disney's "The Little Mermaid" 'about one hundred times' when she was just a kid, speaks English with a _perfect_ North American accent and has an outgoing and bubbly personality. She can also play the piano and guitar. Is there anything this genius level woman can’t do? Ironically, Sohyang stated in another interview that both she and her in-law family were surprised to discover that she could sing so excellently! Though she is maybe 5' 4" and only about 100 pounds, Sohyang simply transcends the thresholds of music and takes you there with her. She becomes the song when she sings it, and then re-emerges when she is done. An experience like no other. I don’t know what else to say. I’ve spent _entire days_ listening to her, and shed more than a few tears of joy along the way. I really must also compliment the choir, orchestra and audio/video production people Sohyang works with. They are all top notch from what I can see and hear, and that is important to note as these are _essential_ elements of any great musical production. The Korean people are easily as talented as anyone else. As you can see, I am a shameless fan. 😉
Arirang has no direct translation to English but the idea it represents is along the lines of very hard work or diligent struggle. The song is based on a Korean folk song that has evolved over a period of 600 years and now is an allegory for their desire to reunite north and south. Sohyang, her family and musical associates do all the arrangements on all of the songs she covers. Sohyang is difficult to rationally explain. She might have died from cervical cancer when she was 20 but credits God with her healing. Yet a bad blood transfusion at the time of the surgery left her with hepatitis B. Normally that is easily cured with antibiotics but this was the rare incurable variety so it plagues her to this day with a compromised immune system and she contracts pneumonia rather often. For a four year period from 2016 to 2020 she was battling it eight different times and was almost out of circulation in the musical community. Thus Sohyang knows what it is to be chronically ill for a lengthy period of time but again credits God with teaching her invaluable spiritual lessons from it. She has largely been fine since then but did come down with covid19 for two weeks in the summer of 2022. Thankfully she recovered well and at the age of 46 sings as excellently today as she ever has. You are right when the thought comes to mind that there is no way this woman is 46! She looks 10 or 15 years younger, at least! But it is true. She was born on April 5, 1978! 🤷♂ Professional "super star" level music producers (David Foster), singers (Michael Bolton and Josh Groban), teachers (Seth Riggs) and vocal coaches by the boat load are pretty well stupefied at how much talent is wrapped up in this tiny five foot four inch, 100 pound woman. Sohyang has trained her central nervous system to the point, and developed such articulate muscular control, that her singing technique is perfect. She is considered a master singer. Literally. Again Sohyang gives the credit to the divine entity, stating her voice "is from God." Obviously she has taken her singing talent to the nth degree, and tells others who want to enter the world of professional singing that they must be born with a good voice and then work very hard to develop it. But this barely scratches the surface of who Sohyang is and how talented she is on stage. Her stage presence and body language are unmatched in my experience, much like what Elvis Presley had fifty years ago but different, of course, since she is a sincere Christian woman and believes in presenting herself in modest yet excellent quality theatrical attire and with absolute confidence and purpose at all times. I have also found these high production value South Korean music presentations to be as good as you will find anywhere on the planet. They show Sohyang in the best fashion possible and these seem, to me, as good as you would find at _any_ of the Grammy Awards in their heyday. When you add a Super Star talent like Sohyang to the show, everyone who watches it is quite rightly blown away. 👀😮💥👌😎🎸🎙👽🛸💖💖💖
My absolute favorite vocalist! Devout Christian and very humble. If you react to more of SoHyang ( pronounced So Hyoung ) you will get more comments teaching you about her.
Funny you say that you focused more on the arrangement of the song more so than the vocals. You actually are focusing on both at the same time without knowing it. SoHyang is not only the vocalist she also arranged this version you are listening to. In the middle section you are supposed to focus on the instrumentals for SoHyang’s voice becomes another instrument.
