TVXQ ^_^

About...
TVXQ is the acronym for Tong Vfang Xien Qi, the 5-member Korean boy band formed by SM Entertainment. Its five members specialize in the areas of dance, a cappella, acting, and pop with an R&B vibe. The group has gained popularity in South Korea, Japan, China, Thailand and other East Asian countries.

In Korea, they are better known as Dong Bang Shin Ki (often abbreviated as DBSG or DBSK) while the Japanese equivalent of the group's name is Tōhōshinki (abbreviated as THSK). Although their origin is Korean, their name on all official non-Japanese advertisements and merchandise is scripted as "TVXQ", the Chinese counterpart of their name. Although in all three languages, it roughly translates to "Gods Rising from the East."

Musical style
Initially marketed as an "acappella " group, most of TVXQ's music is mainstream K-pop. Their debut single Hug was a bubblegum pop song, whereas their follow up single The Way U Are was a dance/R&B number, complete with stylized outfits and choreographed dance moves. Their third major single release, 믿어요' (I Believe), in contrast, was a ballad. TVXQ concluded the year with a Christmas album that also had an a cappella version of "Jesus, Joy Of Man's Desiring". With their releases in 2004, the group showed a versatility in style and has managed not to be permanently typecast as a certain "genre style" (as opposed to Fly to the Sky's ballads or Koyote's dance songs).

With consecutive releases, they have not moved from this formula, as their second and third albums have had a similar mixture without moving outside of the mainstream label. The second album's singles, for example, included a dance song (their first release) and a ballad (their follow up). As the third album's releases have so far been dance, ballad and pure pop tracks, TVXQ has continued to move from genre to genre while staying mainstream. Although the group has given many a cappella performances, and have included various a cappella tracks on their albums, TVXQ has yet to release an a cappella (or an otherwise mostly vocal) single.


[edit] History

[edit] 2004: Debut
TVXQ made their first appearance on December 26, 2003 during a BoA and Britney Spears Showcase. They performed their debut song Hug as well as an acappella rendition of O Holy Night alongside BoA. The group eventually released two physical singles (Hug and The Way U Are), accompanied by photo books, before their first album in 2004. TVXQ reached #1 on Korean music charts in three months after their debut.

An official fan club was created, named after the Cassiopeia constellation near the Big Dipper. TVXQ's fans chose the name "Cassiopeia" for their fan club because the constellation has 5 stars in its galaxy, and TVXQ has 5 members. When traced on a computer keyboard, "TVfXQ" makes the constellation Cassiopeia.

SM Entertainment had once considered adding a Chinese member to the group and have member rotation to help boost popularity in other countries, as hinted in The 3rd StoryBook - TVfXQ!, and to also branch each member into different solo activities, or possibly combine other trainees into the group. However, the idea was immediately abandoned due to a great deal of fan opposition and outrage who tried to also boycott SM Entertainment products at the time.


[edit] 2005
On April 27 2005, TVXQ released their first Japanese single entitled Stay with Me Tonight. Although the English version of the group’s single Hug and its first album Tri-Angle were also released in Japan earlier, Stay With Me Tonight was TVXQ’s first single to include songs in Japanese. The new single marked the official debut of TVXQ in Japan. [1]

On June 14, TVXQ along with BoA was appointed as PR spokespeople for the city of Los Angeles.[2] On July 13, TVXQ released their 2nd Japanese single Somebody to Love and it debuted as #7 on the Oricon charts.[3]

TVXQ was supposed to hold a concert with the British Royal Philharmonic Orchestra on August 20 at the main Jamsil Stadium in Seoul. The concert was entitled “Royal Music Concert from Five Princes” and would feature the remakes of the group’s songs to the accompaniment of the British Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. [4]However, the concert was cancelled due to poor ticket sales.[citation needed]

TVXQ also released their 3rd Japanese single My Destiny ,their 2nd Korean album Rising Sun and a joint single album with label-mate Super Junior Show Me Your Love in the same year. To end the year, TVXQ received the best music video award for the song 'Rising Sun' and the People's Choice Award at the 2005 Mnet KM Music Video Festival. [5]


[edit] 2006: Overseas expansion and release of third Korean album

[edit] Going overseas
Before returning to their homeland South Korea with their third album in fall, TVXQ endeavored to spread their sphere of influence further in other East Asian countries. They held their first Asian tour, were featured on commercials, and made guest appearances in Malaysia, Thailand, China and Japan. TVXQ members were the first Korean performers to ever stage a concert in Malaysia for their "Rising Sun 1st Asia Tour" in Bukit Jalil (Putra Indoor Stadium) [6]. The tour, which was in promotion for their 2nd Korean album Rising Sun released in 2005, continued to Bangkok in Thailand at the Impact Arena. The tour had also held its first concerts in South Korea.

