Keep Your Head Down | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | January 5, 2011 | |||
Recorded | 2009–10 | |||
Studio | SM Studios (Seoul, South Korea) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 35:11 | |||
Language | Korean | |||
Label | S.M. | |||
Producer |
| |||
TVXQ chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from Keep Your Head Down | ||||
| ||||
Repackage edition cover | ||||
Singles from Before U Go | ||||
|
Keep Your Head Down is the fifth Korean studio album (ninth overall) by South Korean pop duo TVXQ,released on January 5,2011,by S.M. Entertainment. Recording and writing for the album roughly began in the summer of 2009,but full production did not begin until August 2010,after U-Know Yunho and Max Changmin debuted their first performance as a duo at the SM Town Live '10 World Tour concert in Seoul,South Korea.
Bringing in a new line of producers,including E-Tribe and Outsidaz,Keep Your Head Down largely consists of dance-pop songs with urban and electronic arrangements. The album has been described by critics as fierce,dark,and powerful due to its SMP influence, [1] an experimental genre that is defined by mixing the styles of orchestral pop,rock,and contemporary R&B with hip hop beats to create catchy,rhythmic tracks that allow for very strong dance performances. [2] Released in two different versions,the album spawned two promotional singles with one lead single,"Keep Your Head Down". Lyrically,the album explores dark themes of relationships,betrayal and self-empowerment.
In South Korea,the album debuted at number one on the Gaon Albums Chart for the week of January 8,2011,and maintained its number-one position for a second week. By the end of the month,Gaon reported that 230,227 copies were shipped. By the end of the year,263,412 copies of the album were sold in South Korea alone, [3] making it the third best-selling album of 2011. Before U Go debuted at number one on South Korea's Gaon Albums Chart and the Hanteo Chart,selling 55,243 copies by July 2011. By the end of the year,Before U Go sold 60,709 copies. Including Keep Your Head Down,the albums collective sold over 324,000 copies in South Korea and 89,000 copies in Japan.
Before U Go,the repackage of Keep Your Head Down,was released on March 16,2011. The repackage features three new tracks,all of which are remixes of the album's only lead single,"Before U Go." The single is produced by TVXQ's frequent collaborator Yoo Young-jin and his brother Yoo Han-jin ,who also produced their fifth album lead single "Keep Your Head Down".
In July 2009,Hero Jaejoong,Micky Yoochun,and Xiah Junsu filed a lawsuit against their agency S.M. Entertainment,claiming that their 13-year contracts were excessively long and their profits were unfairly distributed. [4] In October 2009,the Seoul Central District Court granted the three members a temporary contract injunction,thus halting TVXQ's group activities in South Korea. [5] The trio continued their activities with TVXQ in Japan under their Japanese label Rhythm Zone,but in April 2010,Rhythm Zone's parent label Avex Trax suspended TVXQ in order to sign Jaejoong,Yoochun,and Junsu as the band JYJ. [6] [7] The suspension pushed remaining TVXQ members U-Know Yunho and Max Changmin to an indefinite hiatus,and TVXQ's fifth Korean album was put on hold.
In August 2010,Yunho and Changmin performed as TVXQ in Seoul's SMTown Live '10 World Tour,which was described to be an "experimental" stage for the duo. [8] Earning strong and supportive reactions from the audience,Yunho and Changmin decided to continue TVXQ activities without the other three. [9] There was an attempt to add new members to the group,but their mentor Lee Soo-man suggested that they should continue as a duo act. [10]
The duo began working on their comeback album shortly after the concert in Seoul. "Keep Your Head Down",an SMP song Yunho performed at the concert,was chosen to be the album's lead single. The song was produced by Yoo Young-jin,who also produced the album's third track "Maximum",a dance-pop song that was originally recorded by all five TVXQ members in 2009. Bringing in a new line of producers including E-Tribe and Outsidaz, [11] principal recording for Keep Your Head Down spanned three months.
In November 2010,S.M. Entertainment announced TVXQ's return with Keep Your Head Down in January 2011. [12] On December 20,2010,two weeks ahead of the official album release,TVXQ released the digital single "Athena",the theme song for the South Korean television drama Athena:Goddess of War . Two versions of the album were subsequently announced – a special edition with a 100-page photobook;and a normal edition,which includes one bonus track.
