New Chapter No. 2: The Truth of Love

New Chapter #2: The Truth of Love is a Korean extended play record by the South Korean pop duo TVXQ. It was released on December 26, 2018 through SM Entertainment as a special commemorative album for the duo's fifteenth debut anniversary. The Truth of Love is the sequel to the duo's eighth studio album New Chapter #1: The Chance of Love, which was released on March 28, 2018.

New Chapter #2: The Truth of Love
Digital and White version cover.
EP by
ReleasedDecember 26, 2018 (2018-12-26)
Recorded2017–18 in Seoul, South Korea
Genre
Length24:29
LanguageKorean
Label
Producer
TVXQ chronology
Tomorrow
(2018)
New Chapter #2: The Truth of Love
(2018)
XV
(2019)
Singles from New Chapter #2: The Truth of Love
  1. "Truth"
    Released: December 26, 2018

The Truth of Love is dance-pop album with elements of R&B and electropop. Its lead single "Truth" is an R&B pop song infused with jazz.[1] Lyrically, the record is a reflection of oneself recovering from the pain of separation.

The record debuted at number two on the Gaon Albums Chart in South Korea, moving 93,238 units.[2] In Japan, The Truth of Love debuted at number 12 on the Oricon Albums Chart.[3]

Background

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On November 28, SM Entertainment announced that TVXQ would hold a fan meeting at the Tiger Dome on December 26 to commemorate the duo's fifteenth anniversary, titled TVXQ! Special Day: The Truth of Love. The new record was also announced.[4] The Truth of Love was released as a special album for TVXQ's fifteenth debut anniversary in South Korea, which fell on December 26, 2018.[5]

The Truth of Love's lead single "Truth" was announced on December 19, 2018.[5] The song, written and produced by Thomas Troelsen who also wrote TVXQ's 2008 K-Pop hit "Mirotic," is a jazzy R&B pop song with harmonizing vocals by Yunho and Changmin.[6] The accompanying music video showcased a "symmetrical" dance that is reminiscent of a dance battle.[6] The Truth of Love comprises seven tracks, two which are solos performed by U-Know Yunho and Max Changmin. Yunho's solo "City Lights" features a rap written and performed by Taeyong of NCT. Changmin wrote the lyrics to two tracks – "Jelly Love" and his solo, "Beautiful Stranger." The album's last track "Circle" is also the name of TVXQ's comeback concert, the Circle #welcome Tour, which debuted in Seoul on May 5, 2018.

Promotion

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TVXQ during an autograph event at IFC Mall in Yeouido-dong, January 13, 2019

Promotion and marketing for the album first came in a series of social media updates and releases. TVXQ kickstarted the campaign with a surprise album cover drop on December 19, 2018. On December 20, two teaser images of Changmin were unveiled on social media, followed by the release of a short clip ("1st Clue by MAX") on YouTube.[7] A second series of teaser images and a video ("2nd clue by U-KNOW") featuring Yunho was released on December 21.[8] On December 22, SM Entertainment unveiled a group teaser ("3rd clue by TVXQ!") and a new album cover.[9]

A teaser for the music video of the lead single "Truth" was dropped on December 24, followed with a third album cover. The final teaser for "Truth" aired on Christmas Day, along with several other teaser images. The official music video dropped on December 26 at 6pm KST, along with the album's digital release.

The physical CD album dropped the following day, in three versions: white, pink, and red. Each version is attached with a 168-page booklet, a poster, and a postcard.

Reception

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On the iTunes Store, The Truth of Love debuted at number one in seven countries: Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. It peaked at number two in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Malaysia, and number five in the Philippines.

In South Korea, the album debuted at number two on the Gaon Album Chart, breaking TVXQ's number one streak on the charts since its inception in 2010.[10] According to the Hanteo Album Charts, which tracks real-time sales from affiliated retailers, The Truth of Love moved 37,000 pure album sales on the first week of release.

Track listing

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No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Truth"Kyung Jin-hee
2:57
2."Sooner Than Later" (featuring The Quiett)
  • Yeon-jung
  • Jamil Chammas
  • Kaelyn Behr
  • Micah Powell
  • James Patterson
  • Benjamin Ruttner
  • MZMC
2:59
3."Jelly Love"
  • G'harah Degeddingseze
  • Jakob Mihoubi
  • Rudi Daouk
3:33
4."Morning Sun"
  • Hwang Hyun
  • Son Go-eun
  • JQ
3:31
5."夜話 (City Lights)" (Yahwa lit. "Night Stories"; solo performed by U-Know Yunho) (featuring Taeyong of NCT)
  • Hwang Yoo-bin
  • Lee Tae-yong
  • Tyler Shamy
  • Brooke Williams
  • Matt Wiggers
  • Zac White
3:24
6."아스라이... (Beautiful Stranger)" (Aseurai lit. "Faintly..."; solo performed by Max Changmin)
  • Chang-min
  • Kang Eun-jung
  • Shamy
  • Amit Ofir
  • Anthony Starble
3:51
7."Circle (동행)" (Donghaeng lit. "Accompany")
  • JQ
  • Ji-won
  • Ji-hye
  • Yoo-bin
  • Blackcell
  • Jakob Mihoubi
  • Rudi Daouk
4:14
Total length:24:29

Charts

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Chart (2018) Peak
position
South Korean Albums (Gaon)[10] 2
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[3] 12

Sales

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Region Chart Sales/shipments
South Korea Gaon Albums Chart[2] 93,238
Hanteo Albums Chart 50,619
Japan Oricon Albums Chart 12,960

Release history

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Region Date Format(s) Label
Various December 26, 2018 SM Entertainment
South Korea
South Korea December 27, 2018 CD

Personnel

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Credits adapted from the liner notes of New Chapter #2: The Truth of Love.[11]

Performers and musicians
Technical personnel

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "TVXQ reunites with 'Mirotic' producer for jazzy MV 'Truth'". Allkpop. 25 December 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Gaon Albums Chart, December 2018". Gaon (in Korean). Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Oricon Albums Chart, Week of 2019-01-07". Oricon (in Japanese). 7 January 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  4. ^ "TVXQ To Release Special Album And Hold Fan Meeting To Celebrate 15th Debut Anniversary". Soompi. 28 November 2016. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  5. ^ a b "K-Pop Kings TVXQ to celebrate 15th debut anniversary with 'Truth'". OSEN via Naver (in Korean). 19 December 2018. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  6. ^ a b "TVXQ to release MV teaser of new single 'Truth'". OSEN via Naver (in Korean). 25 December 2018. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  7. ^ "TVXQ's Changmin mesmerizes with his 1st clue for special comeback album 'The Truth of Love'". Allkpop. 19 December 2018. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  8. ^ "TVXQ's Yunho struggles with pain and denial in 2nd clue film for 'The Truth of Love' + individual photos". Allkpop. 20 December 2018. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  9. ^ "TVXQ depict the brighter side of love in 3rd clue film + pink teaser photos". Allkpop. 21 December 2018. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  10. ^ a b "Gaon Album Chart – Week 52, 2018". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  11. ^ New Chapter #2: The Truth of Love (CD liner notes). TVXQ. SM Entertainment. 2018. SMK1051.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)