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Siwan's cover for "Fly Your Kite" and other famous covers by him

Over the 13 year long career as a K-pop idol, Yim Siwan has performed covers for many songs. The latest being "연날리기" (Yonnalligi) Fly Your Kite for Lee Chan Hyuk's video album "Umbrella".



After Siwan's über successful fan-concerts in Tokyo and Seoul "whY I aM", Siwan was a part of an interesting project album for AKMU's Lee Chan Hyuk . The project involves many artists. Siwan's "Fly Your Kite" features as the third song in the album.


Here is the song in Siwan's soulful-yet-carefree voice.


The original song is by the band 9 and the numbers.

Here is the lyrics of the song from genius.com


[Verse 1]

푸르른 젊음의 하늘 위로

어여쁜 연을 띄웠죠

바람이 질세라

난 바삐 얼레를 풀고

텅 빈 들판 위를 한없이 달렸네


[Verse 2]

당신의 고마운 말들과

벗들의 속 깊은 배려도

밝혀줄 수 없는

내 속의 어두운 공간

사실 그리 대단할 것도 없는데


[Chorus]

에헤라디이야하

내 연을 보아라

인정이 없는 이 세상

너 혼자 따뜻해서 뭐 하려고

에헤라디이야하

내 연이 난단다

묵묵히 너의 얼레를 감아라


[Instrumental Break]


[Verse 1]

푸르른 젊음의 하늘 위로

어여쁜 연을 띄웠죠

바람이 질세라

난 바삐 얼레를 풀고

텅 빈 들판 위를 한없이 달렸네


[Chorus]

에헤라디이야하

내 연을 보아라

상식도 없는 이 세상

너 혼자 똑똑해서 뭐 하려고

에헤라디이야하

내 연이 난단다

묵묵히 너의 얼레를 감아라

에헤라디이야하

내 연을 보아라

인정이 없는 이 세상

너 혼자 따뜻해서 뭐 하려고

묵묵히 너의 얼레를 감아라


Here is romanized korean from ilKPOP.com followed by English traslation using Google Translate.


pureureun jeolmeumui haneul wiro

eoyeoppeun yeoneul ttuiwottjyo

barami jilsera

nan bappi eolrereul pulgo

teong bin deulpan wireul haneobsi dalryeottne


dangsinui gomaun maldeulgwa

beotdeului sok gipeun baeryeodo

balkhyeojul su eobsneun

nae sokui eoduun gonggan

sasil geuri daedanhal geotdo eobsneunde


eheradiiyaha

nae yeoneul boara

injeongi eobsneun i sesang

neo honja ttatteuthaeseo mwo haryeogo

eheradiiyaha

nae yeoni nandanda

mukmukhi neoui eolrereul gamara


pureureun jeolmeumui haneul wiro

eoyeoppeun yeoneul ttuiwottjyo

barami jilsera

nan bappi eolrereul pulgo

teong bin deulpan wireul haneobsi dalryeottne


eheradiiyaha

nae yeoneul boara

sangsikdo eobsneun i sesang

neo honja ttokttokhaeseo mwo haryeogo

eheradiiyaha

nae yeoni nandanda

mukmukhi neoui eolrereul gamara


eheradiiyaha

nae yeoneul boara

injeongi eobsneun i sesang

neo honja ttatteuthaeseo mwo haryeogo

mukmukhi neoui eolrereul gamara


English Translation


[Verse 1]

Above the blue sky of youth

I flew a pretty kite

let the wind blow

I'm busy unwinding the reel

I ran endlessly over an empty field


[Verse 2]

with your kind words

The deep consideration of friends

unable to reveal

dark space inside me

Actually, there's nothing so great about it.


[Chorus]

Eheradiyah

look at my kite

this world without recognition

What are you doing because you are warm alone?

Eheradiyah

my kite flies

Silently wind up your reel


[Instrumental Break]


[Verse 1]

Above the blue sky of youth

I flew a pretty kite

let the wind blow

I'm busy unwinding the reel

I ran endlessly over an empty field


[Chorus]

Eheradiyah

look at my kite

This world without common sense

What are you doing because you're smart?

