Quiet Night (album)

Quiet Night
Studio album by
Seo Taiji
ReleasedOctober 20, 2014
Recorded2012–14
GenreK-pop, electropop, pop rock
Length32:42
LanguageKorean
LabelSeo Taiji Company, CJ E&M Music
ProducerSeo Taiji
Seo Taiji chronology
Seotaiji 8th Atomos
(2009) 		Quiet Night
(2014)
Singles from Quiet Night
  1. "Sogyeokdong"
    Released: October 2, 2014 (IU ver.)
    October 10, 2014 (Seo Taiji ver.)
  2. "Christmalo.win"
    Released: October 16, 2014

Quiet Night (sometimes entitled Seotaiji 9th Quiet Night) is the ninth studio album by South Korean singer-songwriter Seo Taiji, and his fifth solo studio album. It was released on October 20, 2014, by Seo Taiji Company and distributed by CJ E&M Music. The album was preceded by two singles: the collaborative song "Sogyeokdong" and the lead track "Christmalo.win". It is Seo's first full-length release after a five-year hiatus since Seotaiji 8th Atomos (2009).

Billboard magazine listed "Sogyeokdong" at number two on its list of "Best K-Pop Songs of 2014",[1] while the album at number four on "Best K-Pop Albums of 2014".[2]

Background

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On December 24, 2013, Seo posted on his official website, stating that he would be able to start recording his next studio album in early 2014, and the album would come out within the same year.[3] Many rumors about whether the singer will release his new album floated since the beginning of this year until it was finally announced that Seo would make his comeback in October 2014.[4][5]

On August 28, 2014, two months before Seo's comeback, seven screen doors in Seoul Subway Line 2 carried the following message, "We still are young. We have a decent future", excerpted from the lyrics of the song "Come Back Home" (Seo Taiji and Boys IV, 1995). According to Seo Taiji Company, Seo's agency, the artist's intention was to tell his fans who have reached their 30s and 40s that their future is still bright just like when they were younger. In other words, he wants to say that age is not the factor that divides generations.[4]

Starting from his comeback concert "Christmalowin" held at Seoul Olympic Stadium on October 18, the artist began promoting his ninth studio album.[6] At a news conference held in celebration of the album's release, Seo stated "The girl drawn on the album's artwork was an imaginative figure of my newborn daughter at the days when she becomes around six to seven years of age." He also stated "I put my emotions before her birth a lot in music. I hope someday mothers who have new lives inside themselves, and their children can listen to this album together."[7]

Singles

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"Sogyeokdong"

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"Sogyeokdong" (Hangul: 소격동), produced in secret collaboration with South Korean singer-songwriter IU, is a pre-release single for the album Quiet Night. It became Seo's first song ever to be pre-released online since his debut.[8] The collaborative single featuring IU's vocals over Seo Taiji's composition, was unveiled on October 2, 2014 (by IU's record label LOEN Entertainment), while Seo's solo version was released eight days later.[9][10]

The title of the track, Sogyeok-dong, Jongno-gu in Seoul, is where the singer was born and spent his early years.[11] According to Seo's agency, the singer planned this collaboration project under the theme of a sad and beautiful story which happened in Sogyeok-dong of 1980s, from the standpoints of a woman and a man, through two different versions of songs and music videos.[12] The '80s-themed music videos, both directed by South Korean music video director Hwang Soo-ah, featured child actors popularized through television series; Sung Yu-bin (It's Okay, That's Love) and Kim Hyun-soo (My Love from the Star).[13][14] The director's cuts of the videos also were released.[15]

The song reached numbers four (IU's version) and seventeen (Seo's version) on the Gaon Singles Chart, respectively.[16][17] Without any televised promotions, IU's version won the first place on the October 19, 2014, broadcast of SBS's The Music Trend.[18] As of 2014, "Sogyeokdong" has sold approximately 830,000 digital downloads nationally, with the sales of both versions combined.[19]

Superstar K6 winner Kwak Jin-eon covered the song on the show's broadcast of October 24, 2014.[20]

"Christmalo.win"

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"Christmalo.win" (Korean: 크리스말로윈; RR: Keuriseumallowin) is the lead single from the album. The title of the song is a compound word of Christmas and Halloween, and the track came out four days prior to the album's release.[21]

Inspired from Christmas song "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town",[22] the single depicts modern people without division between virtue and vice, twisting stereotypical roles between Santa Claus and Halloween monsters, through the lyrics of the song, "I just got bigger and became Santa / From the cradle to the grave / I'm a slave to comfort but a sweet cake / They say I have dirty specs, cut off from the list / What do you think about my new policy that I worked on all night?"[21][23] The theatrical version of its music video features child actresses Ellie (whose voice can be heard at the end of the song) and Kim Soo-hyun, and actor Shin Seung-hwan.[24]

