Maps of Music

T (2008)

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

A week before the album came out, its lead single Purple Line had already reached #1 on the Oricon weekly singles chart.

Key places

Recording location: Yokohama BLITZ (2008)

Recording site Yokohama BLITZ — The album's recording location is listed as Yokohama BLITZ in Yokohama. The source gives no session date for this recording. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Mini live bonus recorded at Yokohama BLITZ (2007)

Live show Yokohama BLITZ — The limited-edition bonus includes a premium mini live recorded at Yokohama BLITZ on 23 September 2007. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• T: third Japanese studio album and sixth overall by South Korean pop group Tohoshinki
• Released 22 January 2008 by Rhythm Zone; the Japanese Wikipedia page gives 23 January 2008
• Issued in three formats: CD, CD+DVD, and 2CD+2DVD
• Follows Five in the Black by about nine months
• Includes the A-side of every single released after the previous album
• Title letter T is read as Tohoshinki, Title, Third album, Top and Try

Background

• Lead single Purple Line debuted and reached #1 on the Oricon weekly singles chart a week before release
• The album's biggest sales competition was Zard's best album, which came out after lead vocalist Izumi Sakai died in 2007
• Management promoted the album by splitting the members into teams that travelled separately to different Japanese cities
• Each team spent about a week on radio shows and TV programs
• A public recording at Yoyogi Park on 23 January 2008 drew roughly 3,500 people

Recording

• The recording location is listed as Yokohama BLITZ
• The song Kiss したまま、さよなら was composed and written by members Yoochun and Jaejoong
• Kiss したまま、さよなら appears only on the 2CD+2DVD edition
• Yoochun wrote his first Japanese lyrics for that song
• Jaejoong's songwriting with Yoochun supplied the inspiration behind it
• The album's Japanese-language content covers both new songs and reworked Korean songs

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

Tracklist

Disc 1

Disc 2

Disc 3

Disc 4

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Formed in 2003 by SM Entertainment as a five-member boy band; debuted December 26, 2003 with the single "Hug" (2004).
• Yunho was appointed the band's leader; the name Dong Bang Shin Ki was finalized after several alternatives.
• Tohoshinki (東方神起) was the Japanese-market name adopted after signing with Avex Group in late 2004.

Members

• Current members: U-Know Yunho (leader) and Max Changmin.
• Former members Hero Jaejoong, Micky Yoochun and Xiah Junsu left in 2010 and formed JYJ.

Career

• Early Korean albums Tri-Angle (2004), Rising Sun (2005), "O"-Jung.Ban.Hap. (2006) and Mirotic (2008) topped domestic charts; "O"-Jung.Ban.Hap. won Album of the Year at the 21st Golden Disk Awards.
• In Japan, the band became mainstream stars after The Secret Code (2009); their Best Selection 2010 was the first album to top the Oricon Albums Chart.
• After a 2010 split, Yunho and Changmin returned as a duo with Keep Your Head Down (2011); later albums include Tone (2011), Time (2013), Tense (2014), Tree (2014), New Chapter #1 (2018) and XV (2019).
• The duo held a three-day performance at Tokyo Dome on April 27, 2025 for their 20th anniversary.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• The album debuted at #4 on the Oricon weekly album chart, dated 4 February 2008
• Its biggest sales rival was Zard's Zard Request Best: Beautiful Memory, released after lead vocalist Izumi Sakai died in 2007
• Purple Line, the lead single released a week before the album, reached #1 on the Oricon weekly singles chart
• The album's campaign used a split-team plan, with members appearing on radio and TV in different cities for a week

Records

• The Korean Wikipedia page records the album as the first Tohoshinki release whose lead single, Purple Line, produced an Oricon weekly #1 single
• Oricon weekly album debut: #4
• Main sales competitor in the same period: Zard's best album after Izumi Sakai's death in 2007
• The album came in three editions: CD, CD+DVD, and 2CD+2DVD
• The two-disc edition added extra songs not on the other formats
• The source material does not list certifications or further chart positions for this album

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

Trivia

• The title T is read as Tohoshinki, Title, Third album, Top and Try, according to the members.
• The Japanese Wikipedia page ties the title to the group's initial, the 'Third' album, the wish to be 'TOP', and 'TRY'.
• The track Trick mixes parts of five songs released after the album, one dedicated to each member.
• Kiss したまま、さよなら was composed and written by members Yoochun and Jaejoong and appears only on the 2CD+2DVD edition.
• The campaign included a public recording at Yoyogi Park, which was also used as a radio recording with one live song.

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

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