2011 SM Town Winter – The Warmest Gift explained

2011 SM Town Winter – The Warmest Gift
Type:studio
Artist:SM Town
Cover:SMTOWN-The Warmest Gift.jpg
Language:English
Label:
Prev Title:09 Summer SM Town
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Next Year:2012

2011 SM Town Winter – The Warmest Gift is the eighth winter album by SMTown, released on December 13, 2011[1] by SM Entertainment and distributed by KMP Holdings in South Korea. It is the first winter compilation album in four years[2] and also their first album to have all songs sung entirely in English. This is also their only album to feature f(x) and J-Min, and is the last album to feature TRAX, The Grace's Dana and Sunday, Zhang Liyin, Girls' Generation's Jessica, SHINee's Jonghyun, and Super Junior-M's Henry.

The album's lead single is "Santa U Are the One", sung by Super Junior with Super Junior-M members Henry and Zhou Mi. The music video was released on 13 December 2011 on SMTown official YouTube Channel. It features the Super Junior members with Henry and Zhou Mi singing in the studio and behind the scenes footage of SM artists during the album's photoshoot.

Background and release

On December 6, 2011, it was announced that the 2011 SM Town Winter 'The Warmest Gift will be released on December 13 as the first SM Town winter record by SM Entertainment in four years since 2007.[3] It was also scheduled for release in Japan on December 14. The album features 11 songs with seven new tracks and four carol remakes.[4] [5] In particular, all the songs in the album were recorded in English language to express gratitude to fans worldwide for sending love.[6] All SM artists, including Kangta, BoA, TVXQ, TRAX, The Grace – Dana & Sunday, Super Junior, Girls' Generation, Shinee, f(x), Zhang Liyin, and J-Min, participated in the winter album.[7]

Composition

"Santa U Are the One", sung by Super Junior, was described as a song that gives a "bright" atmosphere with "cute" lyrics telling that "Santa is the best, bringing joy and gifts to the world" along with "cheerful" rhythms and melodies.[8] "Sleigh Ride", sung by TVXQ, was described as a song that expresses the "cheerful" swing rhythm with the "perfect" sound that adds the grandeur of the orchestra and the "powerful" charm of the big band, expressing the cheerfulness as if riding a sled and the excitement of Christmas.[9] "Distance", sung by BoA, was described as an R&B ballad song, with simple rhythms, dreamy piano melody, and the singer's mournful and graceful voice.[10] "Last Christmas", sung by Shinee, was described as an electronic dance song that contains the three-dimensional charm of "dreamy and powerful" synth-pop that was remade to the group's "distinct" color.[11] "Diamond", sung by Girls' Generation, was described as a song with a familiar yet "sophisticated" style and is a classic pop song that expresses the warm and happy feeling of winter with the group's "unique" charm.[12] "For The First Time", sung by Kangta, was described as an acoustic ballad song that recalls the days spent with the woman he loves and the emotion of love he received from her.[13] "Like A Dream", sung by TRAX, is a newly recorded English version of the song from the group's third extended play (EP), Blind, to match the winter mood. "The First Noel", sung by Zhang Liyin, was a remake of the famous song loved worldwide.[14] "1,2,3", sung by f(x), was described as a "cute and lovely" song suitable for a winter track with Peppertones-produced "unique, bright, and healthy" music color. "Amazing", sung by The Grace – Dana & Sunday, was described as a pop ballad song containing everyday life's preciousness. "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)", sung J-Min, was a remake from the original track of John Lennon and Yoko Ono with the singer's "refreshing and appealing" vocals.[15]

Promotion and reception

A music video for SM Town's winter album 2011 SM Town Winter 'The Warmest Gift single, "Santa U Are The One", was released on December 13, 2011.[16] The video was posted on SM Town's official YouTube channel and featured a variety of SM Entertainment artists on the cover of the studio album.[17] Super Junior members were seen in behind-the-scenes and sketches of the recording studio landscape in the visual for the single.[18] The album debuted and peaked atop South Korea's Gaon Album Chart in the chart issue dated December 11–17, 2011.[19] In Japan, it debuted and peaked at position 36 on Oricon Albums Chart in the chart issue dated December 12–18, 2011.[20] It appeared at position 32 on 2011's Gaon Year-End Album Chart, with 44,467 albums sold and 1,114 in January 2012.[21] [22]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2011)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Japanese Albums (Oricon)36
South Korean Albums (Gaon)1

