"O"-Jung.Ban.Hap.

"O"-Jung.Ban.Hap.
Studio album by TVXQ
Released September 29, 2006
Recorded 2006
Genre K-pop, dance-pop, R&B
Length 43:50
Language Korean, English
Label SM Entertainment, iKpop Co. Ltd.
Producer Lee Soo-man
TVXQ chronology

Heart, Mind and Soul
(2006)		 "O"-Jung.Ban.Hap.
(2006)		 Five in the Black
(2007)
Singles from "O"-Jung.Ban.Hap.
  1. "'O'-Jung.Ban.Hap."
  2. "Balloons"

"O"-Jung.Ban.Hap. (stylized as "O"-正.反.合.), sometimes referred to as "O"-Union or just O, is the third Korean studio album (fourth overall) by South Korean pop group TVXQ, released on September 29, 2006 by S.M. Entertainment. In a year when Korean music sales had slumped, it was the highest selling album in South Korea in 2006 and won the group several prominent awards in South Korea.[1][2] The album stayed charted within the top 50 throughout 2007, and by 2012, the album sold over 450,000 copies in South Korea.[3]

The album's name "O"-Jung.Ban.Hap, literally translated to "O"-Justice.Opposition.Solution, is based on Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel's theory of thesis, antithesis, synthesis. The album's mononymous lead single has lyrics that regard global conflicts with a plea for peace and resistance. The album has a balance of fast tempo songs and ballads.

Versions and repackaging

The album was released in 4 different versions and packaging, versions A and B, C and D. Versions A and B promote the title song """O"-正.反.合.", while versions C and D promote the fantasy theme of the song "Balloons" and contain new songs and a DVD in each. The initial versions of the album with the original track listing was released in CD and cassette formats.

For the version D, the label company did a unique box packaging, with special deck of cards with members' pictures wearing costumes included with the CD and DVD specials.

In Hong Kong and Taiwan, the album was released under the names "O"-Jing.Fan.Hap. and "O"-Zheng.Fan.He. respectively, while in Japan the name of the album is "O"-Sei.Han.Go.. The Japanese release does not contain the repackaged versions that are available in the Korean release.

Singles

"O"-Jung.Ban.Hap

The lead single is a fast-tempo fusion of rock, hip hop, and electronic trance. The music video took several days to complete as its footage was shot in several different countries. U-Know Yunho's footage was shot in Japan, Micky Yoochun's and Max Changmin's in Prague, Hero Jaejoong's in Thailand, and Xiah Junsu's in South Korea. The music video showcases intense and unique dance choreography with stylized outfits.

Balloons

In drastic contrast to the lead single, "Balloons" (Pungseon in Korean) is a bubbly song that features TVXQ members in animal costumes, made to directly appeal to the younger generation, as well as older generations familiar with the original "Balloons" by Five Fingers (an old Korean band). The lyrics talk about innocent childhood dreams and memories and how people tend to forget the importance of those dreams as they grow older.

In the lyrics, "yellow balloons" line was changed to "red balloons" to coordinate with the colour that represents TVXQ's fanbase Cassiopeia.

Performances

In three short months after the album's release, TVXQ were invited to perform on many stages of music shows, award shows, and concerts. TVXQ performed their third album's songs a few times in 2007 as well, since a fourth Korean album had not been released.

Track listing

Version A

CD
No. TitleLyricsMusic Length
1. ""O"-正・反・合 ("O"-Jung.Ban.Hap.)" ("O"-Thesis.Antithesis.Synthesis / "O"-Justice.Opposition.Solution)Yoo Young-jinYoo Young-jin 4:15
2. "세상에 단 하나뿐인 마음 (You're My Miracle)"  Kim YounghuKim Younghu 3:59
3. "Hey! Girl"  Luther Squeak Jackson, Yoo HanjinLuther Squeak Jackson, Yoo Hanjin 4:18
4. "Get Me Some"  Tae-HoonLa Verdi, Thomas Charles, Pandher, Daniel 3:30
5. "I'll Be There"  Huang Seongje, Yoo JennyHuang Seongje, Yoo Jenny 3:29
6. "Remember"  Kim JeongbaeKenzie 4:16
7. "이제 막 시작된 이야기 (The Story Has Just Begun)"  Park Changhak, YunsangPark Changhak, Yunsang 4:13
8. "On & On"  Kim YounghuGreat Dane aka Carsten 4:26
9. "Phantom (환영) (幻影)"  Kim JeongbaeKenzie 3:24
10. "You Only Love"  Lee YunjaeLee Yunjae 3:11
11. "풍선 (Balloons)"  Lee Duheon, Kim SunghoLee Duheon, Kim Sungho 3:50

Version B

Version C

Version D

Japanese version

Release history

Country Date
South Korea September 29, 2006
Taiwan October 12, 2006
Japan October 23, 2006

Charts and sales

Korean albums & singles chart[4]

Chart Position Sales
September Monthly Chart (2006) 1 120,505
November Monthly Chart (2006) 1 144,535
December Monthly Chart (2006) 6 20,046
January Monthly Chart (2007) 10 10,144
February Monthly Chart (2007) 13 5,507
March Monthly Chart (2007) 11 3,642
April Monthly Chart (2007) 19 2,325
May Monthly Chart (2007) 15 2,864
June Monthly Chart (2007) 28 1,429
July Monthly Chart (2007) 28 1,429
August Monthly Chart (2007) 18 2,730
September Monthly Chart (2007) 36 1,018
October Monthly Chart (2007) 39 1,955
November Monthly Chart (2007) 35 1,457
December Monthly Chart (2007) 46 1,055
January Monthly Chart (2008) 24 1,685
February Monthly Chart (2008) 28 1,502

Korea Top 100 Yearly Chart

Year Position Sales Total sales
2006 1 349,317[5] 458,686+[3]
2007 22 36,044[6]

References

  1. ↑ 11월 가요음반 판매량집계 Archived 1 November 2007 at WebCite
  2. ↑ "Kpop Industry Undergoing Slump". Korea Times. 2008-01-28. p. 1. Retrieved 2008-02-01.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "2세대 아이돌, 음반 판매량 순위 공개 ‘SM-동방신기 올킬’" (in Korean). Star Today. 2012-07-19. Retrieved 2013-01-03.
  4. ↑ Music Industry Association of Korea
  5. ↑ "2006 Year End Sales" (in Korean). Music Industry Recording of Korea. Archived from the original on 2007-03-29. Retrieved 2009-02-06.
  6. ↑ "2007 sales" (in Korean). Music Industry Recording of Korea. Archived from the original on 2008-05-08. Retrieved 2013-01-14.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
The 3rd Masterpiece by SG Wannabe		 Golden Disk Awards for Disk Daesang (Album of the Year)
2006 		Succeeded by
The Sentimental Chord by SG Wannabe