A week before the album's official release,two teaser trailers for the music video of lead single "Keep Your Head Down" began airing on television and other broadcast media around South Korea. "Keep Your Head Down" was digitally released on January 3,2011,and the full album was made available for download on January 5,2011,the same day as the traditional CD release of the album's special edition. On January 11,S.M. Entertainment released a free TVXQ iPhone app to promote the album. [13] On January 12,2011,physical copies of the normal edition were distributed to retailers.
In early March 2011,S.M. Entertainment announced the repackage of Keep Your Head Down,titled Before U Go. The repackage was released on March 16,while the Japanese version of the release,which includes the Japanese version of the lead single "Before U Go",was released on May 5. [14] Lead single "Before U Go" was described to be "traditional R&B track", [14] equipped with a unique style that complements the vocal structures of Yunho and Changmin. [15]
TVXQ debuted their first performance of "Before U Go" on KBS 2TV's Music Bank on March 18,2011. [16] In order to promote the single on MBC's Show! Music Core music program and the MBC radio,TVXQ slightly modified the lyrics of "Before U Go" to pass MBC's strict broadcast standards. The original lyrics "I was a stupid fool who couldn't even take care of you",was changed to "I was stupid and couldn't even take care of you". [17] South Korea's other broadcasting corporations,including KBS and SBS,had no issues with the lyrics and the duo were allowed to perform the original edit on their shows. On March 25,"Before U Go" was the number one song of the week and topped the K-charts,winning a trophy on Music Bank . [18] On March 27,"Before U Go" won on The Music Trend .
Keep Your Head Down received generally positive reviews from music critics and K-pop fans,who have praised the album's "powerful" production and its cohesive blend of pop and R&B. The lyrics of "Keep Your Head Down",which talks about recovering from a relationship breakup,came under intense media scrutiny after it was claimed that it was written as a diss track to JYJ. Several TVXQ and JYJ fansites also withdrew their support for the song. Yunho and Changmin clarified that the lyrics were misinterpreted,stating,"It's just a song about a man's anger towards the woman that threw him away. That's all." [19]
The album has been commercially successful across Asia. In South Korea,it immediately shot to number one on the real-time daily charts of Hanteo,selling nearly 30,000 physical copies on its first day of release. [20] Keep Your Head Down debuted at number one on the weekly Gaon Albums Chart [21] and maintained its number one position for a second week. By the end of the month,Gaon reported over 230,000 shipments. Keep Your Head Down was the year's third best-selling album,with 263,412 copies sold in South Korea. [3] The album also debuted at number four on both Taiwan's G-Music and Japan's Oricon.
Before U Go debuted at number one on South Korea's Gaon Albums Chart and the Hanteo Chart,boosting the sales for the original album,Keep Your Head Down. The lead single,"Before U Go",peaked at number thirteen on the Gaon Singles Chart and number one on various online music charts,receiving generally positive reviews from music critics. The single also won number-one trophies on music programs The Music Trend and Music Bank .
In August 2011,the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family banned "Before U Go" and three other K-pop music videos,ruling that it was harmful media to youth as it promoted violence and gambling. S.M. Entertainment submitted a petition to refute their decision. [22]
"Athena" was digitally released on December 20,2010,and debuted at number 50 on the weekly Gaon Singles Chart. The music video for the album's lead single "Keep Your Head Down",officially premiered on January 3,2011. The single debuted at number 5 on the weekly Gaon Singles Chart. [23] "Journey",the theme song for Changmin's television drama Paradise Ranch ,was released on January 26,2011,and only managed to peak at number 111 on the Gaon Singles Chart.
