Im Chang-jung and Cult's Bill Make a Comeback with a Duet of the 30-Year-Old Hit 'Embracing You in My Arms'

Singer Im Chang-jung has ignited discussions by unveiling a live duet performance of the 30-year-old hit song 'Embracing You in My Arms' with Bill of Cult.

The official SNS channel of Im Chang-jung released a duet live video for his remake single 'Embracing You in My Arms' on the 7th. The video featured Bill (Sohn Jeong-han), a member of the original group Cult, vividly recreating the ballad sensibility of the 90s.

In the video, Im Chang-jung and Bill harmoniously expressed the emotions deepened by 30 years of time through 'Embracing You in My Arms.' Im Chang-jung's soulful vocals blended perfectly with Bill's rough yet clear tone, delivering a timeless emotional impact. After the song, the two shared a heartfelt embrace, showcasing their deep respect and affection for music.

Previously, in an interview with Im Chang-jung, Bill expressed his excitement, stating, 'I was so happy to perform a duet with Im Chang-jung that I couldn't sleep.' He highly praised, 'It's rare to find someone with such excellent expressiveness and emotional delivery. His vocal ability is already the best in Korea,' further amplifying anticipation for the meeting of these two legendary artists.

Released on the 6th, Im Chang-jung's remake single 'Embracing You in My Arms' is the title track from Cult's first full album 'Welcome,' released in 1995. It is a ballad that represented the 90s with its lyrical melody and poignant lyrics. While maintaining the original's warm sentiment, Im Chang-jung reinterpreted it with his signature deep emotional line, adding a delicate piano-centered arrangement and modern sounds.

In a song selection interview released on the release day, Im Chang-jung shared, 'It was my go-to song at karaoke for a long time. I always thought, 'I wish this song were mine.'' He added, 'During the time I sang my debut song 'Already to Me,' I was moved by this song and wondered what it would sound like in my voice.'

He further elaborated, 'It's not just a traditional ballad; it contains the strong energy of rock. You can enjoy both the beauty of the melody and its power simultaneously.' He concluded by saying, 'Listening to this song, I often thought, 'I really want to love someone,' or 'I wish someone was by my side.' I hope you all feel that warm, nostalgic longing too.'

Beyond a simple remake, Im Chang-jung breathed new life into a masterpiece of the era. Following the release of the remake single 'Embracing You in My Arms,' he is scheduled to meet global fans at his 30th-anniversary concert on the 8th at 'The Grand Ho Tram' in Vietnam.

Netizens reacted enthusiastically to the duet performance by Im Chang-jung and Cult's Bill, commenting things like, 'The vocal combination of these two is legendary,' 'It's so moving to see a 30-year-old masterpiece reborn like this,' and 'I got chills watching the live video.'