I am amazed! Sohyang - Fate (First Time Reaction) Sohyang Reaction 

Thank you for letting me know her a bit more. She truly sounds extraordinary. Do you have any suggestions for future videos?

@@fashionblank We all wonder if Sohyang is human or from another planet. Current odds are that she’s from another planet, with an outside chance she’s actually an angel come down from Heaven. 😇 We have never heard anyone sing like her, or be able to hold an audience in the palm of her hand until she lets them go. Her voice is, as one person described it, like liquid gold. Perfection in clarity and pitch, and she doesn’t fade in the upper octaves, which is startling when you hear her hit those 5th and 6th octave notes with such _POWER_ it actually gives everyone goose bumps-and makes us bald guys’ hair stand on end! As she says, her voice “is from God.” She does all the musical arrangements herself, with the input of her in-law family and musical assistants, teaches vocal technique at a South Korean university and speaks five languages: Korean, English, French, Vietnamese and Chinese, as well as reading Greek! Let me catch my breath. OK. She is a cancer survivor from uterine cancer at the age of 20, just after getting married, and states very plainly that God saved her life due to the prayers of her church. But this left her without the ability to have children so she decided to dedicate her life to being a Contemporary Christian Gospel singer and has refused recording contracts from the biggest corporations in the world. She only wants to sing for charities, churches and while doing missionary work, to strengthen those suffering through difficult times. David Foster, Josh Groban, Michael Bolton and others have all eagerly worked with her when they were in Asia. She contracted hepatitis B from a blood transfusion during her cancer surgery and it clings to her to this day. Because of this she is prone to catching pneumonia but has sang perfectly while suffering from it in her live performance of “You Raise Me Up” before Shane Filan of Westlife on South Korean TV: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-te_L9ofhUt8.html She has asked those who love her singing to pray that God keep pneumonia away from her, she has suffered from it on so many occasions. Imagine how she must feel with this coronavirus floating around everywhere! She just turned 44 on April 5, 2022, though in Korean culture she would be 45 because you are deemed to be one year old when you are born. She was about 37 when she sang this version of “Arirang Alone”, their unofficial national anthem based on a 600 year old folk song expressing their desire to reunify north and south: vimeo.com/308253527 After being sick with pneumonia eight times from 2016 through to 2020, and considering giving up singing altogether, she decided to enter a televised singing contest called “King of the Masked Singers” in 2017 and won six consecutive times, which has catapulted her into international attention from the performances being posted on RU-vid. Whitney Houston’s former manager saw her on RU-vid and showed her to Oprah Winfrey, who brought her to David Foster’s attention. Foster then contacted Sohyang and went to Japan in order to have her perform eight concerts with him at Tokyo’s famous Blue Note Club in late-2018. For those who don't know, David Foster was Whitney Houston's producer for some of her songs, wrote "I Have Nothing", her most iconic song, and is the most famous and influential music producer in the world. He places Sohyang right beside Whitney and the rest of the top tier divas. Here is the interview where Sohyang related the events: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-EqeE_1nP-Kk.html (Be sure to turn on English subtitles.) Here is the version of “I Have Nothing” Oprah, David Foster, Whitney's former manager and the rest watched on RU-vid: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-T4UyIMkdy4M.html She preceded it with this blockbuster: vimeo.com/312061203 She could be an international Super Star if she wanted to be but has decided that it would ruin her spiritually, quoting Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” In a South Korean television interview Sohyang conceded that she struggled with her desire for fame for a number of years, going into the basement in her home numerous times and closing the door so she could complain vehemently to God that He was holding her back from becoming famous due to her health problems and other unforeseeable events. Then she later saw a Korean TV drama where the talented daughter of a very successful businessman was positive she would take over when her father retired. But he left the management of the company to a woman she hated, so she had a fit and lay kicking and screaming on the floor. Sohyang says she saw herself in that young woman and then understood that God was keeping her from developing self-destructive character by withholding international celebrity status from her. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-rl-jX9kBsEs.html (Again, turn on English subtitles.) So as a consequence she does not pursue fame or fortune and actually has no social media presence whatsoever. What can one say about such a person? She is a literal Wonder Woman! And we need about a billion more just like her! On Oct. 5, 2020, it was revealed that Sohyang turned down _yet another_ contract offer, this time from Sony Music US. www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20200921000995 “Debuting in [the] US was my utmost goal for the past 20 years. But when I got a call from the US agency, I politely rejected, as I realized that what I wanted most was not becoming famous,” she said. “I think singers are very susceptible to arrogance, especially when they hear the screaming from crowds on stage. It can make you feel like as if you’ve become God.” “And I’m perfectly okay with sharing my music via RU-vid, which can reach tens of millions of people all over the world without making me feel stuck up. Maybe that’s why I was born in this era.” Sohyang is just the most amazing singer, Christian and human being. She is beautiful both inside and out, and so humble and genuine, with a stage charisma, facial expressions and smile that is off the charts. In Korean dictionaries 소향--Sohyang--has several meanings. • First is a type of Korean traditional music. • Second is to burn incense on a burner. • Third is to go toward. But these meanings are rarely used today. Sohyang is also the name of a heroine in a Korean traditional novel. Yet for the definitive answer Sohyang has stated in an interview that her name means "enjoy the light." Her grandmother named her. Please analyze her performance of “Bridge Over Troubled Water”: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-C6iHh4yBxCo.html Also, please react to her version of “The Power of Love”: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-LrNkVRrK7_I.html Plus this beautiful duet with her friend Lee Hi where they do Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons’ “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You”: vimeo.com/439148918 And this version of her singing “Oh Holy Night”: vimeo.com/322716334 Here she performs “Lean On Me” before Michael Bolton, who called her a vocal “virtuoso” after her performance: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-GvsgCllcNPE.html Wait until you see her duet of David Foster's “The Prayer” with Jeong Ui Geu: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-rte-q3kunp8.html Her performance of "Fate" in Korean requires no translation: vimeo.com/198161448 And finally “Will You Be There”: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-nBdSpexUxik.html Here’s an English language interview with her that I’m sure you will enjoy: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-N2u_pmoWxj8.html Her English is perfect when she sings and almost perfect when she is doing interviews. OK, I’ll stop gushing now. Well, one more gush. In an interview with a Turkish music producer Sohyang's assistants revealed (a bit to her chagrin, as she is a self-effacing person) that she can hit Eb7 and D7 in practise. However, she never goes above the 6th octave in performances. Since she starts at D3 that is more than a 4 octave range ... so how about them apples???! Here it is: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-VnPAkryrygQ.html I know, bananas isn’t it? Oh, I just remembered, she is also a published fantasy novelist and has a theological treatise on the Book of Revelation in print. In addition, she is a very good stage actress, which she proved by playing Julie Andrews’ part in the South Korean production of “The Sound of Music.” Moreover, she sang the “Moana” part in the Korean version of the Disney film, does the musical vocals for many South Korean television dramas, and is a talented artist and cartoonist. She taught herself English by watching Disney's "The Little Mermaid" "about one hundred times" when she was just a kid, speaks English with a _perfect_ North American accent and has a bubbly personality. She can also play the piano and guitar. Is there anything this genius level woman can’t do? Ironically, Sohyang stated in another interview that both she and her in-law family were surprised to discover that she could sing so excellently! Though she is less than 5' 4" and only about 100 pounds, Sohyang simply transcends the thresholds of music and takes you there with her. She becomes the song when she sings it, and then re-emerges when she is done. An experience like no other. I don’t know what else to say. I’ve spent _entire days_ listening to her, and shed more than a few tears of joy along the way. I really must also compliment the choir, orchestra and audio/video production people Sohyang works with. They are all top notch from what I can see and hear, and that is important to note as these are _essential_ elements of any great musical production. The Korean people are easily as talented as anyone else. As you can see, I am a shameless fan. 😉