Eheradiyah

my kite flies

Silently wind up your reel

Eheradiyah

look at my kite

this world without recognition

What are you doing because you are warm alone?

Silently wind up your reel


The word "에헤라디이야하" (Eheradiyah) doesn't have a specific meaning. An old phrase, it is like an exclamation for pleasure.


This song feels like a carefree walk in the park - exactly what you see Chan Hyuk do in his music video for this song. Here is the video cued to Siwan's song "Fly Your Kite".


Siwan has a tendency to pick songs which not only suit his voice but also his personality.

Here is the behind the scenes of this song - you can see how much Siwan is enjoying the entire process.



I am not sure how Chan Hyuk and Siwan choose this song - but it is a beautiful song perfect for Siwan's voice. The details that Siwan has added in the layers (which you can see him point out in the making) give a lot of interest to the song. It's a perfect song to hear in your car as you drive on a rainy day.


Here are some other covers that Siwan has done in the past. Each has its unique flavour.


He likes to choose happy songs - bound to make you smile. He tends to choose songs which are not just normal romantic songs.


Here is Siwan's cover for "Tomboy", at Kim Nam Gil's concert... Siwan had performed this same song in his fan-concert in Seoul - but I prefer this version - without a dedicated band and chorus. Siwan's voice really shines through in this performance. Here's more about this performance.

From another angle, with little better audio.

Here is a picture of Siwan at the show.


Here is Siwan's "The Sound of Rain"... He hasn't performed this song recently. In his previous concerts it was a regular feature. He even accepted that at that time the range of this song was a bit high for him. And YET he kept attempting to sing such songs - till his range became even better than what this song required. Here is my blog on Siwan's cover for this song.


Siwan likes fun songs from 10cm. Here is an old performance of the song Phone-cert

Here is the English translation, the Hangul lyrics and the romanized lyrics - thanks to Musixmatch.com


This is the most expensive solo show in the world 이건 세상에서 제일 비싼 단독 공연 igeon sesang-eseo jeil bissan dandog gong-yeon I am the singer, you are the only audience 가수는 나고 관객은 너 하나 gasuneun nago gwangaeg-eun neo hana Before the glamorous curtain rises soon 화려한 막이 이제 곧 올라가기 전에 hwalyeohan mag-i ije god ollagagi jeon-e Just pay attention to a few things 그저 몇 가지만 주의해줘요 geujeo myeoch gajiman juuihaejwoyo


Change into the most comfortable clothes in the world 세상에서 제일 편한 옷을 갈아 입고 sesang-eseo jeil pyeonhan os-eul gal-a ibgo lie down in your favorite spot 제일 좋아하는 자리에 누워 jeil joh-ahaneun jalie nuwo Be careful not to run out of battery 배터리가 바닥나지 않게 조심하고 baeteoliga badagnaji anhge josimhago Always stay on call 통화상태를 항상 유지해줘요 tonghwasangtaeleul hangsang yujihaejwoyo


Just say the song you want to hear, everything 듣고 싶은 노래를 말 만해, everything deudgo sip-eun nolaeleul mal manhae, everything When your mouth is bored, coffee, popcorn, anything 입이 심심할 때는, coffee, popcorn, anything ib-i simsimhal ttaeneun, coffee, popcorn, anything Don't be too burdensome, listen to me comfortably 너무 부담주진 말고 편하게 들어줘 neomu budamjujin malgo pyeonhage deul-eojwo Or is it because I'm too nervous 아님 내가 너무 떨리니까 anim naega neomu tteollinikka


A song that only touches you 오직 너에게만 감동적인 노래 ojig neoegeman gamdongjeog-in nolae A corner only to make you laugh 오직 너를 웃게 하기 위한 코너 ojig neoleul usge hagi wihan koneo I'll make your heart flutter so you can't sleep 네가 너무 설레 잠 못 들게 만들 거야 nega neomu seolle jam mos deulge mandeul geoya It's now, shout out loud 지금이야 크게 소리 질러줘 jigeum-iya keuge soli jilleojwo