Soon after, they were kept busy in preparation for the first tour in Japan in promotion of their first japanese album Heart, Mind and Soul. The members focused on strengthening their grasp on the Japanese language to increase promotions in Japan and communicate better with fans during the concert and in interviews, similar to BoA in her early debut years in Japan [7]. Then for the first time, TVXQ performed at a-nation, an annual Japanese live summer concert organized by Avex Trax that features highly popular j-pop artists such as Hamasaki Ayumi, Koda Kumi, and Namie Amuro among others. Moreover, they also released as many as five Japanese singles in total that year.

Their move to stretch outside of South Korea was successful and the fan response was overwhelmingly supportive. They were the first Asian group to win two Thailand Music Awards for both Best Music Video (Rising Sun) and Favorite Asian Artist. They also won the “Popular Vote Asia Artist” award at the “Virgin Hits Awards 2006” in Thailand. Their seventh Japanese single Sky hit #6 on the Oricon Weekly Chart[8], with their eighth single Miss You reaching #3 in Japan.[citation needed] They have topped both the Japanese and Korean charts on the Malaysian radio show "988" twice with their singles "Begin" and "The Fighting Spirit Of The East". The show has an audience of about 4.2 million listeners, reaching as far as Singapore. [9]


[edit] Return to Korea
The group returned to Korea in late August in order to prepare for their third album titled "O"-正.反.合. ('O' - Jung.Ban.Hap), released on September 29, 2006 with two editions. "O"-正.反.合 was re-released on November 11, 2006 to coincide with the group's image change for the promotion of their second title song "Balloons." The release contained two further editions with new versions of "Balloons" and "Get Me Some", along with a new track named "White Lie" written and composed by Xiah. "Balloons," in contrast to their lead single "O" Jung.Ban.Hap' and its heavy techno beats, is a lighter pop song about the innocence of childhood. It is a remake of an old hit by Five Fingers, re-written with a "modern feel" to try and appeal to kids of the new generation while relating to adults familiar with the original in an attempt to broaden their fanbase further.[10] In the first month of its release, the third album surpassed the 100,000 mark in South Korea, and to date has sold over 330,000 copies, the highest ranking album for 2006 in Korea.[11]

Their All About TVXQ became the best-selling DVD for 2006 in South Korea, with sales of 47,186 copies. With the success of the DVD, SBS and SM Entertainment, the co-producer of the TVXQ DVD, are planning to release “All About TVXQ 2” (working title) currently in the works.[12]

TVXQ were special guests at the 51st Asia Pacific Film Festival, held in Taipei. They presented an award together with Taiwanese actress Ariel Lin and performed "'O'-Jung.Ban.Hap." [13] </ref>At the 2006 MKMF Music Festival, the group won four awards, including Best Group and Artist of the Year.[14] At the 16th Music Seoul Festival, which was held on the 1st December, the group won a total of three awards which included "Daesang," equivalent to 'Artist of the Year' award.[15] They also won the Daesang at the 21st Golden Disk Awards 2006, held on December 14th, in addition to a Bonsang.[16] At the SBS Gayo Awards 2006, held on 29th December, the group won another Daesang in addition to a Bonsang, making the group the king of the awards show sweeping four Daesangs in four major Korean music awards.

Their wins in major award shows coincided with increasing criticism of such shows. Doubt and discontent regarding the group "sweeping" the Daesangs were expressed by netizens whose votes are used as a measure of popularity. The results of the polls are "determined by mouse clicks of passionate fans," not the public.[17] Veteran artist Jang Hye-Jin raised concerns to establish the "Korean equivalent of the Grammy Awards."[18] The awards also had a long list of absentees such as Lee Hyo-ri, Rain, and PSY, and YG Family. While Lee and Rain cited busy schedule as a reason, their move was seen as a boycott.[19]


[edit] 2007: Japanese promotion and asian concerts
On January 31, 2007, TVXQ received the Best Asian Singer Award at the 2nd Seed Awards held in Bangkok, Thailand. However,failed to attend the award ceremony due to previously planned activities in Japan.[20]

On March 7, 2007, the group released their tenth Japanese single, Choosey Lover which debuted at #4 on the Oricon Singles Chart in Japan. [21]. On March 14, 2007, TVXQ released their second Japanese album entitled, "Five in the Black", debuting as #6 on the Oricon album charts.

