Rain is making a extremely anticipated return to the U.S. after almost 15 years — and he is thrilled about it.
Earlier than there have been Okay-pop heavy hitters like BTS — and member Jung Kook taking over the TODAY plaza — Blackpink, Twice, Le Sserafim and Seventeen, amongst others, Rain was the Okay-pop sensation paving the best way for the South Korean style.
Rain, whose actual identify is Jung Ji-hoon, has been making music since he was 16 years outdated, along with starring in hit Okay-dramas and films like “Alongside With the Gods” and “The Final 49 Days.” Now, the 41-year-old is celebrating his decades-long profession by sharing his music with U.S. followers all through his “Nonetheless Raining” tour.
“I’m so excited,” Rain says in English by way of Zoom, earlier than talking in Korean with a translator. “I missed my followers within the U.S. … I’m simply actually comfortable to have the ability to carry out once more. Okay-pop has turn into a world style.”
From Jung Ji-hoon, to Fanclub, to Rain
Born in Seosan, South Korea, Rain’s given identify is Jung Ji-hoon. The artist started his profession in 1998 as a part of the boy band Fanclub. When the group didn’t acquire industrial success, he launched into his solo profession.
The identify Rain, he stated, was given to him by his producer J. Y. Park, founding father of JYP Leisure.
“It had two sorts of meanings, as a result of in Korean it means precipitation — like water and rain,” he explains. “However it additionally has the that means of ‘one thing was unhappy.’ It has the that means of unhappiness.”
“And he advised me that the best way I danced form of regarded unhappy, so it had a double that means,” he continues. “However then later I simply used it as a correct noun so that folks can keep in mind me at any time when it rains and consider me, be reminded of me, when it rains.”
Rain’s breakthrough occurred together with his third studio album, “It’s Raining.” Launched in 2004, the album and title observe made him a world success — even getting recognition within the U.S.
By 2006, he was featured on Time’s 100 Most Influential record and made one other look on the record in 2011.
Okay-pop wasn’t on the stature that it seems to be in present instances, however one might say that Rain was the Korean act to know. Billboard even known as him “a pioneer of the Hallyu wave,” the identify used to explain will increase in worldwide curiosity in Korean popular culture. His obligatory army service in 2011 was additionally coated by the magazine, a long time earlier than curiosity in BTS’ members’ own service.
Past his music and dance strikes, his position within the 2004 Asian drama “Full Home” made him a TV star and cemented his title as a triple risk. Then there was his crossover, with appearances in Hollywood movies like “Pace Racer,” “Ninja Murderer” and “The Prince,” starring Bruce Willis and John Cusack.
Constructing a household
Amid Rain’s blossoming profession and gaining superstardom, he additionally fell in love. The artist maintains a comparatively personal private life, not often sharing pictures of his spouse, actor Kim Tae-hee, or their 6-year-old and 4-year-old daughters.
Rain and Tae-hee started relationship in 2013. Throughout an episode of his net selection present “Season B Season” in 2020, he shared the way it “took one 12 months” for his spouse to fall for him.
“I requested her out first, and it took a very long time to get her to say sure,” he stated, in response to Soompi. “It took one 12 months.”
Rain and Tae-hee would go on to get married on Jan. 19, 2017, holding a small wedding ceremony at a Catholic church, per Soompi. They welcomed their first youngster, a daughter, in October of that 12 months.
The couple are additionally mother and father to a second daughter, whom they welcomed in September 2019. They’ve but to share their daughters’ names.
Whereas they preserve their youngsters out of the general public eye, Rain and Tae Hee have labored collectively on varied tasks. The couple have been in commercials collectively for La Cloud and therapeutic massage chair model Bodyfriend, exhibiting off their love for each other.
Reconnecting together with his followers
In only a matter of weeks, Rain can be bringing his “Nonetheless Raining” tour to the U.S. This can be his first tour since 2016, and his first reveals for U.S. followers in 15 years.
“I’m making ready actually exhausting for this upcoming live performance and my music can be a mixture of retro and trending music,” he says, “So (followers) will be capable of get pleasure from it quite a bit. And one different distinctive level is that I’ll be singing different artists’ songs for the primary time.”
The reveals will run for over two hours and “have plenty of thrilling footage, many songs and dances,” Rain stated. Amongst these embody songs by Bruno Mars and Okay-pop group NewJeans.
The live shows are described as “a mix of heart-pounding beats, entrancing melodies, and dazzling visuals,” that may make longtime followers nostalgic, whereas additionally an entertaining introduction to new followers.
“I simply wish to keep in mind the reminiscences that I shared with my followers previously,” he continues. “I wish to do music once more. I wish to simply have enjoyable and revel in this stage with my followers.”
What’s subsequent for Rain?
“Okay-pop has turn into so big globally now,” Rain stated. “It’s actually exhausting to work with all of the dancer groups as effectively. They, themselves, have turn into celebrities.”
With social media platforms connecting individuals world wide, Rain believes his early hits might’ve gone viral.
“I’ve a music known as ‘Rainism’ and if ‘Rainism’ had been launched in the present day, then I feel it will have gone much more viral on TikTok, Reels, on Instagram,” he stated. “Folks would be capable of sing alongside, dance alongside.”
Followers could have loads of alternatives to create dance challenges on social media. Rain teases that he has a brand new album that he’s engaged on and hopes to launch it in March.
“It’s very straightforward to take heed to songs and afro-beat form of music,” he stated “I’ll be shaking my backside quite a bit.”
Reminiscing about his breakout position in “Full Home,” he jokes that he’s “too outdated” for romantic comedies — regardless of telling him that he’s most actually not.
The 2004 rom-com sequence adopted an aspiring scriptwriter whose mates trick her into pondering she gained a trip and secretly promote her dwelling, known as “Full Home.” Whereas on her journey, she meets a well-known actor, performed by Rain, and so they turn into pleasant.
Nevertheless, when she returns dwelling, she discovers that she is now homeless and that he has purchased her dwelling. A romance ensues.
Nowadays, he says, “If I have been to behave once more, I wish to be concerned in motion or thrillers, or very emotional characters. I wish to be appearing out these deep characters.”
It seems he can be mixing each romance and suspense in his upcoming drama, “Pink Swan,” the place he’ll painting a bodyguard to a wealthy household. “I’m wanting ahead to that,” he stated.
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