Day by Day – Fly to the Sky
🎶 Introduction
By the late 1990s, K-pop was full of energetic idol groups and dance hits. But among them, one duo stood out for their vocal ability and emotional depth: Fly to the Sky (플라이 투 더 스카이). Their 1999 debut song “Day By Day” showcased the duo’s soulful voices and quickly established them as one of Korea’s leading R&B ballad teams.
🌟 Artist & Song Background
Fly to the Sky debuted under SM Entertainment in 1999, consisting of members Brian Joo and Hwanhee. While they were marketed alongside idol groups, their music leaned heavily toward R&B and emotional ballads.
“Day By Day” was their debut track, and it left a strong impression with heartfelt lyrics and powerful high notes. It marked the beginning of their long career as one of Korea’s top male vocal duos.
📖 M/V & Lyrics
| 오늘 하루 어땠나요 괜찮았나요 어제는 너무 늦어서 전활 할 수 없었죠 괜시리 수화길 들었다 또 놨다 그렇게 밤을 지새웠어요 조금 우습죠 당신 하루 생활이 난 궁금했어요 잠잘 땐 나처럼 베갤 끌어안고 자는지 가끔은 잠에서 깨보면 TV만 외로이 홀로 켜져 있는지 별거 아닌데 나는 궁금했어요 당신이 좋아지는 거겠죠 그런데 난 이 말을 하기가 Oh baby 힘이 든 건지 아님 용기가 없어서 자꾸만 피하는지 사랑해요 아니 모자라지요 내 안에 사랑 보여 줄 수 있는 날 기다려요 아주 천천히 많이 꺼내 들고서 앞에 서 있을 그 날 손을 뻗어 당신께 난 갔어요 꿈인 줄 알았지만 멈출 수는 없었지요 내 몸에서 느껴지는 떨림을 도저히 멈출 수가 없어요 난 당신께 솔직히 내 맘을 털어놔요 사랑해요 아니 모자라지요 내 안의 사랑 보여 줄 수 있는 날 기다려요 아주 천천히 많이 꺼내 들고서 앞에 서 있을 그 날 Day by day 나보다 더 소중한 I still long for your love Day by day | How was your day today? Was it alright? Yesterday, it got too late, so I couldn’t call you. I kept picking up the phone, then putting it back down— and that’s how I spent the night. A little silly, isn’t it? I was curious about your day— when you sleep, do you hug your pillow like I do? Sometimes, when you wake in the night, is the TV left on, glowing all alone? It’s nothing much, but still… I guess I’m becoming more fond of you. But somehow, saying those words, oh baby, feels so hard for me. Am I avoiding it because it’s difficult, or just because I lack the courage? I love you—no, even that’s not enough. I wait for the day I can show you all the love inside of me. Slowly, patiently, with all my heart, I’ll take it out and stand before you on that day. I reached out my hand and walked toward you. I thought it was a dream, but I couldn’t stop myself. The trembling I felt in my body was impossible to control. So I finally confessed my true heart to you. I love you—no, even that’s not enough. I wait for the day I can show you all the love inside of me. Slowly, patiently, with all my heart, I’ll take it out and stand before you on that day. Day by day, you’ve become more precious to me than myself. I still long for your love— day by day. |
The lyrics reflect a promise of eternal love, a common theme in 90s ballads, but delivered with Fly to the Sky’s signature soulful style.
🌍 Why It Matters
Day By Day helped broaden the definition of K-pop in the 1990s.
- It showed that idol groups weren’t the only way forward—powerful vocalists could also win mainstream love.
- The song opened the door for more R&B-influenced ballads in Korean pop.
- Fly to the Sky later became one of the most respected vocal duos in the industry.
🎤 Fun Facts
- Brian Joo was born and raised in the U.S., giving the duo an international appeal.
- Hwanhee’s rich vocals were often praised as some of the best in K-pop at the time.
- The duo’s unique style inspired later acts like TVXQ and 2AM, who also focused on vocal-driven performances.
With Day By Day, Fly to the Sky brought emotional depth and world-class vocals to late 90s K-pop. The song remains a classic, loved by fans of ballads and remembered as the start of an incredible career.
👉 Do you prefer the dance energy of 90s K-pop or the emotional ballads like Fly to the Sky’s?
Share your answer in the comments below!
