Walking With (Korean동행; RRDonghaeng) is the sixth solo studio album by South Korean pop singer-songwriter Kim Dong-ryool, and his seventh solo album overall. It was released on October 1, 2014 by the artist's label Music Farm and distributed by LOEN Entertainment. Guitarist Lee Sang-soon (who has also been known as Lee Hyori's husband) and Superstar K2 runner-up John Park participated on the album as featured artists.[1] The album is the singer's first solo release since the holiday album KimdongrYULE (2011), and also his first studio album since Monologue (2008).

Walking With
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 1, 2014
Recorded2014
GenreK-pop, ballad
Length43:58
LanguageKorean
LabelMusic Farm, LOEN Entertainment
ProducerKim Dong-ryool
Kim Dong-ryool chronology
KimdongrYULE
(2011)
Walking With
(2014)
Singles from Walking With
  1. "How I Am"
    Released: October 1, 2014

The self-produced album features ten tracks in total, including the lead single "How I Am" and the track under the same title. Without any televised promotions, "How I Am" topped the Gaon Singles Chart for two consecutive weeks.[2] The song also won Song of the Year at the 4th annual Gaon Chart K-Pop Awards.[3]

An LP edition of the album, limited to 3,000 copies, was available for sale.[4] As of November 2024, Walking With has sold over 58,000 physical albums and three million digital singles in South Korea (see Chart performance).

Singles

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"How I Am"

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"How I Am" (Korean그게 나야; RRGeuge Naya) is the lead single from the album. The song depicts a man who misses his past lover,[5] and actor Gong Yoo starred in its corresponding music video. After filming the music video, Gong stated "I can't forget the memories when I listened to the music of Exhibition (Korean전람회; RRJeollamhoe) using cassette tapes in my school years. Kim has been my favorite musician since then. I wanted to celebrate by starring in the music video, in my mind to cheer the 20th anniversary of his debut."[6] The music video was released on October 1, 2014, via LOEN Entertainment's official YouTube channel.[7]

Upon its release, "How I Am" achieved an "all-kill" status in South Korea, reaching the pole position on all of the real-time music charts including MelOn, Bugs, Soribada, Genie, Mnet Music, Monkey3, Olleh Music, Cyworld Music, Daum Music, and Naver Music.[8] Without any broadcast promotions, the song topped the Gaon Singles Chart for two consecutive weeks.[9] It also won the first place on televised K-pop music shows like The Music Trend (SBS)[10] and Music Bank (KBS),[11] from October 12 to 17, 2014. This was Kim's first feat since he received a trophy for "Should I Tell You Again That I Love You?" (Korean다시 사랑한다 말할까; RRDasi Saranghanda Malhalkka) on MBC's Music Camp (currently Show! Music Core) in January 2002.[12][13]

"How I Am" was the 51st biggest selling digital song of 2014 in South Korea.[14] Since its release, the song has sold about 900,000 digital copies domestically.[15]

Promotion

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Instead of having broadcast promotions, it was announced that Kim would hold his nationwide concert tour from November 1, 2014. Starting in Busan, he performed in cities including Seongnam, Gwangju, Goyang, Jeonju, Seoul, Daegu, and Daejeon until January 3, 2015, to promote his comeback album.[16][17]

Track listing

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All songs written and composed by Kim Dong-ryool.

CD/Digital download[18]
No.TitleLength
1."Confession" (고백; Gobaek)4:25
2."Those Days" (청춘; Cheongchoon, featuring Lee Sang-soon)4:25
3."My Very Own" (내 사람; Nae Saram)4:28
4."Advice" (featuring John Park)3:32
5."How I Am" (그게 나야; Geuge Naya)4:44
6."Puzzle" (퍼즐; Peojeul)4:28
7."Where My Heart Is" (내 마음은; Nae Maeumeun)4:39
8."Today" (오늘; Oneul)3:30
9."That Song" (그 노래; Geu Norae)5:22
10."Walking With" (동행; Donghaeng)4:25
Total length:43:58
Notes
  • The title of track 2 literally means "The Youth".
  • The title of track 5 literally means "That's How I Am".
  • The title of track 7 literally means "My Heart Is".

Chart performance

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Album charts

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Chart (2014) Peak
position
Sales
South Korean Gaon Weekly Albums Chart[19] 2
South Korean Gaon Monthly Albums Chart[21] 5
South Korean Gaon Year-End Albums Chart[22] 40
US Billboard World Albums Chart[23] 3

Single charts

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How I Am

Chart (2014) Peak
position
Sales
South Korean Gaon Weekly Singles Chart[24] 1
  • KOR: 900,000+ (digital downloads only)[15]
South Korean Gaon Monthly Singles Chart[25] 1
South Korean Gaon Year-End Singles Chart[26] 46

Other charted songs

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Title Peak chart position Sales
KOR
Gaon

[27]
"My Very Own" 5
  • KOR: 402,000+ (digital downloads only)[28]
"Confession" 6
  • KOR: 279,000+ (digital downloads only)[29]
"Those Days" 9
  • KOR: 269,000+ (digital downloads only)[30]
"Walking With" 11
  • KOR: 270,000+ (digital downloads only)[31]
"Advice" 12
  • KOR: 221,000+ (digital downloads only)[32]
"Where My Heart Is" 13
  • KOR: 210,000+ (digital downloads only)[33]
"Puzzle" 15
  • KOR: 185,000+ (digital downloads only)[34]
"That Song" 16
  • KOR: 185,000+ (digital downloads only)[35]
"Today" 19
  • KOR: 172,000+ (digital downloads only)[36]

