Keep Your Head Down

Keep Your Head Down
Studio album by TVXQ
Released January 5, 2011
Recorded 2009–10; S.M. Studios (Seoul)
Genre
Length 35:11
Language Korean
Label S.M. Entertainment
Producer
TVXQ chronology
Complete Set Limited Box
(2010)		 Keep Your Head Down
(2011)		 Before U Go
(2011)
Singles from Keep Your Head Down
  1. "Keep Your Head Down"
    Released: January 3, 2011

Keep Your Head Down is the fifth Korean studio album (ninth overall) by South Korean pop duo TVXQ, released on January 5, 2011 by S.M. Entertainment. Recording and writing for the album roughly began in the summer of 2010, but full production did not begin until August 2010, after U-Know Yunho and Max Changmin debuted their first performance as a duo at the SM Town Live '10 World Tour concert in Seoul, South Korea.

Bringing in a new line of producers, including E-Tribe and Outsidaz, Keep Your Head Down largely consists of dance-pop songs with urban and electronic arrangements. The album has been described by critics as fierce, dark, and powerful due to its SMP influence,[1] an experimental genre that is defined by mixing the styles of orchestral pop, rock, and contemporary R&B with hip hop beats to create catchy, rhythmic tracks that allow for very strong dance performances.[2] Released in two different versions, the album spawned two promotional singles with one lead single, "Keep Your Head Down". Lyrically, the album explores dark themes of relationships, betrayal and self-empowerment.

In South Korea, the album debuted at number one on the Gaon Albums Chart for the week of January 8, 2011, and maintained its number-one position for a second week. By the end of the month, Gaon reported that 230,227 copies were shipped. By the end of the year, 263,412 copies of the album were sold in South Korea alone,[3] making it the third best-selling album of 2011.

Before U Go, the repackage of Keep Your Head Down, was released on March 16, 2011. The album was expanded to fourteen tracks, and its lead single "Before U Go" achieved moderate success on the Gaon Singles Chart.

Background and recording

In July 2009, Hero Jaejoong, Micky Yoochun, and Xiah Junsu filed a lawsuit against their agency S.M. Entertainment, claiming that their 13-year contracts were excessively long and their profits were unfairly distributed.[4] In October 2009, the Seoul Central District Court granted the three members a temporary contract injunction, thus halting TVXQ's group activities in South Korea.[5] The trio continued their activities with TVXQ in Japan under their Japanese label Rhythm Zone. In April 2010, Avex Trax, Rhythm Zone's parent label, announced the suspension of TVXQ's activities in order to sign Jaejoong, Yoochun, and Junsu as the band JYJ.[6][7] The suspension pushed remaining TVXQ members U-Know Yunho and Max Changmin to an indefinite hiatus, and TVXQ's fifth Korean album was put on hold.

In August 2010, Yunho and Changmin performed as TVXQ in Seoul's SMTown Live '10 World Tour, which was described to be an "experimental" stage for the duo.[8] Earning strong and supportive reactions from the audience, Yunho and Changmin decided to continue TVXQ activities without the other three.[9] There was an attempt to add new members to the group, but their mentor Lee Soo-man suggested that they should continue as a duo act.[10]

The duo began working on their comeback album shortly after the concert in Seoul. "Keep Your Head Down", an SMP song Yunho performed at the concert, was chosen to be the album's lead single. The song was produced by Yoo Young-jin, who also produced the album's third track "Maximum", a dance-pop song that was originally recorded by all five TVXQ members in 2009. Bringing in a new line of producers including E-Tribe and Outsidaz,[11] principal recording for Keep Your Head Down spanned three months.

Release and promotion

In November 2010, S.M. Entertainment announced TVXQ's return with Keep Your Head Down in January 2011.[12] On December 20, 2010, two weeks ahead of the official album release, TVXQ released the digital single "Athena", the theme song for the South Korean television drama Athena: Goddess of War. Two versions of the album were subsequently announced – a special edition with a 100-page photobook; and a normal edition, which includes one bonus track.

A week before the album's official release, two teaser trailers for the music video of lead single "Keep Your Head Down" began airing on television and other broadcast media around South Korea. "Keep Your Head Down" was digitally released on January 3, 2011, and the full album was made available for download on January 5, 2011, the same day as the traditional CD release of the album's special edition. On January 11, S.M. Entertainment released a free TVXQ iPhone app to promote the album.[13] On January 12, 2011, physical copies of the normal edition were distributed to retailers.

Reception and commercial performance

Keep Your Head Down received generally positive reviews from music critics and K-pop fans, who have praised the album's "powerful" production and its cohesive blend of pop and R&B. The lyrics of "Keep Your Head Down", which talks about recovering from a relationship breakup, came under intense media scrutiny after it was claimed that it was written as a diss track to former members JYJ, who left the group in 2010. Several TVXQ and JYJ fansites also withdrew their support for the song. Yunho and Changmin clarified that the lyrics were misinterpreted, stating, "It's just a song about a man's anger towards the woman that threw him away. That's all."[14]

The album has been commercially successful across Asia. In South Korea, it immediately shot to number one on the real-time daily charts of Hanteo, selling nearly 30,000 physical copies on its first day of release.[15] Keep Your Head Down debuted at number one on the weekly Gaon Albums Chart[16] and maintained its number one position for a second week. By the end of the month, Gaon reported over 230,000 shipments. Keep Your Head Down was the year's third best-selling album, with 263,412 copies sold in South Korea.[3]

According to the Media Traffic's United World Chart, which compiles information from the US Billboard World Albums, the Japan Oricon, and the UK Albums Chart, Keep Your Head Down debuted at number four.[17] The album also debuted at number four on both Taiwan's G-Music and Japan's Oricon.

