Maps of Music

Tone (2011)

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

Tone was Tohoshinki's first Japanese album after the group became a duo, and its first original studio release to top the Oricon Albums Chart.

Key places

Recording at Makuhari Messe (2011)

Recording site Makuhari Messe — The recording location is listed as Makuhari Messe, Chiba. The point marks the recording site linked to this album. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Tone is the fifth Japanese studio album (tenth overall) by South Korean pop group Tohoshinki
• Released 28 September 2011 by Avex Trax
• The first Japanese album since the group began working as a duo of Yunho and Changmin
• Three physical versions: Version A (CD+DVD with music videos), Version B (CD+DVD with off-shot movies), Version C (CD only with a bonus track)
• Each version has a different jacket color, and the three covers are built from primary colors
• Mostly uptempo, midtempo and ballad songs with R&B, electropop and rock influences
• Includes previously released tracks such as Why? (Keep Your Head Down), Maximum, Superstar and I Don't Know

Background

• Composing sessions for the album began in 2009
• The concept is to let each listener change the image and color of the album depending on who listens to it
• The title is an English word meaning tone or timbre, and the group uses it to convey its own color
• Limited editions included a jacket-size card and an event application card

Recording

• The recording location is listed as Makuhari Messe, Chiba
• The place is the recording site linked to this album in the point below

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

Tracklist

Disc 1

Disc 2

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

• Tone received positive reviews upon its release
• Some critics praised it as one of Tohoshinki's most cohesive Japanese albums to date
• The album followed the group's earlier Japanese releases and was marketed in three formats
• Release was announced in stages in 2011, including track previews and jacket reveals

Records

• Topped the Oricon Albums Chart, the group's second album but first original release to do so
• Sold 205,000 copies in its first week of release
• Ranked first on the Oricon Weekly Album Chart, the group's first weekly number one for a studio album
• Certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) on 7 October 2011 for shipping over 250,000 copies
• Became the group's best-selling original Japanese studio album, with over 330,000 copies sold
• Oricon reported 293,674 copies sold in 2011, ranked 20th on the yearly album chart

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

Trivia

• The album earned RIAJ Platinum certification on 7 October 2011, for shipments over 250,000 copies.
• The track Back to Tomorrow was used as the CM song for Illuneige, a product by Menard Cosmetics.
• The title tone is a nickname linked to the group's Japanese name, Tohoshinki, and the English word meaning color or timbre.

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

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