Despite the track's leak on March 12, [24] the scheduled digital download release of "Before U Go" on March 14 topped various online download and streaming charts in the first few hours. [25]
The music videos for "Before U Go" was released in three parts. The teaser trailer for the music videos was first unveiled on March 10,2011. [26] A short film with a running time of little over 15 minutes,the music video has actor Choi Jong-yoon and actress Ara star alongside Yunho and Changmin as morally conflicted police officers. On March 14,the main video,directed by Jo Soo-hyun,was released. The full short film was released on March 20,and the last video,a dance version directed by Hong Won-ki,was released on March 29. [27] The entire short film took five days to shoot at locations in Gangnam,Incheon,and Ilsan. [28]
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Arrangement | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Keep Your Head Down" (왜;Wae;lit. Why) | Yoo Young-jin |
| Yoo Han-jin | 3:59 |
2. | "How Can I" (믿기 싫은 이야기;Mitgi Silheun Iyaki;lit. The Story I Don't Want to Believe) | Park Chang-hyun | Park Chang-hyun | Park Chang-hyun | 3:22 |
3. | "Maximum" | Yoo Young-jin | Yoo Young-jin | Yoo Young-jin | 3:40 |
4. | "Crazy" (featuring Jay from Trax) | Tesung Kim (Iconic Sounds) |
|
| 3:18 |
5. | "Honey Funny Bunny" (U-Know Yunho solo) | E-Tribe |
|
| 3:19 |
6. | "Rumor" | Hong Ji-yoo |
|
| 3:17 |
7. | "Confession" (고백;Gobaek) (Max Changmin solo) | Max Changmin |
|
| 3:56 |
8. | "Our Game" | JQ (makeumine works) |
|
| 3:30 |
9. | "She" | Kenzie |
| 3:15 | |
10. | "Athena" (아테나;Atena) | Hwang Hyun (MonoTree) | Hwang Hyun (MonoTree) | MonoTree | 3:35 |
11. | "Journey" (featuring Seohyun of Girls' Generation) | Kim Dal-woo Peter | Kim Dal-woo Peter | Kim Dal-woo Peter | 4:26 |
Total length: | 39:37 |
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Arrangement | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Before U Go - Monologue" (이것만은 알고가 - 독백;Igeonman-eun Algoga - Dokbaek) | Yoo Young-jin |
| Yoo Han-jin | 2:22 |
2. | "Before U Go" (이것만은 알고 가;Igeonman-eun Algoga) | Yoo Young-jin |
| Yoo Han-jin | 4:31 |
3. | "Keep Your Head Down" (왜;Wae;lit. Why) | Yoo Young-jin |
| Yoo Han-jin | 3:59 |
4. | "Maximum" | Yoo Young-jin | Yoo Young-jin | Yoo Young-jin | 3:40 |
5. | "How Can I" (믿기 싫은 이야기;Mitgi Silheun Iyaki;lit. The Story I Don't Want to Believe) | Park Chang-hyun | Park Chang-hyun | Park Chang-hyun | 3:22 |
6. | "Crazy" (featuring Jay from Trax) | Tesung Kim (Iconic Sounds) |
|
| 3:18 |
7. | "Honey Funny Bunny" (U-Know Yunho solo) | E-Tribe |
|
| 3:19 |
8. | "Rumor" | Hong Ji-yoo |
|
| 3:17 |
9. | "Confession" (고백;Gobaek) (Max Changmin solo) | Max Changmin |
|
| 3:56 |
10. | "Our Game" | JQ (makeumine works) |
|
| 3:30 |
11. | "She" | Kenzie |
| 3:15 | |
12. | "Athena" (아테나;Atena) | Hwang Hyun (MonoTree) | Hwang Hyun (MonoTree) | MonoTree | 3:35 |
13. | "Journey" (featuring Seohyun of Girls' Generation) | Kim Dal-woo Peter | Kim Dal-woo Peter | Kim Dal-woo Peter | 4:26 |
14. | "Before U Go - Monologue" (Instrumental) |
| Yoo Han-jin | 2:23 | |
Total length: | 48:48 |
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Region | Date | Format | Version | Label |
---|---|---|---|---|
Worldwide / South Korea | January 5, 2011 | Special edition | S.M. Entertainment | |
January 12, 2011 | Normal edition | |||
Taiwan [30] [31] | February 11, 2011 | CD | Normal edition | Avex Taiwan |
February 24, 2012 | CD+DVD | Taiwan special edition | ||
Hong Kong | February 22, 2011 | CD | Normal edition | Avex Asia |
Philippines [32] | April 29, 2011 | CD | Normal edition | Universal Records |
Regions | Dates | Format(s) | Label(s) |
---|---|---|---|
Worldwide | March 16, 2011 | S.M. Entertainment | |
South Korea | |||
Taiwan | March 25, 2011 | CD | Avex Taiwan |
Japan [33] | May 4, 2011 |
| Avex Trax |
Chung Yun-ho, better known by his stage name U-Know Yunho (유노윤호) or simply U-Know, is a South Korean singer-songwriter, actor, and a member of the pop duo TVXQ. Born and raised in Gwangju, South Korea, Yunho started his musical training under the talent agency SM Entertainment in 2001 and joined TVXQ in 2003 as the band's leader. Fluent in Korean and Japanese, Yunho has released chart-topping albums throughout Asia as a member of TVXQ. He has made occasional acting appearances in television dramas.
