Maps of Music

Purpose (2019)

Where the lyrics of Purpose take you, and where it was really made.

The release was pushed back six days, from 22 to 28 October 2019, after the death of Sulli.

Key places

Recording site in Seoul (2019)

Recording site Big Hit Studios, Seoul — The album was recorded at SM Blue Cup Studio in Seoul. The map shows only the city-level position. Google Maps · Apple Maps

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

Album story

Overview

• Second studio album by South Korean singer Taeyeon
• Released 28 October 2019 through SM Entertainment
• 12 tracks in the physical edition, including Gaon number-one single 'Four Seasons' and its B-side 'Blue'
• Ten new tracks, including the title track 'Spark'
• Musically a pop record with influences of ballad, R&B, blues and jazz
• Mixes K-ballad, R&B, soul, dance and pop rock, based on Taeyeon's vocals
• Repackage edition released 15 January 2020 with three new songs, title track 'Dear Me'

Background

• Originally scheduled for 22 October 2019, postponed to 28 October after the death of Sulli
• Taeyeon did not appear on music shows or promote the album (except fansign events)
• She chose to pay respects to her late friend Sulli and to take care of her mental health
• The title is said to represent Taeyeon's goals as both a person and singer

Recording

• Recorded at SM Blue Cup Studio in Seoul
• The map point is set at city level, not at the studio building
• Three physical versions: two regular versions and one deluxe edition with a different cover and packaging

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · ko.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Kim Tae-yeon, known as Taeyeon, was born March 9, 1989 in Jeonju, South Korea.
• She won first place at the SM Youth Best Competition in 2004 and signed with SM Entertainment.
• She debuted as a member of Girls' Generation in August 2007.

Members

• Taeyeon has been a member of Girls' Generation, Girls' Generation-TTS, SM the Ballad, Girls' Generation-Oh!GG, and the supergroup Got the Beat.

Career

• Her solo debut EP I (2015) peaked at number two on the Gaon Album Chart, and its title track reached number one on the Gaon Digital Chart.
• She released her debut studio album My Voice in 2017 and her second studio album Purpose in 2019.
• Her third studio album INVU (2022) included the number-one title single.
• She debuted in Japan with the digital single Stay in 2018.
• Her soundtrack work includes If for Hong Gil-dong and All About You for Hotel del Luna.
• She has sold over one million physical albums and twenty million digital singles as of 2021.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Purpose was met with generally positive reviews from music critics
• Debuted at number two on the Gaon Album Chart in South Korea
• Idology Korea ranked it the eighth best K-pop album of 2019
• Nominated for Album Bonsang (Main Prize) at the 34th Golden Disc Awards
• Nominated for Best Pop Album at the 2020 Korean Music Awards
• Appeared on numerous year-end best music lists of 2019

Reappraisal

• Chester Chin of The Star praised the album's musical styles and called it an artistic clarity follow-up to My Voice
• Chin also complimented Taeyeon's vocals

Records

• South Korea: debut at number two on the Gaon Album Chart, 154,258 copies sold
• Japan: debut at number twenty-five on the Oricon Albums Chart
• Billboard World Albums: debut at number nine, Taeyeon's fifth top 10 entry on the chart
• Top Heatseekers: number 14
• Repackage version took the top spot on iTunes in 26 countries
• The album became Taeyeon's sixth top ten album in South Korea

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Within a few hours of release, the album took the top spot on iTunes charts in 22 regions.
• Taeyeon had earlier set a record for a Korean female soloist by taking the top iTunes spot in most countries; the repackage later broke her own record in 26 countries.
• On 14 October 2019 she released teaser photos with a red-lit look of her face and shoulders, which Gulf News called sultry.
• The first teaser for the 'Spark' music video came out on 23 October and the second on 25 October; the full video was released on 28 October.
• The repackage's title track 'Dear Me' had a teaser on 13 January 2020 and its video on 15 January 2020.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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