비 (Bi), also known as Rain or 정지훈 (Jung Jihoon), is one of Asia’s superstars. Signed under JYP Entertainment from debut until just last year, 비 has enjoyed success in the past 6 years throughout Korea and into Japan, China and even America; but China, in particular, loves this guy.
His music is R&B style, something that his voice is perfect for and gives his natural talent as a dancer the chance to shine, and he’s often been favourably compared to American artists like Usher and Justin Timberlake. In 2006, 비 was featured on the song Man Up by American R&B artist Omarion. And although he has yet to make his official American debut, 비 has still held several very successful concerts in America since 2006, and he has snagged himself many Asian music awards.
It hasn’t just been as a singer that 비 has enjoyed so much success; he’s also had a good acting career, starring in the Korean TV dramas Sang Doo! Let’s Go To School (상두야, 학교가자!), Full House (풀하우스), and A Love to Kill (이 죽일놈의 사랑), as well as the Korean movie I’m A Cyborg But That’s Okay (싸이보그지만 괜찮아). He’s also set to make his Hollywood debut in just a few months, in the upcoming Wachowski brothers’ film Speed Racer. This is definitely a huge milestone in 비’s career.
비 is one of the few artists that I admire. I like a lot and support quite a few, but 비 is one of the very few that I can honestly say that I admire. Part of it is because he’s only a year older than I am, yet he’s accomplished so much. He puts so much effort into his career, and everything that he does he does 110%. His career hasn’t at all been smooth sailing, there’s been many bumps and many obstacles, and in 2007 not only did he leave the security of his JYP Entertainment contract and set up his own record label instead, there was also a lot of trouble that would perhaps have ended the career of many other artists, or made many just give it up. But he’s come out the other side of it in one piece, and in a lot of ways he’s better off for it. I admire that, the way that he doesn’t give up, the way he just keeps on going.
His motto is “Endless Effort, Endless Endurance, Endless Modesty”. I think that’s something we could all try for.
Before I give you some MVs, you can have a live first 😀 Here is 비 performing my favourite 비 song, 태양을 피하는 방법.
And now its on to some MVs 😀
나쁜남자 This is 비’s debut single. I love this song.
태양을 피하는 방법 This is from his second album, 태.양.을.피.하.는.방.법. My favourite 비 song!
It’s Raining This is from his third album, It’s Raining, and I think it’s one of those songs that pretty much anyone who’s into Korean music has heard at least once before – or at least the ssss~ ahhh~ bit XD;
Sad Tango This is one of his Japanese singles, probably my favourite of his Japan releases.
Free Way Another of his Japanese singles, this one is super cute.
Still Believe This is really cool! He did a promotion with BMW, and there was a digital single released for it. This is just the MV for the song, but the whole thing was like a mini movie of sorts. You can see it here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.
And finally, I’m Coming From his latest album, Rain’s World.