"Christmalo.win" peaked at number seven on the Gaon Singles Chart,[25] and has sold about 210,000 digital downloads since its release.[26]

Promotion

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Two days prior to the album's release, Seo held his comeback concert "Christmalowin" at Seoul Olympic Stadium, in support of Quiet Night. Singer IU (who collaborated with the singer in "Sogyeokdong"), child actress Ellie (who was featured in "Christmalo.win"), and rappers Swings and Vasco made guest appearance at the concert.[27] The concert was recorded, and then aired through MBC on October 25, 2014, at 11:15 pm KST.[28]

Upon its release, Quiet Night reached number two on the Gaon Weekly Albums Chart.[29] The album sold more than 42,700 copies in 2014, making it the 48th best-selling Korean album of that year.[30] It also entered Billboard's World Albums Chart on the issue date of November 8, 2014, debuting at number six.[31]

On KBS's You Hee-yeol's Sketchbook (October 31), Seo performed the lead single and "90s ICON", alongside his previous hits "To You" (Korean: 너에게; RR: Neo-ege) and "Regret of the Times" (Korean: 시대유감; RR: Shidaeyugam).[32][33][34][35] He also performed "Fighter of the Forest" (Korean: 숲 속의 파이터; RR: Sup Sogui Paiteo), alongside the singles preceding the album, on Mnet's M! Countdown (November 20).[36]

At the end of 2014, Seo began his nationwide concert tour. Starting at the Olympic Gymnastics Arena, Olympic Park, Seoul, he performed in cities including Gwangju, Daegu, and Busan until March 1, 2015.[37][38]

Track listing

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CD/Digital download[39]
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Into" Docskim0:53
2."Sogyeokdong" (소격동)Seo TaijiSeo Taiji3:49
3."Christmalo.win" (크리스말로윈; Keuriseumallowin)Seo TaijiSeo Taiji3:48
4."Fighter of the Forest" (숲 속의 파이터; Sup Sogui Paiteo)Seo TaijiSeo Taiji3:49
5."Prison Break"Seo TaijiSeo Taiji3:44
6."90s ICON"Seo TaijiSeo Taiji3:49
7."Lost" (잃어버린; Ireobeorin)Seo TaijiSeo Taiji4:23
8."Poignant Memories" (비록 (悲錄); Birok)Seo TaijiSeo Taiji3:46
9."The Christmas Miracle" (성탄절의 기적; Seongtanjeolui Gijeok)Seo TaijiSeo Taiji4:41
Total length:32:42
Notes
  • The album includes Seo's solo version of "Sogyeokdong".
  • The title of track 8 literally means "Sad Records".

Credits and personnel

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Credits adapted from the liner notes of Quiet Night.[40]

Chart performance

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Album charts

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Chart (2014) Peak
position 		Sales
South Korean Weekly Albums (Gaon)[29] 2
South Korean Monthly Albums (Gaon)[42] 4
South Korean Year-End Albums (Gaon)[43] 49
US World Albums Chart (Billboard)[31] 6

Charted songs

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Title Peak positions Digital sales
KOR
Weekly
[44] 		KOR
Monthly
[45]
"Sogyeokdong" (IU version) 4 4
"Sogyeokdong" (Seo Taiji version) 17 34
"Christmalo.win" 7 27
"Fighter of the Forest" 67 —
"Poignant Memories" 73 —
"Prison Break" 77 —
"90s ICON" 78 —
"Lost" 83 —
"The Christmas Miracle" 88 —
"Into" 95

Awards and nominations

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Annual music awards

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Year Award Category Recipient Result
2014 16th Mnet Asian Music Awards UnionPay Song of the Year "Christmalo.win" Nominated
Best Band Performance Nominated
Best Music Video "Sogyeokdong" Nominated
2015 29th Golden Disk Awards Main Prize in Digital Releasing Nominated
Main Prize in Album Releasing Quiet Night Nominated
12th Korean Music Awards Best Dance & Electronic Song "Christmalo.win" Nominated

Music program awards

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Song Program Date
"Sogyeokdong" (IU ver.) Inkigayo October 19, 2014

Release history

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Region Date Format Label
South Korea October 20, 2014 CD, digital download Seo Taiji Company, CJ E&M Music
Worldwide[55] Digital download