Sohyang (pronounced as “So-Young”) she is from South Korea. I’m 74 years old and to me she is the greatest singer I’ve ever heard in my life. She not only a great singer but a beautiful person both inside and out. She first began singing in her local community, with no aspirations of pursuing a career as a professional singer. She was offered numerous contracts from major record companies, but she turned them down, because it would interfere with the plans God had for her. She is a devout Christian and has said that her goal in life is to use her voice to comfort people who are going through difficult times. She knows what hard times is like, her parents divorced when she was in her third year of high school and due to this, she experienced a lot of financial difficulties and was often very sad and she said that it was music that helped her through these difficult times. At the age of twenty she got married and soon after was diagnosed with uterine cancer, which she was able to survive, and she gives the credit to God. She is also an author of children books since 2013. Another thing is that she does all the arrangements for the songs she sings. SHE IS THE BEST EVER
Welcome down to the rabbit hole that Sohyang is!! I suggest you check out Everyone, I Have Nothing, Dreams just to name a few!! She doesn't sing for like fame or money but to glorify God since she's a devout christian. She also says that her goal is to try bring comfort and hope with her music to those who are struggling and sufferring in life.
![Voice Teacher Reacts and Analyzes: SO HYANG - ARIRANG ALONE [Immortal Songs 2]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/2bR1srvISec/mqdefault.jpg)
Yes, I fill in with what Tom said. Have heard many very knowledgeable people say. That SoHyang is one of the best "lyrical sopranos" in the world... Among others, like Morissette, for example.
(Remember to separate different genres...
And also in the context of our current time.)
If you dive into her history, she is also impressive as a person.
Have not only had an easy life. She also strangely share one thing with Britney Slayes from Unleash the Archers.
She is an awesome Fantasy author. And her main goal is to comfort people and give people hope with her voice.
A very very heartwarming and likable person....
So Hyang is considered by many voice critics to be one of the very best female voices on earth, if not the best. I haven't heard anyone as gifted here in the States. She does her own arrangements along with her team. She is a savant, no doubt. Her version of 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' from KBS TV K-Pop is stunning. Her 'I Have Nothing' from the DMC Festival is otherworldly, and her Korean song 'Everyone' is a masterclass. Thanks for the great reaction!
you are the only one who speaks about the arrangement of this song because the others dont know about the original song. im impressed 👏
You are actually the first Sohyang reactor to know the song Arirang. Others think that Sohyang's version is the traditional version. I love Sohyang so much and I have mad respect for her. She is the best vocalist to me ! One of a kind. If you could react to Immortal show version of Bridge over troubled water and Raise me up. Thank you
Her mixed Bb5 is the best anywhere
what I love about that middle section is how it reflects the lyrics to Arirang. the instruments get so packed and intense as of there is a struggle or a fight and once she sings "and it be became one" boom! we get a release where the instruments are more complementary to one another.
Sohyang❤…my Most favourite FEMALE singer in the world since I discovered her existence in 2023. Her becoming known to me was due solely through her fellow countrymen in Forestella, a crossover vocalist group that I had first encountered also in 2023. Both artists do their own arrangements. I heard Forestella sing another lovely version of this song arranged for their beautiful vocals on 13th October 2018 Immortal Songs which then was followed by a recommendation for Sohyang’s version….I’m so glad I clicked that button that day.😅 Forestella has introduced me to so many singers, groups and songwriters through their performances …but these two artists are curled up in my heart as my favourites ….with Forestella and its four members being my All-Time favourites.
Please react to Sohyang's many original songs and cover songs.
Arirang is a song that embodies the painful history and the soul of the Korean people...
Many Koreans unknowingly shed tears when they hear this song..
Dok do Arirang is an original song composed a long time ago, and the current arrangement is said to be done by Hwang Sung-jae (BJ music)..
I hope you get to experience more of her songs. In new media, she is called the Queen, and Dimash is called the King...
