Before U Go

Before U Go
Studio album (repackage) by TVXQ
Released March 16, 2011 (2011-03-16)
Recorded 200911
Genre
Length 48:48
Language Korean
Label S.M. Entertainment
Producer
TVXQ chronology
Keep Your Head Down
(2011)
Before U Go
(2011)
Tone
(2011)
Singles from Before U Go
  1. "Before U Go"
    Released: March 14, 2011

Before U Go (Hangul: 이것만은 알고 가; "just know this before you go") is the repackage of Keep Your Head Down (2011), the fifth Korean studio album by South Korean pop duo TVXQ. It was released on March 16, 2011 by S.M. Entertainment, two months after the original record. The repackage features three new tracks, all of which are remixes of the album's only lead single, "Before U Go." The single is produced by TVXQ's frequent collaborator Yoo Young-jin, who also produced their fifth album lead single "Keep Your Head Down".

Before U Go debuted at number one on South Korea's Gaon Albums Chart and the Hanteo Chart, boosting the sales for the original album, Keep Your Head Down. The lead single, "Before U Go", peaked at number thirteen on the Gaon Singles Chart and number one on various online music charts, receiving generally positive reviews from music critics. The single also won number-one trophies on music programs The Music Trend and Music Bank.

Background

Their first album as a duo, Keep Your Head Down was released in January 2011. U-Know Yunho and Max Changmin recorded the album between 2009 and 2010, and had to re-record some tracks after their split.[1] Keep Your Head Down was a commercial success upon its release, peaking at number one on the Gaon Albums Chart and maintained that position for two weeks.[2] The album also peaked at number one on the Hanteo Chart, Hot Tracks, and number four on Media Traffic's United World Chart, a chart that compiles sales from the US Billboard, the Japan Oricon, and the UK Albums Chart.[3] Keep Your Head Down received generally positive reviews from music critics and had nearly 240,000 shipments by mid-year, winning Gaon's Album of the Year award for the first quarter of 2011.[4]

In early March 2011, S.M. Entertainment announced the repackage of Keep Your Head Down, titled Before U Go. The repackage was released on March 16, while the Japanese version of the release, which includes the Japanese version of the lead single "Before U Go", was released on May 5.[5] Lead single "Before U Go" was described to be "traditional R&B track",[5] equipped with a unique style that compliments the vocal structures of Yunho and Changmin.[6] Yoo Young-jin, TVXQ's frequent collaborator, produced "Before U Go" and wrote the co-wrote the song with his brother, Yoo Han-jin.

Lead single

"이것만은 알고 가 (Before U Go)"
Single by TVXQ
from the album Before U Go
Released March 14, 2011
Format Digital download
Recorded 2011
Genre
Length 4:31
4:56 (Dance version)
Label S.M. Entertainment
Writer(s)
Producer(s) Yoo Young-jin
TVXQ singles chronology
"Keep Your Head Down"
(2011)
"Before U Go"
(2011)
"Superstar"
(2011)
Music video
"Before U Go" on YouTube
"Before U Go" (Full version) on YouTube
"Before U Go" (Dance version) on YouTube

Despite the track's leak on March 12,[7] the scheduled digital download release on March 14 topped various online download and streaming charts in the first few hours.[8]

The music videos for "Before U Go" was released in three parts. The teaser trailer for the music videos was first unveiled on March 10, 2011.[9] A short film with a running time of little over 15 minutes, the music video has actor Choi Jong-yoon and actress Ara star alongside Yunho and Changmin as morally-conflicted police officers. On March 14, the main video, directed by Jo Soo-hyun, was released. The full short film was released on March 20, and the last video, a dance version directed by Hong Won-ki, was released on March 29.[10] The entire short film took five days to shoot at locations in Gangnam, Incheon, and Ilsan.[11]

Music video synopsis

Yunho, Changmin, Choi and Ara are four close friends who attended the same police academy and work for the same security department, NDI. Affected by a troubled childhood, Choi is forced to work as a mole for the mafia. He immediately notifies the mafia when the NDI receives information of an illegal gambling ring, and the leader escapes in time before the bust. Choi primarily receives orders from the mafia through deciphering book codes.

