The group SEVENTEEN's subunit Mevoz DOKYUM X Seungkwan's new song "Blue" topped the digital music charts. It is a meaningful achievement as a traditional ballad in a K-pop scene centered on intense performances.
On the 19th, according to HYBE music group label PLEDIS Entertainment Co., the title track "Blue" from DOKYUM X Seungkwan's mini 1st album reached No. 1 on Korean YouTube's "Trending music" at 9 p.m. the previous day (the 18th). The song entered the same chart at No. 27 on the 13th, steadily rose in rank to No. 2 on the 15th, and finally reached the top. Album tracks "Rockstar (DK Solo)" (No. 28) and "Guilty Pleasure" (No. 30) also made the rankings.
The popularity of "Blue" is interpreted as the result of word-of-mouth online from singing content such as music show stages and vocal challenges featuring DOKYUM X Seungkwan. The duo performed "Blue" on Mnet's "M Countdown" on the 15th, KBS2's MUSIC BANK and The Seasons - 10CM's Ssedam Ssedam on the 16th, MBC's Show! Music Core on the 17th, and SBS's Inkigayo on the 18th. With outstanding vocal ability and deeply emotive delivery they captivated K-pop fans' eyes and ears, and on The Seasons - 10CM's Ssedam Ssedam they premiered a performance of the alluring album track "Guilty Pleasure," showcasing diverse charms.
Vocal challenges featuring so-called "singing masters" such as Davichi, Limu Jin, Younha, RIIZE's Sohee, and Gummy are also receiving favorable responses. Not only top vocalists but artists from various genres — Ha Hyun Sang, 10CM, Daybreak, WJSN's Yoo Yeon Jeong, SOL (SOLE), george (George), and Mamamoo's Solar — have successively reinterpreted "Blue" in their own colors on the challenge. Duet challenges that allow harmonizing with DOKYUM and Seungkwan are also spreading quickly. Riding this momentum, "Blue" hit No. 1 on Instagram's "Rising audio" on the 17th.
DOKYUM X Seungkwan will additionally release an epilogue version music video for "Blue" today (the 19th). The teaser released the day before featured snowy fields in Hokkaido, Japan, and the two members' poignant emotional acting, raising anticipation for the full video. The cinema version music video starring actors Lee Yumi and Noh Sang Hyun has been steadily loved, charting on Korean YouTube's "Weekly popular music videos" (tracking period Jan. 9–15).
The new release can also be experienced with an analog vibe. According to the agency PLEDIS Entertainment Co., the LP (vinyl) of "Soya-gok" will be released on Mar. 16. The record unusually sold more than 520,000 copies on its release day for a K-pop unit album, achieving half-million seller status, and also topped the "Worldwide iTunes albums" chart.
[Photo] provided by PLEDIS Entertainment Co., broadcast capture
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