Zone (TVXQ album)

Last updated
Zone
Tohoshinki-zone.jpg
Standard edition cover
Studio album by
Tohoshinki
ReleasedNovember 6, 2024 (2024-11-06)
Recorded2023–24
Genre
LanguageJapanese
Label Avex Trax
Tohoshinki chronology
20&2
(2023)		Zone
(2024)
Singles from Zone
  1. "Utsuroi"
    Released: July 31, 2022
  2. "Parallel Parallel"
    Released: January 31, 2023
  3. "Lime & Lemon"
    Released: June 12, 2023
  4. "Sweet Surrender"
    Released: October 7, 2024
  5. "Dearest"
    Released: October 28, 2024

Zone is the eleventh Japanese studio album by South Korean pop duo Tohoshinki, released on November 6, 2024, by Avex Trax. The album was released to commemorate the duo's twentieth debut anniversary in Japan, which falls on April 27, 2025. The duo will embark on a nation-wide arena live tour, titled the 20th Anniversary Live Tour: Zone, which starts in Saitama at the Saitama Super Arena on November 29, 2024.

Contents

Zone debuted at number five on the Oricon Albums Chart, number four on the Billboard Japan Hot Albums Chart, and number one on the Billboard Japan Download Albums Chart.

Background

On December 26, 2023, Tohoshinki celebrated their 20th debut anniversary in Korea with the release of their ninth Korean album 20&2 (2023). [1] On April 27, 2024, the day of the duo's 19th debut anniversary in Japan, they announced that they will embark on a nation-wide arena tour between November 2024 and March 2025, to commemorate their 20th anniversary. [2] Ticket lottery reservations for the tour started June 2024. [3]

On July 19, Tohoshinki revealed their 20th anniversary album Zone, subsequently confirming the name of the tour. [4] Zone is scheduled to be printed in four different versions: a DVD version which consists of 20 tracks and a bonus track; a Blu-ray version with the same package; a CD-only version with a different bonus track; a fanclub-exclusive Bigeast edition with another bonus track; and a first press limited "super deluxe" edition, an LP-size box which includes all three bonus tracks with three photobooks.

Release and promotion

On September 4, Tohoshinki teased "Damn Good", a new track from the album that was announced to be a tie-up song for their collaboration with the Korean ginseng brand, Cheong Kwan Jang. [5] From September 21 to 22, previews of the thirteen new tracks from Zone were teased through their official X account, confirming the album's tracklist. [6] "Sweet Surrender" was subsequently announced to be the album's lead single. [7] A finalized tracklist of the second CD, which included interlude tracks, was further revealed on September 28.

A teaser for "Sweet Surrender" dropped on October 6, with the music video premiering on October 7, 2024 at 6 PM JST on YouTube. The single was also released on October 7. After the video premiered, Tohoshinki debuted their first live performance of "Sweet Surrender" on the TBS music program CDTV! Live Live . [8]

The album's official special website was launched on October 12, in support of the album's promotions. The website included details of the album's contents, order benefits, as well as information about signing events. [9] From October 19 through 27, Tohoshinki revealed more promotional images from the album, culminating to the release of Zone's second lead single "Dearest" on October 28.

The number "20" is alluded throughout the album, in reference to Tohoshinki's twentieth debut anniversary. In addition to having 20 tracks in the album, the number "20" is also hidden in the title of Zone. The theme of the album surrounds the discussion between AI and human intelligence, and how despite living in a world where technology has become more advanced, it is important to maintain rooted to humanity. The album starts off with the intro track "Eternal Echoes," which has unintelligible lyrics. Created by AI, the song consists of reversed vocals from the song "Magenta", the first track in Tohoshinki's first album as a duo, Tone (2011). Zone's second track "T.R.H.M" stands for "The Regain Humanity Method", a song about surviving in an ever-changing future and a battle to regain control of humanity. A special website, theregainhumanitymethod.net, dropped on the day of the album's release, and was unlocked by a special password revealed on November 29, 2024, the first day of their Japan-wide live tou.

