Seo Tai-ji
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| Seo Taiji (서태지) | ||
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 Seo Taiji during an aired TV interview
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| Background information | ||
| Birth name | 정현철, 鄭鉉哲 (Jeong Hyeon-cheol) | |
| Also known as | Taiji | |
| Born | February 21, 1972 | |
| Origin | Seoul, Korea | |
| Genre(s) | KRock, Heavy Metal, Hip hop, Rapcore | |
| Years active | 1991–Present | |
| Label(s) | Seo Tae Ji Company | |
| Website | http://www.seotaiji.com/ | |
| Members | ||
| Rock, Top, Sang Uk (Monkey), Heff Holter | ||
| Former members | ||
| Lee Ju-no, Yang Hyeon-seok | ||
Seo Tai-ji (also spelled Seo Tae-ji, born Jeong Hyeon-cheol on February 21, 1972) is a South Korean singer and musician. As a cultural comparison, Tai-ji's levels of popularity in Korea is analogous to the popularity of Michael Jackson in the mid-1980s.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
[edit] The early years
At the age of 14, Jung Hyun-Chul (Tai-ji) participated in several amateur rock bands. In 1990, at the age of 17, he was recruited into the underground metal group Sinawe (pronounced shee-nah-wee). Taiji chose to drop out of school, a system that he felt did nothing but corrupt the minds of youth, and became a professional musician.
[edit] Seo Tai-ji and Boys Explode
After the break up of Sinawe in 1991, Tai-ji switched gears and formed the dance group Seo Tai-ji and Boys (서태지와 아이들) with dancers Lee Ju-no and Yang Hyeon-seok.
The introduction of the first Seo Tai-ji and Boys album announced a complete shift in the focus of popular Korean music that is still felt today. Their first single, "Nan Arayo" (난 알아요, "I Know") was a hugely successful hit, being one of the first songs in K-Pop to meld contemporary dance sounds with urban-influenced rap lyrics.
The sound of Seo Tai-ji and Boys' albums was constantly evolving. The first album was very dancey, while the second album began to introduce more hard rock and heavy metal influences, but still remaining mostly a dance album. The first single from their second album, "Hayeoga" (하여가), combined heavy metal sounds with traditional sounds of the taepyeongso, a traditional Korean wind instrument.
The third album switched gears to being much more heavy metal and rock driven. The danceable tunes are nearly non-existent. Instead, songs such as the extremely controversial Gyosil Idea (교실 이데아, Classroom Idea) with a impressive death grunt backvocal by Ahn Heung-Chan of Crash took center stage. Gyosil Idea was extremely critical of the Korean education system and its brainwashing of the youth of Korea. Accusations began to fly about Seo Tai-ji and Boys. They were accused of backwards masking Satanist messages in their songs.
Not backing down, Seo Tai-ji and Boys' fourth album exploded with more controversial songs. Come Back Home was a foray into Korean gangster rap. Shidaeyugam (시대유감, "Regret of the Times") was nearly banned by the Korean Broadcasting Ethics Committee as having lyrics that were considered not appropriate to the young listeners.
[edit] Seo Tai-ji Goes Solo
Seo Tai-ji and Boys broke up in 1996 after four wildly successful studio and two hugely popular live albums. Tai-ji disappeared from the music scene for the next two years, moving to New York City, living a low profile life, and working on his come-back.
In 1998, Tai-ji returned to the music scene with his first solo album, Seo Tai-ji. His self-produced album continued with his long established sound of mixing contemporary American rock and pop music with Korean vocals. His comeback album, while not a huge success, put him back onto the path of greatness.
In 2000, Tai-ji exploded with his hugely popular sixth album, Ultramania. With his new band, he blasts out an album with hardcore, crashing metal tracks. "Ultramania," "Internet War," and "Tank" were all huge successes. With the release of his new album, Tai-ji embarked on his first Korean tour since 1996 playing to sold out crowds.
Ultramania was re-released in 2002 with remastered tracks and featured live Tai-ji tracks from the 2002 ETPFEST.
In early 2004, after almost four years, Tai-ji's first all new album, 7th Issue, was released.
[edit] Seotaiji Band
Although Taiji's career is strictly "solo", these people consistently play with him during tours, studio recordings, and music videos:
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums (Seo Tai-ji and Boys)
Product Title : Seo Tai Ji & Boys Vol. 1 - I Know!