Singles

"Athena" was digitally released on December 20, 2010, and debuted at number 50 on the weekly Gaon Singles Chart. The music video for the album's lead single "Keep Your Head Down", officially premiered on January 3, 2011. The single debuted at number 5 on the weekly Gaon Singles Chart.[18] "Journey", the theme song for Changmin's television drama Paradise Ranch, was released on January 26, 2011 and only managed to peak at number 111 on the Gaon Singles Chart.

Track listing

Special edition[19]
No. TitleLyricsMusic Length
1. "왜 (Keep Your Head Down)" (Why)Yoo Young-jinYoo Young-jin, Yoo Han-jin 3:59
2. "믿기 싫은 이야기 (How Can I)" (The Story I Don't Want to Believe)Park Chang-hyunPark Chang-hyun 3:22
3. "Maximum"  Yoo Young-jinYoo Young-jin 3:40
4. "Crazy" (feat. Jay from Trax)Kim Tae-sung, NodayKim Tae-sung, Noday 3:18
5. "Honey Funny Bunny" (U-Know Yunho solo)E-TribeE-Tribe, Jang Yun-ho, Gong Hyun-sik 3:19
6. "Rumor"  Hong Ji-yooOutsidaz (Ryan Kim, Christopher Golightly, Anthony Lee) 3:17
7. "고백 (Confession)" (Max Changmin solo)Shim Chang-minMr. Cho, Kim Tae-sung 3:56
8. "Our Game"  JQSimister, William Edward/Hawes, Tim Mondhera, Obi Shimbarashe/Priddle, Stuart 3:30
9. "She"  Kenzie, Matthew Tishler, Amy Powers, Liz RodriguesMatthew Tishler, Amy Powers, Liz Rodrigues 3:15
10. "아테나 (Athena)" (Athena OST)Hwang HyunHwang Hyun 3:35
Total length:
 35:11

Release history

Region Date Format Version Label
Worldwide / South Korea January 5, 2011
Special edition S.M. Entertainment
January 12, 2011 Normal edition
Taiwan[21][22] February 11, 2011 CD Normal edition Avex Taiwan
February 24, 2012 CD+DVD Taiwan special edition
Hong Kong February 22, 2011 CD Normal edition Avex Asia
Philippines[23] April 29, 2011 CD Normal edition Universal Records

See also

References

  1. ↑ "TVXQ reaches 10 years old next year". Naver (in Korean). 2012-10-04. Retrieved 2014-01-09.
  2. ↑ "What Makes SM Entertainment So Powerful? Music Performance And Fandoms Are The Secret To Success". 2013-07-21. Retrieved 2016-08-23.
  3. 1 2 "List of 2012 sales for S.M. Entertainment" (in Korean). Star Today. 2012-07-19. Retrieved 2013-01-03.
  4. ↑ "TVXQ to Stick Together Despite Legal Dispute". The Korea Times. August 3, 2009. Retrieved August 3, 2009.
  5. ↑ "Daily K Pop News: [News] New Development In TVXQ's Contract Lawsuit – SM Entertainment Raises Lawsuit". Retrieved 2016-08-23.
  6. ↑ ジュンス、ジェジュン、ユチョンによる新ユニット結成！. Rhythm Zone (in Japanese). 2010-04-14.
  7. ↑ Lee, Woo-young (23 September 2010). "Three members of TVXQ face setback in Japan". The Korean Herald. Park Haeng-hwan.
  8. ↑ "TVXQ reveals they thought about adding a new member after the team's breakup in 2010". Allkpop. 2012-10-06. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  9. ↑ Catch Me – Production Note (released December 27, 2013)
  10. ↑ "TVXQ considered recruiting new members after group split". Nate (in Korean). 2012-10-06. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  11. ↑ "동방신기, 2011년부터 2인조 체제 활동 "미래 가능성.."" [TVXQ to comeback in 2011, "future possibilities..."]. Nate News. Newsen. November 23, 2010. Retrieved November 23, 2010.
  12. ↑ "TVXQ to make comeback as duo in January 2011". Han Cinema. 2010-11-23. Retrieved 2013-11-20.
  13. ↑ "TVXQ unleashes iPhone app". Allkpop. 2011-01-12. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
  14. ↑ "TVXQ explains the meaning behind 'Keep Your Head Down' on 'Entertainment Relay'". Allkpop. 2011-01-07. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  15. ↑ "TVXQ's 'Keep Your Head Down' records massive sales within a day". Allkpop. 2011-01-05. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  16. ↑ "Keep Your Head Down (2011)" (in Korean). January 1–8, 2011. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  17. ↑ "TVXQ's new album stays number one for two weeks". Star News via Nate (in Korean). 2011-01-17. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  18. ↑ "Keep Your Head Down". January 2–8, 2011.
  19. ↑ Album info, TVXQ website. Retrieved January 7, 2010.
  20. ↑ Product information/track list, YESASIA. Retrieved January 7, 2010.
  21. ↑ "Dong Bang Shin Ki - Keep Your Head Down (Normal Version) (Taiwan Version) CD - Dong Bang Shin Ki (TVXQ), AVEX (TW) - Korean Music - Free Shipping". Yesasia. Retrieved 2011-02-11.
  22. ↑ "Dong Bang Shin Ki - Keep Your Head Down (Taiwan Special Version) CD".
  23. ↑ "TVXQ "Keep Your Head Down" Exclusive Freebies Day". Universal Records. April 26, 2011. Retrieved 2011-04-29.
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