“WINNER”s Debut Proved Their Strong Presence
[OSEN=선미경 기자] YG’s rookie boy group WINNER has proven their presence upon debut, with an outcome that meets high expectations.
WINNER is a new boy group produced by YG Entertainment, home for BIGBANG and 2NE1, for the first time in nine years after BIGBANG. The team was selected as YG’s next boy group directly by the public, through cable channel Mnet’s survival audition program “WIN: WHO IS NEXT” before their debut.
WINNER has been drawing a big attention, just because they debut as an YG artist. Plus, they built a strong fandom even before their debut, by appearing in “WIN”, getting complimented for their musical talent with their own songs. People even say that WINNER’s “debut feels like comeback”, as they have been standing under the spotlight for a long time, with many people’s high expectations.
WINNER has actually met such expectations. Upon the release of their debut album “2014 S/S” unveiled at 0 o’clock on the 12 this month, title track “empty” took the No.1 on music charts, including Korea’s biggest music chart Melon, Bugs, Soribada, Genie, and Olleh music. Plus, the songs in WINNER’s debut album are in top ten places on some music charts.
It is a very rare case for rookie group’s debut album take No.1 on all music charts and for all the songs in the debut album enter top places on charts. Notably, considering the fact that it is hard for even top singers to make all songs in an album enter top places on charts, WINNER has achieved an unusual feat for a rookie.
WINNER’s debut album is all the more meaningful, because WINNER members themselves took part in writing the lyrics and melody of all songs. Members exerted their musical talent, taking part in writing the lyrics and melody of all 10 songs in the album. That proves that WINNER’s long-time efforts for their debut have borne fruit.
“empty” is a rap and hip-hop song that expresses an empty feeling after breakup, whose lyrics were written by SONG MIN HO. The lyrics of another double title track “Color Ring” were written by KANG SEUNG YOON, SONG MIN HO, and LEE SEUNG HOON, with leader KANG SEUNG YOON as the main producer. With the song, WINNER members have now established their solid foothold as singer-songwriters.
Plus, WINNER’s debut is creating sensation not only on music-streaming websites but also on search engines and entertainment BBS. WINNER took No.1 places on search-word list of search engines upon the release of their debut album, and key words such as “WINNER empty” and “WINNER Color Ring” are sweeping top ranks on search-word lists, showing high expectations for WINNER’s debut. A series of rave reviews for WINNER’s debut album are posted on entertainment BBS.
WINNER’s sophisticated feel shown in the music video, which is not like that of a rookie group, is catching the eyes, too. The double title tracks both talk about the sorrow of breakup, but they deliver different feels, appealing to the public. While “empty” depicts loneliness after breakup, “Color Ring” is talking about regrets for behavior toward lover. WINNER members also catch eyes for their matured acting in the song’s music video, which expresses the feelings after breakup. Notably, NAM TAE HYUN is leaving a strong impression with his crying performance in the music video.
Meanwhile, WINNER will have an official debut performance in “YG Family Concert” of “AIA REAL LIFE : NOW FESTIVAL 2014” that will be held on the 15 this month at Jamsil Sports Complex’s main stadium located in Seoul.
2014. 8. 12.