Singer Name(s) : Seo Tai Ji & Boys
Language : Korean
Package Weight : 110 g
Publisher : Bando Records
[SIDE A]
1. Yo! Taiji
2. Nan Arayo! (I Know!)
3. Hwansangsoke Kude (You, in the illusion / You, in the Fantasy)
4. Nowa hamkehan sigan sogeso (In The Time Spent With You)
5. 'E' Bami Kippo Kajiman (Through Tonight Growing Late)
[SIDE B]
1. Nae Modungut (My Everything)
2. Eejehnun (Now)
3. Blind Love - "Nan Arayo! English Version"
4. Rock'n Roll Dance
5. Missing
Product Title : Seo Tai Ji & Boys Vol. 2
Singer Name(s) : Seo Tai Ji & Boys
Release Date : August, 1994
Language : Korean
Package Weight : 100 g
Publisher : Bando Records
[SIDE A]
1. Yo! Taiji
2. Hayeoga
3. Wooridulmanei Chooeak(Our Own Memories)
4. Joogeuui Neup (Swamp of Death)
[SIDE B]
1. Neoehge (TO YOU)
2. Susiah
3. Majimak Chukje (Last Feast)
4. Uridulmanui Chuok (Our Own Memories) [Instrumental]
Product Title : Seo Tai Ji & Boys Vol. 3 - Dreaming Bal Hae
Singer Name(s) : Seo Tai Ji & Boys
Release Date : August, 1994
Language : Korean
Package Weight : 100 g
Publisher : Bando Records
[SIDE A]
1. Yo! Taiji
2. Barhaereul Ggoomggoomyuh (Dreaming Of Bal-hae)
3. Ahyeedeuleh nooneuro (Through Eyes of Children)
4. Gyosil Idea (Classroom Idea)
5. Nae Mamiya(It's All Up To Me)
[Side B]
1. Jechyllbaksa wa Hyde(Dr. Jechyll & Mr. Hyde)
2. Youngwon(Eternity)
3. Barhaereul Ggoomggoomyuh(Dreaming Of Bal-hae) [Instrumental]
4. Neol jiuryu Hae(I'm Gonna Try To Erase You)
Produced by Taiji
Recording studio : Conway Recording Studio (LA)
All Engineer : Jason Robert
Product Title : Seo Tai Ji & Boys Vol. 4 - Come Back Home
Singer Name(s) : Seo Tai Ji & Boys
Release Date : Octorber , 1996
Language : Korean
Package Weight : 100 g
Publisher : Bando Records
[SIDE A]
1. Yo! Taiji
2. Seulpeun apeum(Sorrowful Pain)
3. Pilseung (Sure win)
4. Come Back Home
5. Shidaeyugam (Regret of the Times) [Instrumental]
[SIDE B]
1. (1996, When They Conquer the World)
2. Taijiboys!
3. Good-bye
4. Free Style
5. Innerbeelistenervy
Executive Producer / Taiji
Producer / Taiji Co.Producer / Kook Kim
All Songs written / Taiji (Free Style : Taiji & jongseokim)STAFF :
Recording engineer / Jason Roberts, Kook Kim, Taiji
Assistants engineer / Michael Scotella
at Ocean Way Studio Lamont Hyde at Larrabee Studio
Mixing engineer / Jason Roberts
('GOOD BYE' /John Ven Nest 'TAIJI BOYS' 'inervylisnervy' / Kook Kim, Taiji)
Mastering engineer / Jason Arnold, Kim ho jung
Recording Studio / Ocean Way Studio in LA Bay Studio
in Seoul Techno Taiji Studio in Seoul
Mixing Studio / Larrabee Studio in LA Image Studio in LA
Mastering Studio / Capital Record Tower Mastering in LA,
Sound Vision in Seoul
[edit] Albums (Solo)
- Seo tai ji (1998)
- Ultramania (2000)
- 태지의 話 [Live concert album] (2000)
- 6th Album Re-Recording and ETPFEST Live (2003)
- Seo Taiji 7th Issue (2004)
- Seo Tai Ji Live Tour ZERO 04 (2004)
[edit] Singles
- Feel The Soul (2001)
[edit] Videos
- 2004 SEO TAIJI Record of the 7th (2005)
- The Shedding Bird: Seo Taiji Company DVD+Art book (2005)
- Seo Taiji Live Tour ZERO 04 DVD+Art book (2004)
[edit] Live Releases
- 태지의 話 [Live concert album] (2000)
- Seo Taiji Live Tour ZERO 04 (2004)
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Seotaiji.com - official site
- Taiji History - unofficial fan site in English, Korean and Traditional Chinese
- Seo Taiji & Boys' Bang!- unofficial fan site in Japanese
- Seo Tai Ji en castellano - non nae sesang - - unofficial fan site in spanish
