Thunder (singer)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Thunder
천둥
Thunder in 2017
Born
Park Sang-hyun[1][2]

(1990-10-07) October 7, 1990 (age 33)
Busan, South Korea
Occupations
  • Singer-songwriter
  • actor
  • model
RelativesSandara Park (sister)
Musical career
Genres
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active2009–present
Labels
Formerly ofMBLAQ

Park Sang-hyun (Korean: 박상현; born October 7, 1990),[1][2][7] known by his stage name Thunder (Korean천둥; RRCheondung), is a South Korean singer, songwriter, actor and model. He is a former member of South Korean boy band MBLAQ. On December 16, 2014, it was announced that he had departed from the group to focus on studying music.[8] He signed with Mystic Entertainment's music label APOP on February 11, 2015[3][4] and released his debut extended play on December 7, 2016.

Life and career

1990–2008: Early life and career beginnings

Park Sang-hyun was born in Busan, South Korea, but grew up in the Philippines. He has two elder sisters, Sandara and Durami. Aside from his native Korean, he is also fluent in English and Tagalog, and can speak conversational Mandarin and Japanese.

His eldest sister, Sandara, achieved nationwide fame in the Philippines in 2004 after becoming the runner-up on the first season of Star Circle Quest, a talent search reality competition. He first appeared on national television when he attended the finale with his mother. Later on, as his sister began her hectic activities as a celebrity, a crew from one of South Korea's biggest television agencies recorded her daily life in the documentary My Name Is Sandara Park. This marked Thunder's first ever appearance on South Korean television.

Sandara's eventual decision to pursue activities in their home country led to their family's return to South Korea in 2007. By this time, Thunder had finished secondary education in the Philippines. It was later on revealed in a magazine interview that he had originally decided to pursue a professional career as a soccer player, specifically as a midfielder. He gave up and instead started auditioning for entertainment agencies, one of which was JYP Entertainment. He had taken dancing workshops offered by Sandara's home network back in the Philippines.

Thunder eventually became a trainee under LOEN Entertainment, where he met IU. He appeared in IU's debut music video for her song "Lost Child" and was also seen in a couple of videos with her wherein they sing Big Bang's "Lies" and Super Junior's "Sorry Sorry."

2009–2014: MBLAQ

Thunder, Seung-ho, G.O, Lee Joon and Mir made their debut as MBLAQ on October 9, 2009, at Rain's Legend of Rainism concert where they performed various songs from their then-unreleased single album Just BLAQ.[9][10] On October 14, MBLAQ officially released their debut single album Just BLAQ, along with the "Oh Yeah" music video.[11] A day later, MBLAQ had their debut stage with their title song "Oh Yeah" on Mnet's M! Countdown.[12] Also in October, he was featured in Lyn's "New Celebration" music video.[13] In November, he starred in a commercial film with Wonder Girls for Cafe Mori.[14]

Because of his androgynous face and modelesque image he was featured in Elle Girl's February 2010 issue. He was given a 4-page spread, where he showed off his unique yet fashionista chic image.[15] In March 2010, Thunder alongside U-KISS' Dongho and Eli and Shinee's Key hosted a new variety show called Raising Idol.[16] In March 2010, he also appears in K.Will's "Gift" music video.[17] Thunder also participated in Mnet's Mnet Scandal.[18] He was also a host of The M-Wave, a music program which aired on Arirang TV with Krystal Jung.[19][20] Having lived in the Philippines, he participated in the cable TV show, Mom, I've gone crazy for English with Nicole Jung, where he was an English mentor to young children.[21] In 2010, Thunder was also chosen to become Alba Heaven spokesperson. It is a job search site, focusing on connecting users who want part-time jobs with potential businesses and employers, he participated in a TV CF which was broadcast on the airwaves.[22]

In 2011, Thunder was made a permanent cast member of the KBS show Imagination Arcade.[23] He was featured in a six-page spread on the October issue of Singles, showing a completely different image.[24] In December 2011, Thunder had a cameo role in jTBC drama Padam Padam where he played the role of Yang Kang-woo, the older brother of Yang Kang-chil (played by Jung Woo-sung).[25]

In 2012, he was featured in two magazines: he posed shirtless for the March issue of Harper's Bazaar[26] and the April issue of L'Officiel Hommes Korea;[27] both were an eight-page spread. Also in April, Wanna Girls magazine named him as new fashionista icon of 2012, along with Jessica Jung, Hyomin and Yong Jun-hyung. In July 2012, Thunder released a self-composed solo song titled "Don't Go" for "The BLAQ% Tour" album.[28] In October, Thunder started his career in runway as he walked for Lee Jae-ho's Coexistence Collection in S/S 2013 Seoul Fashion Week.[29] In November, he walked for Korean designer Park Jong-cheol's fashion show 'Bling Bling Party' as part of SUNY Korea Festival.[30]

