generasia:Featured article for 2013 week 18
Younha
Younha (윤하, ユンナ) is a Korean pop / Japanese pop singer. She officially debuted with the single "Yubikiri" in 2004. Younha is the second Korean after BoA to enter the Oricon Chart's Album Top 20.
Younha began to play the piano at the age of 4. She developed an interest in Japanese doramas and began to teach herself Japanese. At the recommendation of an older student in her school, she listened to Japanese artists like MISIA, Utada Hikaru, and Shiina Ringo and soon began to like Japanese music. She began to seek out singing auditions within Korea. She made a good impression at an audition in Korea and signed a contract. She traveled back and forth between Japan and Korea to record.
After a TV drama producer heard her demo tape, her single, "Yubikiri", was chosen as the insert song for the Fuji TV Monday drama Tokyo Wankei ~Destiny of Love~. Younha's second single, "Houkiboshi", was used as an ending song for the popular TV anime BLEACH. It became a hit, debuting on the Oricon charts at 15th, and propelled Younha into the limelight. During 2006, Younha went back to Korea and released her debut Korean digital single "AUDITION". Her first Korean album Gobaek Ha Gi Joheun Nal has sold over 45,000 copies since its release. The repackage sold a separate 16,866 copies.
After two years Younha decided to try a new style and her highly-anticipated Korean album 3rd Album Part.A Peace Love & Ice Cream on April 16, 2009 features a cuter, more girly image of Younha. In December Younha released the second part of her Korean album, 3rd Album Part.B Growing Season this album want back to her piano pop rock and ballad style.
Since Younha's debut, she has released 11 Japanese singles, 2 Japanese albums, 1 best album, and 3 Digital Singles in Japan. She has released 1 Korean single, 6 Korean albums plus a repackage, 2 mini-albums, and 7 digital singles in Korea. Her second Korean mini-album Just Listen was released May 2nd, 2013. She will also release her seventh Korean digital single "Jikjanguisin OST Part.2" on May 9th.