So Hyang is just on another level. Fantabulous belter. I would recommend to you to react to Regine Velasquez's Lupang Hinirang, the Philippines National Anthem
Seth Riggs, Michael Jackson vocal coach was her coach. She has great teaching but she has mastered most of this on her own. Like I said before, she is a perfectionist. She is in my opinion, the best female vocalist on the planet. She is not that popular because she chooses not only sing for fame or fortune. She is a Christian singer and sings for Gods glory. She just never realized she would be the works best one day. You have just dipped your toe into her world. Now you will be hooked once you hear all the other stuff with even higher notes.
Awesome reaction!
Sohyang usually does arrangements covers by herself.
Yes...she does her own arrangements which is why you see her hands conducting. She's incredible.
thank you for reacting sohyang ~~ She is definitely a world class. please react to her cover song "upon this rock","i have nothing","bridge of troubled water" !!
Yes! Sohyang arranges almost everything she does...which is why her hands move the way they do. She's incredible.
A warm welcome to Sohyang world. She arrange most of her songs. And you just touch the tip of iceberg of what she can do 😂
So hyang. Angel
South korean ccm Amazing singer.writer
international media korean mariah. .
World best amazing singer.
This is what she is best known for,taking a song and remoulding it into a work of art.Think you know Bridge Over Troubled Water🤣think again,I Have Nothing?nah,complete upgrade, You Raise Me Up? Who is Josh Groban🤭 Lean On Me,unrecognisable and my personal favourite One Million Roses,what she did with this song is mind blowing and although I loved it I didn't really appreciate the utter genius of it until I watched another Korean girl sing what I imagine was the usual version,the difference although the girl sang it beautifully it was mind alteringly amazing.Just for your own comparison have a look at Ailee do her version of Everyone on a different season of the same show then watch Sohyang rip the arse off it.she is another level to anyone I have seen in the last thirty years,maybe longer.
I am looking forward to your next Sohyang reaction. She is phenomenal.
Congratulations, you just discovered a gem. A warm welcome to the amazing world of Sohyang.
The slaying Queen So means = live performs 🙏 in her fearless mode 🎉😮
Thanks from Perú 😊
Also, SoHyang arranges all of her covers she sings. She is the boss of ever thing you hear. Every musician and every backing vocalist, they all do as she wants them to. She is a perfectionist. She also has a 5 octave range. She mainly shows most of the 4 though.
so hyang--bridge over troubled water/i have nothing/o holy night/arirang alone/everyone/upon this rock/us national anthem/hero/power of love/let it go/breathe/hug me/amazing grace/i will always love you/misty/ if i ain't got you
The original, and most other, versions of arirang are very simple as it is a traditional Korean folk song, but the theme of that show was to do your own version of a traditional song & not only has sohyang got, imo, the best female voice but she is an extremely talented arranger & this this arrangement is hers, as is the arrangements of all her performances. She is actually a university lecturer in singing so she has to have a fair amount of musical knowledge.
You should check out her other performances because this beautiful woman is like no other & can literally sing any genre, rock,pop, blues/jazz, obviously the power ballads, but her heart is with gospel & elements of gospel can be found in her arrangements of songs that aren’t usually associated with the genre in their original form.
I have just seen your channel for the first time, because I am a huge sohyang fan & I have just heard you mention Dimash which is quite fitting because where Dimash is often referred to as the ‘king’ of vocals, it is usually sohyang that carries the title of his’queen’. Unlike Dimash though & his alliance with igor krutoy, sohyang, as I said before, is responsible for her own arrangements, along with the input of a few members of her husbands family who sang with sohyang as a ccm group.
Her arrangements are so exciting & dynamic but they can afford to be because she has the voice to play along with it. I think the more you know about music & singing, the more you’ll appreciate Sohyang’s talents, I sometimes think she’s wasted on us mere mortals.
You have so many amazing performances to look forward to, she doesn’t know how to do a bad one & she is remarkably always on pitch & sings live, except for the odd music video, which is obv recorded but surprising in other ways!!!!!
Check out her back story, she is a an amazing human being & so humble.
I am sure you will be provided in the comments with long lists of recommendations accompanied by the links to the actual performances that 99% of the reactors etc watch & are the ‘iconic’ performances that she’s known for.
