Purpose (Taeyeon album)

Purpose is the second studio album by South Korean singer Taeyeon. It was released through SM Entertainment on October 28, 2019. It features 12 tracks, including the Gaon number-one single "Four Seasons" and its B-side "Blue" alongside ten new tracks, including the title track "Spark".[2] On January 15, 2020, a repackage edition of Purpose was released including three new songs, including title track "Dear Me".[3] Musically, it is a pop record that contains influences of ballad, R&B, blues and jazz. The album was originally set to be released on October 22, 2019, but was postponed until October 28 due to the passing of Sulli.

Purpose
Digital and Standard version cover
Studio album by
Taeyeon
ReleasedOctober 28, 2019 (2019-10-28)
Recorded2018–2019
Genre
Length37:26
LanguageKorean
Label
ProducerLee Soo-man (exec.)
Taeyeon chronology
Voice
(2019)		 Purpose
(2019)		 #GirlsSpkOut
(2020)
Singles from Purpose
  1. "Four Seasons"
    Released: March 24, 2019
  2. "Spark"
    Released: October 28, 2019
  3. "Dear Me"
    Released: January 15, 2020
Alternative cover
Digital and Purple version cover of Repackage edition artwork.

Purpose was met with generally positive reviews from music critics and debuted at number two in South Korea, selling over 154,258 copies. The album received nominations for Disc Bonsang and Disc Daesang at the 34th Golden Disc Awards, while its single "Four Seasons" won Digital Bonsang, and was also nominated for Digital Daesang. Purpose appeared on numerous year-end best music lists of 2019.

Background

The album features songs in a "variety of styles".[2] The title is said to represent "Taeyeon's goals as both a person and singer and show how music has become the greatest purpose and direction in [her] life".[2]

Promotion

On October 14, 2019, Taeyeon released teaser photos for the album featuring a "red-lit aesthetic" of her face and shoulders,[2] which was called "sultry" by Gulf News.[4] SM originally set the release date of the album on October 22, 2019, but the promotional schedule was temporarily halted due to the death of Sulli.[5] The first teaser of the music video for the title track 'Spark' was released on the official SM Entertainment YouTube channel on October 23,[6] while the second teaser of the music video was released on October 25, 2019.[7] The music video of 'Spark' was released on October 28, 2019, which was released simultaneously with the release of the album.[8]

Taeyeon did not appear on any music shows and or engage in any promotion for Purpose (except for fansign events) as she decided to pay respects to her late friend Sulli, and also to take care of her mental health.[9] On January 13, 2020, a teaser of the music video for the title track "Dear Me" was released on the official SM Entertainment YouTube channel,[10] while the music video was released on January 15, 2020, which was released simultaneously with the release of the Purpose repackage.[11]

Composition

The digital edition of Purpose contains ten songs, while the physical release includes twelve tracks including the Gaon number-one single "Four Seasons" and its B-side "Blue", which was released as a digital single on March 24, 2019. There are three versions of the physical edition–two regular versions with different covers and 1 deluxe edition with different covers and booklets.[12]

The album incorporates various genres that are "based on Taeyeon's unique vocals", including pop, ballad, R&B, alternative R&B, blues, and jazz.[13] The title track "Spark" was revealed to be an alternative soul pop song.[14]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
IZM[15]
The Star9/10[16]

Purpose received generally positive reviews from media outlets. Chester Chin from The Star lauded the album's musical styles with "the artistic confidence on Purpose feels intensely liberating, and it is one heck of a confident record – in soul, sentiment and sound" and "On Purpose, the Girls' Generation alumni delivers a larger-than-life performance on a deliciously darker and much more musically complex record". He additionally complimented on Taeyeon's vocals and labelled Purpose as "artistic clarity" follow-up to her previous studio album My Voice.[16]

Year-end lists
Critic/Publication List Rank Ref.
Reddit K-Pop Album of the Year 2019 5 [17]
Idology Korea 2019: Album of the Year 8 [18]
Sheldon Pearce's List Best Kpop, 2019: Best Album 3 [19][20][21]

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Nominated work Result
2019 11th Melon Music Awards Best Ballad "Four Seasons" Won
Song of the Year Nominated
21st Mnet Asian Music Awards Best Vocal Performance – Solo Won
Song of the Year Nominated
2020 9th Gaon Chart Music Awards Song of the Year – March Won
Song of the Year – October "Spark" Nominated
34th Golden Disc Awards Digital Daesang "Four Seasons" Nominated
Digital Bonsang Won
Disc Bonsang Purpose Nominated
Disc Daesang Nominated
17th Korean Music Awards Best Pop Album Nominated
29th Seoul Music Awards Digital Daesang "Four Seasons" Won
22nd Mnet Asian Music Awards Best Vocal Performance – Solo "Spark" Nominated
Song of the Year Nominated
2021 10th Gaon Chart Music Awards Song of the Year – January "Dear Me" Nominated
Music program awards
Song Program Network Date Ref.
"Four Seasons" Show! Music Core MBC April 6, 2019 [22]
Inkigayo SBS April 7, 2019 [23]
"Spark" Music Bank KBS November 8, 2019 [24]
Show! Music Core MBC November 9, 2019 [25]
Inkigayo SBS November 10, 2019 [26]

