Chen of K-pop boy band EXO marked the start of April with the release of his single “Beautiful Goodbye.” The song, released through a music video, fronts his first solo album April, and a flower, which is set for a Monday release (April 1).
Shared at midnight on April 1 in Seoul, “Beautiful Goodbye” positions the month as the final farewell for a relationship. A sweeping, piano-backed ballad, it is an evocative tune through which Chen (a.k.a. Kim Jongdae) uses seasonal metaphors to relay the emotions associated with a tender heartbreak.
The music video for "Beautiful Goodbye" positions Chen singing evocatively in a barren environment surrounded by dead foliage as he is accompanied by a veiled pianist and, later, similarly dressed dancers. Beautifully shot, the clip ends with the image of a solitary flower, a throw to the album’s title.
Though Chen has released solo music in the past, including soundtrack features for South Korean television shows and a multitude of collaborations, April, and a floweris his first album. He is the second member of EXO to release a solo album following Lay.
To commemorate the song’s release, fans trended the the hashtag "Time to Meet Chen" worldwide on Twitter.
Watch the music video for Chen's "Beautiful Goodbye" below.
