7°CN explained

Type:EP
Artist:CNBLUE
Cover:CNBLUE - 7ºCN.jpg
Border:yes
Studio:FNC Entertainment Studio (Seoul)
Genre:Pop rock
Language:Korean
Label:FNC Entertainment
Prev Title:Euphoria
Prev Year:2016
Next Title:Stay Gold
Next Year:2017

is the seventh mini-album by South Korean pop-rock idol band CNBLUE. It was released on March 20, 2017, under FNC Entertainment and distributed by LOEN Entertainment. It was also the last Korean release to feature Jonghyun, who left the group in August 2019.[1]

Following a series of photo and video teasers, and its lead single "Between Us" were concurrently released. CNBLUE began promoting the record through music chart programs across various television networks by performing the single and other album tracks. The mini-album peaked at number two on South Korea's national Gaon Album Chart, selling over 47,000 copies since its release. The quartet is set to embark on the 2017 CNBLUE Live: Between Us concert tour, a series of shows to take place throughout Asia.

Background

On February 14, 2016, it was announced that CNBLUE was scheduled to release an album the following month. A tentative release date of March 20 was initially reported, but a definitive date had not yet been confirmed.[2] [3] The release date was later confirmed.[4]

The title signifies "the story of 'emotions' CNBLUE has felt over the seven years since debut, the varied temperatures of one's feelings in life were welded into music."[4] Recording and mixing for the mini-album took place in Seoul at the FNC Entertainment Studio; it was mastered at the JFS Mastering Studio.[5]

Music structure

A pop-rock record, CNBLUE reimplements components of electronic music into as it previously did in its second studio album 2gether (2015).[6] The mini-album explores the themes of "encounters, love, memories, and reality" in its lyrics.[7] "Between Us" is a pop-rock song which conveys the "ambiguous and confusing feelings" leading up to start of a relationship.[8] A pop number accompanied with "brassy funk", "It's You" describes the feelings a man experiences as a result of falling in love.[6] [7] The band showcases a more conventional sound in "Calling You",[6] which sees the narrator "directly approach his love interest".[7] "When I Was Young" is an electronic rock track which delves into reminiscence of the innocence of childhood.[7] A second song harping on CNBLUE's roots,[6] "Manito" an acoustic track which deals with the grief of "unrequited love".[7] [9] Previously included in the band's Japanese album Euphoria, "Royal Rumble" is a "polyrhythmic electronic-acoustic hybrid".[6]

Artwork concept and packaging

was released in two editions: version A and special. The former comes encased in a sleeve case and hard cover, while the latter is in a paper slipcase. They include a 72-page and 24-page booklet, respectively; both include one random postcard and photocard selfie, as well as a poster.[10] [11]

Released on March 27,[11] the artwork for the special edition of was designed by Argentinean graphic designer Pilar Zeta.[12] Revolving around the concept of "confusion and [complication]", the cover art depicts portals between a surreal "magical world" filled with stars and pyramids, and a colorful door which "represents the infinite possibilities that there are in the field". It also shows a male figure viewing the door into the other world. The portals indicate how "that contrast opens, this, relationship in between these two worlds". Zeta cited "Between Us" as a vital inspiration for the album artwork.

Release and promotion

On March 13, launching films for each member, as well as a poster for the lead single "Between Us", were released.[8] [13] The following day, "#On" photos of the group and each individual member were unveiled.[14] This was subsequently followed by "#Off" images the day after.[15] A music video teaser for "Between Us" was uploaded on March 16, followed by a highlight medley on the following day.[7] [16] On March 18, a band performance trailer for the lead single was released.[17] Lyric posters of Jung Yong-hwa and Kang Min-hyuk were released on social media websites that same day, as well as lyric posters of Lee Jong-hyun and Lee Jung-shin the subsequent day.[18]

and the music video for "Between Us" was simultaneously released on March 20.[19] On March 23, CNBLUE began promoting "Between Us" by performing the song on weekly music chart shows.[20] In addition to the lead single, the band also performed "It's You" on Mnet's M Countdown and Korean Broadcasting System's (KBS) Music Bank,[21] [22] and "When I Was Young" Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation's (MBC) Show! Music Core and Seoul Broadcasting System's (SBS) Inkigayo.[23] [24] CNBLUE also performed on SBS MTV's The Show and MBC Music's Show Champion.[25] [26]

