Maps of Music

Poet | Artist (2018)

Where the lyrics of Poet | Artist take you, and where it was really made.

The album was finished before Jonghyun died, and it came out only after his death.

Key places

Recorded at SM Studios in Seoul (2018)

Recording site Big Hit Studios, Seoul — The album's recording is linked to SM Studios in Seoul. The point is set at central Seoul, not at the studio building itself. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: Private company studio, not open to visitors.

Album story

Overview

• Poet | Artist: second and final studio album by South Korean singer-songwriter Jonghyun
• Released posthumously on January 23, 2018, through SM Entertainment
• Completed before Jonghyun's death; SM announced the completion a day after his death was reported
• Described as an electropop, R&B and future bass album with elements of trap
• Proceeds from the album go to Jonghyun's mother to create a foundation for people living under difficult circumstances

Background

• Early November 2017: Jonghyun announced a two-date concert at SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium in Seoul
• The concert, titled Inspired, was held on December 9 and 10, 2017
• Songs previewed at Inspired: 'Take the Dive', 'I'm So Curious', 'Only One You Need'
• December 18, 2017: reports of Jonghyun's death
• January 19, 2018: album title and release date announced
• January 22, 2018: tracklist announced
• January 23, 2018: digital release; January 24, 2018: physical release

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · ja.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Kim Jong-hyun, known mononymously as Jonghyun, was a South Korean singer-songwriter, record producer, radio host, and author under SM Entertainment.
• He was scouted by SM Entertainment at age 15 after playing in a school song festival with his band.
• He debuted as part of the five-member boy group Shinee on May 25, 2008.

Members

• He was the vocalist of Shinee for nine years, releasing twelve albums with the group in Korean and Japanese.
• He also took part in SM the Ballad, which released two EP albums.

Career

• He began his solo career in January 2015 with the EP Base, which peaked at number one on the Billboard World Albums Chart and the Gaon Album Chart.
• His debut studio album She Is was released on May 24, 2016.
• He hosted the MBC radio program Blue Night from February 2014 until March 2017.
• He was regarded as one of the best vocalists in South Korea and praised for his artistic control over his music.
• He died by suicide on December 18, 2017, aged 27.
• His posthumous album Poet | Artist was released on January 23, 2018, with profits going to his mother and a charity foundation.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Tamar Herman for Billboard described the album as a 'farewell and a sonic walk down memory lane'
• Billboard ranked it the second best K-pop album of 2018, behind BTS' Love Yourself: Answer
• Jeff Benjamin called the album 'beautiful' and a bittersweet reminder of the singer, songwriter and producer's talents
• Riddhi Chakraborty of Rolling Stone India called it bittersweet and awe-inspiring in its detail, finesse and lyrical impact, and ranked it the second best K-pop album of 2018
• Marcel Thee of The Jakarta Post called the record a tragic reminder of Jonghyun's talents as a musician and producer
• At the 33rd Golden Disc Awards it was nominated for the Disc Daesang and Disc Bonsang, and won the Disc Bonsang

Records

• Debuted at number 177 on the US Billboard 200, the first of Jonghyun's albums to chart there
• Debuted atop the Gaon Album Chart in the 4th issued week (January 21-27, 2018)
• Topped the monthly Gaon Album Chart
• Returned to number one in the 51st issued week (December 16-22), coinciding with the first anniversary of his death
• Spent 36 non-consecutive weeks in the Gaon top 100
• Sold more than 235,000 copies in 2018, the 20th best-selling album of that year on Gaon
• Gaon platinum certification on February 11, 2021, for 250,000 copies sold
• Debuted at number 12 on the Oricon Albums Chart, then rose to number 10 the following week
• Debuted atop Billboard's World Albums chart
• Eight of the album's eleven songs charted on the Gaon Digital Chart

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Shortly after release, KBS banned 'Rewind' from its radio stations because it contains Japanese lyrics
• '#Hashtag' drew media attention for its take on online gossip and slanderous comments, and was praised for its lyrics and wordplay
• 'Rewind' appeared in an intermission video from the concert The Agit: The Letter
• All album proceeds go to Jonghyun's mother for a foundation
• The album was released in full on January 23, 2018, a month after Jonghyun's death was reported

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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