Choi is ordered to kill a captured witness from the bust. Armed with a sniper rifle, Choi attempts to shoot the witness from the rooftop but misses, and shoots Yunho in the leg instead. He successfully kills the witness in his third attempt. Changmin follows the direction of the gunshots and catches a glimpse of Choi's shadow. By the time Changmin reaches to the roof, Choi is already gone. After the incident, Changmin investigates the CCTV cameras on the roof and sees a covered man with a sniper rifle. He suspects the man to be Choi, but does not confront him immediately due to the lack of evidence.

Not wanting to harm any more of his friends, Choi calls the mafia leader and tells him that he is unfit to carry on more missions. Changmin confronts Choi at the rooftop but lets him go, warning him that he will be unforgiving if he inflicts harm on Yunho again. A recovering Yunho also revisits the CCTV tapes at the department and immediately suspects the covered man to be Choi, but decides to dismiss the thought.

A year later, it is discovered that Choi's sister is held hostage by the mafia. Through a video message with his sister, the mafia orders Choi to kill Changmin and Choi rages in anger. Days later, he stops by Yunho's home to celebrate his birthday but attempts to leave upon seeing Changmin. Yunho holds him back and ensures him that he still sees Choi as his best friend. Choi's car breaks down as he is about to leave, but Yunho, who owns an auto repair shop, tells Choi to leave his car at his home so he can repair it for him. In Choi's car, Yunho discovers the mafia's message to Choi, which read "Kill Changmin Today".

The NDI is notified of a drug ring operation around midnight, and Choi tells the leader that this will be his last time helping them. Changmin, Choi, and their team arrive at the cargo port to pose as drug dealers. Yunho and Ara rush to the port to warn Changmin. Choi attempts to kill Changmin, telling him that this would be his "last time" and that he just needed Changmin to die. Yunho arrives in time to stop the drug exchange and kills the mafia leader. He confronts Choi and pleads for him to stop his doing, in which Choi tells him that he had no choice, as his sister was dying. Changmin asks Choi if their friendship was worthless, and Yunho tells Choi that he no longer exists in their lives. Failing his mission, the mafia murders Choi's sister. Choi cries, and memories of his times with Yunho, Changmin, and Ara flashes before his eyes.

Promotion

TVXQ debuted their first performance of "Before U Go" on KBS 2TV's Music Bank on March 18, 2011.[12] In order to promote the single on MBC's Show! Music Core music program and the MBC radio, TVXQ slightly modified the lyrics of "Before U Go" to pass MBC's strict broadcast standards. The original lyrics "I was a stupid fool who couldn't even take care of you", was changed to "I was stupid and couldn't even take care of you".[13] South Korea's other broadcasting corporations, including KBS and SBS, had no issues with the lyrics and the duo were allowed to perform the original edit on their shows. On March 25, "Before U Go" was the number one song of the week and topped the K-charts, winning a trophy on Music Bank.[14] On March 27, "Before U Go" won on The Music Trend.

In August 2011, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family banned "Before U Go" and three other K-pop music videos, ruling that it was harmful media to youth as it promoted violence and gambling. S.M. Entertainment submitted a petition to refute their decision.[15]

Music show wins

Network Program Number of wins
MBC Music Show Champion
Mnet M! Countdown
KBS 2TV Music Bank 1
MBC Show! Music Core
SBS The Music Trend 1

Chart performance

Before U Go debuted at number one on South Korea's Gaon Albums Chart and the Hanteo Chart, selling 55,243 copies by July 2011. By the end of the year, Before U Go sold 60,709 copies. Including Keep Your Head Down, the albums collective sold over 324,000 copies in South Korea and 89,000 copies in Japan.