Commercial performance

Zone debuted at number three on the daily Oricon Albums Chart on the first day of release, selling 23,980 physical copies. [10] It sold 43,095 copies in the first week, entering the weekly Oricon Albums Chart at number five. It debuted at number one on the Oricon Digital Albums Chart, with 1,944 downloads. [11] For Billboard Japan , Zone debuted at number five on the Top Albums Sales chart, selling 44,105 copies. [12] On the second week, Zone dropped to number fifteen per the Oricon Albums Chart, selling 4,282 copies. [13]

Track listing

Zone track listing [14]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Introduction (Eternal Echoes)"Shinjiroh InoueShinjiroh Inoue2:04
2."T.R.H.M"Hi-yunk (Back-On)Hi-yunk3:23
3."On My Radar"
  • Sean Alexander
  • Waveshower
  • Val Del Prete
  • Sqvare
Waveshower3:06
4."Party Like Madonna"
  • Julia Bognar Finnseter
  • Adrian Thesen
  • Paulos Solbø
  • Benjamin Sahba
  • Sverre C. Sunde
  • Kyle Wong
  • Nermin Harambasic
  • Pizzapunk
  • Lovelypop
3:11
5."Sweet Surrender"
  • Pixelwave
  • Ella Isaacson
  • Emily Kim
Pixelwave2:53
6."Parfum"
  • Ludwig Lindell
  • Karl-Oskar Gummesson
  • GC-JR
  • Lindell
  • Cage
3:09
7."Fresh"
  • Jonathan B-T
  • Harambasic
  • Sahba
  • Sunde
  • Wong
Lovelypop2:42
8."Umaku Iezu ni Gomen ne (うまく言えずにごめんね)" (I'm sorry I couldn't express it well)Daiki UenoTasuku5:03
9."Live Your Life"
  • Fabian "Phat Febe" Torrson
  • Martin Mulholland
  • Harambasic
  • Harry Sommerdahl
Bangers&Ca$h3:12
10."It's True It's Here"Kiyoto KondaYoichiro Yakizaki4:44
11."Damn Good"Robin StjernbergStjernberg3:33
12."Ark"
  • Joakim Dalqvist
  • Simon Peyron
Dalqvist2:59
13."Dearest"InoueInoue4:06
14."Utsuroi"Katsuhiko Yamamoto
  • Esme Mori
  • Yamamoto
4:02
15."The Reflex"Hi-yunkHi-yunk3:33
16."Parallel Parallel"
  • Alexander Karlsson
  • Alexei Viktorovitch
  • Tasuku Maeda
  • Akira
3:33
17."No Sympathy"
  • Henrik Nordenback
  • Christian Fast
  • Jimmy Claeson
  • Hide Kawada
  • Nordenback
3:09
18."Lime & Lemon"Caesar & LouiCaesar & Loui3:06
19."Sentimental Mood"
  • Sofia Vivere
  • Elias Oberg
  • SUA (153/Joombas)
  • RHeaT (153/Joombas)
  • SUA
  • RHeaT
2:54
20."Forever Love" (Zone version)Ichiro FujitaniKei Kawano6:01
Total length:60:10
Zone first press limited super deluxe edition bonus tracks (Disc 2: The Regain Humanity Method) [14]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
11."Rebel" (Japanese version)
 
12."Down" (Japanese version)
  • Rokman
  • Benji Bae
  • Pablo Andreu
  • Pixelwave
  • Rokman
  • Bae
  • Lockhome
  • Pixelwave
 
13."Stand by U" (Zone version)
  • UTA
  • REO
UTA 

Personnel

Musicians

Charts

Chart performance for Zone
Chart (2024)Peak
position
Japanese Albums (Oricon) [15] 5
Japanese Combined Albums (Oricon) [16] 5
Japanese Hot Albums ( Billboard Japan ) [17] 4

Sales

Released Oricon chartPeakDebut salesSales total
November 6, 2024
Daily Albums Chart [10] 323,98050,459
Weekly Albums Chart543,095
Monthly Albums Chart (November)TBATBA

Release history

Release dates and formats for Zone
RegionDateFormat(s)LabelRef.
VariousNovember 6, 2024 Avex Trax [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TVXQ</span> South Korean boy band

TVXQ, known as Tohoshinki in Japan, is a South Korean pop duo formed by SM Entertainment, composed of U-Know Yunho and Max Changmin.