Welcome to the amazing world of Sohyang & I look forward to many more Sohyang reactions from you. Prepare to be blown away my friend because what you heard today was only a fraction of what she is capable of.
A new subscriber😊
SoHyang is very special.
Thanks for reacting to SoHyang's song! She is one of the best female singer in the world.🎉
She arranges her covers
Sohyang seems to always rearrange songs and make them her own. Check out for example her version of Bridge Over Troubled Water, Lean On Me, and I Have Nothing. She also did an amazing cover of Easy On Me last year with just a keyboard player outdoor under a huge bridge structure. Please react to more Sohyang!
the incredible world class sohyang love from the uk
Welcome to the world of SoHyang~!!!
She is CCM/GOSPEL SINGER of South KOREA and cancer survivor. .
She is one of the greatest vocalist in the world.But She wasn't known as well as popular because She sing for GOD and Comfort people who has hardtime Not for fame or money. ..In her youth, she turned down all offers from mega agencies for her beliefs...and now she is 46years old. .She has so many legendary live performances .
She always sings with sincerity whenever and wherever. So it comforts those who listen to her song...That's why I love her...And her singing skills are the best, not to mention...
This performance is just tip of iceberg.. .
Thanks for your reaction of Queen Sohyang ♥
You are witnessing greatness and a true blessing to many. Best to you and you will enjoy the So Hyang journey. She has gone through so much but she sings so that others can feel joy and comfort while she sings. God blessed her and she blesses us in return . Our Queen. Best to you always
Queen Sohyang!!❤️
World 🌏Best singer!!!👍
So Hyang arranged this version herself
Ella es única!!!!..se preocupa de todo, arreglos, producciones...ella está en todo...❤
Welcome to Sohyang's world. This is Sohyang's rearrangement of Arirang Alone written in the 1990's, based on the old folk song. The artists on this show are tasked with rearranging the song of choice that fits that nights theme, with this show being about traditional music. So no you would not have heard this arrangement before.
Sohyang is one of the worlds top female vocalists but also a song writer and arranger, an author and a cancer survivor. You have quite a journey ahead, as finding her is like going down the rabbit hole. Sohyang remains an independent artist due to her faith and health, which may be why you have not heard of her before.
You ain’t seen nuttin’ yet man 😊😊😊😊. But you missed a big theme re. Sohyang…. Even a deaf person hears her just by looking at her expressions and hand gestures as she seems to sing directly to your soul. BTW, arrangements all done by her and her team of musicians. Looking forward to your journey into Sohyang and excellent musicology. Thanks man. ❤❤❤❤
some reactioners called sohyangism!!
she has a special ability!!!
Love so hyang song and your reactions thank you
소향노래를 할수록 놀라울것입니다 많은 감상리뷰해주세여~한국의 사랑
Sohyang arranges all her songs.
Yeah, I think she still is a music professor at Seoul music university...
Sohyang and her own team makes the arrangement for the songs she performs, often for her emphasis on the expression of the underlying theme and alignment with Sohyang's vocal range.
I regret watching your reaction right before I went to bed and that I waited a few days. I liked your reaction so much that I have to stay up and fill you in with some info on the song and Sohyang. By the way, your pronunciation of her name is perfect. This song "Arirang Alone" is written in 90s and not a traditional song, but written in Korean 70s style. Also, the original song doesn't have the traditional Arirang tune at all except a few measures of the theme tune. Sohyang's version is totally different from the original "Arirang Alone" as you will realize that her cover of many songs are way different from the original. Sohyang plays a major role in arranging songs and her husband is a composer and music producer and I believe he has a major role as well. This song is a song about hoping for the unification of Korea. Since "Arirang" is a song about Korean's unique expression of deep sorrow, the original song used the word Arirang to sing about the unification. Thus, the song sings about the water from Baekdoo Mountain (the highest mountain in Korea which is in the North end of North Korea) and Halla Mountain (the second highest mountain in Korea which is in the South end of South Korea) meet at the middle of Korea in the East Sea where Dokdo, a small island in the East end of Korea. The original song is meaningful because of the lyrics, but music itself is simple. Sohyang turned this into very meaningful musically and focused on oneness. The section where violin solo was introduced and the instrumental play followed started in minor and I believe she portrayed North Korea and the dissonant part was portraying how different North and South Korea are, but as she sing "as become one," she brought the song in harmony and the song's mood changed to bright. And where you liked the rhythm was the Korean traditional rhythm played with percussion and Korean traditional instrument and then added the original "Arirang," which is not in the original "Arirang Alone" and got the audience involved. My interpretation of the end is that after the good mood, as the lyrics expressing going over the hills, the unification didn't happen yet and we still climb hills one by one and walking toward the unification with the deep sorrow of Arirang. Sohyang did a phenominal job of expressing the meaning of the original song with both arrangement and her singing performance. Thank you so much for your reaction and looking forward to other Sohyang reactions.
