Son Dam-bi (Korean: 손담비; born September 25, 1983)[1] is a South Korean singer, actress and entertainer. She began her career as a solo singer in 2007.[2] She also made her acting debut in the 2009 Korean dramaDream.[3]
Career
Son first came to fame when she appeared in a commercial for an MP3 player alongside Poppin' Hyun Joon.[4][5][6]
Prior to her debut, MSN Japan made a video documentary capturing her pre-debut training and rehearsals, which attracted 480,000 visitors in five days. Son trained with a well-known American choreographer in preparation for this album, and people began calling her the female version of Rain.[7][8]
Son's debut single features five tracks that show off her vocal and dancing talents. Her debut single, "Cry Eye", was produced and composed by Jang Joon-ho, who previously wrote MC Mong's "180 Degrees" and Jang Woo-hyuk's "Last Game". The lyrics were written by Brian Kim, who also penned Shinhwa's Once in A Lifetime.
Son joined MBC's reality show We Got Married, being paired with Marco in late 2008 as part of the second group of couples. Their last episode was on February 2, 2009.[9]
Son Dam-bi performing in Dongdaemun on October 2, 2010
It was also announced that Son would be part of the cast for Hype Nation, a film that has been labelled a "world movie".[10] However, as the movie was delayed, Son released an EL with the single "Toyoil Bamae" ("토요일 밤에", "On a Saturday Night").[11] The song became her first #1 hit, topping various on- and offline charts, including M! Countdown (within 20 days), two wins on KBS' Music Bank, and a three-week chart-topping run on SBS' Inkigayo.[2][12] The songs' routine features Son in various 80's fashions, transforming her into a "retro fashionista".[13]
She then starred in SBS drama Dream with Joo Jin-mo and Kim Bum, marking her debut as an actress. As a result of her portrayal in Dream, as the Taebo instructor Park So-yeon, it won her the SBS Drama Awards New Star Award.[14]
Return to South Korea
After training in the United States after "Cry Eye", Son returned to Korea and released an EP, Mini Album Vol.1, with a focus on electronica (departing from her previous style of crunk pop) on April 29, 2008. The lead single, titled "Bad Boy", was produced by Brave Brothers. Kahi (former leader of After School and Pledis labelmate) was her dance teacher and was featured in the "Bad Boy" music video.[citation needed]
In September 2008, she returned with the single "미쳤어" ("Crazy"). The song featured a "chair dance" that has become popular with the Korean public; it has since been upgraded to a "sofa dance".[15] The dance has been copied and parodied by many people, including Hyun Young,[16]Infinity Challenge comedy team member No Hongchul, comedian Shin Bong-sun, and Lee Soo-young.[17]
Her follow-up song in 2009, "Toyoilbamae" (Korean: "토요일밤에", "On a Saturday Night"), was a success.[18] She then released her next EP, The Queen.
2011–present: "Lights and Shadows" and "Dripping Tears" comeback
Starting in 2011, Son starred in a drama called Lights and Shadows. It was first broadcast on November 28, 2011. She finished filming in June 2012, with the drama concluding on July 3, 2012. She also released an OST for the drama called "Everything" on January 10, 2012.
It was confirmed by Pledis Entertainment that Son would make a comeback in Korea sometime in the summer. Eventually, a representative from Pledis Entertainment stated that Son had finished recording her album and was in the midst of shooting photos for the album jacket. The album was pushed back before eventually being released on November 12, 2012. The lead single, "Dripping Tears", was produced by Brave Brothers. The album contained six songs, including the title track of the same name and a 'G. Remix version' of "Dripping Tears." The music video of "Dripping Tears" was released a day after the album. She first performed the song on November 15, on M Countdown.