@@fashionblank Here is the link to Sohyang's 2012 performance of "I Always Miss You." I think you will like it. A lot. It starts at the 4:28 mark. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Y557dHLCgXI.html

@@ToddSauve Oh my, she went through a lot in her lifetime. However it is most important she conquered all. It's a shame for any person to have to go through that. I am very glad she is doing better today. With all of those complications to still be able to sing like that? It is unbelievable. Truly one of a kind talent. I hope she is being cherished and respected. It is also incredibly remarkable that she has turned down so many well-profiting offers. She actually is in the music for the music and to heal herself and help other ultimately. I love it. Will be making more reactions to her :) once I get back to my place though, hehe.

@@fashionblank Yes, Sohyang has taken it on the chin numerous times. But she bounces right back, stronger than before. As she says, there is a reason for all these troubles and that is God reshaping us spiritually. Sohyang is now recognized in South Korea as their best singer though it took a while for them to comprehend that their country could actually produce this caliber of singer. Because she isn't K-Pop they didn't seem to know what to think of her. But those who realize that she is a true singer don't care about whether she puts little music candies on the charts. We are all astounded at what she can do with her voice in a live performance! 🤷‍♂😎💘🎸

For the healing! That sounds beautiful and worth respecting!

I'm glad you enjoyed the video. I will do more of her probably in the future heh. She is very talented so I wouldn't like to miss out on that :D

Thank you Janesses, am glad you liked it :)

Lots of people have said Arirang, will probably do that one. I have heard the Whitney Houston cover so I will be skipping it heh.

I will find out more about her voice as I go through her performances :D

Did not make one yet. I had a few videos recordee and scheduled for next week as I won't be home to make new ones, so another reaction to Sohyang is coming in 9 days or so.