Once in a while I realize how much I love Jongdae. I feel like an absolute idiot for it, but I can't help it. I keep telling myself "you're Minseok-biased, this is so wrong" but - I can't fight myself.

Jongdae hasn't (and won't) overtake Minseok as my bias but I love him and I would protect him dearly. It always saddens me he always seems somewhat "forgotten" except for his excellent vocal skills that is at times just dismissed as "I know he has great technique but ..." 

So here it is, my appreciation blogpost for Jongdae. And this is just me fangirling. 

He's so incredibly beautiful. I mean, I know all of EXO are, but Jongdae's visuals are captivating and breathtaking. He doesn't reek (written with a fond twist) of manly. He's sharp angles and a well-proportioned body. He's just so ing striking, ya'll. His gaze is magic. That's the best way I can describe it, his eyes really have something absolutely beautiful. 

Of course this is biased and all, but I genuinely think of Jongdae as EXO's visual. He is one of the members whose beauty the camera can't seem to capture and still justify him. I don't know, I haven't met him in real life but that's the feeling I get. Petite, muscular, sharp - he's the perfect blend of masculinity and femininity. He's the perfect blend of a human and I know he hides muscles under those clothes of his. Damn, he's so good-looking. 

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Then there's his smile. His demeanor when he isn't at a photoshoot and being all styled. I mean, I know every public appearance is staged to some degree because he's a celebrity and all but uwuwu 

This Jongdae is so ing charming. I love hos his eyes shrink into perfect slits as his smile grows. I love the wrinkles around his eyes when he smiles, it's so authentic. I love the curve of his mouth. He's just so cute. Also, I have to mention - his visuals are beyond this world, guys. Beyond this world. 

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I once saw a post that Joonmyun had said that Jongdae seem to gravitate towards the clothes the rest of the members find ugly or weird. I honestly think that's super charming, lol. I don't know, it's a quirk but it's certainly harmless and it makes him stand out. I'm not always a big fan of large hoodies and tracksuits and stuff like that, but damn, Jongdae can pull it off. 

But guys, come on, nobody can deny Jongdae looks ing hot in a simple outfit. Honestly, I would die if he was beside me in this. Simple but dangit. Yes, that's my thing, now you know. I just ... From my simple research it seems he also prefers jeans over sweatpants and I can't even express how much I agree with that, lol. 

A man who understands simple fashion. What can I say? He's gorgeous and I love him. 

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But can we talk about Jongdae without mentioning his voice? No, we cannot. Jongdae is an amazing vocalist and I'm sure we can all agree he has excellent technique. I'm not much of a vocalist though (even though I love singing) so we won't be talking too much about his technique because I honestly don't expect anybody to disagree on that, lol. 

I never had to "grow into" Jongdae's voice. I also never really heard the "whining" which probably just means it appeals to my taste so much that it isn't a technique I usually pay attention to. (Or it means I'm at anything music-related, lmao). 

Either way, it was immediately appealing to my ears. The more I listen to him, the more appealing his voice becomes and the more I appreciate him in EXO. Probably especially my appreciation for his role in EXO. 

Jongdae can go high and low. He's got a great register and he knows what to do with his voice. Because of this, although he surely also does runs and high notes and all that impressive , I also sometimes feel like he's a bit of a "back-up" (perhaps not as much as Kyungsoo but still). 

Jongdae could positively overshadow many of the other members when it comes to singing but when he harmonizes with the others, I have a feeling he steps down. He's actively making the choice to let the others shine. 

Example: when he harmonizes with Sehun during Tempo he's a background vocal, almost. Sehun shines, Sehun is main in his part - but Jongdae could no doubt overshine him if he didn't have the control and the heart. I mean, surely he's been told to sing that way but I just love it, ok?

Example #2: 

This ing duet with Chanyeol. It is one of my favorite EXO duets so I'm obviously super biased, ok, but I absolutely love it. I love Jongdae's voice in it because he isn't doing super high notes and trying to be impressive that way. It stays lowkey. He obviously has a higher base than Chanyeol but even then, even when he has the ability to outshine Chanyeol in every way, he doesn't. He genuinely doesn't outshine Chanyeol. And Chanyeol gets to show off his vocal skills with Jongdae supporting him. 

Other examples of Jongdae's singing that seems to be lowkey ignored but really proves just how amazing a singer he is. 

