Music Monday | Zion.T — 멋지게 인사하는 법(Hello Tutorial) (feat. Seulgi of Red Velvet)

Hello, hello my BAYOG luvlies~ I’m back with another Music Monday post~ Since we’re nearing Valentine’s Day, I’ll be switching our Music Monday theme to more sweet and lovely love songs~ What better way to kick-off than with Zion.T’s “멋지게 인사하는 법(Hello Tutorial)”, which features Seulgi of Red Velvet?~

Kim Haesol (김해솔) is better known as Zion.T (자이언티). He’s a singer-songwriter, rapper, and producer. He’s also one of my top favorite male Korean R&B artists! You’ll often see him in collabs or associated with some other well-known and well-loved names in K-R&B and K-Hip Hop like Crush, Dean, Gray, Simon D, Dynamic Duo, Swings, Loco, etc. He’s also worked with notable K-Pop acts like G-Dragon of Big Bang and Zico of Block B. So background info! He came up with his stage name because he’s a Christian and the “T” was to be representative of the cross. He said he was also influenced by T-Pain too. He made his debut in 2011 in a collab with other Korean hip hop artists like Dok2, Crucial Star, Simon D, Primary, and Gray. Zion.T’s first single “Click me” featured Dok2 and was released in April 2011. He released his first studio album, Red Light, in April 2013. The title track “Babay” featured Dynamicduo’s Gaeko. Like Crush, he was originally under Dynamicduo’s label Amoeba Culture. However, he is now under The Black Label, a subsidiary label of YG Entertainment that’s managed by Teddy Park and Kush. Teddy was a member of [1TYM], YG’s first “boy group”. Like Kush, he was known as one of YG’s main producers. He produced a lot of tracks for Big Bang, 2NE1, and Blackpink. His most famous track is probably the 2014 hit [“양화대교 (Yanghwa BRDG)”], and it’s the one that made him gain mainstream success. Because I’m BTS ARMY, here’s a clip of him [performing it with BTS’ Jungkook] for the 2015 KBS Gayo Daechukje (KBS Song Festival). If I remember correctly, it is a bit of a sweet and personal song to his family. I think his dad was a taxi driver and did drive over the Yanghwa Bridge a lot. I have a lot of faves from Zion.T. My top two faves from him would be [“꺼내 먹어요 (Eat)”] and [“No Makeup”]. Other Zion.T tracks that I love include [“Two melodies(뻔한 멜로디)(Feat. Crush)”], [“눈(SNOW) (feat. Lee Moon Sae)”], [“5월의 밤(May)”], and [“선물을 고르며(A Gift!)”]. Some of my other favorite tracks that with Zion.T include Loco’s [“오랜만이야 (It’s Been A While) (Feat. Zion.T)”], Crush’s [“잘자 (Nighty Night) (Feat. Zion.T)”], Primary’s [“씨스루 (Feat. 개코/Gaeko of Dynamicduo, Zion.T)”], JUNGGIGO’s [“247(일주일) (Feat. Zion.T, Crush, DEAN)”], Zion.T & Crush’s [“Just(그냥)”], and Moon’s [“Walk In The Night(밤거리) (Feat. Zion.T)”]. He was also on the soundtrack for Shang-Chi: Legend of the Ten Rings: [Zion.T & Gen Hoshino “Nomad”]

https://www.instagram.com/p/CX-TG8BIkiX/

Zion.T is a very…unique individual lol He falls under the category known as 4D. He’s also known for always wearing glasses. Again, he’s one of my fave artists. It’s also fitting that he’s besties with some of my other faves like Crush. Dude seems super chill though haha. Oh also forgot I’d throw in the fact that he was a producer on Show Me the Money as well.

Of course, today’s track also features Kang Seulgi of Red Velvet. Seulgi holds the position of the main dancer in Red Velvet. I’ve already [previously] covered Red Velvet on [past Music Monday] posts. I’ve also covered Red Velvet’s Irene & Seulgi subunit and their album [Monster] on one of our first Music Monday posts~ Aside from Red Velvet, she’s also a member of SM Entertainment’s super girl group [Got the Beat] alongside BoA, Taeyeon and Hyoyeon of Girls’ Generation, Seulgi and Wendy of Red Velvet, and Karina and Winter from Aespa. They’re basically the female counterpart of SuperM. Honestly, Wendy and Seulgi are my biases from Red Velvet~