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "The 20 Best K-Pop Songs of 2014 – Billboard". Billboard. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  2. ^ "Best K-Pop Albums of 2014 – Billboard". Billboard. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
  3. ^ Lee, Seung-gil (December 24, 2013). "서태지, 9집 계획 "내년 초부터 녹음…14년 중 만나볼 것" ("Seo Taiji Says His Plans About the Ninth Album... "Recording in Early 2014... Releasing Within the Same Year")" (in Korean). MyDaily. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
  4. ^ a b "Seo Taiji sends his fans a message about his new album". Koreaboo. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
  5. ^ Kim, Min-ji (July 9, 2014). ""10월 18일 콘서트"…서태지, 컴백 확정 (""Holding the Concert on October 18th"... Seo Taiji Confirms His Comeback")" (in Korean). TVREPORT. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
  6. ^ Lee, Seung-rok (September 1, 2014). "'5년만의 컴백' 서태지, 10월 18일 '크리스말로윈' 콘서트 개최 (""Returning After Five Years" Seo Taiji Holds His "Christmalowin" Concert on October 18th")" (in Korean). MyDaily. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
  7. ^ Lee, Eun-ji (October 20, 2014). "서태지도 사랑꾼? "9집 앨범 재킷, 내 딸 상상도… 아내 임신했을 때 앨범 들려줬다" ("Seo Taiji Says "My Ninth Album's Artwork Is an Imaginative Figure of My Daughter... My Wife Listened to My New Album When Pregnant"")" (in Korean). KUKINEWS. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  8. ^ Lee, Mi-young (September 29, 2014). "'컴백'서태지, 아이유와 신곡 콜라보…2일 선공개 ("Seo Taiji Collaborates with IU... The Song Will Be Released on October 2nd")" (in Korean). inews24. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
  9. ^ Lee, Bo-hee (September 29, 2014). "서태지, 아이유와 콜라보 '소격동' 프로젝트..데뷔 22년만의 첫 시도 ("Seo Taiji Makes "Sogyeokdong Project" Collaborating with IU... For the First Time Since His Debut")" (in Korean). Seoul Shinmun. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
  10. ^ Kang, Jin-young (October 1, 2014). "서태지, 아이유 배려해 음원 유통까지 '콜라보'…이것이 서태지의 '힘' ("Seo Taiji Collaborated with IU's Agency Also in Music Distribution")" (in Korean). Sports Today. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
  11. ^ Jeong, Hae-wook (October 2, 2014). "서태지 '소격동', 감성과 시대 정신의 오묘한 동거 ("Seo Taiji's "Sogyeokdong", The Delicate Cohabitation of Sensibility and Zeitgeist")" (in Korean). Newstomato. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
  12. ^ Jeong, Hae-wook (October 2, 2014). "서태지 측 "아이유와 소격동 프로젝트, 두 비밀 이야기"(공식입장) ("Seo Taiji Officially Says "The Sogyeokdong Project with IU Is About the Two Secret Stories"")" (in Korean). Newstomato. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
  13. ^ Lee, Hye-rin (October 2, 2014). "아이유 '소격동' 뮤비, 오는 6일 공개..황수아 감독 메가폰 ("IU's "Sogyeokdong" MV Comes Out on October 6th, Directed by Hwang Soo-ah")" (in Korean). OSEN. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
  14. ^ Park, Mi-ae (September 30, 2014). "서태지-아이유 콜라보곡 '소격동', '별그대' 김현수-'괜찮아…' 성유빈 주연 ("Seo Taiji and IU's "Sogyeokdong" MV Features Kim Hyun-soo and Sung Yoo-bin")" (in Korean). EDAILY. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
  15. ^ Park, Mi-ae (October 11, 2014). "서태지 버전 '소격동', 공개 3시간만에 6개 음원차트 1위 차지 ("Seo Taiji's Version of "Sogyeokdong" Tops 6 Music Charts After Just 3 Hours Since Its Release")" (in Korean). Newsway. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
  16. ^ "South Korean Gaon Chart: Singles – The 42nd Week of 2014". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
  17. ^ "South Korean Gaon Chart: Singles – The 43rd Week of 2014". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
  18. ^ "IU Wins on Inkigayo Oct. 19, Performances from VIXX, Song Ji Eun, UNIQ and More". Soompi. October 19, 2014. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
  19. ^ Sales references of "Sogyeokdong":
  20. ^ Mnet (October 2, 2014). "Mnet [슈퍼스타K6] Ep.10 : 곽진언 – 소격동 (서태지)" (YouTube). YouTube.
  21. ^ a b Jeong, Hee-seo (October 16, 2014). "[쥬크박스] "긴장해 다들"…드디어 서태지가 왔다 '크리스말로윈' (""Be Alert, Everyone"... Seo Taiji Finally Comes Back with "Christmalo.win"")" (in Korean). XPORTSNEWS. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  22. ^ Park, Hye-ran (October 20, 2014). "'뉴스룸' 서태지, "'크리스말로윈' 모티브는 '울면 안돼'" ("Seo Taiji Says "Christmalo.win" Is Inspired from "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"")" (in Korean). Maeil Economic Daily.