In order to promote the record, the band will embark on the 2017 CNBLUE Live: Between Us concert tour. It is the band's first tour since promoting 2gether through the 2015 CNBLUE Live: Come Together tour. The initial pair of shows will take place between June 3–4 at the SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium in Seoul.[27] From July to September, CNBLUE will make stops in Singapore, Manila, Jakarta, Bangkok, Hong Kong, and Taipei.[28]

Critical reception

Writing for online magazine IZM, Jung Min-jae rated three out of five stars, noting that CNBLUE's musical progress had developed rapidly upon the band "[overtaking] the helm". He observed that the quartet "produce much slicker materials in terms of melody progression, sound structure, and performance" and the "melodies, arrangements, vocals, and instrumentals fit together to a tee", asserting that the band is "now entering the stage of building its own realm". However, he expressed that CNBLUE's mini-albums "tend to have similar tinges", citing the repetitiveness of the "composing styles and themes of title-tracks, as well as repetition of patterned b-sides give listeners a feeling of déjà vu". He felt that the record was "quite an uneventful series of listens" in spite of its quality.[9] Billboard magazine columnist Tamar Herman labeled it "one of [CNBLUE's] most innovative album in years". With its "genre-blending tracks", she noted that the record was able to "showcase the group's ability to combine rock music with K-pop's experiment nature".[6]

earned the band a nomination for the Golden Disc Album Award at the 32nd Golden Disc Awards.[29]

Commercial performance

On the chart dated March 19–25, 2017, debuted at number three on South Korea's national Gaon Album Chart.[30] In its second week, the mini-album rose to its peak at number two.[31] By the end of 2017, it sold 53,559 copies domestically.[32] The mini-album ranked at number eight on Billboard magazine's World Albums Chart.[33] In Japan, the mini-album debuted at number 33 on the weekly Oricon Albums Chart, selling 2,972 copies in its first week.[34] It spent a second consecutive week at its peak, selling an additional 2,549 copies.[35] It has sold 7,408 copies in the country since its release.[36]

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[5]

Charts

Chart (2017)Peak
position
Billboard World Albums Chart8
Gaon Album Chart2
Oricon Albums Chart33

Sales

RegionSales
scope=rowJapan (Oricon)7,408+
scope=rowSouth Korea (Gaon)[37] 53,559+

Release history

List of release dates, showing region, edition, formats, label, and reference
RegionDateEdition(s)Format(s)Label
South KoreaMarch 20, 2017StandardCD
VariousDigital download[38]
South KoreaMarch 27, 2017Special editionCD