TVXQ, known as Tohoshinki in Japan, is a South Korean pop duo formed by SM Entertainment, composed of U-Know Yunho and Max Changmin.
"Show Me Your Love" is a single by TVXQ and Super Junior 05, released via SM Entertainment on December 15, 2005. It was distributed as a CD single in both Korean and English, with the tracks "I Wanna Hold You" and "I'm Your Man" serving as B-sides.
The videography of South Korean pop group TVXQ, known as Tohoshinki in Japan, consists of 111 music videos, 20 concert tour videos, 11 documentary DVDs, one music video compilation, eight photo albums, and six storybooks. TVXQ originally debuted as a five-piece boy band under S.M. Entertainment in December 2003. In 2004, the band signed with Japan's Avex sub-label Rhythm Zone and released their debut Japanese single, "Stay with Me Tonight" in April 2005. In July 2009, three of the members – later known as JYJ – left the group's Korean agency S.M. Entertainment, and TVXQ returned as a duo act with remaining members U-Know Yunho and Max Changmin in 2011.
"Keep Your Head Down", released in Japan as "Why? ", is a song recorded by South Korean boy group TVXQ. Composed by Yoo Young-jin and Yoo Han-jin, the Korean-language version of "Keep Your Head Down" was released by S.M. Entertainment on January 3, 2011 as the lead single for the group's fifth Korean studio album Keep Your Head Down (2011), TVXQ's first album since becoming a two-piece band with U-Know Yunho and Max Changmin. The Japanese-language version of "Keep Your Head Down", which was released on January 26, 2011, by Avex Trax, served as TVXQ's 31st Japanese single in Japan. It was the first single taken from their fifth Japanese studio album, Tone (2011).
"Catch Me" is a song by South Korean pop duo TVXQ, also known as Tohoshinki in Japan. Written and produced by Yoo Young-jin, two versions of "Catch Me" exist: the original Korean-language version, which served as the lead single for the duo's sixth Korean studio album Catch Me (2012), and a Japanese-language version, which was released as the fourth and last single for their sixth Japanese studio album, Time (2013). The Korean version of "Catch Me" was made available for download on September 24, 2012, the same date as the full album's digital release. The Japanese version of "Catch Me" was released by Avex Trax in Japan as TVXQ's 36th Japanese CD single on January 16, 2013.
Catch Me is the sixth Korean studio album by South Korean pop duo TVXQ. It was digitally released on September 24, 2012, followed by a physical CD release on September 26, 2012, by SM Entertainment and KMP Holdings. The album is a follow-up to their 2011 release Keep Your Head Down, which was TVXQ's first album since becoming a two-piece band with members U-Know Yunho and Max Changmin.
The Catch Me: Live World Tour, also known as the Catch Me World Tour, was the fourth world concert tour by South Korean pop duo TVXQ, to support their sixth studio album, Catch Me (2012). The world tour commenced with two shows in Seoul in November 2012. The tour visited seven theatres, arenas, and stadiums from late 2012 through mid-2013 in 8 different countries.
Shim Chang-min, better known by his stage name Max Changmin, is a South Korean singer, songwriter, actor, and a member of the pop duo TVXQ. Born and raised in Seoul, South Korea, Changmin was scouted by an SM Entertainment talent agent when he was fourteen years old. He made his debut as TVXQ's youngest member in December 2003.
