This Is Me is the third studio album by South Korean singer and actor Kim Jong-kook. It was first made available on June 24, 2005,[a] and spawned the lead tracks "Standstill" and "Loveable". The album experienced commercial success in South Korea upon its release, topping the monthly MIAK album chart and selling over 243,000 copies by the end of the year, ranking as the second best-selling album in the country in 2005.
After releasing his second studio album Evolution in 2004, Kim achieved mainstream success in South Korea and found recognition with his song "One Man". The following year, it was confirmed that Kim's third studio album, This Is Me, would contain 15 tracks with various genres. Its lead single, titled "Standstill", was described as a lyrical extension of "One Man", revolving around the story of a man who is not able to let go of an old lover and stays in the same place of mind. A medium-tempo R&B number, it exhibits a more upbeat melody in comparison with its predecessor.[1] Its accompanying beach-themed music video was filmed on Boracay Island in the Philippines and was broadcast through various music channels in South Korea upon the album's release.[2]
Composed by Jo Young-soo, the tracks "To Her Man" and "Eraser" similarly details the emotions of parting with a lover, adding depth to Kim's unique higher pitched tone. The Latin-inspired tracks "Saturday Night" and "One Night" were noted for its 80s and 90s disco-styles,[1] while "Gift" was characterized for evoking a sense of comfort in listeners.[3] After the release of "Standstill", Kim found difficulty in choosing a track that could potentially serve as a sequel, letting his fans vote instead.[4] Kim eventually chose the song "Loveable" as the follow-up single in late-August after reflecting the opinions of his fans. Its music video was subsequently shot in Yongin on August 26, 2005, with promotions beginning in early September.[5]
Commercially, This Is Me experienced commercial success in South Korea. The album achieved the number one spot on the monthly MIAK albums chart for June 2005, selling 62,843 within a week.[6] It descended eight positions to number nine and sold an additional 20,713 copies the following month.[7] The particularly positive reception for the follow-up single "Loveable" in late-August led to record sales following the song's release with 2,000 to 3,000 copies being sold per day,[8] leading the album to reclaim the number one position for the month of August on the MIAK chart.[9] By the end of the year, the album sold a total of 243,211 copies, making it the second best-selling album in the country during 2005, ranking behind only SG Wannabe's Saldaga.[10] It went on to sell over 303,000 copies in the country by June 2006.[11]
^ ab3집 발표 김종국, '한 남자' 인기 재도전 [Kim Jong-guk releases 3rd album, 'One Man' popularity re-challenge]. No Cut News (in Korean). June 28, 2005. Retrieved December 12, 2021 – via Naver.
^김종국, 3집으로 '한남자' 인기 재도전 [Kim Jong-kook's 3rd album challenges the popularity of 'One Man']. Yonhap News (in Korean). July 6, 2005. Retrieved December 12, 2021 – via Naver.
^"솔로 3집 '제자리 걸음'으로 돌아온 김종국" [Kim Jong-guk is back with his 3rd solo album 'Walk in Place']. Yonhap News (in Korean). July 13, 2005. Retrieved December 12, 2021 – via Naver.
^김종국 후속곡 고민되네, 온라인 투표로 결정할 것 [Kim Jong Kook worried about sequel, I'll decide by online voting]. Herald Pop (in Korean). July 30, 2005. Retrieved December 13, 2021 – via Naver.
^[포토] 김종국, 뮤비 촬영장서 '사랑의 하트' [[Photo] Kim Jong Kook at the music video set for 'Loveable']. My Daily (in Korean). August 26, 2005. Retrieved December 13, 2021 – via Naver.
^ ab2005.06월 – 가요 음반 판매량 [2005.06 – Sales volume] (in Korean). Music Industry Association of Korea. Archived from the original on August 14, 2005. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
^2005.07월 – 가요 음반 판매량 [2005.07 – Sales volume] (in Korean). Music Industry Association of Korea. Archived from the original on January 15, 2006. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
^김종국, 후속곡 '사랑스러워'도 온라인 차트 장악 [Kim Jong-kook, follow-up song 'Loveable' also dominates online charts]. My Daily (in Korean). August 31, 2005. Retrieved December 13, 2021 – via Naver.
^2005.08월 – 가요 음반 판매량 [2005.08 – Sales volume] (in Korean). Music Industry Association of Korea. Archived from the original on February 21, 2006. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
^ ab2005년 가요음반판매량 [2005 Album Sales Figures] (in Korean). Recording Industry Association of Korea. Archived from the original on October 14, 2017. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
^2006.06월 – 가요 음반 판매량 [2006.06 – Sales volume] (in Korean). Music Industry Association of Korea. Archived from the original on April 30, 2008. Retrieved May 16, 2021.