Notes and References

  1. News: Lee Jong Hyun Departs K-Pop Group Cnblue Following Chatroom Controversy. Billboard. Herman. Tamar. August 28, 2019. September 1, 2019.
  2. Web site: Chang. A-leum. ko:[단독]씨엔블루, 3월 중순 가요계 출격...1년 만의 완전체 컴백. http://news1.kr/articles/?2911689. News1 Korea. April 4, 2017. ko. February 14, 2017.
  3. Web site: Hwang. Hye-jin. ko:씨엔블루 측 "새 앨범 준비중, 3월 발매 확정 NO"(공식). http://www.newsen.com/news_view.php?uid=201702141654310410. Newsen. April 4, 2017. ko. February 14, 2017.
  4. Web site: Seon. Mi-gyeong. ko:씨엔블루, 3월20일 미니음반 ''로 컴백 확정..1년만의 귀환. http://osen.mt.co.kr/article/G1110597646. Osen. April 4, 2017. ko. March 7, 2017.
  5. CNBLUE. . 2016. FNC Entertainment. 1057877099. liner notes.
  6. Herman. Tamar. CNBLUE's '' EP Revitalizes Sound With Synthrock & Funk. Billboard. Nielsen Holdings. April 4, 2017. March 23, 2017.
  7. Web site: Yang. Min-a. ko:씨엔블루, 하이라이트 메들리 공개..20일 새 앨범 전곡 음원 발표. http://hei.hankyung.com/hub01/201703177041I. Korea Economic Daily. April 4, 2017. ko. March 17, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170405073640/http://hei.hankyung.com/hub01/201703177041I. April 5, 2017. dead.
  8. Web site: Kim. Eun-jeong. ko:'20일 컴백' 씨엔블루, 신곡 '헷갈리게' 포스터 공개. http://pop.heraldcorp.com/view.php?ud=201703131303094810500_1. Herald Pop. Herald Corporation. April 4, 2017. ko. March 13, 2017.
  9. Web site: Jung. Min-jae. . IZM. April 4, 2017. ko. March 2017.
  10. Web site: ko:[예약판매] CNBLUE 7th MINI ALBUM [{{proper name|7°CN}}] A ver. 예약판매 안내. FNC Entertainment . FNC Entertainment. April 5, 2017. ko. March 7, 2017.
  11. Web site: ko:[예약판매] CNBLUE 7TH MINI ALBUM [{{proper name|7°CN}}] (SPECIAL VER) 예약판매 안내. FNC Entertainment. FNC Entertainment. April 5, 2017. ko. March 21, 2017.
  12. Web site: Ha. Na-yeong. ko:씨엔블루 스페셜앨범, '콜드플레이' 앨범 디자이너와 콜라보. http://thestar.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2017/03/20/2017032001314.html. The Chosun Ilbo. Chosun Ilbo Company. April 4, 2017. ko. March 20, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170405170407/http://thestar.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2017/03/20/2017032001314.html. April 5, 2017. dead.
  13. Web site: Seon. Mi-gyeong. ko:"감성이 폭발했다"..씨엔블루, 새 음반 론칭 필름 공개. http://osen.mt.co.kr/article/G1110601574. Osen. April 4, 2017. ko. March 13, 2017.
  14. Web site: Lee. Seung-rok. ko:"헷갈리게"...컴백 씨엔블루, 새 앨범 재킷 최초 공개. http://www.mydaily.co.kr/new_yk/html/read.php?newsid=201703140808693795. MyDaily. April 4, 2017. ko. March 14, 2017.
  15. Web site: Seon. Mi-gyeong. ko:씨엔블루, 신곡 20일 오후 6시 공개..반전의 '썸'. http://osen.mt.co.kr/article/G1110602839. Osen. April 4, 2017. ko. March 15, 2017.
  16. Web site: Han. In-gu. ko:씨엔블루 '헷갈리게' MV 티저...컴백 초읽기. http://star.mk.co.kr/new/view.php?mc=ST&&year=2017&no=178882. Star Today. Maekyeong.com. April 4, 2017. ko. March 16, 2017.
  17. Web site: Yu. Won-jeong. ko:'썸'타는 씨엔블루의 '헷갈리게' 티저 공개. http://www.nocutnews.co.kr/news/4752016. No Cut News. CBSi. April 4, 2017. ko. March 18, 2017.
  18. Web site: Jeong. Jee-won. ko:"이게 바로 현실남친美"...씨엔블루, '헷갈리게' 리릭포스터 공개. http://osen.mt.co.kr/article/G1110605563. Osen. April 4, 2017. ko. March 19, 2017.
