| SeeYa 씨야 |
|
|---|---|
| Origin | Seoul, South Korea |
| Genres | K-pop, R&B, dance |
| Years active | 2006–2011 |
| Labels | Core Contents Media (2009-2011) MnetMedia (2007-2009) GM Entertainment (2006) |
| Members | |
| Kim Yeonji (2006–2011) Lee Boram (2006–2011) Nam Gyuri (2006–2009, 2011) |
|
| Past members | |
| Lee Soomi (2009–2010) | |
SeeYa (Hangul: 씨야) was a South Korean female group made up of Kim Yeonji and Lee Boram. The group name "SeeYa" came from the phrases See You Always and See You Again, which means that the group wishes to live eternally through their music for their fans. When they first debuted, they were marketed as the female version of SG Wannabe.[1]
Contents |
The group started with the ideas of the producers of male vocal trio SG Wannabe, who decided to create a female version of the group.[2] SeeYa's first album was co-produced by SG Wannabe and included tracks by many of the songwriters who had worked with the group. SeeYa's subsequent albums, however, saw the group branching out into different genres.
Their debut album titled The First Mind was released on February 24, 2006,[3] and was launched with the singles "A Woman's Scent" (여인의 향기) and "Shoes" (구두). They also performed "Because I Love You" (사랑하기 때문에), which features SG Wannabe. They continued performing through the year with "Crazy Love Song" ("미친 사랑의 노래"), a piece from The Invisible Man (투명인간 최장수) soundtrack.[4] They also performed a dance remix of "Crazy Love Song" to showcase their dancing ability.[5]
Their second album Lovely Sweet Heart was released on May 25, 2007.[6] The album sold 81,723 copies in 2007, making it the fifth best-selling album in Korea that year, according to the Music Industry Association of Korea.[7] The first single, "Love's Greeting" (사랑의 인사),[8] won awards at the 2007 Golden Disk Awards and the MKMF Awards.[9] Follow-up singles included "Shall We Marry" (결혼 할까요) and "Ice Doll" (얼음 인형).
On January 2, 2008, SeeYa released California Dream,[10] a "special" album that included songs that had been individually released as side-projects like "The Day," which Kim Yeonji sang along with Brown Eyed Girls' Jea;[11] "Flying In The Deep Night" (깊은 밤을 날아서), which Nam Gyuri sang for a movie's original soundtrack; an O.S.T. song "The First Time In That Place" (처음 그 자리에) from the TV drama "Full House" originally performed by Lee Boram, and others. The album also included three new songs, including the single "Sad footsteps" also known as "Shoes II" (슬픈 발걸음, 구두 II), which was first released online in mid-December and went on to top the charts.[12] On January 31, SeeYa won the Main Award at the 2008 Seoul Music awards.[13]
In May 2008, SeeYa collaborated with girl group label-mates Davichi and Black Pearl to form the project group Color Pink. Color Pink released one single called "Blue Moon."