Son's contract with Pledis Entertainment ended in June 2015. It was soon announced that Son had signed with KeyEast for her future activities.[19]
In September 2020, Son signed with new agency H& Entertainment after leaving KeyEast.[21] In August 2022, Son renewed her contract with H& Entertainment.[22]
Personal life
Son married former South Korean national speed skaterLee Kyou-hyuk on May 13, 2022 in a private ceremony.[23] Their romantic relationship started in September 2021.[24][25] On September 26, 2024, Son announced her pregnancy.[26]
^Kim, Sung Whi (2008-12-10). 연예계에 부는 섹시 의자춤 열풍…신봉선·현영 패러디 [Sexy chair dance craze blowing in the entertainment industry]. 중앙일보 (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2018-08-13. Retrieved 2018-06-02.
^Kim, No-eul (August 3, 2022). "손담비, '손절설' 정려원과 인연 계속…또 한솥밥 먹는다 [종합]" [Son Dam-bi, 'Stop Loss' Continues the relationship with Jung Ryeo-won... I eat rice in one pot again [General]] (in Korean). X-ports News. Retrieved August 3, 2022 – via Naver.
^Woobin (May 15, 2022). "[전문] 손담비, 공효진·정려원 '손절설'에 "좋은 날에 터무니없는 말 많네" [TEN★]" [[Full text] Dam-bi Son, Hyo-jin Gong and Ryeo-won Jeong on 'Stop Loss' "There are a lot of absurd words on good days" [TEN★]]. Ten Asia (in Korean). Retrieved 2022-05-15 – via Naver.
^Kim Jin-seok (December 2, 2021). "[단독]손담비, 5세 연상 전 국가대표 이규혁과 열애 중" [[Exclusive] Son Dam-bi is in a relationship with former national team representative Lee Gyu-hyuk, 5 years older than him] (in Korean). JTBC. Retrieved December 2, 2021 – via Naver.
^Lee Seul (December 2, 2021). "손담비·이규혁 3개월째 열애…친구에서 연인으로" [Son Dam-bi and Lee Gyu-hyuk have been dating for 3 months... From friend to lover] (in Korean). Asia Economy. Retrieved December 2, 2021 – via Naver.
^Lee, Ye-ju (September 26, 2024). "관상가 예언 적중…손담비♥이규혁, 결혼 2년 만 임신 "내년 4월 출산" [공식입장](전문)" [Physiognomy's prediction comes true... Son Dam-bi ♥ Lee Kyu-hyuk, pregnant after 2 years of marriage, "giving birth in April next year" [Official statement] (Full text)] (in Korean). MyDaily. Retrieved September 26, 2024 – via Naver.
"Can't U See" and "Queen": "2010년 30주차 Digital Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 7, 2020. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
"dB Rider": "2010년 40주차 Digital Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 14, 2020. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
"One Kiss": "2011년 6주차 Digital Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 26, 2021. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
"Love Letter": "2011년 51주차 Digital Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 26, 2021. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
"Dripping Tears": "2012년 47주차 Digital Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 7, 2020. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
"Red Candle": "2014년 01주차 Digital Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 23, 2021. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
^Kim Won-hee (April 28, 2022). "손담비♥이규혁, '동상이몽2' 합류… 러브스토리→신혼 일상 공개" [Son Dam-bi ♥ Lee Gyu-hyuk joins 'Same Bed, Different Dreams 2'... Love story → Newlyweds' daily life revealed] (in Korean). Sports Kyunghyang. Retrieved April 28, 2022 – via Naver.
^Kim Min-ji (May 9, 2022). "예지원·손담비·소이현·소유, 스위트룸 도장깨기 나선다…23일 '스캉스' 론칭" [Ye Ji-won, Son Dam-bi, So Yi-hyeon, and Soyu set out to break the suite seal… 'Scance' launched on the 23rd] (in Korean). News1. Retrieved May 9, 2022 – via Naver.
^Shin So-won (December 29, 2020). "'MBC 방송연예대상' 장도연·손담비·붐, 우수상 수상". tenasia.hankyung (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 31, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