Time: Live Tour 2013, also known as the Time Tour, was the sixth Japanese concert tour by South Korean pop duo Tohoshinki, in support of their sixth Japanese studio album Time (2013). The tour visited all five of Japan's major concert Domes and the Nissan Stadium, the largest seated stadium in Japan.
"Journey / ...Is It OK?" is the first A-side and B-side digital single to be released from the soundtrack album of SBS's TV drama Paradise Ranch. It was released on January 26, 2011 under the record label of S.M. Entertainment. The A-side track "Journey" was performed by TVXQ's U-Know Yunho and Max Changmin featuring Seohyun of Girls' Generation. The B-side track "...Is It OK?" was performed by Korean-Chinese girl group f(x). Both songs were later included in the Paradise Ranch OST which was released on February 9, 2011.
Tense is the seventh Korean studio album by South Korean pop duo TVXQ. It was released on January 6, 2014, by S.M. Entertainment. The record was promoted as a commemorative album for the duo's tenth debut anniversary, which fell on December 26, 2013. Tense consists of modern R&B and pop songs with components of neo-soul. Its lead single, "Something", also has elements of swing jazz with big band arrangements. Lyrically, the album references the concepts of love, courage and hope.
"Something" is a song by South Korean pop duo TVXQ, also known as Tohoshinki in Japan. Serving as the lead single for their seventh Korean studio album Tense (2014), the song was written by TVXQ's long-time collaborator Yoo Young-jin, co-composed and arranged by Yoo with his brother Yoo Han-jin. Introduced as TVXQ's tenth anniversary comeback single, "Something" was released by SM Entertainment on January 6, 2014. Two versions of the song exist; the original Korean-language version, and a Japanese-language version, which was released by Avex Trax as a double A-sided CD single, along with "Hide & Seek", in Japan on February 5, 2014. It served as the fourth and final single release for the duo's seventh Japanese studio album, Tree (2014). Within a week of its release, the single was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for shipments of over 100,000.
Tone: Live Tour 2012, also known as the Tone Tour, was the fifth Japanese concert tour by South Korean pop group Tohoshinki, in support of their fifth Japanese studio album Tone (2011). The Tone Tour was Tohoshinki's first concert in three years, and the first tour by the group since becoming a two-piece band with members Yunho and Changmin.
South Korean pop group TVXQ, known as Tohoshinki in Japanese releases, have released 74 singles, 3 featured appearances, and 27 soundtrack appearances. The group signed with S.M. Entertainment in 2003 and released their debut single "Hug" in January 2004, peaking at number four on the Monthly Albums Chart of the Music Industry Association of Korea (MIAK). Their following single "The Way U Are", released in June 2004, entered the MIAK Monthly Albums Chart at number one.
Rise as God is a Korean studio album by South Korean pop duo TVXQ. It was released on July 20, 2015 by S.M. Entertainment. Released as a special album, it is the duo's last musical release before taking their two-year hiatus to complete their mandatory military service.
New Chapter #1: The Chance of Love is the eighth Korean studio album by South Korean duo TVXQ. It was released on March 28, 2018, by SM Entertainment. It is the duo's first full-length Korean album since their discharge from the South Korean army, which they served from 2015 to 2017. The Chance of Love is described to be a "mature sexy" album, with many songs in the album following a metropolitan style of sound that encompasses various genres, including electronic music, R&B, jazz pop, and pop ballad. "The Chance of Love", a swing jazz-inspired dance song, was the album's lead single, with the mid-tempo pop song "Love Line" as the album's follow-up promotional single.
New Chapter #2: The Truth of Love is a Korean extended play record by the South Korean pop duo TVXQ. It was released on December 26, 2018 through SM Entertainment as a special commemorative album for the duo's fifteenth debut anniversary. The Truth of Love is the sequel to the duo's eighth studio album New Chapter #1: The Chance of Love, which was released on March 28, 2018.
"The Chance of Love" is a song recorded by South Korean duo TVXQ. It was released through SM Entertainment on March 28, 2018, as the lead single from their eighth studio album New Chapter No. 1: The Chance of Love (2018). It was the duo's first Korean single after serving two years in the Republic of Korea Armed Forces from 2015 to 2017.