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Seo Taiji Returns |
2008-08-09 |
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Since his debut as the leader of Seo Taiji and Boys in 1992, Korean pop singer Seo Taiji has been one of the most celebrated and influential cultural icons. His popularity in Korea during the 1990s was equivalent to that of the king of American pop, Michael Jackson during the 1980s.
Seo Tai-ji and Boys’ debut album ‘Nan Arayo’ was a phenomenal success and heralded a complete shift in the focus of popular Korean music. The title track of the album, ‘Nan Arayo’ or ‘I Know’ was the first K-pop song to bring together contemporary dance sounds with rap lyrics.
If the group’s first album was dance-oriented, their second album featured hard rock and heavy metal sounds. ‘Hayeoga’, the title track from the group’s second album, combined heavy metal sounds with the traditional sounds of the taepyeongso, a traditional Korean wind instrument.
By the time Seo Taiji and Boys released their third album, gone were the dance-oriented songs. Instead, their third album displayed even more heavy metal and rock influence with lyrics that delved into heavier social issues such as education. For example, ‘Gyosil Idea’ openly criticized Korea’s education system that allegedly brainwashed Korea’s youth. The group’s next album was packed with even more controversial songs. ‘Shidaeyugam’, which translates into ‘Regret of the Times’, was nearly banned for its allegedly “inappropriate” lyrics unsuitable for youth.
In 1996, the members of Seo Taiji and Boys decided to go their own separate ways. Over the past decade, Seo has released a total of four solo albums, including ‘Seo Taiji’, ‘Ultramania’, ‘Seo Taiji 7th Issue’ and his latest ‘Moai’.
Contrary to expectations, Seo Taiji’s latest comeback has garnered relatively less attention than in the past. A special program entitled ‘Bukgong High School, Freshman, Classroom 1, Number 25, Seo Taiji’ which was broadcast on MBC on August 6 posted a viewer rating of 9.6 percent according to TNS Media Korea, lower than the average viewer rating of a popular entertainment show entitled ‘Hwanggeum Eojang’. The viewer rating was also the lowest compared with past Seo Taiji special programs.
The special program featured a mini road-movie-style interview with actor Lee Jun-ki and a mini concert staged at MBC’s Dream Center. Throughout the show, Seo candidly talked about his personal experiences, including the emotions he went through immediately after the breakup of Seo Taiji and Boys, his thoughts on how the public viewed him, his parents, his girlfriend, love and marriage. Viewers generally responded warmly to how Seo portrayed himself throughout the special program. Critics, however, said they had hoped that the program would show the viewers more about Seo’s music and his latest album. One of the highlights of the special program was when the epic music video of Seo’s 8th studio album, filmed in Chile’s Easter Island, was introduced for the first time.
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