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It is not easy for music artists to succeed and to become the focus of a large audience. What is even more difficult is for them to turn their 15 minutes of fame into a lasting kind. In a world full of short-lived singers and entertainers where particular style and music go out of date every second, the career that Cho Yong Pil has had cannot be matched with any other. To make a comeback as impressive as that of Cho after 10 years of absence is truly something extraordinary.

The 63-year-old singer and songwriter Cho Yong Pil has been a legendary figure in the Korean music industry. His hit songs such as “Short Hair Girl” and “Killimandjaro’s Leopard” have been on people’s favorite song lists for decades. Celebrating his 40 years in the music industry, he has proven himself once again to be the living champion of the Korean pop scene.

His recent album Hello is different from his previous 18 albums. The song “Bounce, ”which soared to the top of the pop charts after its pre-release, showed how the musician has progressed over the years. He has added some young features such as starring a young, hip rap artist for the first time in his title song, “Hello”.

The initial reactions to his songs were incredible. The young generation, who only knew the artist by name, was amazed to see a 63-year-old man singing songs that could appeal to people in their twenties. People in their forties and fifties were pleased to see their long-time idol return with his original songs. The touch of his traditional folk sounds and emotional lyrics mixed with a young Brit pop style and beat has filled in the wide generation gap that seemed impossible to fill. The song appealed to the majority regardless of one's age.

Another thing that caught the interests of music lovers was the popularity of his CDs. His album was sold out, creating an unusual scene where stores could not sell his albums due to lack of stock. More than 110,000 copies were sold in the first two weeks. It is one of the fastest selling records since the digital market became the norm. His first hits started with an LP, then tapes and CDs, then to digital files; his music has been with us throughout the evolution of the music industry.

The world is fast paced, and so what was once popular becomes outdated very fast. It is one of the biggest fears of pop stars that they will one day lose their glamour and will not matter anymore. That is why the career that Cho has built is of much significance. He has made himself “matter” through the ups and downs of a capricious 40 years. 

The comeback that Cho has made is more than just good music. It touches on people's worst fears of being obsolete, being nothing more than an authoritative figure that has lost its relevance a long time ago. The success of this legendary musician tells the world that one does not have to act out or be desperate to stay young to matter. It is enough to have the courage to stick to one’s original style and to be creative and experimental throughout. It is not just the new music that he has put out; he has shown young singers how to be an artist for life.