Plisss react another Sohyang videos !!!
Thanks for the reaction to Queen Sohyang.
Most likely that she 's involved in the song arrangements.
Welcome to the wonderful world of Queen Sohyang!
Man, my friend, you have come across THE BEST female singer in the world. The beauty, power, and control of her voice usually brings tears to my eyes. The voice of an angel. Her audience engagement is second to none. And I understand she does her own arrangements? I could be wrong. Have fun!
Sohyang's single album was released on Aug. 3. The title track is "Til you love me again," a big ballad from the '80s and '90s.
more sohyang pleaaase 🙏
Welcome to the best! My opinion 😊. You just touched the surface of the AMAZING woman, go deep with her. Her arrangements of songs are always EPIC, which she is very much involved with. You need to check out her versions of, Bridge Over Trouble Water, You Raise Me Up, Lean On Me. Best vocalist, performer, person, I have ever seen. GREAT reaction 👍
Welcome to Sohyang music world^^
This was her personal view of the traditional song she wanted to present to the audience, there are more than 3000 ones, this is hers.
She is a vocal goddess😊
the vocal goddess
Hello, new subscriber. Most important to know; Sohyang does all of her own arrangements, together with a small team, and especially for her performances in these TV Contest festivals. She determines the musical, choral, orchestral, staging, and lighting arrangements. Here you are seeing a glimpse of this lady's musical genius and her spectacular Coloratura Soprano voice. Notice that she paid respect to the traditional Folk song, even by having an audience Sing-along segment. When David Foster saw her performance of "I Have Nothing" he sought her out. There is an amazing world that just opened up for you - if you will step into it. If so, enjoy the trip.
Cheers.
We all wonder if Sohyang is human or from another planet. Current odds are that she’s from another planet, with an outside chance she’s actually an angel come down from Heaven. 😇 We have never heard anyone sing like her, or be able to hold an audience in the palm of her hand until she lets them go. Her voice is, as one person described it, like liquid gold. Perfection in clarity and pitch, and she doesn’t fade in the upper octaves, which is startling when you hear her hit those 5th and 6th octave notes with such _POWER_ it actually gives everyone goose bumps-and makes us bald guys’ hair stand on end! As she says, her voice “is from God.” She does all the musical arrangements herself, with the input of her in-law family and musical assistants, teaches vocal technique at a South Korean university and speaks four languages: Korean, English, Vietnamese and Chinese, as well as reading French and Greek!
Let me catch my breath. OK.
She is a cancer survivor from uterine cancer at the age of 20, just after getting married, and states very plainly that God saved her life due to the prayers of her church. But this left her without the ability to have children so she decided to dedicate her life to being a Contemporary Christian Gospel singer and has refused recording contracts from the biggest corporations in the world. She only wants to sing for charities, churches and while doing missionary work, to strengthen those suffering through difficult times. David Foster, Josh Groban, Michael Bolton and others have all eagerly worked with her when they were in Asia.
