Rain is making a highly anticipated return to the U.S. after nearly 15 years — and he’s thrilled about it.
Before there were K-pop heavy hitters like BTS — and member Jung Kook taking over the TODAY plaza — Blackpink, Twice, Le Sserafim and Seventeen, among others, Rain was the K-pop sensation paving the way for the South Korean genre.
Rain, whose real name is Jung Ji-hoon, has been making music since he was 16 years old, in addition to starring in hit K-dramas and movies like “Along With the Gods” and “The Last 49 Days.” Now, the 41-year-old is celebrating his decades-long career by sharing his music with U.S. fans throughout his “Still Raining” tour.
“I’m so excited,” Rain says in English via Zoom, before speaking in Korean with a translator. “I missed my fans in the U.S. … I’m just really happy to be able to perform again. K-pop has become a global genre.”
From Jung Ji-hoon, to Fanclub, to Rain
Born in Seosan, South Korea, Rain’s given name is Jung Ji-hoon. The artist began his career in 1998 as part of the boy band Fanclub. When the group didn’t gain commercial success, he embarked on his solo career.
The name Rain, he said, was given to him by his producer J. Y. Park, founder of JYP Entertainment.
“It had two kinds of meanings, because in Korean it means precipitation — like water and rain,” he explains. “But it also has the meaning of ‘something was sad.’ It has the meaning of sadness.”
“And he told me that the way I danced kind of looked sad, so it had a double meaning,” he continues. “But then later I just used it as a proper noun so that people can remember me whenever it rains and think of me, be reminded of me, when it rains.”
Rain’s breakthrough happened with his third studio album, “It’s Raining.” Released in 2004, the album and title track made him an international success — even getting recognition in the U.S.
By 2006, he was featured on Time’s 100 Most Influential list and made…
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