Maps of Music
It's Hyorish (2008)
Where the lyrics of It's Hyorish take you, and where it was really made.
The album sold over 60,000 pre-orders before its release, yet only 10,000 limited copies reached distributors.
View on the mapKey places
Studio192 in Seoul, listed as a recording studio (2008)
Recording site Big Hit Studios, Seoul — The album's studio list names Studio192 in Seoul, alongside BL Studio, Good Studio, Momo Studio and Sponge Studio. The pin uses city-center coordinates, so it marks Seoul rather than the building itself. Google Maps · Apple Maps
How to get there: Private company studio, not open to visitors.
Album story
Overview
- It's Hyorish: third studio album by South Korean artist Lee Hyori
- Released 15 July 2008 by Mnet Media
- 13 tracks, with the singles 'U-Go-Girl' and 'Hey Mr. Big'
- Explores hip-hop, eurodance and electronica
- Songwriting contributions by Kim Eana, Wheesung and E-Tribe, among others
Background
- Album name and two title tracks unveiled 9 July 2008, release first slated for 16 July
- First album in 2 years and 5 months, following Dark Angel (February 2006)
- Mnet planned five pre-releases for 14 July, but leaks to YouTube moved them up to 12 July
- Full album came out a day earlier than intended, on 15 July
Recording
- Studio list includes BL Studio, Good Studio, Momo Studio, Studio192 and Sponge Studio
- Studio192 is listed in Seoul
Cover
- Two physical formats: regular CD and limited edition LP
- Limited edition jacket printed at LP record size, with the CD arranged to hide behind it
- Limited edition includes a photobook with more than 60 photos taken in Hawaii
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Tracklist
| 1 | 천하무적 이효리 | 3:36 |
| 2 | Lesson | 3:36 |
| 3 | U‐Go‐Girl | 3:09 |
| 4 | 사진첩 | 4:03 |
| 5 | 이발소 집 딸 | 3:18 |
| 6 | Don’t cry | 4:06 |
| 7 | 괜찮아질까요? | 3:53 |
| 8 | Sexy Boy | 3:07 |
| 9 | 빨간자동차 | 3:03 |
| 10 | Hey Mr.BiG | 3:19 |
| 11 | P. P. P (Punky Punky Party) | 3:57 |
| 12 | My Life (외국곡) | 3:44 |
| 13 | Unusual | 3:17 |
Sources: musicbrainz.org
Artist
Career
- Debuted in 1998 as the leader of girl group Fin.K.L, one of the most popular South Korean girl groups of the late 1990s and early 2000s.
- Made her solo debut in August 2003 with the album Stylish..., whose hit single "10 Minutes" won numerous daesangs at year-end award ceremonies.
- Korean media dubbed her popularity the "Hyori Syndrome" and nicknamed 2003 "The Year of Hyori".
- Released the albums Dark Angel (2006), It's Hyorish (2008), H-Logic (2010), Monochrome (2013) and Black (2017).
- Became the highest-paid female singer in South Korea when she signed with Mnet Media in 2006.
- Formed the project groups SSAK3 and Refund Sisters in 2020.
- Hosted numerous television programs, including Family Outing, Hyori's Homestay and The Seasons.
Activism
- Has been a prominent animal rights advocate, publishing the photo-essay book Closer in 2012.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Reception
At release
- Lee Dae-hwa, writing for webzine IZM: musicality improved compared to Dark Angel
- IZM: a more sincere and candid story about Lee comes through 'Lee Hyori the Invincible', 'A Barbershop Daughter' and 'Don't Cry'
- IZM: criticized the vocals on 'Unusual' and the rap in the second half of 'U-Go-Girl'
Reappraisal
- Seoul Shinmun and Melon panel of 35 critics ranked 'U-Go-Girl' at number 41 in a top 100 K-pop songs of all time list
- Music critic Seong Hyo-sun praised the song's composition and empowering theme
- Seong Hyo-sun also praised Lee's position as the narrator rather than an object seen by someone else
Records
- Monthly MIAK album chart: number one for July 2008, selling 45,267 copies
- First number-one album of her career
- More than 60,000 pre-orders ten days before release
- Final MIAK chart issue (September 2008): 62,863 copies sold in the country
- Best-selling album among all female solo singers in 2008
- Sales reached 100,000 copies by 2010
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Trivia
- Mnet planned five pre-releases for 14 July, but leaks of some tracks to YouTube moved the release to 12 July.
- Only 10,000 limited-edition copies were made available to distributors, despite more than 60,000 pre-orders.
- The 'U-Go-Girl' video was filmed in Namyangju in the first week of July; its nurse outfit drew criticism, and several scenes resembling Christina Aguilera's work were deleted after re-upload.
- Lee's first solo concert, 'The First Concert: Lee Hyori the Invincible', was held in support of the album at Jamsil Indoor Stadium in Seoul.
- During 'U-Go-Girl' at that concert, Nassun and male backup dancers threw Polaroid photos of Lee into the crowd.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
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