She contracted hepatitis B from a blood transfusion during her cancer surgery and it clings to her to this day. Because of this she is prone to catching pneumonia but has sang perfectly while suffering from it in her live performance of “You Raise Me Up” before Shane Filan of Westlife on South Korean TV: ruclips.net/video/te_L9ofhUt8/видео.html She has asked those who love her singing to pray that God keep pneumonia away from her, she has suffered from it on so many occasions. Imagine how she must feel with this coronavirus floating around everywhere!
She just turned 46 on April 5, 2024, though in Korean culture she would be 47 because you are deemed to be one year old when you are born. She was about 37 when she sang this version of “Arirang Alone,” their unofficial national anthem based on a 600 year old folk song expressing their desire to reunify north and south: vimeo.com/308253527
While being sick with pneumonia eight times from 2016 through to 2020, and considering giving up singing altogether, she decided to enter a televised singing contest called “King of the Masked Singers” in 2017 and won six consecutive times, which has catapulted her into international attention from the performances being posted on RUclips.
Whitney Houston’s former manager saw her on RUclips and showed her to Oprah Winfrey, who brought her to David Foster’s attention. Foster then contacted Sohyang and went to Japan in order to have her perform eight concerts with him at Tokyo’s famous Blue Note Club in late-2018. For those who don't know, David Foster was Whitney Houston's producer for some of her songs, wrote "I Have Nothing," her most iconic song, and is the most famous and influential music producer in the world. He places Sohyang right beside Whitney and the rest of the top tier divas.
Here is the interview where Sohyang related the events: ruclips.net/video/EqeE_1nP-Kk/видео.html (Be sure to turn on English subtitles.)
Here is the version of “I Have Nothing” Oprah, David Foster, Whitney's former manager and the rest watched on RUclips: ruclips.net/video/T4UyIMkdy4M/видео.html
She preceded it with this blockbuster: vimeo.com/312061203
She could be an international Super Star if she wanted to be but has decided that it would ruin her spiritually, quoting Proverbs 16:25 “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.”
In a South Korean television interview Sohyang conceded that she struggled with her desire for fame for a number of years, going into the basement in her home numerous times and closing the door so she could complain vehemently to God that He was holding her back from becoming famous due to her health problems and other unforeseeable events. Then she later saw a Korean TV drama where the talented daughter of a very successful businessman was positive she would take over when her father retired. But he left the management of the company to a woman she hated, so she had a fit and lay kicking and screaming on the floor. Sohyang says she saw herself in that young woman and then understood that God was keeping her from developing self-destructive character by withholding international celebrity status from her. ruclips.net/video/rl-jX9kBsEs/видео.html (Again, turn on English subtitles.)
So as a consequence she does not pursue fame or fortune and actually has no interactive social media presence whatsoever.
What can one say about such a person? She is a literal Wonder Woman! And we need about a billion more just like her! And whether Sohyang likes it or not, fame has found her, run her over and then backed up and run over her again!
On Oct. 5, 2020, it was revealed that Sohyang turned down _yet another_ contract offer, this time from Sony Music US. www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20200921000995
“Debuting in [the] US was my utmost goal for the past 20 years. But when I got a call from the US agency, I politely rejected, as I realized that what I wanted most was not becoming famous,” she said.
“I think singers are very susceptible to arrogance, especially when they hear the screaming from crowds on stage. It can make you feel like as if you’ve become God.”
“And I’m perfectly okay with sharing my music via RUclips, which can reach tens of millions of people all over the world without making me feel stuck up. Maybe that’s why I was born in this era.”
Sohyang is just the most amazing singer, Christian and human being. She is beautiful both inside and out, and so humble and genuine, with a stage charisma, facial expressions and smile that is off the charts.
In Korean dictionaries 소향--Sohyang--has several meanings.
• First is a type of Korean traditional music.
• Second is to burn incense on a burner.
• Third is to go toward.
But these meanings are rarely used today. Sohyang is also the name of a heroine in a Korean traditional novel. Yet for the definitive answer Sohyang has stated in an interview that her name means "enjoy the light." Her grandmother named her.
