Faded Memories…

I had YouTube playing in the background while catching up on work. I’m not usually great at recognizing singers just by their voice, but when a clip from ‘King of Mask Singer’ curated by the algorithm came on, I found myself humming along without realizing it. 🎵

That’s Park Ji-yoon.

It was indeed Park Ji-yoon. While most remember her for ‘Coming of Age Ceremony,’ I fell for her music after the ‘Flower, Again for the First Time’ album. 🌺

Her voice is unmistakable, no matter where or when you hear it. Especially the ‘Flower, Again for the First Time’ album, which I’ve listened to so much that I remember every breath after each song’s climax. Her voice, sometimes husky and sometimes fragile like it’s about to shatter in the wind, perfectly matches her expressionless singing presence. 🎤

Usually, music that stays with us for long is tied to past experiences, becoming the soundtrack to unforgettable memories. But her songs themselves are etched into the past. One such track is ‘Faded Memories…’ Every time I hear it, her expressionless face, seemingly ready to fade away, overlaps with the surroundings. It’s the most solitary and melancholic scene, as if she’s shrinking into nothingness, waiting for her own disappearance. And yet, those who listen to her music find the most joyful melancholy… 🌌

^{* Personally, my favorite part of ‘Faded Memories…’ is the line ‘Breathe within me.’}