I know your taste more than anyone else 누구보다 특별한 너의 취향을 알아 nuguboda teugbyeolhan neoui chwihyang-eul al-a It's sweet, but it's sad and dizzy (that's right) 달콤한데 슬픈 듯 아찔하게 (맞지) dalkomhande seulpeun deus ajjilhage (maj-ji) But the next song is important, turn up the volume 근데 다음 곡이 중요해 볼륨 높여봐 geunde da-eum gog-i jung-yohae bollyum nop-yeobwa Do you remember our song that day? 기억 나니 우리 그 날 그 노래 gieog nani uli geu nal geu nolae


Don't laugh if I look too serious 내가 너무 진지해 보여도 웃지마 naega neomu jinjihae boyeodo usjima It's not a perfect song for anyone to see 누가 봐도 완벽한 노래는 아니지만 nuga bwado wanbyeoghan nolaeneun anijiman The part I practiced a lot is wrong because of you 많이 연습한 부분을 너 때문에 틀리잖아 manh-i yeonseubhan bubun-eul neo ttaemun-e teullijanh-a Because I'm still so trembling 아직 나는 너무 떨리니까 ajig naneun neomu tteollinikka


A song that only touches you 오직 너에게만 감동적인 노래 ojig neoegeman gamdongjeog-in nolae A corner only to make you laugh 오직 너를 웃게 하기 위한 코너 ojig neoleul usge hagi wihan koneo I'll make your heart flutter so you can't sleep 네가 너무 설레 잠 못 들게 만들 거야 nega neomu seolle jam mos deulge mandeul geoya It's now, shout out loud 지금이야 크게 소리 질러 jigeum-iya keuge soli jilleo


This show is almost over 이 공연은 거의 다 끝나 가고 있어 i gong-yeon-eun geoui da kkeutna gago iss-eo How was it? tell me text 어땠는지? 말해줘 문자로 eottaessneunji? malhaejwo munjalo It's so sad, but I already know you're sleepy 너무나 아쉽지만 졸린 거 이미 알고 있어 neomuna aswibjiman jollin geo imi algo iss-eo Look forward to the last song, the most touching song among them 기대해줘 마지막 곡 이 중에서도 제일 감동적인 노래 gidaehaejwo majimag gog i jung-eseodo jeil gamdongjeog-in nolae


A corner only to make you laugh 오직 너를 웃게 하기 위한 코너 ojig neoleul usge hagi wihan koneo I'll make your heart flutter so you can't sleep 네가 너무 설레 잠 못 들게 만들 거야 nega neomu seolle jam mos deulge mandeul geoya Now tell me what you want most What song? 지금이야 제일 원하는 걸 말해 어떤 노래를? jigeum-iya jeil wonhaneun geol malhae eotteon nolaeleul? want to hear it again? actually i want 다시 듣고 싶어? 사실 내가 원해 dasi deudgo sip-eo? sasil naega wonhae I don't know if you can't sleep because you're so excited 네가 너무 설레 잠 못 들지 모르지만 nega neomu seolle jam mos deulji moleujiman It's an encore, shout out loud 앵콜이야 크게 소리 질러줘 aengkol-iya keuge soli jilleojwo


This is the most expensive solo concert in the world 이건 세상에서 제일 비싼 단독공연 igeon sesang-eseo jeil bissan dandoggong-yeon I am the singer, you are the only audience 가수는 나고 관객은 너 하나 gasuneun nago gwangaeg-eun neo hana


Siwan did cover for another 10cm song "What the Spring" in his whY I aM concert in February.


Here is the full lyrics wit the translations.... as you can see the song is performed in good humour! Siwan tweaked the song slightly and interacted with the audience. He ended with

"Since you all came to my concert... Way to go!"

