“Even so, I liked you for who you are. We were meant to meet like a destiny, because from the start, we weren’t feel awkward with each other as if we were long-time friend.” –Kim Gun Mo, First Impression [translated lyrics]

Kim Gun Mo, penyanyi legendaris Korea Selatan ini telah melahirkan banyak lagu hits yang terbukti tak lekang dimakan waktu dalam sejarah industri musik negeri ginseng tersebut. Lagu-lagu hits-nya pun telah sering ditampilkan dalam program acara musik “Immortal Songs 2: Singing the Legend”, terlepas dari edisi spesial yang menampilkan dirinya sebagai legenda. Salah satu lagu yang paling banyak dibawakan adalah hits-nya yang bertajuk “First Impression”. Hingga tulisan ini dibuat, “First Impression” telah ditampilkan sebanyak tiga kali dalam program “Immortal Songs 2”. Yang pertama adalah pada episode perdana, yaitu pilot episode dengan tema “The Song of My Life”, di mana lagu ini ditampilkan oleh Changmin, salah satu personel vocal group 2AM. Yang kedua adalah pada bagian kedua dari edisi spesial Kim Gun Mo, yaitu episode 42, di mana lagu ini dibawakan oleh rock band papan atas Korea Selatan, No Brain. Yang ketiga adalah pada episode 134 yang merupakan bagian pertama dari edisi spesial tahun baru 2014, “The Rival”, di mana lagu ini ditampilkan oleh Hyorin, vokalis utama dari girl group Sistar.

“First Impression” is a song about love at first sight; in which only possible to happen because of deep first impression. Everyone has their own personal preference of someone that they might like, a certain type that could attract their attention. But one day, this man meets this girl. And this one girl is different. She’s the polar opposite of everything that he used to imagine about this girl. “I had imagined that you would have long hair and wear a long skirt. But you had short hair and wore torn jeans, that was my first impression of you. A quiet music was playing in the room, and there was a rose on the table. You were leaning against that white table, and your presence got me all flustered.” Somehow, that unique appearance is the attractive charming point of this girl. Somehow, every move and gesture of her make him all nervous. At once, she got him. “Even so, I liked you for who you are. We were meant to meet like a destiny, because from the start, we weren’t feel awkward with each other as if we were long-time friend.” Suddenly that meeting feels like a destiny. And as they’re getting to know each other, the more he is attracted to her. The same easy-going personality, the similar way of thinking, they belong to each other. There’s no awkwardness and it feels like they’ve been known each other for so long even though that is just their first meeting. They’re comfortable with each other since the beginning. And then he realizes, that maybe this is love; love at first sight. “I can read you just by looking into your eyes, you don’t need to say anything. Perhaps this is what they call love, I fell in love with you at the first sight.”

Dirilis pertama kali pada tahun 1992, “First Impression” merupakan bagian dari album debut Kim Gun Mo yang bertajuk “Picture Painted After Parting”. Produser dan komposer ternama Kim Chang Hwan memproduksi dan mengomposisi sebagian besar lagu dalam album tersebut. Versi original lagu ini merupakan lagu funky pop R n’ B dengan medium tempo. Campuran genre tersebut merupakan pelopor pada zamannya, identik dengan image Kim sebagai music trend-setter pada waktu itu. Known as Stevie Wonder of South Korea, with his unique voice, Kim is a singer with an irresistible charm who represents the Generation X of the 90s. Pada dekade 90-an tersebut, kejayaan Kim salah satunya ditandai dengan persaingannya dengan Shin Seung Hun, the Emperor of ballad. They both are two legendary singers of the 90s with million-seing albums. Moreover, they’re both partners and rivals. Persaingan inilah yang kemudian menjadi latar belakang ditampilkannya lagu “First Impression” pada episode 134, di mana lagu ini dibawakan oleh Hyorin, sementara lagu hits milik Shin Seung Hun dibawakan oleh Ailee. Just like Kim and Shin back then, Hyorin and Ailee are both partners and rivals.

Hyorin mengaransemen lagu “First Impression” menjadi sebuah lagu pop R n’ B dance dengan medium tempo. Seperti biasanya, penampilannya jauh dari kata mengecewakan; menonjolkan baik kemampuan vokal sekaligus dance power Hyorin yang seksi dan memukau. Sedangkan pada episode 42, No Brain dengan berani dan lantang menunjukkan sisi yang berbeda dari lagu “First Impression” dalam performa mereka. Dengan aransemen gospel rock ballad, mereka mengusung konsep gothic dengan tema “Count Dracula’s forbidden love at first sight”. Konsep ini adalah pertama kalinya bagi No Brain. They turn the delightful song into a cathedral song. They sing as if the love is messed up and one sided. Like an outcry for the twisted and messed up love, their version of “First Impression” encroaches our souls. Sementara itu, pada episode satu, Changmin membawakan lagu ini dengan aransemen pop jazz bossanova dengan medium tempo. Berbeda dengan versi Hyorin yang dinamicly upbeat dan versi No Brain yang menghentak-hentak, “First Impression” versi Changmin jauh lebih kalem dan lembut.

Sebagai catatan, episode perdana “Immortal Songs 2” mengudara pada tanggal 4 Juni 2011 di stasiun televisi KBS. Sementara itu, episode 42 ditayangkan pada tanggal 17 Maret 2012 di stasiun televisi KBS, serta pada tanggal 7 April 2012 di channel KBS World. Sedangkan episode 134 mengudara di stasiun televisi KBS pada tanggal 4 Januari 2014, serta di channel KBS World pada tanggal 25 Januari 2014. Dari seluruh versi yang ada, saya paling menyukai “First Impression” versi remake oleh No Brain, not to mention that I also adore Kim Gun Mo’s original version. Aransemen rock ballad memang yang paling memenuhi selera saya dibandingkan genre musik lainnya. Terlebih lagi, No Brain menampilkannya dengan luar biasa. Aksi panggung yang memukau dan penuh percaya diri, ditambah aransemen musik yang tanpa cela dengan memanfaatkan melodi dasar lagu “First Impression” yang memang sangat ear-catchy, they’re just perfect. After all, it’s the power of the original song. “First Impression” indeed is an everlasting hits that could always give pleasures to your ears.

“I can read you just by looking into your eyes, you don’t need to say anything. Perhaps this is what they call love, I fell in love with you at the first sight.” –Kim Gun Mo, First Impression [translated lyrics]

“Ginmeori ginchimareul ibeun nan neoreul sangsanghago isseotjiman

(I had imagined that you would have long hair and wear a long skirt)

Jjarbeun meorie jjijeojin cheongbajiga neoui cheotinsangieosseo

(But you had short hair and wore torn jeans, that was my first impression of you)

Joyonghan eumagi heureugo jangmikkot hansongiga nohyeojin

(A quiet music was playing in the room, and there was a rose on the table)

Hayan takjae gidaeanjeun moseubi nal danghwanghage mandeureosseotji

(You were leaning against that white table, and your presence got me all flustered)

Geureon nan nega johasseo yaksokdoen mannamieosseulkkeoya

(Even so, I liked you for who you are, we were meant to meet like a destiny)

Cheoeumbuteo aju oraen chingucheoreom urin eosaekhami eobseosseunikka

(Because from the start, we weren’t feel awkward with each other as if we were long-time friends)

Nunbicheul bomyeon nan al suga isseo amureon maldo pillyochi anha

(I can read you just by looking into your eyes, you don’t need to say anything)

Ireonge ama sarangilgeoya cheotnune banhaebeorin sarang

(Perhaps this is what they call love, I fell in love with you at the first sight)”