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.

<i>Tone</i> (TVXQ album) 2011 studio album by Tohoshinki

Tone is the fifth Japanese studio album by South Korean pop group Tohoshinki, released on September 28, 2011, by Avex Trax. It is Tohoshinki's first Japanese album since becoming a Duo, with members Yunho and Changmin. Tone was released in three physical versions – Version A, a CD+DVD version with music videos; Version B, another CD+DVD version with off-shot movies; and Version C, a CD only version with a bonus track. Composing sessions for the album began in 2009, bull full production began in early 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Still (TVXQ song)</span> 2012 single by Tohoshinki

"Still" is the 34th single by South Korean pop duo Tohoshinki. The song is a medium-tempo pop ballad, written and produced by Shinjiroh Inoue. The single was released on March 14, 2012 by Avex Trax as the second single from their sixth Japanese studio album, Time (2013). It was released in three editions – a CD+DVD version, a CD-only version, and a Bigeast Board edition. Its B-side track "One More Thing", also a pop ballad, was promoted as the theme song for the mobile television drama, Let M: Watashi ga Anata wo Aisuru Riyuu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catch Me (TVXQ song)</span> 2012 single by TVXQ / Tohoshinki

"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.

<i>Time</i> (TVXQ album) 2013 studio album by Tohoshinki

Time is the sixth Japanese studio album by South Korean pop duo Tohoshinki, released by Avex Trax on March 6, 2013. The record was released in four physical versions, each with a theme cover – Version A (Past), a CD+DVD version with music videos; Version B (Present), another CD+DVD version with off-shot movies and live performances; Version C (Future), a CD only version with two bonus tracks; and Version D, a Bigeast fan club limited edition. Musically, Time is primarily an electropop album, with dubstep, electronic dance music, and R&B influences.

<i>Tense</i> (album) 2014 studio album by TVXQ

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.

<i>Tree</i> (TVXQ album) 2014 studio album by Tohoshinki

Tree is the seventh Japanese studio album by South Korean pop duo Tohoshinki, released by Avex Trax on March 5, 2014. The record was released in four physical versions, each with a seasonal theme cover – Version A (Spring/Summer), a CD+DVD version with music videos; Version B (Autumn), another CD+DVD version with off-shot movies; Version C (Winter), a CD only version with two bonus tracks; and Version D, a fan club limited edition with a CD-Extra. Musically, Tree is a varied pop music album that is influenced by a broad range of musical genres, such as electronic dance music, hip hop, R&B, swing jazz, rock music, power ballads, and reggae. Recording for the album began well before the launch of their sixth Japanese studio album Time in early 2013.

<i>Tree: Live Tour 2014</i> 2014 concert tour by Tohoshinki

Tree: Live Tour 2014, also known as the Tree Tour, was the seventh Japanese concert tour by South Korean pop duo Tohoshinki, and was launched in support of their seventh Japanese studio album Tree (2014). It was first announced by the duo in November 2013, during the last show of their fanclub event tour, The Mission II. The theme of the tour was the Tree of Life, in which Tohoshinki, two beings born from the tree of life, use their spirit to save humanity from darkness.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sweat / Answer</span> 2014 single by Tohoshinki

"Sweat / Answer" is the 41st Japanese single by South Korean pop duo Tohoshinki, released on June 11, 2014 by Avex Trax. It is a double A-sided single featuring "Sweat", a summer-themed jazz-pop dance track; and "Answer", a mid-tempo electropop song that was used as the theme song for the 2013 Japanese television crime drama, Hard Nut (ハードナッツ！). The single was released in three versions – a CD+DVD version, a CD only version, and a fan club edition exclusively for Tohoshinki's Japanese fan club, Bigeast.