The Lyrics


What is important about when flowers bloom? 꽃이 언제 피는지 그딴 게 뭐가 중요한데 kkoch-i eonje pineunji geuttan ge mwoga jung-yohande What would you do if you knew when the weather would clear up? 날씨가 언제 풀리는지 그딴 거 알면 뭐 할 건데 nalssiga eonje pullineunji geuttan geo almyeon mwo hal geonde When it's cold, it's cold and clings 추울 땐 춥다고 붙어있고 chuul ttaen chubdago but-eoissgo You say it's hot when it's hot, you guys are really weird 더우면 덥다고 니네 진짜 이상해 deoumyeon deobdago nine jinjja isanghae Your sweet boyfriend actually prefers PC rooms 너의 달콤한 남친은 사실 PC방을 더 neoui dalkomhan namchin-eun sasil PCbang-eul deo They say they want to go, they say they’re terribly tired 가고 싶어하지 겁나 피곤하대 gago sip-eohaji geobna pigonhadae


Is spring really that good, you idiots? 봄이 그렇게도 좋냐 멍청이들아 bom-i geuleohgedo johnya meongcheong-ideul-a Cherry blossoms are so pretty you fools 벚꽃이 그렇게도 예쁘디 바보들아 beojkkoch-i geuleohgedo yeppeudi babodeul-a In the end, the petals fall, and you fall too 결국 꽃잎은 떨어지지 니네도 떨어져라 gyeolgug kkoch-ip-eun tteol-eojiji ninedo tteol-eojyeola ruin everything 몽땅 망해라 mongttang manghaela perish 망해라 manghaela


There's no problem, why doesn't it happen to me? 아무 문제 없는데 왜 나는 안 생기는 건데 amu munje eobsneunde wae naneun an saeng-gineun geonde The weather has completely cleared up, so why do I catch a cold again? 날씨도 완전 풀렸는데 감기는 왜 또 걸리는데 nalssido wanjeon pullyeossneunde gamgineun wae tto geollineunde When it's cold, it doesn't happen because it's cold 추울 땐 추워서 안 생기고 chuul ttaen chuwoseo an saeng-gigo It's hot when it's hot, so life isn't fair 더우면 더워서 인생은 불공평해 deoumyeon deowoseo insaeng-eun bulgongpyeonghae Your perfect love is still smiling 너의 완벽한 연애는 아직 웃고 있지만 neoui wanbyeoghan yeon-aeneun ajig usgo issjiman You'll be kicked too, very badly 너도 차일거야 겁나 지독하게 neodo chailgeoya geobna jidoghage


Is spring really that good, you idiots? 봄이 그렇게도 좋냐 멍청이들아 bom-i geuleohgedo johnya meongcheong-ideul-a Cherry blossoms are so pretty you fools 벚꽃이 그렇게도 예쁘디 바보들아 beojkkoch-i geuleohgedo yeppeudi babodeul-a In the end, the petals fall, and you fall too 결국 꽃잎은 떨어지지 니네도 떨어져라 gyeolgug kkoch-ip-eun tteol-eojiji ninedo tteol-eojyeola all 몽땅 mongttang


don't hold hands 손 잡지 마 son jabji ma don't cross your arms 팔짱 끼지 마 paljjang kkiji ma don't hug 끌어 안지 마 kkeul-eo anji ma please don't do anything 제발 아무것도 하지 좀 마 jebal amugeosdo haji jom ma don't be excited 설레지 마 seolleji ma don't be scared 심쿵하지 마 simkunghaji ma don't be happy 행복하지 마 haengboghaji ma don't catch my eye 내 눈에 띄지 마 nae nun-e ttuiji ma


Is spring so good, you fools (you fools) 봄이 그렇게도 좋냐 멍청이들아 (멍청이들아) bom-i geuleohgedo johnya meongcheong-ideul-a (meongcheong-ideul-a) Cherry blossoms are so pretty you fools 벚꽃이 그렇게도 예쁘디 바보들아 beojkkoch-i geuleohgedo yeppeudi babodeul-a In the end, the petals fall, and you fall too 결국 꽃잎은 떨어지지 니네도 떨어져라 gyeolgug kkoch-ip-eun tteol-eojiji ninedo tteol-eojyeola ruin everything 몽땅 망해라 mongttang manghaela F*@# you (yeah-yeah) 망해라 (yeah-yeah) manghaela (yeah-yeah) perish 망해라 manghaela F*@# it (ooh) 망해라 (ooh) manghaela (ooh)


Here is the famous Pink City cover by Siwan. It's incredible that Siwan chooses his songs irrespective of whether the song has caught public favour or not. Pink $weat's "At My Worst" and a few other songs have been topping the charts - however Siwan chose the less popular song Pink City. I so much prefer Siwan's cover for the song over the original.