THIS COVER. People should listen to it. The lower register it's sung in is so pleasing to the ears. It's soft and beautiful and calming. It seems to prove his vocal skills and he doesn't need to belt out those super high notes to set himself apart. He is there and his voice and his skills stand out for themselves. Honestly, though, listen to his Imagine cover because it is just so wonderful. 

Another one of my favorite covers. It's so soft and the the instrumental is pleasing and his voice is just so soft and sweet. It's just like a lullaby, really. Except the lyrics are sad and a love song. Still, though, it seems people forget that Chen has this register. That he can sing this way, this beautiful, absolutely amazing way. 

I also really love this OST. It has that same soft feeling. This is not to say that I don't like his high notes or isn't impressed when he sings in female key. But this sounds so much more comfortable for him and that makes it seem so pleasing. It's just that pleasant register and he doesn't sound like he's reaching far for the notes. It sounds so easy. 

I'm not discrediting the other EXO main vocalists or anything. I just always feel super sad when I hear the "Chen has excellent technique BUT.." because it's always followed by something that seems to dismiss his actual voice and his skills. And I'm sorry, I really am, but I positively love Jongdae's voice. There are few Korean idols out there whose voice is as appealing to me as Jongdae's. It portrays emotions and makes me feel things so strongly. Forget about whine and different techniques. Jongdae's voice is pure emotion to me. It is one of the only voices who make goosebumps raise on my skin and has me shedding tears. 

What can I say? I love it with all I have. And even though I know people are entitled to their own opinions and preferences, I sometimes wish people could love his voice just a fraction of how much I love it - because even that would be overwhelming.

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And honestly, before I start crying, let's talk about something else. Like how his dancing has grown so impossibly much. The work he's put into his dancing is beyond my understanding but that's just because I'm a lazy girl, heh. Anyway, it is really amazing. He could've probably gotten away with being "the bad" dancer considering his vocal-role in the group and still, he worked hard. 

The Blooming Days dance practice video still blow me away. Like wow. W-O-W. 

His professionalism just shows. His passion when he talks about music in interviews shines through so much and it's so inspiring. The flaws and doubts he also has (again when reading his interviews) is relatable and human and I really like his visions. I think he's such an inspiring individual and I just love that about him. He credits and understands where he needs more work and honestly, that's something I could be better at. I don't know if it's just the kpop idols I usually bias but I have a tendency to fall in love with people who are humble and constantly working on bettering themselves. It's not that I wish them unhappiness or difficulties. I wish they were as happy with and amazed at their skills as I am but the truth is, the fact that they keep going, keep learning, keep trying to understand their skills and talents and constantly wants to improve? That's just so awe-inspiring. 

Also, how can you not love a guy who is technologically illiterate? 

"My friends tease me by saying that I’m technologically illiterate."

That's kinda cute. I'm just saying. Okay, it's not kinda, it is cute. It's super cute, especially in this world. 

Is it okay for you to be unaware of things that everyone else knows?

I don’t really care that much. I seem to live in my own time.

You’re your own self.

I think that I have to have my own convictions. If I don’t, I will be trapped by many things and shaken. It is more comfortable to walk along a path that is certain for me. Honestly, that’s why I’m waiting a bit to write my own songs. My surroundings tell me to try different things to find what I want, but it seems fit for me to start after definitely figuring out what kind of music I want to do. I have the ease of “I’ll do it when it’s time”. I’ll do music for the rest of my life, anyway. Like a fruit, I trust that I’ll ripen with time.

I'm not sure what it is particularly. And I've definitely rambled a lot already about how much I love him and now I think I'm just getting a bit sentimental. Jongdae is inspiring me in the best ways, really. He's kind, he's humble, he's straightforward and he's human. He makes mistakes, he takes things too far sometimes. He jokes around and he probably struggles with things like everybody else. But he's still there, still standing on the stage for us to listen at him. 

What has changed the most from before debut to now?

Before, I was introverted and didn’t have confidence. I was nervous in front of people and didn’t speak well, but that has changed a lot with promotions.

Jongdae has never seemed like the introverted member, the one without confidence in variety shows around s. But I think this speaks volumes about him. About how much he's grown and how much he's just like the rest of us. This is of course just my feelings. 

I know he has made mistakes, I know. But mistakes is part of being human and so far they haven't minimized my love for him. I can be protective and usually I can't explain. 

So let's just end with another quote from an interview and a video, just because. 

I would like it if listeners would enjoy music as much as I release stress through singing. I want to let others know the joy in music.