<i>With</i> (album) 2014 studio album by Tohoshinki

With is the eighth Japanese studio album by South Korean pop duo Tohoshinki, released by Avex Trax on December 17, 2014. The record was released in four physical versions – Version A, a CD+DVD version with music videos and live performances; Version B, another CD+DVD version with off-shot movies; Version C, a CD only version with two bonus tracks; and Version D, a fan club limited edition with a CD-Extra. Recording and writing for the album roughly began in the summer of 2013. With is described to be an album composed of nostalgic dance-pop songs that are influenced by disco and jazz, accompanied by marching drumbeats. Its lyrical content explores the general concept of love and friendship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sakuramichi</span> 2015 single by Tohoshinki

"Sakuramichi" is the 43rd Japanese single by South Korean pop duo Tohoshinki, released by Avex Trax. It was made available in three physical versions – a CD+DVD version, a CD only version, and a fan club edition exclusively for Tohoshinki's Japanese fan club, Bigeast. "Sakuramichi" was first made available for download in Japan on February 11, 2015, followed by the official physical release on February 25, 2015. Calling it their graduation song, "Sakuramichi" was promoted as Tohoshinki's tenth debut anniversary single in Japan. Written and produced by Katsuhiko Yamamoto, the lyrics of "Sakuramichi" are about facing new life adventures with optimism.

<i>Fine Collection: Begin Again</i> 2017 greatest hits album by Tohoshinki

Fine Collection: Begin Again is the second Japanese greatest hits album by South Korean pop duo Tohoshinki. It was released on October 25, 2017 through Avex Trax as a complementary album for their comeback Japanese concert the Begin Again Tour, the duo's first tour since completing their military service. The album mainly contains singles released by Tohoshinki since 2011, including tracks from the albums Tone (2011), Time (2013), Tree (2014), and With (2015). The album also includes three re-recorded versions of earlier singles.

<i>Tomorrow</i> (TVXQ album) 2018 studio album by Tohoshinki

Tomorrow is the ninth Japanese studio album by South Korean pop duo Tohoshinki, released by Avex Trax on September 19, 2018. The record was released in four physical versions – Version A, a CD+Blu-ray version include music videos and behind-the-scenes content; Version B, a CD+DVD version with similar content; Version C, a CD only version; and Version D, a fan club limited edition. Recording and writing for the album roughly started in 2017; it was officially announced on August 1, 2018. Tomorrow is Tohoshinki's first original Japanese studio album since 2014's With.

<i>XV</i> (TVXQ album) 2019 studio album by Tohoshinki

XV is the tenth Japanese studio album by South Korean pop duo Tohoshinki, released on October 16, 2019 by Avex Trax. XV (fifteen) denotes Tohoshinki's fifteenth debut anniversary in Japan. The duo announced the album's release at the A-Nation Music Festival, which they headlined, on August 18, 2019. XV was released in five physical versions: a standard CD version, a limited CD and Blu-ray version, a limited CD and DVD version, an exclusive fan club version, and a special "gift" version with a CD packaged in two different LP-size slips. Musically, XV is a varied electropop album that is influenced by a broad range of electronic musical genres, including influences from symphonic metal, soft rock, hip hop, dance-pop, and R&B. Recording for the album began shortly before the launch of their Japanese studio album Tomorrow in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manazashi</span> 2020 single by Tohoshinki

"Manazashi" is the 48th Japanese single by South Korean pop duo Tohoshinki, released by Avex Trax on January 22, 2020. Promoted as Tohoshinki's fifteenth anniversary single, it was released in three physical versions – a standard CD only version, a limited photobook edition, and a fanclub edition released exclusively for Tohoshinki's Japanese fan club, Bigeast. It is a "winter ballad" which highlights the duo's vocals, with some influences drawn from blues.