Please analyze her performance of “Bridge Over Troubled Water”: ruclips.net/video/C6iHh4yBxCo/видео.html
Also, please react to her version of “The Power of Love”: ruclips.net/video/LrNkVRrK7_I/видео.html
Plus this beautiful duet with her friend Lee Hi where they do Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons’ “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You”: vimeo.com/439148918
And this version of her singing “Oh Holy Night”: vimeo.com/322716334
Here she performs “Lean On Me” before Michael Bolton, who called her a vocal “virtuoso” after her performance: ruclips.net/video/GvsgCllcNPE/видео.html
Wait until you see her duet of David Foster's “The Prayer” with Jeong Ui Geu: ruclips.net/video/rte-q3kunp8/видео.html
Her performance of "Fate" in Korean requires no translation: vimeo.com/198161448
And finally “Will You Be There”: ruclips.net/video/nBdSpexUxik/видео.html
Here’s an English language interview with her that I’m sure you will enjoy: ruclips.net/video/N2u_pmoWxj8/видео.html Her English is perfect when she sings and almost perfect when she is doing interviews.
OK, I’ll stop gushing now.
Well, one more gush. In an interview with a Turkish music producer Sohyang's assistants revealed (a bit to her chagrin, as she is a self-effacing person) that she can hit Eb7 and D7 in practise. However, she never goes above the 6th octave in performances. Since she starts at D3 that is more than a 4 octave range ... so how about them apples???! Here it is: ruclips.net/video/VnPAkryrygQ/видео.html I know, bananas isn’t it?
Oh, I just remembered, she is also a published fantasy novelist and has a theological treatise on the Book of Revelation in print. In addition, she is a very good stage actress, which she proved by playing Julie Andrews’ part in the South Korean stage production of “The Sound of Music.” Moreover, she sang the “Moana” part in the Korean version of the Disney film, does the musical vocals for many South Korean television dramas, and is a talented artist and cartoonist. She taught herself English by watching Disney's "The Little Mermaid" 'about one hundred times' when she was just a kid, speaks English with a _perfect_ North American accent and has an outgoing and bubbly personality.
She can also play the piano and guitar. Is there anything this genius level woman can’t do? Ironically, Sohyang stated in another interview that both she and her in-law family were surprised to discover that she could sing so excellently!
Though she is maybe 5' 4" and only about 100 pounds, Sohyang simply transcends the thresholds of music and takes you there with her. She becomes the song when she sings it, and then re-emerges when she is done. An experience like no other. I don’t know what else to say. I’ve spent _entire days_ listening to her, and shed more than a few tears of joy along the way.
I really must also compliment the choir, orchestra and audio/video production people Sohyang works with. They are all top notch from what I can see and hear, and that is important to note as these are _essential_ elements of any great musical production. The Korean people are easily as talented as anyone else.
As you can see, I am a shameless fan. 😉
She co-arranges most of her performances
thanks for awesome reaction. did you hear her new song 'til you love me again'
Not yet!
Arirang has no direct translation to English but the idea it represents is along the lines of very hard work or diligent struggle. The song is based on a Korean folk song that has evolved over a period of 600 years and now is an allegory for their desire to reunite north and south. Sohyang, her family and musical associates do all the arrangements on all of the songs she covers.