In January 2013, Thunder was cast as the male lead in the MBC drama Nail Shop Paris, with Park Gyu-ri.[31] In 2014, he was cast in the dance musical Moon Night, along with Seung-ho and Two X's Jiyou. In 2014, Thunder released his first single "Gone" which he composed himself.[32] In March 2014, Thunder had graced the runway again for designer Lie Sang Bong's fashion show in 2014 F/W Seoul Fashion Week.[33] He released his second single "Monster" later that year.[34] On December 16, 2014, Thunder and Lee Joon officially withdrew from the group after their contracts expired.[8]

2015–present: Return to acting and Thunder

In 2015, he was cast in the role of Kang Hyun-seo in the MBC drama Make a Woman Cry. Starting with this drama, he is being credited by his birth name (except for music-related projects). In 2016, he made a cameo appearance on another MBC drama, Woman with a Suitcase, as Cheondung, a lawyer interviewing for the same job as Ma Seok-woo (played by Lee Joon).

On November 23, 2016, Mystic Entertainment revealed that Thunder would release new music in December. His self-titled debut extended play as a solo artist was released on December 7, 2016, and featured guest appearances by Goo Hara, Basick and Giantpink. Thunder participated in writing and composing all five tracks. The music video for the promotional single "Sign" features his sister Sandara.[35] On February 6, 2017, it was announced that Thunder would be the first Korean idol to star in a Korean-Indonesian movie, titled Forever-Holidays in Bali.[36] On April 19, before going over to Bali to film the movie, Thunder appeared in Indonesian music show "Dahsyat" to perform.[37] It was a success with the hashtag #ThunderOnDahsyat trending second on Indonesian Twitter that morning.[38]

Personal life

On July 13, 2023, Thunder announced he has been in a relationship with singer-actress Mimi, a former member of Gugudan, for four years.[39] On December 19, 2023, it was reported the couple would marry next May.[40]

Discography

Extended plays

Title Album details Peak
chart
positions
Sales
KOR
[41]
Thunder
Track listing
  1. Look at Me (feat. Basick)
  2. Sign (feat. Goo Hara)
  3. Good
  4. Magic Spell
  5. In Time (feat. Giantpink)
24 KOR: 1,300[42]
"—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.

Singles

Title Year Peak chart positions Album
Gaon
Digital
[43]
Download
[43]
"Blaq Cat" 2011 Non-album single
"Don't Go" 2012 97 82
"Gone" 2014
"Monster"
"Sign"
(featuring Goo Hara)
2016 Thunder
"Bomb Bomb Bomb" 2018 Non-album single
"—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.

As featured artist

Title Year Peak chart positions Album
KOR JPN
"Merry Christmas Ahead"
(IU featuring Thunder)
2010 7 Real
"Run Away"
(Vision Wei with Lee Joon and Thunder)
2011 Daybreak
"—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2022 Lovely Voice: The Beginning Musical [44]

Television drama

Title Year Role Notes
Welcome to the Show 2011 Himself Cameo; sitcom
Moon Night 90 Koo Jun-yup[45] Fictional drama
Padam Padam Yang Kang-woo[46] Cameo
Strongest K-Pop Survival 2012 Himself[47] Cameo
Nail Shop Paris 2013 Jin[48][49] Lead role
Make a Woman Cry 2015 Kang Hyun-seo Supporting role
We Broke Up Himself Cameo; web drama
Woman with a Suitcase 2016 Cheondung Cameo (episode 5)

Television shows

Title Year Notes ref
King of Mask Singer 2017 Contestant (as the King of Toy Machines and Robot Fanatic) [50][unreliable source?]
Dream Maker: Search for the Next Global Pop Group 2022–2023 Korean mentor [51]

Television show hosting

Title Year Notes
Raising Idols 2010 with Dongho, Eli and Key
The M Wave Co-hosted with Krystal Jung
Show! Music Core 2011 Ulsan Summer Festival MC with Lee Joon, Suzy and Ji-yeon
special MC with G.O to accompany Suzy
M! Countdown 2012, 2013 special MC with G.O, special MC with Lee Joon
The Tasty One Shot 2015 Regular cast member