Track listing

No. TitleLyricsMusic Length
1. "이것만은 알고 가 - 독백 (Before U Go) (Monologue)" (Igotmaneun Algoga-Dukbaek; lit. "Just Know This Before You Go - Monologue")Yoo Young-jin
  • Yoo Young-jin
  • Yoo Han-jin
2:22
2. "이것만은 알고 가 (Before U Go)" (Igotmaneun Algoga; lit. "Just Know This Before You Go")Yoo Young-jin
  • Yoo Young-jin
  • Yoo Han-jin
4:31
3. "왜 (Keep Your Head Down)" (Wae; lit. "Why")Yoo Young-jin
  • Yoo Young-jin
  • Yoo Han-jin
3:58
4. "Maximum"  Yoo Young-jinYoo Young-jin 3:40
5. "믿기 싫은 이야기 (How Can I)" (Mitki Sireun Iyaki; lit. "The Story I Don't Want to Believe")Park Chang-hyunPark Chang-hyun 3:22
6. "Crazy" (feat. Jay of Trax)
  • Kim Tae-sung
  • Noday
  • Kim Tae-sung
  • Noday
3:17
7. "Honey Funny Bunny (U-Know Yunho Solo)"  E-Tribe
  • E-Tribe
  • Jang Jun-ho
  • Gong Hyun-sik
3:19
8. "Rumor"  Hong Ji-yooOutsidaz 3:20
9. "고백 (Confession) (Max Changmin solo)" (Gobaek; lit. "Confession")Shim Chang-min
  • Mr. Cho
  • Kim Tae-sung
3:56
10. "Our Game"  JQ
  • Simister
  • William Edward/Hawes
  • Tim Mondhera
  • Obi Shimbarashe/Priddle
  • Stuart
3:27
11. "She"  
3:14
12. "아테나 (Athena)" (Atena)Hwang HyunHwang Hyun 3:35
13. "Journey" (feat. Seohyun of Girls' Generation)Kim Dal-wooKim Dal-woo 4:24
14. "이것만은 알고 가 - 독백 (Before U Go) (Monologue)" (Instrumental) 
  • Yoo Young-jin
  • Yoo Han-jin
2:23
Total length:
48:48

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2011) Peak
position
South Korea Gaon Albums Chart 1
Taiwan G-Music Combo Chart 14
Taiwan G-Music J-pop Chart 1

Year-end charts

Chart (2011) Position
South Korea Gaon Albums Chart[16] 20

Release history

Regions Dates Format(s) Label(s)
Worldwide March 16, 2011 S.M. Entertainment
South Korea
Taiwan March 25, 2011 CD Avex Taiwan
Japan[17] May 4, 2011
  • CD
  • DVD
  • digital download
Avex Trax

See also

References

  1. "MAXIMUM - DB5K Version". 2011-10-16. Retrieved 2013-12-20.
  2. Kim, Heidi (2011-01-20). "Gaon Weekly Album Chart: 9-15 January 2011". 10 Asia (in Korean). Retrieved 2013-12-20.
  3. "TVXQ's 'Keep Your Head Down' dominates charts". Nate (in Korean). 2011-01-17. Retrieved 2013-12-20.
  4. "TVXQ sold the most albums in the first quarter of 2011". Newsen (in Korean). 2011-04-28. Retrieved 2013-12-20.
  5. 1 2 "TVXQ to begin follow-up promotions with Korean repackaged album". Allkpop. 2011-03-09. Retrieved 2013-12-20.
  6. "TVXQ's New Song 'Before U Go' to be revealed on the 14th". Kuki News (in Korean). 2011-03-10. Retrieved 2013-12-20.
  7. "TVXQ's "Before U Go" leaked?". Allkpop. 2011-03-12. Retrieved 2013-12-20.
  8. "Celebrate! After 1 Hour, 'Before U Go' is #1 on Realtime Charts!". ContinueTVXQ. 2011-03-14. Retrieved 2013-12-20.
  9. "TVXQ!(東方神起) _ 이것만은 알고 가(Before U Go) _ MusicVideo Teaser". sment @ YouTube. 2011-03-10. Retrieved 2013-12-20.
  10. "DBSK 'Before U Go' dance version". YAM. 2011-03-29. Retrieved 2013-12-20.
  11. "TVXQ releases music video for 'Before U Go'". Allkpop. 2011-03-14. Retrieved 2013-12-20.
  12. "TVXQ follows up with 'Before U Go' on Music Bank". Allkpop. 2011-03-18. Retrieved 2013-12-20.
  13. "TVXQ modified the lyrics of "Before U Go" to pass MBC's standards". Allkpop. 2011-03-18. Retrieved 2013-12-20.
  14. "TVXQ wings Music Bank K-Chart". Allkpop. 2011-03-25. Retrieved 2013-12-20.
  15. "Songs by TVXQ, Kim Hyun Joong, Homme, and DJ DOC get banned as 'harmful media'". Allkpop. 2011-08-09. Retrieved 2013-12-20.
  16. "Gaon Reveals its 2011 Year-end Charts". Gaon Music Charts via GoKpop. Retrieved 2013-12-20.
  17. "[CD] 『Keep Your Head Down』韓国ライセンスアルバム (仮) [DVD付初回限定盤] / 東方神起". Neowing. Retrieved 2011-02-11.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 8/23/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.