Monthly charts

Chart (January 2012)! scope="col"
Position
South Korean Albums (Gaon)2

Yearly charts

Chart (2011)! scope="col"
Position
South Korean Albums (Gaon)32

Singles charts

Song! scope="col"
Peak
position
"Santa U Are the One"64
"Diamond"52

Release history

Region! scope="col"
DateFormat(s)Label(s)
VariousDecember 13, 2011[23]
JapanDecember 14, 2011CD[24]

Notes and References

  1. https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/winter-the-warmest-gift/id854910067 2011 SMTown Winter: The Warmest Gift
  2. Web site: SM Artists Come Together for First Winter Album in Four Years. Kim Ji-yeon. enewsworld. December 6, 2011. April 2, 2012. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20141025072032/http://mwave.interest.me/enewsworld/en/article/1958/sm-artists-come-together-for-first-winter-album-in-four-years. October 25, 2014.
  3. Web site: Lee. Jung-hyuk. December 6, 2011. ko:SMTOWN 겨울앨범, 4년 만에 출시. SMTOWN Winter Album, Released After 4 Years. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20220123021247/https://sports.chosun.com/news/ntype.htm?id=201112070100037770003049&servicedate=20111206. January 23, 2022. January 26, 2022. Sports Chosun. ko.
  4. Web site: December 6, 2011. ko:SM타운 4년 만에 겨울앨범 출시. SMTOWN Releases Winter Album After 4 Years. live. https://archive.today/20220126140920/https://www.wowtv.co.kr/NewsCenter/News/Read?articleId=A201112060057&resource=. January 26, 2022. January 26, 2022. Korea Economic TV. ko.
  5. Web site: Lee. Eon-hyuk. December 6, 2011. ko:보아·슈주·소시, 4년만에 SM타운 겨울 앨범 발매. BoA·Super Junior·Girls' Generation, To Release SMTOWN's First Winter Album in 4 Years. live. https://archive.today/20220126134053/http://star.ohmynews.com/NWS_Web/OhmyStar/at_pg.aspx?CNTN_CD=A0001666647. January 26, 2022. January 26, 2022. OhmyNews Star. ko.
  6. Web site: Jang. Jin-ri. December 6, 2011. ko:SMTOWN, 4년만에 겨울 앨범 발매…전곡 영어 수록. SMTOWN, Releases Winter Album After 4 Years…All Songs in English. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20220127040746/https://www.joynews24.com/view/622830. January 27, 2022. January 27, 2022. JoyNews24. ko.
  7. Web site: Yu. Myung-joon. December 6, 2011. ko:SMTOWN, 4년 만에 겨울 앨범 발매…앨범 전곡 영어로 수록. SMTOWN, Releases Winter Album After 4 Years…All the Songs on the Album are in English. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20220127043647/http://www.kukinews.com/newsView/kuk201112060102. January 27, 2022. January 27, 2022. Kuki News. ko.
  8. Web site: Kim. Ji-yeon. December 6, 2011. SM Artists Come Together for First Winter Album in Four Years. unfit. https://web.archive.org/web/20141025072032/http://mwave.interest.me/enewsworld/en/article/1958/sm-artists-come-together-for-first-winter-album-in-four-years. October 25, 2014. January 26, 2022. enewsWorld. Mwave.
  9. Web site: Shin. Kyung-jin. December 6, 2011. ko:SM타운, 4년만에 겨울 앨범 발매 '히트예감'. SMTOWN, To Release Its First Winter Album in 4 Years 'It's Going to be a Hit'. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20220127044911/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=086&aid=0002084268. January 27, 2022. January 27, 2022. Naeil News. ko. Naver.
  10. Web site: Kang. Seung-hoon. December 6, 2011. ko:소녀시대 등 SMTOWN 겨울음반, 4년만에 한일 발매. SMTOWN's Winter Album, Including Girls' Generation, Released in Korea and Japan in 4 Years. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201023025417/https://www.tvreport.co.kr/177901. October 23, 2020. January 26, 2022. TV Report. ko.
  11. Web site: Jeon. Won. December 6, 2011. ko:SM타운 4년만에 겨울앨범 발표, 보아 신곡 수록 기대만발. 4 Years After Releasing a Winter Album in SMTOWN, BoA's New Song is Full of Expectations. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20220127042029/https://www.newsen.com/news_view.php?uid=201112061041141002. January 27, 2022. January 27, 2022. Newsen. ko.
  12. Web site: Bong. Joon-young. December 6, 2011. ko:SM타운, 4년만에 겨울앨범 발매…전곡 영어로 수록. SMTOWN, To Release Winter Album After 4 years…In Full English. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20220127043246/https://www.nocutnews.co.kr/news/4228898?c1=254&c2=260. January 27, 2022. January 27, 2022. No Cut News. ko.
