Maps of Music

Seotaiji and Boys II (1993)

Where the lyrics of Seotaiji and Boys II take you, and where it was really made.

A group banned from KBS for its earrings and dreadlocks released a record that sold more than 2.2 million copies.

Key places

Recorded at Techno Taiji, Seoul (1993)

Recording site Big Hit Studios, Seoul — The album was recorded at Techno Taiji, a studio in Seoul. The point is placed at city level, so the exact building is not confirmed. Google Maps · Apple Maps

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

Album story

Overview

• Second studio album by South Korean boy group Seo Taiji and Boys
• Released 21 June 1993 via Bando Records
• Over 2.2 million copies sold, one of the best-selling albums in South Korea
• Lead single 'Anyhow Song' (Hayeoga) became a hit

Background

• The debut album had a breakout success, so the follow-up was highly anticipated
• While promoting the album, the group was banned from appearing on certain TV shows, including KBS
• The bans were because the members wore earrings and ripped jeans and had dreadlocks
• The album came out while the group was at the height of its popularity, especially among teenagers and college students

Recording

• Recorded at Techno Taiji in Seoul
• Seo Taiji wrote all tracks except track 3, whose rap was written by William Byun
• Seo Taiji handled vocals, sampling and engineering, and also played guitar and bass on several tracks
• Yang Hyun-suk and Lee Juno also sang on the album
• Kim Duk-soo played taepyeongso and samul nori on track 2
• Lee Tae-sub played guitar on track 2, and Ito played guitar on tracks 3 to 5, 7 and 8
• Lee Jeong-sik played saxophone on track 5
• English track titles follow the official translations provided by the Seotaiji Company for international markets

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Seo Taiji and Boys was a South Korean music group active from 1992 to 1996.
• After the heavy metal band Sinawe broke up in 1991, Seo Taiji formed the group with dancers and backing vocalists Yang Hyun-suk and Lee Juno.
• Seo Taiji began experimenting with MIDI sounds in South Korea in the early 1990s to create a new kind of music.
• The trio debuted on MBC's talent show on April 11, 1992, with "Nan Arayo" ("I Know").

Members

• Seo Taiji: lead vocals, bass, guitar, keyboards, main songwriter, leader.
• Yang Hyun-suk: backing vocals, rapper, choreography.
• Lee Juno: backing vocals, choreography.

Career

• The band won the Grand Prize at the Seoul Music Awards in 1992 and 1993.
• Their first three albums each sold over 1.6 million copies, and the fourth neared two million.
• Their second album became the first 'double million sellers' album in Korean history.
• The band pioneered rap in Korean popular music and used social critique, facing ethics and censorship pressure.
• They retired in January 1996 at the height of their popularity.
• Yang Hyun-suk later founded YG Entertainment, and Seo Taiji returned to music in 1998 with a successful solo career.
• The band was credited with providing the basis for modern K-pop and was pioneering in making dance a dominant feature of performance.

Reception

At release

• Well received in South Korea
• Continued to build on the group's popularity, especially among teenagers and college students
• In November 1993, 'Anyhow Song' was deemed the song with the highest musical perfection among new-generation singers that year
• At the 8th Golden Disc Awards in December, the group won the Album Bonsang prize
• The album was nominated for Album Daesang but lost to Shin Seung-hun's Because I Love You

Reappraisal

• In 2007, Kyunghyang Shinmun ranked the album number 30 on its list of the Top 100 Korean Albums of all time

Records

• Sales reported over 2.2 million copies
• April 1996: Billboard reported over 1.6 million copies sold
• The 1.6 million figure has since reportedly grown to over 2.2 million
• Album Bonsang, 8th Golden Disc Awards (December 1993)
• Album Daesang nomination, 8th Golden Disc Awards

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The group was banned from certain TV shows, including KBS, while promoting the album.
• The album's English track titles are official translations provided by the Seotaiji Company for international markets.
• Track 3's rap was written by William Byun, while all other tracks were written by Seo Taiji.
• Music videos for 'Hayeoga' and 'Neoege' are available on YouTube.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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