ATEEZ’s Jongho Releases His First Solo OST for Youth MT
2022 has been a successful year for K-pop boy group ATEEZ. From their mini-album, THE WORLD EP.1 : MOVEMENT debuting at No 3 on the Billboard 200 chart, to the group successfully completing a sold-out world tour, they have truly solidified themselves as global stars. Now, the group’s main vocalist, Jongho is shining solo with the release of his OST “A Fairy Tale of Youth” for the variety show Youth MT. The song was officially released on September 16 but was teased on the first episode of the show, leaving viewers highly anticipating the full song.
Youth MT
Youth MT is a Korean variety show that began airing on September 9, 2022 on TVING. The show involves the actors from K-dramas Love in the Moonlight, Itaewon Class, and The Sound of Magic – as the name suggests – competing in various membership training activities. The star-studded cast including Park Seo Joon, Park Bo Gum, and Hwang In Youp reunite with their former co-stars and forge new friendships. The sweet but, at times, awkward interactions between the cast members are familiar to viewers, especially those in Korea, as university students traditionally break the ice with MT.
“A Fairy Tale of Youth”
In August, Jongho was a contestant on the singing competition show, King of Mask Singer. Here, the idol revealed that he wanted to break the prejudice that he can only sing high notes and show that there are various sides to him. Fans have recognized that the OST “A Fairy Tale of Youth” provided the perfect opportunity to showcase his vocal range.
The track radiates positivity from start to finish with the combination of an upbeat melody and Jongho’s bright vocals. It comes at no surprise that the song is the main OST for MT Youth, as it perfectly complements the chemistry of the cast. The lyrics, in particular, represent the hopeful theme of the show as Jongho sings, “Numerous stories will be engraved forever/ In his shining friendship/ of green youth” in the chorus. Matching the nostalgic activities, Jongho also described the track as having a “retro sensibility,” which is evident in the use of an analog synthesizer.
The song was produced by Studio Curiosity, the company behind CD 2 of the drama Imitation that Jongho starred in alongside ATEEZ members Seonghwa, Yunho, and San.
Only the Beginning
Despite “A Fairy Tale of Youth” marking Jongho’s first official solo release, the artist has a segment titled “쭁ST” on ATEEZ’s official YouTube channel where he covers various OSTs. He also proved himself to be a powerhouse vocalist with a performance on the KBS talk show You Hee-yeol’s Sketchbook.
It is safe to assume that the OST “A Fairy Tale of Youth” is only the beginning for Jongho. As he grows as an artist, there will undoubtedly be more opportunities for the idol to showcase his impressive vocal technique. In the meantime, fans will be able to hear Jongho perform live with ATEEZ as the group is set to embark on their third world tour, “THE FELLOWSHIP: BREAK THE WALL.” The tour begins on October 29 in Seoul, and then ATEEZ is set to return to America and perform in Canada for the first time before wrapping up in Japan on December 12.
“A Fairy Tale of Youth” is available on Spotify and Apple Music. You can also catch the track during MT Youth on TVING which airs weekly on Fridays.
Interested in more ATEEZ? Check out our review of their latest mini-album THE WORLD EP.1 : MOVEMENT here!