Commercial performance

Within just a few hours of its release, "Purpose" took over iTunes charts in 22 regions. She had set a record taking over the number one spot on iTunes charts in most countries for a Korean female soloist.[27] She broke her own record by landing on the top spot in 26 countries with Repackaged version.[28][29] The repackaged album also rose to the top of China's largest music site QQ Music, KuGou Music, and Kuwo Music's album sales chart.[30]

In South Korea, Purpose debuted at number two[31] on the Gaon Album Chart with 154,258 copies sold.[32] The album became Taeyeon's sixth top ten album in the country, and broke the record for the largest first day sales for a female artist with 78,327 copies on Hanteo[33] being hit days later by IU's Love Poem.[34]

In Japan, the album debuted at number twenty-five on the Oricon Albums Chart and has sold over 3,000 copies as of October 2019.[35] Purpose debuted at number nine the Billboard World Albums, becoming Taeyeon's fifth top 10 entry on the chart.[36] It additionally charted at number 14 on the Top Heatseekers.[37]

Track listing

Credits adapted from Naver

Purpose – Digital standard edition[38]
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."Here I Am"
3:24
2."Spark" (Korean: 불티; RR: Bulti)
3:37
3."Find Me"
  • Mike Daley
  • Mitchell Owens
  • Bianca "Blush" Atterberry
  • Mike Daley
  • Mitchell Owens
4:07
4."Love You Like Crazy"
2:59
5."LOL" (Korean: 하하하; RR: Hahaha)
  • Jung Min-seung (ron)
  • Kang Eun-jung
  • dress
  • glowingdog (Munhwain
3:16
6."Better Babe"
  • Kim Boo-min
  • Hitchhiker
  • Luke "Lukr" Foley (Combustion Music)
  • Dan "DWhit" Whittemore
  • Allison Victoria Pincsak
4:11
7."Wine"
  • Robin Ghosh
3:57
8."Do You Love Me?"
  • Lee Joo-hyoung (MonoTree)
  • Lee Joo-hyoung (MonoTree)
  • Lee Joo-hyoung (MonoTree)
4:08
9."City Love"
  • Mike Daley
  • Mitchell Owens
  • Micky Blue
  • Realmeee
  • Mike Daley
  • Mitchell Owens
3:38
10."Gravity"
  • Lance Shipp (LIONCHLD)
  • Rachael Kennedy (LIONCHLD)
  • Nathalia Marshall (LIONCHLD)
  • Angel Lopez (Mono Music Group)
  • Gilde Flores (Mono Music Group)
  • LIONCHLD
  • Mono Music Group
3:59
Total length:37:26
Purpose – Korean and deluxe bonus tracks[39]
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
11."Blue"
  • Alex Mood (Mr Radar)
  • Mariella "Bambi" Garcia Balandina (Mr Radar)
  • Oskar Salhin
  • Mimmi Gyltman
  • Rassmus "Raise" Björnson
  • Mr Radar
  • Rassmus "Raise" Björnson
3:32
12."Four Seasons" (Korean: 사계; RR: Sagye)
3:08
Total length:44:10
Purpose – Repackage[40]
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."Dear Me" (Korean: 내게 들려주고 싶은 말; RR: Naege Deullyeojugo Sip-eun Mal; lit. What I Want To Tell Myself)
3:42
2."My Tragedy" (Korean: 월식; RR: Wolsik; lit. Lunar Eclipse)
  • Kim Boo-min
  • Hitchhiker
  • Dan "DWhit" Whittemore
  • Bonx
  • Elizabeth Russo
4:29
3."Here I Am"
3:24
4."Spark" (Korean: 불티; RR: Bulti)
3:37
5."Find Me"
  • Mike Daley
  • Mitchell Owens
  • Bianca "Blush" Atterberry
  • Mike Daley
  • Mitchell Owens
4:07
6."Love You Like Crazy"
2:59
7."LOL" (Korean: 하하하; RR: Hahaha)
  • Jung Min-seung (ron)
  • Kang Eun-jung
  • dress
  • glowingdog (Munhwain
3:16
8."Better Babe"
  • Kim Boo-min
  • Hitchhiker
  • Luke "Lukr" Foley (Combustion Music)
  • Dan "DWhit" Whittemore
  • Allison Victoria Pincsak
4:11
9."Wine"
  • Robin Ghosh
3:57
10."Do You Love Me?"
  • Lee Joo-hyoung (MonoTree)
  • Lee Joo-hyoung (MonoTree)
  • Lee Joo-hyoung (MonoTree)
4:08
11."City Love"
  • Mike Daley
  • Mitchell Owens
  • Micky Blue
  • Realmeee
  • Mike Daley
  • Mitchell Owens
3:38
12."Gravity"
  • Lance Shipp (LIONCHLD)
  • Rachael Kennedy (LIONCHLD)
  • Nathalia Marshall (LIONCHLD)
  • Angel Lopez (Mono Music Group)
  • Gilde Flores (Mono Music Group)
  • LIONCHLD
  • Mono Music Group
3:59
13."Drawing Our Moments" (Korean: 너를 그리는 시간; RR: Neoreul Geurineun Sigan)
  • Lawrence Lee
  • Malin Johansson (Songs of Sweden)
  • Dan Sundquist
  • Hjalmar Wilén
  • Lawrence Lee
4:33
14."Blue"
  • Alex Mood (Mr Radar)
  • Mariella "Bambi" Garcia Balandina (Mr Radar)
  • Oskar Salhin
  • Mimmi Gyltman
  • Rassmus "Raise" Björnson
  • Mr Radar
  • Rassmus "Raise" Björnson
3:32
15."Four Seasons" (Korean: 사계; RR: Sagye)
3:08
16."Dear Me [Instrumental]" (Digital Bonus Track) 
3:42
Total length:60:37