Their third album, Brilliant Change, was released on September 26, 2008, with the lead single "Hot Girl", an "electronica" song, which is in contrast with the ballads that SeeYa is known for.[14] Korean Top Artist Lee Hyori commented on the album in an interview, "SeeYa are not only a group with singing talents, but one that has everything, I have seen their hidden talents because of the closeness we share from juniors to seniors [within the company]." She added, "I previewed the full-length album and I was so surprised at their transformation, and this album is one in which you can see all of SeeYa’s charms."[15] During the promotion for the album, the group made efforts to play down the common perception that the group was mainly a vehicle for raising Nam Gyuri's celebrity profile, openly addressing the expression "Nam Gyuri and Others," which was by then being widely used by KPop followers to mock the Nam-centered promotion of the group.[16]
In April 2009, Core Contents Media, SeeYa's management company, announced that Nam Gyuri had stopped participating in the group's activities, thus violating the terms of her contract; the company also stated that it would potentially take legal action against Nam. Nam claimed that her contract was over and she was no longer bound to the company or SeeYa. Nam also posted a long entry on her personal mini-blog in which she seemed to refer to the head of Core Contents Media as "the devil," as well as accuse the other members of the group of making her feel lonely by sending her "cold looks like ice."[17]
In May 2009, SeeYa formed a project group with Davichi and T-ara to release the single "Women's Generation/Eternal Love." SeeYa member Kim Yeonji described the project group as a "continuation of the Color Pink project."[18] During a press conference at the music video shoot for the song, SeeYa members Kim Yeonji and Lee Boram confessed that they were disappointed by the manner of Nam's departure and puzzled by claims attributed to Nam and her "close acquaintances" that Nam had not been treated well by the company.[19] As of June 8, 2009 "Women's Generation" had topped the Korean mobile charts for four consecutive weeks and was ranked #4 in mobile downloads for 2009.[20]
On July 15, 2009, SeeYa's management company Core Contents Media announced that Nam Gyuri had resumed activities with the group. However this return was short-lived as it was announced that she had permanently left the group on August 13, 2009. Nam announced through her lawyer that she had left the group to focus on her acting career and had no intention of returning.[21] SeeYa then began the search for a new member to replace Nam.[22]
Nam Gyuri's replacement Lee Soomi was revealed in August 2009 and SeeYa's first mini-album titled "Rebloom" was released on October 28, 2009. The single "His Voice" (그 놈 목소리) received attention for its choreography, nicknamed the "Bully Dance" by netizens.
After finishing promotions for "Rebloom" SeeYa teamed up with Davichi and T-ara again for the release of the song "Wonder Woman" (원더우먼) in January 2010. On February 17, 2010, member Kim Yeonji released her first solo song "Let’s Meet Again" (우리 다시 만나요). In April, SeeYa released "Touch My Heart" (가슴이 뭉클) for the soundtrack of drama Personal Taste.
On July 23, 2010 Core Contents Media announced that Lee Soomi would leave SeeYa to join the company's new co-ed group Co-Ed School (남녀공학). Core Contents Media suggested that it would not search for a replacement member and Kim Yeonji and Lee Boram would continue SeeYa as a duo.
On December 13, 2010 Core Content Media confirmed that SeeYa was going to disband after their next album release. It was reported that both members wanted to go separate ways and CCM agreed to it. Nam Gyuri, who heard of SeeYa's upcoming disbandment, decided to join her former members in their last remaining promotions. SeeYa released their last album on January 10 titled “See You Again,” which includes all of the group’s hit tracks and two new songs.
On January 30, 2011 SeeYa, along with Nam Gyuri, performed at Inkigayo with the songs "The Last" & "You're Gorgeous To Me". SeeYa greeted their fans with a final farewell and formally disbanded after their performance.
| Name | Birth Name | Birthday | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gyuri | Nam Gyu Ri | April 26, 1985 | Leader from 2006-2009, Vocalist, Lead Dancer, Visual |
| Boram | Lee Bo Ram | February 17, 1987 | Leader from 2009-2011, Lead Vocalist |
| Yeonji | Kim Yeon Ji | October 30, 1986 | Main Vocalist |
| Name | Birth Name | Birthday | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soomi | Lee Soo Mi | March 3, 1989 | Vocalist, Main Dancer, Maknae |
| Year | Album information | Chart peak position |
Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | The First Mind
|
107,928+ | |
| 2007 | Lovely Sweet Heart
|
2 | 81,723[23] |
| 2008 | California Dream
|
22,352+[24] | |
Brilliant Change
|
25,711+[25] |
| Year | Album information |
|---|---|
| 2009 | Rebloom
|
| Year | Album information |
|---|---|
| 2007 | All Star: Composer Jo Young Soo Project Album 1st
|
| 2008 | All Star: 2nd album Vol.4 - SEEYA & LEEJIHYE
|
| 2011 | See You Again [Last Album]
|
| Years | Awards |
|---|---|
| 2006 |
|
| 2007 |
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| 2008 |
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