From early April, TVXQ members started hosting a weekly radio program "TVXQ Bigeastation" on Japan FM Network channel, currently being aired on seven local FM stations.[22]

On May 26th 2007, TVXQ represented Korea on MTV's Video Music Awards Japan Best Buzz Asia in Korea. They performed 'O' Sei.Han.Go / 'O' Jung.Ban.Hap live that combined both the Japanese and Korean versions of the song. They won the 'Best Buzz Asia in Korea' award.

As a way to promote Korea's E-Government system's publicity and activities, TVXQ has recently been appointed as the public ambassadors on June 9th, at Gwanghwamun Central Government Building. [23]

Their 11th Japanese single, titled Lovin' You, debuted as #2 on the Oricon charts on June 13, 2007. Their 12th summer single, SUMMER ~Summer Dream/Song for you/Love in the Ice~ was released on August 1, 2007 and debuted as #1[24]. The single took the #2 placing in the first week of the Oricon weekly charts,selling 112,771 copies in the first week. 'Love in the Ice' from their SUMMER single will be the ending theme for the k-drama "Snow Queen" Japanese on air version. Hero Jaejoong sang a duet called "Just For One Day" with TSZX for their new japanese release Piranha, which was released on the same day as their SUMMER single.[25]. A month following the release of their successful SUMMER single, they are to release their 13th japanese double A-side single called SHINE / Ride On due September 19.


[edit] "2nd Asia Live Tour Concert 'O'
With the album released in seven Asian countries (South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, China and Hong Kong), the band has begun its second Asian tour in support of their third album. The tour kicked off on the February 23, 2007 at the Olympic Park in Seoul. 12,000 fans attended the three Seoul concerts, including over 1,500 fans from Japan, China, Thailand, and five other Asian nations. The concert repertoire included 24 songs and dance sequences.[26].

The tour will travel through six other cities in Asia in the later half of the year including Beijing, Shanghai, Taipei, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur.[27][28].


[edit] "2nd Live Tour 2007 - Five in the Black" (Japan)
With the release of their second Japanese album, 'Five in the Black', TVXQ will be going on its second Japan Live Tour nationwide. The tour will begin on May 5th, and end late July. The group was originally scheduled to hold 14 performances in 9 cities, but plans were altered after "pleas by fans who were devastated that their original shows had sold-out" [29]. There will be 16 live performances instead, including two new shows at Tokyo's Nippon Budokan Hall.


[edit] Member profiles
Hero JaeJoong
Stage Name : HERO| Young Woong Jae Joong (영웅재중 or 英雄在中)
Real Name : Kim Jae Joong (김재중, 金在中)
Birthdate: January 26, 1986 (1986-01-26) (age 21)
Birthplace: Chungnam (충남 or 忠南)
Position: Main Vocals

U-Know Yunho
Stage Name : U-KNOW | U-Know Yun Ho (유노윤호 or 瑜卤允浩)
Real Name: Jung Yun Ho (정윤호, 鄭允浩)
Birthdate: February 6, 1986 (1986-02-06) (age 21)
Birthplace: Gwangju (광주)
Position: Baritone, Leader

Micky Yoochun
Stage Name : MICKY | Micky Yoo Chun (믹키유천 or 秘奇有天/秘奇有仟)
Real Name: Park Yoo Chun (박유천, 朴有天)
Birthdate: June 4, 1986 (1986-06-04) (age 21)
Birthplace: Seoul (서울)
Position: Bass-baritone

Xiah Junsu
Stage Name : XIAH | Xiah Jun Su (시아준수 or 細亞俊秀)
Real Name: Kim Jun Su (김준수, 金俊秀)
Birthdate: December 15, 1986 (1986-12-15) (age 20) (registered on January 1, 1987)
Birthplace: Gyeonggi (경기 or 京畿道)
Position: Baritenor
Religion: Seventh-day Adventist[30][31]

Max Changmin
Stage Name : MAX | Choi Kang Chang Min (최강창민 or 最强昌珉)
Real Name: Shim Chang Min (심창민, 沈昌珉)
Birthdate: February 18, 1988 (1988-02-18) (age 19)
Birthplace: Seoul (서울)
Position: Tenor
Religion: Buddhism[32]