SEOUL – A rush of veteran Okay-pop boy teams returning with new releases stirred up nostalgia amongst previous Okay-pop followers and enriched the music scene.
That features the so-called “second-generation” boy teams, those that debuted between 2003 and 2011, reminiscent of legends SHINee, Ukiss, Infinite, Teen High and TVXQ.
SHINee began the comeback race with the discharge of its eighth studio album, “Exhausting,” in June, breaking a hiatus of greater than two years.
The group celebrated its fifteenth anniversary this 12 months with the studio album and its sixth standalone live performance in Seoul.
In an indication of its recognition, the quartet’s three-day live performance drew round 30,000 followers.
The live performance was the primary in nearly seven years because the members needed to report for necessary army obligation and in addition because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
SHINee debuted beneath SM Leisure in 2008 and is acknowledged for its modern rhythm and electro-pop sound.
The band established a robust place within the Okay-pop scene with stylish music and excellent performances.
Ukiss, a number one Okay-pop boy band within the 2010s, additionally adopted swimsuit.
After 5 and a half years, the group returned with its twelfth EP “Play Checklist” in June.
The EP, after a 12 months within the making, is led by the title observe “The Great Escape,” a home pop single with a retro sound that brings again the explosive power of Ukiss.
Ukiss debuted in 2008 with the EP “New Technology” and rose to stardom with its megahit single “Man Man Ha Ni,” and went on to drop a number of extra hits, together with “Bingle Bingle” and “Shut Up.”
The six-piece act celebrated its fifteenth anniversary this 12 months by staging two exhibits in Tokyo and Osaka, Japan, in July.
One other veteran boy group, Teen High, made its comeback in July after practically three years.
Teen High returned as a quartet with its fifth single album “4Sho” after the group’s chief C.A.P left the group in Could over controversies sparked throughout a reside broadcast with followers.
Teen High introduced its explosive power again from when it debuted in 2010.
Their debut noticed the Okay-pop scene vitalized with fast-tempo dance singles reminiscent of “Rocking,” “Miss Proper” and “No Fragrance For You.”
In July, the group met with its followers face-to-face for the primary time in 4 years by holding a two-day live performance in Seoul.
In the identical month, Infinite launched its seventh EP “13egin.”
The album was the primary in 5 years and in addition the primary after establishing its personal company, Infinite Co.
Having an company of its personal allowed the group to be accountable for the album manufacturing, from the idea of the music, and choreography to outfits, hair and make-up.
A full group return wouldn’t have been doable with out Nam Woo-hyun, who had been recognized with a uncommon most cancers earlier this 12 months. He underwent surgical procedure for a gastrointestinal stromal tumor in April and is in restoration.
Regardless of the physician’s advice to relaxation after surgical procedure, Nam determined to push forward with Infinite’s comeback as deliberate.
Infinite was even capable of maintain a full unit two-day live performance in Seoul in August.
Final however not least, the legendary TVXQ dropped its ninth studio album “20&2” on Dec. 26 to have a good time its twentieth anniversary.
TVXQ debuted as a quintet in December 2003 with its debut single, “Hug,” and garnered the largest fandom among the many second-generation Okay-pop acts due to its quite a few hits.
The group wrote many firsts in Okay-pop historical past, from changing into the primary Korean group to prime the Japanese main music chart Oricon’s Weekly to holding the first-ever Okay-pop standalone live performance at Tokyo dome again in 2009.
In 2010, three members left the group to type a separate trio, JYJ.
Changmin and Yunho have continued the crew as a duo.
The group is scheduled to carry a standalone live performance on Dec. 30-31 on the Encourage Enviornment, a brand new Okay-pop live performance venue in Yeongjeong-do, Incheon.
This text is a part of a collection inspecting the Okay-pop scene in 2023. — Ed.
