AnChiHwan

안치환 : An ChiHwan (1966 - )

Related : NoChatSa

LINK : An ChiHwan & JaYu

1 Biography or not

He was originally acted in the music commune NoChatSa.

An Chi-hwan may be considered the most important, or at least most popular, singer currently in the folk-rock category.

The first thing that caught my attention about An was his distinctive voice. It seemed to encompass both anger and pain and has a soft but gravelly quality. The first song I heard was on a Hana Music compilation called "Winter Songs". His voice grew on me and I would notice it occasionally coming from radios or on the street.

His recent 5th album "Desire" is a good but farily pedestrian fock-rock album with the empahsis on rock. It seems like music that could have been made anytime after the '60s. There are moments that date the album by way of Kenny G style saxophone or techical guitar solos. However An's strength is supposed to be as a lyricists and since I'm not so fluent in Korean (and don't pay much attention to lyrics anyway) that aspect is lost on me. Occassionally, I am struck by a comparison to Springsteen in both quality of voice and vocal delivery, and the grandness of the arrangements. --MichaelGlass

2 GoBaek(1993); Confession; 고백

CD:2004633

★★★★☆ GaYo, Rebel Song, Ballad

The Student Movement against the Military Dictatorship had existed in Korea during 50s ~ mid 90s They are moving to the NGO in these days. And there are so many rebel songs[or radical songs]. One part of folk singers like JeongTaeChun, KimMinGi, HanDaeSu sang the rebel songs. AnChiHwan is one of them. But he got a popularity. His live is still sold out and his albums are always on the shop. His love songs are sung in NoRaeBang[singing room].

From this album he got the name. This album contains not only rebel song but love song. [Play:AnChiHwan3JaYu.mp3 JaYu; Freedom] and [Play:AnChiHwan3SoGeumInHyeong.mp3 SoGeumInHyeong; Doll of Salt] are the hit song. The song [[[SoGeumInHyeong]]] has very sad lyric. --DisTort, 1999

To know the depth of sea, Doll of Salt gone to the sea.

To know the depth of you, I gone to your blood.

I've melt down as Doll of Salt.

poet by RyuSiHwa, translated by DisTort

• [Play:AnChiHwan3GuiDduRaMi.mp3 GuiDduRaMi; Cricket]

• 이용우 Weiv:947

3 NeoReul SaRangHan IYu(1993); The Reason of Loving You; 너를 사랑한 이유

• AnChiHwan/1993

4 Desire(1998)

CD:2065014

GaYo, Rebel Song, Ballad, Rock

I did mention about his new (fifth) album in the February news. I also said that I wish that it would be better than his last work. Yes, it's definitely better. The arrangements on all fifteen tracks are done a lot more "modern," more of rock elements. Of course, it still carries all of his characters. He wrote most of the music and the words, and used poems from some prominent Korean poets. He still plays nylon guitars and harmonicas.

I think the difference is in the overall "upbeat" mood of the album. The lyrics may be dark, but all the tracks have good rhythmic beats and very solid recording/mixing. I recommend it with reservation to the fan of Mr. An.

[Rant On] One last thing... This might sound like a personal attack, but I don't know why people use LeeJuHwan for trumpets. He might have an experience, but his playing lacks the soul. He just doesn't sound good. [Rant Off] --HongCho, 1998-04-04

5 I Still Believe(1999)

CD:2088686

GaYo, Rebel Song, Ballad

• 신현준 Weiv:104

6 Remember(2000)

CD:2216187

GaYo, Rebel Song, Ballad

• 박애경의 에세이

7 Good Luck!(2001)

CD:2237285

GaYo, Rebel Song, Ballad

• 이용우 Weiv:948

8 Discography

	Year	Album Title
	1990	1
	1991	NoRae HanMaDang
		Songs Festvial
	1993	Confession
	1995	1+2[compilation CD of the first 2 albums]
	1995	NeoReul SaRangHan IYu
		The Reason of Loving You
	1997	Nostalgia[compilation of Radical Songs]
	1998	Desire
	1999	I Still Believe
	2000	Remember[compilation of the lyricist KimNamJu]
	2001	Good Luck!

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