  19. Web site: Min. Susan. [Video] CNBLUE Releases Between Us MV and Makes Official Return to Music Scene]. Mwave. CJ E&M. April 6, 2017. March 21, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170407053649/http://mwave.interest.me/en/kpop-news/article/113362/cnblue-releases-between-us-mv-and-makes-official-return-to-music-scene-all-kpop-news. April 7, 2017. dead.
  20. Web site: Hwang. Hye-jin. ko:씨엔블루, 아이튠즈 9개국 이어 中음원차트 1위까지 싹쓸이. http://www.newsen.com/news_view.php?uid=201703220804060410. Newsen. April 4, 2017. ko. March 22, 2017.
  21. Web site: Park. Hyo-jin. ko:씨엔블루, 엠카운트 '헷갈리게'로 컴백. http://www.munhwanews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=44317. Munhwa News. April 4, 2017. ko. March 23, 2017.
  22. Web site: Yu. Chan-hee. ko:씨엔블루, 봄을 알리는 달달함 '잇츠 유+헷갈리게'. http://tenasia.hankyung.com/archives/1169333. Munhwa News. April 4, 2017. ko. March 24, 2017.
  23. Web site: Yang. Hyeong-jong. ko:음악중심 라인업, 씨엔블루·몬스타엑스·갓세븐 컴백... 하이라이트 데뷔. http://www.kyeongin.com/main/view.php?key=20170325010009100. Kyeongin Ilbo. April 4, 2017. ko. March 25, 2017.
  24. Web site: Kim. Ye-na. ko:[TV온에어] '인기가요' 정키 1위 등극, 하이라이트·갓세븐·씨엔블루 컴백 풍년. http://tvdaily.asiae.co.kr/read.php3?aid=14905021481223982010. TV Daily. April 4, 2017. ko. March 26, 2017.
  25. Web site: Lee. Gi-eun. ko:'더쇼' 하이라이트 얼'굴 찌푸리지 말아요', 첫 1위...씨엔블루·걸스데이 컴백. http://tvdaily.asiae.co.kr/read.php3?aid=14907036291225005010. TV Daily. April 4, 2017. ko. March 28, 2017.
  26. Web site: ko:'쇼 챔피언' 하이라이트, 재데뷔 동시에 1위...씨앤블루-걸스데이 컴백 무대. http://news20.busan.com/controller/newsController.jsp?newsId=20170329000404. Busan Ilbo. April 4, 2017. ko. March 29, 2017.
  27. Web site: Park. So-yeong. ko:씨엔블루, 6月 단독공연 개최..19개월 만 '국내 단콘'. http://osen.mt.co.kr/article/G,1110619802. Osen. April 19, 2017. ko. April 7, 2017.
  28. Web site: Jie. Ye-eun. CNBLUE to embark on Asia tour in July. The Korea Herald. Herald Corporation. April 27, 2017. April 21, 2017.
  29. Web site: Kim. Yeon-ji. ko:[32회 골든] 부문별 후보부터 심사기준까지..골든디스크, 톺아보기. http://isplus.live.joins.com/news/article/article.asp?total_id=22191966. Ilgan Sports. JTBC Plus. December 13, 2017. ko. December 11, 2017.
  30. Web site: ko:2017년 12주차 Album Chart. Circle Chart . Gaon Music Chart. April 4, 2017. ko.
  31. Web site: ko:2017년 13주차 Album Chart. Circle Chart . Gaon Music Chart. April 6, 2017. ko.
  32. Web site: Year-end 2017 Album Chart (see #67). Gaon Music Chart. 2018-01-12.
  33. World Music: Top World Albums Chart. Billboard. Nielsen Holdings. April 4, 2017.
  34. Web site: ja:オリコン週間 CDアルバムランキング 2017年03月20日～2017年03月26日 . http://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/w/2017-04-03/p/4/ . Oricon Style . . April 4, 2017 . ja . https://web.archive.org/web/20170329232135/http://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/w/2017-04-03/p/4/ . March 29, 2017 . dead .
  35. Web site: ja:オリコン週間 CDアルバムランキング 2017年03月27日～2017年04月02日. http://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/w/2017-04-10/p/4/. Oricon Style. Oricon. April 4, 2017. ja.
  36. Web site: ja:オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」 －CD・ブルーレイ・DVD・書籍・コミック－. http://ranking.oricon.co.jp/. ja. Oricon Style. Oricon. subscription . June 8, 2017.
  37. Web site: Year-end 2017 Album Chart (see #67). Gaon Music Chart. 2018-01-12.
  38. Web site: 7˚CN – EP by CNBLUE on Apple Music. iTunes Store. Apple Inc.. April 4, 2017. March 20, 2017.

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