Awards and nominations

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Annual music awards

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Year Award Category Recipient Result
2014 16th Mnet Asian Music Awards Best Vocal Performance – Male "How I Am" Nominated
2015 24th Seoul Music Awards Bonsang (Main Prize) Kim Dong-ryool Nominated
High1/Mobile Popularity Award Nominated
Hallyu Special Award Nominated
4th Gaon Chart K-Pop Awards Song of the Year – October 2014 "How I Am" Won

Music program awards

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Song Program Date
"How I Am" The Music Trend (SBS) October 12, 2014
Music Bank (KBS) October 17, 2014

Release history

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Region Date Format Edition Label
South Korea October 1, 2014 CD, digital download Music Farm, LOEN Entertainment
Worldwide[37] Digital download
South Korea January 15, 2015 LP Limited Edition

See also

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Footnotes

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  1. ^ Sales for both CD and LP editions are combined.[20]

References

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  1. ^ "이상순 존박, 김동률 6집 '동행' 피처링 참여…어떤 곡? ("Lee Sang-soon and John Park Featured on Kim Dong-ryul's 6th Album... "For What Songs?"")" (in Korean). Donga.com. September 26, 2014. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  2. ^ Chart references of "How I Am":
  3. ^ Moon, Wan-sik (January 28, 2015). "김동률, 4회 가온K-POP 어워드 올해의 가수상..10월 음원1위 ("Kim Dong-ryool Wins "Artist of the Year" at 4th Gaon Chart K-Pop Awards... Topping the Monthly Chart of October 2014")" (in Korean). STARNEWS. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  4. ^ Kim, Min-jung (December 17, 2014). "김동률 6집 '동행' LP 한정판매..오늘(17일)부터 예약구매 ("Kim Dong-ryool's Sixth Album Releases as Limited LP... Pre-Order Available from December 17th")" (in Korean). STARNEWS. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  5. ^ "Kim Dong Ryul – How I Am (그게 나야) : pop!gasa – kpop translation lyrics". pop!gasa. Retrieved October 26, 2014.
  6. ^ "공유, 김동률 6집 '동행' 타이틀곡 '그게 나야' MV 출연 "20주년 축하" ("Gong Yoo Starred in the MV for Kim Dong-ryul's "How I Am"... "To Celebrate Kim's 20th Anniversary Since Debut"")" (in Korean). The Dong-a Ilbo. October 1, 2014.
  7. ^ 1theK (원더케이) (October 1, 2014). "[MV] KIM DONG RYUL(김동률) _ How I Am(그게 나야)" (YouTube). YouTube.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ Lee, Han-sol (October 1, 2014). "김동률, 국내 10개 음원차트 올킬 "가을을 지배하는 남자" ("Kim Dong-ryul Makes "All-Kill" on 10 of South Korea's Music Charts "The Guy Who Dominates Fall"")" (in Korean). News1.
  9. ^ Chart references of "How I Am":
  10. ^ "Kim Dong Ryul wins #1 on SBS' 'Inkigayo' + performances from Bernard Park, Raina, BOYFRIEND, & more". Allkpop. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  11. ^ "Kim Dong Ryul wins #1 + Performances from October 17th 'Music Bank'!". Allkpop. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  12. ^ "[김동률(KIM DONG RYUL) – 그게 나야 (HOW I AM)] 감상/듣기/가사" (in Korean). Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  13. ^ "2000년 말 ~ 현재 mbc 음악캠프 1위, 2위 모음" (in Korean). Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  14. ^ "South Korean Gaon Chart: Online download – The Year of 2014". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
  15. ^ a b Sales references for "How I Am":
  16. ^ "6집 앨범 '동행' 발매 김동률 "방송 활동? 계획無" 알고 보니… ("Kim Dong-ryul Has No Plan About TV Promotion for His Sixth Album"")" (in Korean). The Dong-a Ilbo. October 1, 2014.
  17. ^ Jo, Woo-young (October 20, 2014). "[연예기자24시] 가수 김동률이 진짜 대단한 이유 ("The Real Reason Why Kim Dong-ryul Is Incredible"")" (in Korean). Maeil Economic Daily.
  18. ^ 6집 동행 : 네이버 뮤직 (in Korean). Naver Music. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  19. ^ "South Korean Gaon Chart: Album – The 41st Week of 2014". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  20. ^ Sales references of Walking With:
  21. ^ "South Korean Gaon Chart: Album – October 2014". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  22. ^ "South Korean Gaon Chart: Album – The Year of 2014". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. January 9, 2015. Retrieved January 10, 2015.
  23. ^ "Billboard Albums Chart – October 18, 2014". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
  24. ^ "South Korean Gaon Chart: Singles – The 41st Week of 2014". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  25. ^ "South Korean Gaon Chart: Singles – October 2014". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  26. ^ "South Korean Gaon Chart: Singles – The Year of 2014". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. January 9, 2015. Retrieved January 10, 2015.
  27. ^ "Gaon Digital Chart". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  28. ^ Sales references for "My Very Own":
  29. ^ Sales references for "Confession":
  30. ^ Sales references for "Those Days":
  31. ^ Sales references for "Walking With":
  32. ^ Sales references for "Advice":
  33. ^ Sales references for "Where My Heart Is":
  34. ^ Sales references for "Puzzle":
  35. ^ Sales references for "That Song":
  36. ^ Sales references for "Today":
  37. ^ "iTunes – Music – 동행 Walking With by Kim Dong Ryul". iTunes Store. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
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