<i>Epitaph</i> (EP) 2022 EP by Tohoshinki

Epitaph is the first Japanese extended play by South Korean duo Tohoshinki. It was released on March 16, 2022, by Avex Trax. Epitaph is a pop album with elements of pop rock, dance pop, and synthesizers. It was released as a follow-up to Tohoshinki's solo EPs Human (2021) by Changmin and Kimi wa Saki e Iku (2022) by Yunho, and is also the duo's first original release in Japan since XV (2019). The EP's first track, "Epitaph " is the lead single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Begin Again: Live Tour</span> 2017–2018 concert tour by Tohoshinki

Begin Again: Live Tour, also known as the Begin Again Tour, was the ninth Japanese concert tour by South Korean pop duo Tohoshinki. Consisting of 20 shows across Japan, the tour commenced on November 11, 2017, at the Sapporo Dome in Sapporo, Hokkaido Prefecture and concluded on June 10, 2018, at the Nissan Stadium in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture. It was the highest-grossing and most-attended concert tour in Japan that year, mobilizing over 1 million people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">With: Live Tour</span> 2015 concert tour by Tohoshinki

With: Live Tour, also known as the With Tour, was the eighth Japanese concert tour by South Korean pop duo Tohoshinki. It was launched in support of their eighth Japanese studio album With (2014), and coincided with Tohoshinki's tenth anniversary debut in Japan. The With Tour was the duo's second dome tour in Japan, their last one being 2013's Time Tour.

Zone: Live Tour, also known as the Zone Tour, is the thirteenth Japanese concert tour by South Korean pop duo Tohoshinki. It was launched in support of their eleventh Japanese studio album Zone (2024), and to celebrate their twentieth anniversary debut in Japan, which falls on April 27, 2025. The tour will commence on November 29, 2024, in Saitama, and is set to conclude on March 6, 2025, in Yokohama, consisting of 19 shows across Japan.

References

  1. ↑ ""규칙을 깨" 동방신기가 나아갈 길..20년 내공 담은 'Rebel'" [Breaking the rules is TVXQ's path forward, TVXQ reveals 'Rebel' with 20 years of experience] (in Korean). The Chosun Ilbo. December 26, 2023. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  2. ↑ "TOHOSHINKI LIVE TOUR (title TBD) to be announced!". Tohoshinki Official Website. April 27, 2024. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  3. ↑ "Announcement of the start of special advance by drawing lots reservations for "TVXQ LIVE TOUR (tentative title)" Super Premium Seats". Tohoshinki Official Website. June 5, 2024. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  4. 1 2 "2024年11月6日(水）東方神起 20th Anniversary FULL ALBUM「ZONE」発売決定" (in Japanese). Tohoshinki Official Website. July 19, 2024. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  5. ↑ "TOHOSHINKI new song "Damn Good" tie-up confirmed!". Tohoshinki Official Website. September 4, 2024. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
  6. ↑ "TOHOSHINKI 20th Anniversary FULL ALBUM ZONE new song preview released!". Tohoshinki Official Website. September 20, 2024. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
  7. ↑ "Tohoshinki's Official X website". X.com (in Japanese). September 21, 2024. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Appearance on TBS's "CDTV Live! Live!" on Monday, October 7th!!". Tohoshinki Official Website. September 30, 2024. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  9. ↑ "ZONE by Tohoshinki". Tohoshinki Official Website (in Japanese). October 12, 2024. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
  10. 1 2 "デイリー　アルバムランキング" [Daily Album Ranking]. Oricon. November 7, 2024. Archived from the original on November 7, 2024. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Oricon Top 50 Digital Albums: November 18, 2024" (in Japanese). Oricon . Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  12. ↑ "Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales – Week of November 13, 2024". Billboard Japan. November 12, 2024. Retrieved November 12, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ↑ "週間　アルバムランキング" [Weekly Album Ranking, 11 to 17 November 2024] (in Japanese). Oricon. November 25, 2024. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
  14. 1 2 "2024年11月6日(水）FULL ALBUM「ZONE」収録内容公開！！". Tohoshinki Official Website (in Japanese). September 22, 2024. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2024-11-18" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Oricon Top 50 Combined Albums: 2024-11-18" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on November 14, 2024. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
  17. ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot Albums – Week of November 13, 2024". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved November 13, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.