Kim Tae-woo and Lee Hyun’s well-made harmony

A playground for music. "M SOUNDPLEX" launched by cable music channel Mnet on February 26 is a program which says music is about having fun, regardless of genre. This motto has been carried since the show's first episode which starred Indie band 10cm, Lee Juck and singers from singing competition "Superstar K" up till Big Bang's episode which is waiting to go on air. "10Asia" will reveal the process through which this new space and culture for having fun is created, along with stories from behind the scenes, through the lips of "M SOUNDPLEX" producer Lee Sang-yoon.

Lee Hyun and Kim Tae-woo [Mnet]

Few days ahead of the show, I met with Kim Tae-woo and group 8eight at a rehearsing studio. They were going to practice their joint performance in line with the show's main theme, collaboration, and the theme of the week was music by Quincy Jones, the legendary music producer and the so-called father of pop music, who has worked with world-renowned artists such as Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Donna Summer and George Benson. Kim Tae-woo and 8eight, who had great respect for the old musician, eagerly accepted the collaboration aimed at honoring him. Kim Tae-woo, who in the past had often auditioned with James Ingram’s “Baby, Come To Me,” wanted to sing the song again. Lee Hyun chose Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” to heat up the stage. However, we chose “We are the World,” originally sung by Michael Jackson, as the song to wrap up the show. Not only was it one of Jones’ greatest hits it would create a performance which would bring everyone together: the singers, the crew and the audience.

Lee Hyun and Kim Tae-woo [Mnet]

On the day of the recording, rehearsals started at 5 p.m. Kim Tae-woo tried to help Lee Hyun calm down, as he was getting nervous over the thought of singing live in front of a big audience, although he displayed a sense of humor which eased up the atmosphere on set. Then the time came for the joint performance. The two singers sang as if their collaboration mattered far more than their individual performances. Their harmony was in perfect sync with each other, as if doing a group dance, but without losing their individual styles. That is how they heated up the show with Quincy Jones’ music.

Kim Tae-woo [Mnet]

But what we have to take a note of for tomorrow’s show is the impromptu “jam” concert, meaning impromptu performance. The jam started the moment professor Jang Won-young, along with Kim Tae-woo, 8eight and Park Gyeong-rim, started to remember and recollect on the memory of Quincy Jones. It continued with an improvised song about love on a simple guitar riff and everyone else lit up that moment as well, including Park and the session. This is the reason I work in show business -- because that moment turned into a moment I can truly enjoy myself as well, not be the producer of the show.

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Writer: Lee Sang-yoon, Producer to "M SOUNDPLEX"
Editor : Heidi Kim heidikim@ Jang Kyung-Jin three@