Seo Taiji and Boys is the debut studio album by South Korean musical trio Seo Taiji and Boys, released via Bando Records on March 23, 1992. Written primarily by Seo Taiji, the record incorporates and fuses various genres including new jack swing, techno, R&B and hip hop. It spawned the group's first big hit and now their signature song, "I Know" (Nan Arayo).
| Seo Taiji and Boys | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | March 23, 1992 | |||
| Recorded | 1991–1992 | |||
| Studio | Techno Mix Studio, Seoul | |||
| Genre | K-pop, new jack swing, dance, R&B, hip hop | |||
| Length | 33:18 | |||
| Language | Korean | |||
| Label | Bando Records | |||
| Producer | Yudae Yeong | |||
| Seo Taiji and Boys chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Seo Taiji and Boys | ||||
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The album brought the group major success, which would continue through the band's next three albums and even frontman Seo Taiji's solo career.[1][2][3] With over 1.8 million copies sold, it is one of the best-selling albums in South Korea. Seo Taiji and Boys is considered to be one of the most influential Korean albums with Pitchfork writing that it represents "the dawn of K-pop".
Background and release edit
The album was released on March 23, 1992, and marked the trio's debut. The album was released in a special 15th Anniversary Edition with bonus tracks in 2007, which includes live tracks and remixes, as well as the video mix of "Nan Arayo". The 2007 edition is also available internationally in digital form through venues such as Amazon and iTunes, with official English titles used by the Seotaiji Company. However, in international territories, the digital version does not include "Rock 'n Roll Dance" in either its original or remixed form, due to licensing issues with using samples from AC/DC's "Back in Black".
Reception edit
In April 1996, Billboard reported that the album had sold over 1.6 million copies,[4] which has since grown to over 1.8 million copies and is one of the best-selling albums of all time in South Korea.[5]
The album was met with acclaim in both South Korea and abroad, with the Kyunghyang Shinmun ranking the album at number 24 on their 2007 list of the Top 100 Korean Albums.[6] In 2020, Pitchfork rated the album 8.3 out of ten, making it the highest rated Korean album reviewed by the publication. Editor Noah Yoo stated that the album's "canny synthesis of rap, techno, and rock ... would soon be seen as the dawn of K-pop."[7]
Accolades edit
Seo Taiji and Boys won a Golden Disc Award for "I Know" in 1992.[8] The song received 26 music program awards from June to August 1992. "You, In the Fantasy" also won 16 music program awards from September to November.
| Publication | List | Ranking | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serv Magazine | Greatest 100 Korean Albums | 25 | 1998[9] |
| MBC Radio | Best albums of all time | Placed | 2001[10] |
| Kyunghyang Shinmun | Top 100 Korean Albums of All Time | 24 | 2007[11] |
| Melon | Top 100 Korean Albums of All Time | 22 | 2018[12] |
| Billboard | 30 Best Boy Band Albums of the Past 30 Years | 11 | 2020[13] |
| uDiscoverMusic | The Best Albums of 1992 | 40 | 2021[14] |
Track listing edit
English titles are based on the official translations provided by the Seotaiji Company for international markets. All tracks are written by Seo Taiji, except track 5 lyrics by Yang Hyun-suk, track 8 lyrics by William B., and track 9 music by Angus Young.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Yo! Taiji!" | 0:38 |
| 2. | "I Know (Club Mix)" (난 알아요 (Club Mix)) | 3:48 |
| 3. | "You, In the Fantasy" (환상 속의 그대[a]) | 3:26 |
| 4. | "In the Time Spent With You" (너와 함께한 시간 속에서) | 4:21 |
| 5. | "As the Night Goes On" (이밤이 깊어가지만) | 3:55 |
| 6. | "My Everything (Live Mix)" (내 모든 것 (Live Mix)) | 4:46 |
| 7. | "Now" (이제는) | 4:14 |
| 8. | "Blind Love (English Version)" | 3:57 |
| 9. | "Rock'n Roll Dance ('92 Heavy Mix)" | 3:11 |
| 10. | "Missing" | 1:08 |
| Total length: | 33:18 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 11. | "You, In the Fantasy Part 3 (Live & Techno Mix)" (환상속의 그대 Part 3 (Live & Techno Mix)) | 3:43 |
| 12. | "As the Night Goes On (Live & Techno Mix)" (이 밤이 깊어가지만 (Live & Techno Mix)) | 5:14 |
| 13. | "Rock'n Roll Dance (Live & Techno Mix)" | 5:16 |
| 14. | "I Know ('04 Zero Live)" (난 알아요 ('04 Zero Live)) | 4:26 |
| 15. | "'92 I Know (TV Edit)" ('92 난 알아요 (TV Edit)) | 3:24 |
| Total length: | 55:19 | |
Personnel edit
- Seo Taiji − vocals, arrangement, computer programming, synthesizer, guitar on tracks 2, 3 & 8
- Yang Hyun-suk − vocals
- Lee Juno − vocals
- Son Mu-hyeon − guitar on track 6
- Shin Daechul − guitar on track 9
- Kim Jong-seo − chorus
- Jang Hye-jin − chorus
- Lee Jung Sik − saxophone
Notes edit
- ^ The song samples a voice clip of Bart Simpson saying "Hey man! It's me! Bart Simpson!" from The Simpsons.
References edit
- ^ True, Chris. "Seo Tai-Ji". allmusic.com. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
- ^ "Seo Taiji And Boys – Goodbye Best Album". discogs.com. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
- ^ "K-pop still feels impact of Seo Taiji & Boys". koreaherald.com. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
- ^ "Seoul Music: Rockin' in Korea". Billboard. April 20, 1996. p. 18. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
- ^ Lee, Seung-ryun (January 31, 2018). "이주노와 양현석...이들 활동했던 '서태지와 아이들'에 관심 집중". Kookje Shinmun (in Korean). Retrieved August 30, 2018.
- ^ "[대중음악 100대 명반]24위 서태지와 아이들 '서태지와 아이들'". Kyunghyang Shinmun (in Korean). November 15, 2007. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
- ^ Yoo, Noah (July 5, 2020). "Seo Taiji and Boys: Seo Taiji and Boys Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
- ^ "역대수상자 골든디스크". Golden Disc Awards (in Korean). Retrieved June 16, 2017.
- ^ "【화제】한국대중음악 100대 명반" [[Topic] Top 100 Korean Popular Music Albums]. Segye Ilbo (in Korean). Naver. June 2, 2005. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
- ^ ""대중음악 전문가들 한국 최고 가요 선정"" ["Popular music experts selected Korea's best works"]. Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). Naver. July 22, 2001. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
- ^ "[커버스토리]대중음악 100대 명반 '들국화'1위" [[Cover Story] Top 100 Popular Music Albums 'Deulgukhwa' ranked 1st]. Kyunghyang Shinmun (in Korean). Naver. August 23, 2007. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
- ^ "한국 대중 음악 명반 100" [100 Korean Popular Music Albums] (in Korean). Melon. August 28, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "The 30 Best Boy Band Albums of the Past 30 Years: Staff Picks". Billboard. July 14, 2020. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
- ^ Armstrong, Sam (September 13, 2021). "The Best Albums Of 1992: 72 Records Worth Your Time". uDiscover Music. Retrieved December 8, 2022.