Alright, so “멋지게 인사하는 법(Hello Tutorial)” is a track from Zion.T’s EP ZZZ. The EP was released back in October 2018. It was the second EP Zion.T released under The Black Label. It’s more of a soft R&B kind of EP. “멋지게 인사하는 법(Hello Tutorial)” is probably my favorite track from this EP. It’s a relaxed andsweet kind of R&B track. It’s basically about that beginning stage of liking someone where you like someone so much and want to talk to them, but kind of struggle starting off an introduction or conversation. Y’all ever try to like practice in your head a gazillion times in your head how you’d take that first step and just say “Hi”? I’m sure it’s something we all can relate to. It’s a somewhat sweet and endearing kind of song imagining that excitement and tense awkwardness one feels when we start becoming interested in someone~ The song itself is duet. Zion.T is basically singing from the guy’s perspective, while Seulgi is singing from the girl’s perspective.

You can find “Hello Tutorial” and the ZZZ EP on Spotify, here:

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MUSIC VIDEO & LYRICS

The music video is pretty simple and sweet. It’s basically like Pixar’s Inside Out. We see a little boy struggling to say “Hi” to his crush. Zion.T is basically like the little controls in his mind trying to help him practice and to say and do the right things. Meanwhile, Seulgi is the girl’s little control person. It’s cute as we can relate to the struggle of just saying “Hi”, waving, smiling, or even looking at our crush.

Again, the song is basically a duet with Zion.T explaining his perspective of struggling of just saying a simple greeting to his crush. It’s also about just not knowing how to act or what to say. Sometimes we make lies and try to seem like we have similar interests in hopes of making a smooth conversation and connection. Sometimes we practice and practice, and it seems like it’ll go well. However, we end up blundering when it comes down to really doing it. Seulgi then basically responds in her parts that she is already aware of it because it’s so obvious on his face. She finds him awkward, but cute. The truth is she’s been waiting, for a while at that, for him to say something first. She too has the same struggles and has been practicing to say “Hello”. It’s honestly really cute. I just find it really adorkable. I also just love how simple and relatable it is.

[Intro : Zion.T]
I practiced up until hello
There was no problem till then
But when I stand in front of you, why do I just smile like a fool?
I just need to act like I always do
Like now, so natural

[Verse 1 : Zion.T]
I pretended to run my fingers through my hair
Because my extended hand felt awkward
My facial acting was Ha Jung Woo level
Not happy to see you at all
I pretended we have similar taste
To be honest, I didn’t see that movie
I stood in front of the mirror
And said I love you

[Hook : Zion.T]
Practiced up until hello
There was no problem till then
But when I stand in front of you, why do I just smile like a fool?
I just need to act like I always do
Like now, so natural

Hello, hello
Hello, hello
Hello, hello
I know how to be cool and say hello
But when I see you
Woo baby baby

[Verse 2 : 슬기]
I already know
It’s written on your face
You’re awkward but so cute
You didn’t even say the right movie title
Actually, I’ve been waiting
Actually, I’ve been waiting for a while
For you to say it first
That you like me, or whatever else

[Hook : 슬기 & Zion.T]
I practiced up until hello
There was no problem till then
But when I stand in front of you, why do I just smile like a fool?
I just need to act like I always do
Like now, so natural
Hello, hello
Hello, hello
Hello, hello
Even if you practice, some things don’t work out
No, I don’t believe that

[Outro : 슬기 & Zion.T]
I practiced up until hello
There was no problem till then
I know how to be cool and say hello
But when I see you

Zion.T featuring Seulgi (Red Velvet) | 멋지게 인사하는 법(Hello Tutorial) | Translation: [Genius]

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Anyway, that’s today’s Music Monday post y’all!~ I hope you enjoyed it!~ It’s one of my personal faves when it comes to sweet love songs. Y’all ever struggle to talk to your crush? Got any embarrassing stories? haha. If y’all are looking for more sweet love songs, remember to check out our [BAYOG Lovely & Sweet Vibes playlist] that I [posted last year]. “Hello Tutorial” is on it, and it did make an appearance on the post last year too~ Still, I wanted to go more in-depth and highlight it because I love it so much. Plus, it felt like it was befitting to be our first Valentine-themed Music Monday post this year. Let me know what your favorite love songs are~

Also, on a side note…I promise that novel post should be up this week! I’m slowly getting there… Thanks for your patience!~ Anyway, y’all take care! It’s getting cold out there. Stay warm, stay safe, and have a lovely start to your week!~

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