Stage

Title Year Role Notes
Moon Night Musical 2014 Lee Min-soo Lead role

References

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  2. ^ a b "Park Sang Hyun (Thunder)". DramaFever. Retrieved February 11, 2015.[permanent dead link]
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  4. ^ a b "천둥, 미스틱 레이블 에이팝과 계약 "다양한 분야 지원할 계획"" (in Korean). Naver. February 11, 2015. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
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  9. ^ Han Sang, Hee (October 11, 2009). "Rain Wows Fans in 'Legend of Rainism'". Korea Times. Retrieved October 19, 2009.
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  17. ^ "K.Will presents his Gift MV". Allkpop. March 9, 2010. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
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  19. ^ "엠블랙 천둥 'F(x)의 무대 기대해주세요~" (in Korean). bnt news. May 18, 2010.
  20. ^ Sang-Hee Han (May 3, 2010). "Arirang TV to present global K-pop show". The Korea Times.
  21. ^ 카라 니콜-엠블랙 천둥, 어린이 영어 멘토로 깜짝 변신 (in Korean). TV Daily. June 28, 2010.
  22. ^ "MBLAQ's Thunder advertises for part time jobs". Allkpop. December 9, 2010. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  23. ^ "KBS 새 예능 '상상오락관' 신설, '가족오락관' 명성 이을까?" (in Korean). Nate News. January 7, 2011.
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  26. ^ "2NE1′s Dara is proud of MBLAQ's Thunder's 'white chocolate' abs". Allkpop. February 28, 2012. Retrieved February 19, 2013.
  27. ^ "MBLAQ's Thunder poses 'L'Officiel Hommes Korea'". Allkpop. March 23, 2012. Retrieved February 19, 2013.
  28. ^ "Thunder releases "Don't Go" for 'The BLAQ% Tour'". Allkpop. July 3, 2012.
  29. ^ "제이호 옴데스프릿, 2013 S/S '환상과 현실의 경계선을 그리다'". FTstyle (in Korean). October 18, 2012. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  30. ^ 한국뉴욕주립대, 오는 5일 첫 가을 축제. Daily UNN (in Korean). October 31, 2012. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
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  33. ^ [포토엔]이상봉 패션쇼 모델된 천둥 ‘강렬한 눈빛으로’. Newsen (in Korean). March 23, 2014. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
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  36. ^ "Thunder Is First Korean Idol To Star In Korean-Indonesian Movie". Soompi. February 6, 2017.
  37. ^ "Tampil di Acara 'DAHSYAT', Thunder Eks MBLAQ Bikin Heboh". KapanLagi.com.
  38. ^ @bantenplus (April 20, 2017). "trending #NapiMengaji #ThunderOnDahsyat #TogethermoreLotteChocoPie #DGITM #BulanBaktiBKIPM2017 #Milad19PKS…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  39. ^ Hwang, Hye-jin (July 14, 2023). "엠블랙 천둥 "♥미미와 내년 결혼식 희망, 양가 상견례 아직"[직격인터뷰]" [MBLAQ Cheondung “Hope for next year’s wedding with ♥ Mimi, a meeting between both families yet” [Direct Interview]] (in Korean). Newsen. Retrieved July 13, 2023 – via Naver.
  40. ^ Choi, Hye-jin (December 19, 2023). "[단독]천둥♥미미, 내년 5월 26일 결혼..아이돌 부부 탄생" [[Exclusive] Thunder♥Mimi gets married on May 26th next year...an idol couple is born] (in Korean). StarNews. Retrieved December 19, 2023 – via Naver.
  41. ^ "Gaon Album Chart". Archived from the original on March 26, 2015.
  42. ^ "국내 대표 음악 차트 가온차트!". gaonchart.co.kr.
  43. ^ a b <천둥> 에 대한 검색결과 입니다 (in Korean). Gaon Chart. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
  44. ^ Lee Jae-hoon (February 18, 2022). "2AM 진운·AOA 혜정·원걸 유빈·2NE1 공민지, 뮤지컬영화 캐스팅" [2AM Jinwoon, AOA Hyejeong, Wongirl Yubin, 2NE1 Gong Minji, cast for musical movie] (in Korean). NEWSIS. Retrieved February 18, 2022 – via Naver.
  45. ^ 엠블랙·샤이니가 90년대 아이돌로 변신, '문나이트90'. Nate News (in Korean). October 12, 2011. Retrieved January 7, 2013.
  46. ^ 엠블랙 천둥, '빠담빠담' 첫회 깜짝 등장…연기자 데뷔. MyDaily (in Korean). December 5, 2011. Retrieved January 7, 2013.
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  50. ^ "This Former Idol-Turned-Solo Artist Showcases His Vocals On "King Of Masked Singer"". Soompi. January 8, 2017.
  51. ^ "Korean mentors ng "Dream Maker" kinaloka ng mga netizen". Abante News (in Tagalog). November 7, 2022.

External links

Media related to Thunder (vocalist) at Wikimedia Commons