Siwan makes his songs feel effortless - and hence they become very easy to listen to.

Here is the lyrics of this song... (Siwan's English pronunciation is flawless!)


We were born in the rubble, yeah We were raised in the mud Yeah, it's hard in the city Where I'm from, hmm Tryna live, gotta make it Make it out of the slum Yeah, it's hot in the city The city where I'm from, hmm

When you're cold and all alone You can build you a city And call it home And when I was lost and on my own I got out of the city And made my own Yeah

Oh-oh, oh, oh, oh, oh Sing, doo, doo, doo Sing, doo, doo, doo Yeah, oh-oh-oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh Yeah

When you're cold and all alone You can build you a city And call it home And when I was lost and on my own I got out of the city And made my own Yeah

Oh-oh, oh, oh, oh, oh Sing, doo, doo, doo Sing, doo, doo, doo Yeah, oh-oh-oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh Yeah


In the fan-concert, Siwan covered another song 큰새 (Big Bird). He gave the song an adrenaline-high by making the audience JUMP!




Here is the set of the lyrics. It has heartbreakingly beautiful meaning.


I have to go through the memories of memories

기억의 기억을 훑어야 해

gieog-ui gieog-eul hult-eoya hae


I have to take care of the night sky I hold tight

꽉 잡은 밤하늘을 돌봐야 해

kkwag jab-eun bamhaneul-eul dolbwaya hae


I always thought of it as a black ceiling

늘 검은 천장으로 여겼더니

neul geom-eun cheonjang-eulo yeogyeossdeoni


the moon rises hard

달은 열심히 떠올라

dal-eun yeolsimhi tteoolla


shows the full moon

보름달을 보여주네

boleumdal-eul boyeojune


I need to add iteration to iteration

반복에 반복을 더해야 해

banbog-e banbog-eul deohaeya hae


I won't say sorry

아쉬워라 말하진 않을 거야

aswiwola malhajin anh-eul geoya


Ah, I've been like this and I looked to the side

아 이렇게 지내다 옆을 보니

a ileohge jinaeda yeop-eul boni


I'm all grown up now and I'm busy living

이젠 다 크고 살기 바뻐

ijen da keugo salgi bappeo


playing adults

어른 놀이를 하네

eoleun nol-ileul hane


Even if you rest, there should be no time to rest

쉬어도 쉴 틈은 없어야 해

swieodo swil teum-eun eobs-eoya hae


You have to pass it safely today

오늘도 무사히 잘 넘겨야 해

oneuldo musahi jal neomgyeoya hae


someday i will be abandoned too

언젠가는 나도 버려질 거야

eonjenganeun nado beolyeojil geoya


In the end, if this is the case, we

결국 이러면 우리는

gyeolgug ileomyeon ulineun


(we) are nothing

아무 것도 아닌 사람

amu geosdo anin salam


Lastly here's Siwan's cover for Snowflower (Yuki No Hana) in Japanese. I could not find a better video (if you have, please mail me!)


Thanks to @chicswan on Instagram for sharing this.




Siwan has a way of finding a great song, giving it his special touch and make it even better. I find Siwan's renditions a lot more open & free. They are easier on the ears - soulful and soft, yet very powerful wherever they need to be.

It's incredible that you can see Siwan in all his covers - he brings himself in all the performances. But as an actor, you will never see Siwan in any of his roles. He becomes the character and ceases to be Siwan. These are two distinct talents - and I haven't seen anyone with both the talents.


I hope I have covered all his covers! :)


Please do reach out to me if I have missed any.





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