Charts

Sales
Region Sales
China (digital)[54] 171,188
South Korea[53][55][56][57] 222,712[lower-alpha 3]

Release history
Region Date Format Version Label Ref.
Various October 28, 2019
Original SM Entertainment
[58]
January 15, 2020 Repackage
[3]
[59]
South Korea January 22, 2020 Kihno
[60]

Notes
  1. Repackage
  2. Kit
  3. Sales combined with the Repackage and Kit version (Original – 170,989, Repackage – 46,694, Kit – 5,029)

References
  1. "Purpose – The 2nd Album Repackage". Melon (in Korean). Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  2. Ong, Kimberly (October 14, 2019). "Taeyeon of Girls' Generation Releases New Teasers For Solo Comeback". E! Online. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
  3. "TAEYEON's second full-length repackage album 'Purpose' will be released on JAN. 15". SM Entertainment. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  4. Khouri, Samar (October 13, 2019). "K-Pop Corner: Girls Generation's Taeyeon to drop second album". Gulf News. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
  5. Kim, Noeul (October 15, 2019). "태연, 설리 사망 비보에 콘텐츠 일정 중단 "추후 다시 진행…양해 부탁"". MK Sports (in Korean). Retrieved October 17, 2019.
  6. "TAEYEON 태연 '불티 (Spark)' MV Teaser #1". October 23, 2019. Retrieved March 18, 2020 – via YouTube.
  7. "TAEYEON 태연 '불티 (Spark)' MV Teaser #2". October 25, 2019. Retrieved March 18, 2020 – via YouTube.
  8. "TAEYEON 태연 '불티 (Spark)' MV". October 28, 2019. Retrieved March 18, 2020 – via YouTube.
  9. "Taeyeon Wins No. 1 For "Spark" On Music Bank + Lyric Video Release". The Standom. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  10. "TAEYEON 태연 '내게 들려주고 싶은 말 (Dear Me)' MV Teaser". January 13, 2020. Retrieved March 18, 2020 – via YouTube.
  11. "TAEYEON 태연 '내게 들려주고 싶은 말 (Dear Me)' MV". January 15, 2020. Retrieved March 18, 2020 – via YouTube.
  12. "Taeyeon – Vol. 2 'Purpose'" (in Korean). Synnara. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  13. "Taeyeon – 'Purpose – The 2nd Album Repackage'" (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
  14. "Taeyeon Rises To No. 1 With "Spark"; Soompi's K-Pop Music Chart 2019, November Week 3". Soompi. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  15. Hwang, Seoneob (November 4, 2019). "Album Review Taeyeon – 'Purpose'". IZM. Korea. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  16. Chin, Chester (November 4, 2019). "'Purpose': Taeyeon sparkles on career-defining 2nd solo album". The Star. Malaysia. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  17. "annualkpopawards/2019 – kpop". reddit. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  18. "결산 2019 : 올해의 음반". Idology. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
  19. Sheldon, Pearce (December 31, 2019). "Best Kpop, 2019: Best Album". Tumblr. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  20. "Sheldon Pearce Tumblr Account". Tumblr. December 31, 2019. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  21. "Sheldon Pearce Contributing Writer". Pitchfork. December 31, 2019. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  22. '음악중심' 태연, 출연 없이 1위..첸 솔로 데뷔X블랙핑크·아이즈원 컴백 [종합] – 조선닷컴 – 연예 > 연예 포토 ['Show! Music Core': Taeyeon's 'Four Seasons' gets first place, EXO's Chen debuts solo X BLACKPINK comeback]. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved April 6, 2019.
  23. Kim Young-rok (April 7, 2019). '인기가요' 태연, '사계'로 1위 2관왕..블랙핑크·아이즈원 컴백X첸 솔로데뷔 [종합] – 조선닷컴 – 연예 > 연예 포토 ['Inkigayo', Taeyeon wins no. 1, BLackPink- EXO's Chen comeback]. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved May 9, 2019.
  24. [종합]'뮤직뱅크' 태연 '불티' 방송출연 없이도 1위…갓세븐·빅톤 컴백 – 조선닷컴 – 연예 > 연예 포토 ['Music Bank': Taeyeon's 'Spark' gets first place]. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). November 8, 2019. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  25. '음악중심' 태연, 출연없이 1위·2관왕..갓세븐x현아♥던x빅톤 컴백 [종합] – 조선닷컴 – 연예 > 연예 포토 ['Music Core', Taeyeon wins no. 1]. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). November 9, 2019. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  26. '인기가요' 태연, 1위 3관왕..갓세븐X현아♥던X빅톤 컴백·이진혁 솔로데뷔 [종합]