  23. ^ "Seo Taiji – Christmalo.win : pop!gasa – kpop translation lyrics". pop!gasa. October 1, 2014. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  24. ^ Kim, Min-jeong (October 20, 2014). "서태지, '크리스말로윈' 시네마 버전 뮤비 공개…9분짜리 대작+신승환 출연 ("Seo Taiji Releases the Theatrical Version of "Christmalo.win" MV... 9-Minute-Long Video Featuring Actor Shin Seung-hwan")" (in Korean). Baekooknam.com. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  25. ^ "South Korean Gaon Chart: Singles – The 43rd Week of 2014". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. October 23, 2014. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  26. ^ a b Sales references for "Christmalo.win":
  27. ^ Park, Sun-young (October 19, 2014). "[SS스테이지]서태지 '크리스말로윈' 콘서트…5년의 기다림, 감동을 수놓다 ("Seo Taiji's "Christmalowin" Concert... 5 Years of Waiting Embroidered a Sensation")" (in Korean). SSTV. Retrieved October 26, 2014.
  28. ^ Lee, Choon-woo (October 24, 2014). "서태지 "인간 정현철로서의 꿈은 좋은 아빠가 되는 것" ("Seo Taiji Says "My Dream as a Human Being Is to Be a Good Father"")" (in Korean). Busan Ilbo. Retrieved October 26, 2014.
  29. ^ a b "South Korean Gaon Chart: Album – The 44th Week of 2014". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  30. ^ "South Korean Gaon Chart: Album (Domestic) – The Year of 2014". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  31. ^ a b "Billboard Albums Chart – November 8, 2014". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  32. ^ KBSKpop (November 1, 2014). "[HIT] 유희열의 스케치북-서태지(Seo Tae Ji) – Christmalo.win.20141031" (YouTube). YouTube.
  33. ^ Conpia (November 1, 2014). "유희열의 스케치북-서태지(Seo Tae Ji) – 90s ICON.20141031" (YouTube). YouTube.
  34. ^ Conpia (November 1, 2014). "유희열의 스케치북-서태지(Seo Tae Ji) – 너에게.20141031" (YouTube). YouTube.
  35. ^ Conpia (November 1, 2014). "유희열의 스케치북-서태지(Seo Tae Ji) – 시대유감.20141031" (YouTube). YouTube.
  36. ^ Mnet (November 2, 2014). "Mnet [M COUNTDOWN] Ep.403 : 서태지(SEOTAIJI) – 소격동 + 숲속의 파이터 + 크리스말로윈 @M COUNTDOWN_141120" (YouTube). YouTube.
  37. ^ Lee, Ji-hyun (January 1, 2015). "서태지, 14년만 연말콘서트 성황..새해 카운트다운까지 ("Seo Taiji's First Year-End Concerts in 14 Years Ended Successfully... There Was Even a "Happy New Year" Countdown at the Show")" (in Korean). STARNEWS. Retrieved February 4, 2015.
  38. ^ Bak, Geon-wook (February 9, 2015). "서태지 밴드, '콰이어트 나이트' 앙코르 공연 개최 ("The Seo Taiji Band to Hold "Quiet Night Tour" Once Again")" (in Korean). news1. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
  39. ^ Kim, Ye-na (October 13, 2014). "서태지 정규 9집 트랙리스트 공개…타이틀곡 '크리스말로윈' 확정 ("Seo Taiji's 9th Studio Album Tracks Revealed... "Christmalo.win" Confirmed as the Lead Track")" (in Korean). TVREPORT. Retrieved October 14, 2014.
  40. ^ Quiet Night (Media notes). Seo Taiji. South Korea: CJ E&M Music. 2014.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  41. ^ Sales references of "Quiet Night":
  42. ^ "South Korean Gaon Chart: Album – October 2014". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  43. ^ "South Korean Gaon Chart: Album – The Year of 2014". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. January 9, 2015. Retrieved January 10, 2015.
  44. ^ "South Korean Gaon Chart: Singles – The 41st Week of 2014". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved October 14, 2014.
  45. ^ "South Korean Gaon Chart: Singles – October 2014". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  46. ^ Sales references for "Sogyeokdong (IU version)":
  47. ^ Sales references for "Sogyeokdong (Seo Taiji version)":
  48. ^ Sales references for "Fighter of the Forest":
  49. ^ Sales references for "Poignant Memories":
  50. ^ Sales references for "Prison Break":
  51. ^ Sales references for "90s ICON":
  52. ^ Sales references for "Lost":
  53. ^ Sales references for "The Christmas Miracle":
  54. ^ Sales references for "Into":
  55. ^ "iTunes – Music – Quiet Night by Seo Tai Ji". iTunes Store. October 20, 2014. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
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