Sohyang is difficult to rationally explain. She might have died from cervical cancer when she was 20 but credits God with her healing. Yet a bad blood transfusion at the time of the surgery left her with hepatitis B. Normally that is easily cured with antibiotics but this was the rare incurable variety so it plagues her to this day with a compromised immune system and she contracts pneumonia rather often. For a four year period from 2016 to 2020 she was battling it eight different times and was almost out of circulation in the musical community. Thus Sohyang knows what it is to be chronically ill for a lengthy period of time but again credits God with teaching her invaluable spiritual lessons from it. She has largely been fine since then but did come down with covid19 for two weeks in the summer of 2022. Thankfully she recovered well and at the age of 46 sings as excellently today as she ever has. You are right when the thought comes to mind that there is no way this woman is 46! She looks 10 or 15 years younger, at least! But it is true. She was born on April 5, 1978! 🤷♂
Professional "super star" level music producers (David Foster), singers (Michael Bolton and Josh Groban), teachers (Seth Riggs) and vocal coaches by the boat load are pretty well stupefied at how much talent is wrapped up in this tiny five foot four inch, 100 pound woman. Sohyang has trained her central nervous system to the point, and developed such articulate muscular control, that her singing technique is perfect. She is considered a master singer. Literally. Again Sohyang gives the credit to the divine entity, stating her voice "is from God." Obviously she has taken her singing talent to the nth degree, and tells others who want to enter the world of professional singing that they must be born with a good voice and then work very hard to develop it. But this barely scratches the surface of who Sohyang is and how talented she is on stage. Her stage presence and body language are unmatched in my experience, much like what Elvis Presley had fifty years ago but different, of course, since she is a sincere Christian woman and believes in presenting herself in modest yet excellent quality theatrical attire and with absolute confidence and purpose at all times.
I have also found these high production value South Korean music presentations to be as good as you will find anywhere on the planet. They show Sohyang in the best fashion possible and these seem, to me, as good as you would find at _any_ of the Grammy Awards in their heyday. When you add a Super Star talent like Sohyang to the show, everyone who watches it is quite rightly blown away. 👀😮💥👌😎🎸🎙👽🛸💖💖💖
My absolute favorite vocalist! Devout Christian and very humble. If you react to more of SoHyang ( pronounced So Hyoung ) you will get more comments teaching you about her.
Appreciate the pronunciation clarification!
SoHyang's magical voice allows her to break the mold of traditional songs, transforming them into uniquely her own!
Funny you say that you focused more on the arrangement of the song more so than the vocals. You actually are focusing on both at the same time without knowing it. SoHyang is not only the vocalist she also arranged this version you are listening to. In the middle section you are supposed to focus on the instrumentals for SoHyang’s voice becomes another instrument.
Queen Sohyang ❤❤❤
좀더 듣다보면 울 듯. ㅎ
😍😍😍😍😍💕💕
그녀를 포함한 특별한 작곡팀이 있습니다. 소향님이 부르시는 커버곡은 모두 소향님의 작곡팀에서 편곡합니다.
Sohyang (pronounced as “So-Young”) she is from South Korea. I’m 74 years old and to me she is the greatest singer I’ve ever heard in my life. She not only a great singer but a beautiful person both inside and out. She first began singing in her local community, with no aspirations of pursuing a career as a professional singer. She was offered numerous contracts from major record companies, but she turned them down, because it would interfere with the plans God had for her. She is a devout Christian and has said that her goal in life is to use her voice to comfort people who are going through difficult times. She knows what hard times is like, her parents divorced when she was in her third year of high school and due to this, she experienced a lot of financial difficulties and was often very sad and she said that it was music that helped her through these difficult times. At the age of twenty she got married and soon after was diagnosed with uterine cancer, which she was able to survive, and she gives the credit to God. She is also an author of children books since 2013. Another thing is that she does all the arrangements for the songs she sings. SHE IS THE BEST EVER
Welcome down to the rabbit hole that Sohyang is!! I suggest you check out Everyone, I Have Nothing, Dreams just to name a few!! She doesn't sing for like fame or money but to glorify God since she's a devout christian. She also says that her goal is to try bring comfort and hope with her music to those who are struggling and sufferring in life.
소향 노래 리액션 계속 해주세요 >
She arranged her performances
Her name, she pronounces like SoHYUNG. That A is pronounced like a U.
이곡은 황성제 라는 한국의 유명한 작곡가가 편곡을 하였습니다. 그러나 편곡의 아이디어는 대부분 소향과 함께 합니다. 이곡의 주된 리듬은 "굿거리 장단"이라는 한국 전통의 리듬을 기반으로 합니다.
Please react to Sohyang's many original songs and cover songs.