     ['Inkigayo', Taeyeon wins no. 1 for the 3rd times, GOT7 comeback, Lee Jinhyuk solo debut]. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). November 10, 2019. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  27. "Girls' Generation's Taeyeon Tops iTunes Charts Around The World With Repackaged Album "Purpose"". Soompi. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  28. "태연 정규 2집 리패키지 Purpose 아이튠즈 톱 앨범 차트 24개 지역 1위!". Girls' Generation Official Facebook. Facebook. January 16, 2020. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  29. "#1. TAEYEON – Purpose – The 2nd Album (repackage) *26th #1* (PEAK DATE: 01/15/2020)". SNSD Charts Twitter. Twitter. February 14, 2020. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  30. "韓 여자 솔로 앨범 사상 최다 1위 또 경신! 中 QQ뮤직, 쿠거우뮤직, 쿠워뮤직 디지털 앨범 판매 차트 1위!". smtown.com. January 16, 2020. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  31. "Gaon Album Chart – Week 44, 2019". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  32. "2019년 10월 Album Chart". Gaon. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  33. "Taeyeon's "Purpose" Album Breaks Record For Highest Amount Of First Day Sales By A Female Artist". koreaboo. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  34. "IU Breaks Record for Highest Amount of First Day Sales by Female Artists with 'Love Poem'". KStarLive. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  35. "Oricon Chart （2019年10月28日-2019年11月03日）" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on November 6, 2019. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  36. "Taeyeon Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  37. "Taeyeon Chart History: Heatseerkers Albums". Billboard. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  38. "Purpose – The 2nd Album". Apple Music. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  39. "앨범 정보>멜론: Purpose – The 2nd Album". Melon (in Korean). Retrieved October 28, 2019.
  40. @GirlsGeneration (January 9, 2020). "TAEYEON 태연 The 2nd Album Repackage ['Purpose']" (Tweet) (in Korean). Retrieved January 11, 2020 – via Twitter.
  41. "ARIA Australian Top 50 Digital Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. November 4, 2019. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  42. "WayV – Take Over the Moon (2nd Mini Album): French Album Charts – Week 44, 2019". Snep Musique. November 1, 2019. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  43. 11, 2019/ "Oricon Top 50 Albums: November 11, 2019" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  44. "Billboard Japan Hot Albums: 2019/10/07 付け". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  45. "Gaon Album Chart – Week 44, 2019". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  46. "Gaon Album Chart – Week 03, 2020". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  47. "Gaon Album Chart – Week 04, 2019". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  48. "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  49. "Taeyeon Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  50. "Taeyeon Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  51. "Taeyeon Chart History (World Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  53. "2019년 Album Chart". Gaon. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  54. Cumulative sales of Purpose:
  55. "2020년 01월 Album Chart". Gaon. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  56. "Taeyeon has sold 875,073 copies on Gaon Album total sales (October 2015 – March 2020)". Twitter. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  57. "2020년 종합 Album Chart". Gaon Chart. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  58. "Purpose – The 2nd Album by Taeyeon". Apple Music. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  59. "Purpose – The 2nd Album Repackage – EP". Apple Music. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  60. "태연(TAEYEON) The 2nd Album Repackage – Purpose (키트앨범 Ver.)". kitalbum. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.