  13. Web site: Lee. Kyung-ho. December 6, 2011. ko:보아-소시-슈주-동방신기, 4년 만에 SM 겨울 앨범… 종합선물 '글로벌 캐럴'. BoA-Girls' Generation-Super Junior-TVXQ, SM Winter Album in 4 Years…Comprehensive Gift 'Global Carol'. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20220127043113/http://tvdaily.co.kr/read.php3?aid=1323138060241275010. January 27, 2022. January 27, 2022. TV Daily. ko.
  14. Web site: Park. Young-woong. December 6, 2011. ko:SM타운, 4년만에 겨울앨범 발표..전곡 영어 녹음. SMTOWN, To Release Its Winter Album in 4 Years..Full-length English Recording. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20220126091337/https://star.mt.co.kr/stview.php?no=2011120608352257089&type=1&outlink=1. January 26, 2022. January 26, 2022. StarNews. ko.
  15. Web site: Choi. Jeong-ah. December 6, 2011. ko:소녀시대-동방신기-슈퍼주니어 등, SM타운 겨울앨범 발매. Girls' Generation-TVXQ-Super Junior, etc., To Release their Winter Albums in SMTOWN. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20220126141405/http://sportsworldi.segye.com/newsView/20111206000900. January 26, 2022. January 26, 2022. Sports World. ko.
  16. Web site: Jang. Yeon-joo. December 13, 2011. ko:SMTOWN 겨울앨범 타이틀 곡, 'Santa U Are The One' 뮤비 공개!. SMTOWN's Title Song, 'Santa U Are The One' Music Video will be Released!. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20220127133735/http://biz.heraldcorp.com/view.php?ud=20111213000067. January 27, 2022. January 27, 2022. Herald POP. ko.
  17. Web site: December 13, 2011. ko:SMTOWN 겨울 앨범, 타이틀곡 뮤비 오늘(13일) 공개돼. SMTOWN Winter Album, Music Video for the Title Song will be Released Today (13th). live. https://web.archive.org/web/20220127133217/https://sports.chosun.com/news/ntype.htm?id=201112140100092420007765&servicedate=20111213. January 27, 2022. January 27, 2022. Sports Chosun. ko.
  18. Web site: Kim. Chae-hyun. December 13, 2011. ko:SM타운 겨울앨범 'Santa U Are The One' 뮤비 오늘(13일) 공개. SMTOWN Winter Album 'Santa U Are The One' Music Video will be Released Today (13th). live. https://web.archive.org/web/20220127140509/https://www.newsen.com/news_view.php?uid=201112130857321002. January 27, 2022. January 27, 2022. Newsen. ko.
  19. Web site: December 11–17, 2011. 2011년 52주차 Album Chart. 2011, Week 52 Album Chart. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150224032422/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=52&hitYear=2011&termGbn=week. February 24, 2015. January 23, 2022. Gaon Music Chart. ko.
  20. Web site: December 12–18, 2011. ja:2011年12月12日〜2011年12月18日のCDアルバム週間ランキング(2011年12月26日付). Weekly Ranking of CD Albums from December 12, 2011 to December 18, 2011 (December 26, 2011). dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131029065417/http://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/w/2011-12-26/more/5/. October 29, 2013. January 24, 2022. Oricon. ja.
  21. Web site: ko:2011년 Album Chart. 2011 Album Chart. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210109154831/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=2011&hitYear=2011&termGbn=year&year_time=3. January 9, 2021. January 24, 2022. Gaon Music Chart. ko.
  22. Web site: ko:2011년 12월 Album Chart. December 2011 Album Chart. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150214053004/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=12&hitYear=2011&termGbn=month. February 14, 2015. January 24, 2022. Gaon Music Chart. ko.
  23. Web site: Pyo. Jae-min. December 13, 2011. ko:SM 아이돌 한 자리에, 겨울앨범 뮤비 오늘(13일) 공개. SM Idol to be Released Today (13th) for Its Winter Album Music Video. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20220128015340/https://www.tvreport.co.kr/179789. January 28, 2022. January 28, 2022. TV Report. ko.
  24. Web site: Kim. Ji-hyun. December 13, 2011. ko:SMTOWN, 겨울 앨범 'Santa U Are The One' 뮤비 공개. SMTOWN, Unveils Music Video for Winter Album 'Santa U Are The One'. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20220128015552/http://tvdaily.co.kr/read.php3?aid=1323737753244272010. January 28, 2022. January 28, 2022. TV Daily. ko.