Seoulite is the second studio album by South Korean singer and songwriter Lee Hi. The album marked her comeback to the Korean music scene after a three-year hiatus following the release of her debut studio album, First Love, in 2013. The album was released first in a half album format, the first half being released on March 9, 2016 and the full album released digitally on April 20, 2016, and physically a week later.[1][2]
| Seoulite | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Full Album cover | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | March 9, 2016 (half album) April 20, 2016 (full album) | |||
| Recorded | 2015–2016 | |||
| Length | 45:32 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer | ||||
| Lee Hi chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Seoulite | ||||
| ||||
| Half Album cover | ||||
 | ||||
Background and release
editAfter a successful debut into the Korean music industry at the age of sixteen, to the surprise of many, Lee Hi went on an unofficial hiatus. Much speculation was had around when she would be making her comeback before it was confirmed in August 2015 that Lee would be making her anticipated comeback not through YG Entertainment's main label, but a subsidiary.[3] The sublabel, HIGHGRND, an independent sublabel of YG, is headed by Epik High's Tablo. Though it was confirmed that Lee would still be housed under YG Entertainment, despite releasing under HIGHGRND, YG CEO Yang Hyun-suk stated via an affiliate of the company that the decision for it to be released under the subsidiary was due to worry that he would not be able to manage the comeback to his best abilities, and that his trust in Tablo led him toward the decision to give him production control over her comeback.
On February 15, 2016, it was confirmed that her comeback would be in March.[4] The first teaser for Lee's comeback album, which was revealed to be titled Seoulite, was released on February 29. Rather than releasing a full-length packaged album, it was said that she would be releasing a "half album": one half on March 9, and the second half at a later date.[5] A second teaser, confirming lead single "Breathe", was released on March 2.[5] A third teaser, confirming a second title track named "Hold My Hand", was released on March 4.[5] Following the release of both of the teaser photos and videos, a full track list for the half album was released on March 6.[5]
On March 5, it was revealed that Jonghyun of Shinee had participated in the composition and writing of title track, "Breathe". It was further revealed that Tablo had requested for Jonghyun to write a song for Lee's comeback. The song was chosen to be a second title track by Yang Hyun-suk after leaving a "deep impression" on him, despite not being informed by Tablo that the song was, in fact, composed by Jonghyun until the music video had been filmed.[6]
Seoulite was released digitally on March 9. After its release, "Breathe" ranked first on every major Korean digital chart, achieving a digital music "all kill".[7] Furthermore, the track debuted at number two on Gaon's weekly digital chart, with "Hold My Hand" also debuting in the top ten.[8] The two songs also debuted in first and fourth place, respectively, on the weekly download chart.[9] Beyond this, the album made its debut at number three on Billboard's World Albums chart.[10]
Lee took her first win for "Breathe" on the March 17 broadcast of Mnet's M Countdown.[11]
"Breathe" re-entered Korean digital charts in December 2017, following the death of Jonghyun.[12]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "World Tour" (feat. Mino of Winner) |
|
| 4:37 |
| 2. | "My Star" |
|
| 3:42 |
| 3. | "손잡아 줘요" (Hold My Hand) | Wheeler | 3:39 | |
| 4. | "희망고문" (Blues) | Tablo |
| 3:56 |
| 5. | "한숨" (Breathe) | Jonghyun |
| 4:49 |
| 6. | "스쳐 간다" (Passing By) | Lee Hi |
| 3:19 |
| 7. | "Fxxk Wit Us" (feat. Dok2) |
| 3:38 | |
| 8. | "Official" (feat. Incredivle) |
|
| 3:29 |
| 9. | "안봐도 비디오" (Video) (feat. Bobby of iKon) |
|
| 3:40 |
| 10. | "Missing U" | Tablo |
| 4:08 |
| 11. | "밤샘" (Up All Night) (feat. Tablo) | Tablo |
| 3:40 |
| 12. | "나는 달라" (I'm Different) (Hi Suhyun feat. Bobby) (Bonus Track) |
|
| 3:35 |
| Total length: | 46:07 | |||
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "World Tour" (feat. Mino of Winner) |
|
| 4:37 |
| 2. | "손잡아 줘요" (Hold My Hand) |
| Wheeler | 3:39 |
| 3. | "한숨" (Breathe) | Jonghyun |
| 4:49 |
| 4. | "Official" (feat. Incredivle) |
|
| 3:29 |
| 5. | "Fxxk Wit Us" (feat. Dok2) |
|
| 3:38 |
| Total length: | 20:08 | |||
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "My Star" |
|
| 3:42 |
| 2. | "희망고문" (Blues) | Tablo |
| 3:56 |
| 3. | "스쳐 간다" (Passing By) | Lee |
| 3:19 |
| 4. | "밤샘" (Up All Night) (feat. Tablo) | Tablo |
| 3:40 |
| 5. | "안봐도 비디오" (Video) (feat. Bobby of iKon) |
|
| 3:40 |
| 6. | "Missing U" | Tablo |
| 4:08 |
| Total length: | 22:29 | |||
Charts
edit| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Heatseekers Albums[14] | 16 |
| US Billboard World Albums[15] | 3 |
Awards and nominations
edit| Song | Program | Date |
|---|---|---|
| "Breathe" | M! Countdown (Mnet) | March 17, 2016[11] |
| Inkigayo (SBS) | March 20, 2016[16] |
Release history
edit| Region | Date[2] | Format(s) | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Korea, World | March 9, 2016 | Digital Download | YG Entertainment |
| April 20, 2016 | |||
| South Korea | April 27, 2016 | CD |
References
edit- ^ "Lee Hi Reveals Half Album Tracklist and Teasers". YG Life Twitter. Retrieved April 7, 2016.
- ^ a b "LEE HI - 'SEOULITE' FULL ALBUM RELEASE PLAN". YG Family. Retrieved April 19, 2016.
- ^ "Lee Hi to Make Comeback Album Under Tablo and HIGHGRND's Production". Soompi.com. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
- ^ "Lee Hi Is Gearing Up for a March Comeback". Soompi.com. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
- ^ a b c d "Lee Hi Reveals Half Album Tracklist and Teasers". Soompi.com. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
- ^ "Jonghyun's Involvement On New Lee Hi Single Kept Secret From YG Chief By Tablo: 'He Only Told Me After We Finished'". Kpopstarz.com. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
- ^ "Lee Hi Tops Music Charts With "Breathe," Written by SHINee's Jonghyun'". Soompi.com. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
- ^ "2016년 11주차 Digital Chart". Gaonchart.co.kr. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
- ^ "2016년 11주차 Download Chart". Gaonchart.co.kr. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
- ^ "Lee Hi Returns to the Charts With 'Seoulite' on World & Heatseekers Album Charts". Billboard.com/. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
- ^ a b "Watch: Lee Hi Takes 1st Win for "Breathe" on "M!Countdown"". Soompi.com. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
- ^ "SHINee Jonghyun's songs top music charts following his death". Allkpop.com. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- ^ "Lee Hi Full Album - Seoulite". Yesasia.com. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
- ^ "Heatseekers Albums (Seoulite) / Billboard.com". Billboard. April 1, 2016.
- ^ "World Albums (Seoulite) / Billboard.com". Billboard. March 17, 2016.
- ^ "LEE HI - '한숨(BREATHE)' 0320 SBS Inkigayo : NO.1 OF THE WEEK". Tvcast.navar.com. Retrieved 22 March 2016.