Imademo Explained

Imademo
Type:studio
Artist:Kim Hyun-joong
Cover:Kim Hyun Joong Imademo Cover.jpg
Genre:J-pop
Label:Universal Music Japan, Delicious Deli
Prev Title:Unlimited
Prev Year:2012

is Kim Hyun-joong's second Japanese full-length studio album, which was released on February 11, 2015 under Universal Music Japan and Delicious Deli. It consists of mostly Japanese versions of his Korean songs but also includes four new songs, totaling to twelve tracks.

Background and development

Kim Hyun-joong has had various achievements in Japan with his previous single releases in the country. In 2012, both his "Kiss Kiss / Lucky Guy" and "Heat" singles were among the Oricon's Top 100 Singles of the year.[1] Since then, his singles had reached Gold for selling more than 100,000 records.[2] In June 2014, his latest single release of "Hot Sun" marked the second time that Kim reached the top spot on the weekly charts and, subsequently, the first time for a foreign male artist to rank first twice.[3]

After releasing and promoting his fourth Japanese single "Hot Sun" in Japan, Kim Hyun-joong went back to South Korea for the mini album release of Timing in July. He promoted his album in and out of the country, continuing his 2014 Kim Hyun Joong World Tour and attending to his other activities. In December 2014, it was announced that he will be releasing his second Japanese album, as well as his scheduled concert.[4] Tickets were released starting on the last week of January 2015.[5]

Most of the songs in the album, twelve in particular, include Japanese versions of his former recorded songs from his mini albums Timing and Round 3 in South Korea. His Japanese singles "Tonight" and "Hot Sun", released in 2013 and 2014 respectively, were also added in the album.[6] [7]

Release and promotion

Around two years since his last Japanese album release, Kim Hyun-joong released his second full-length Japanese studio album Imademo on February 11, 2015.[8] The album entered the Oricon Daily Charts at 2 selling 23,047 records on the first day,[9] and it remained in the spot for ten days.[10] It then reached 3 at Oricon Albums Chart for the first week of its release.[11]

He started his Japan tour named Kim Hyun Joong JAPAN TOUR 2015 - GEMINI at the Yokahoma National Convention Hall on January 27.[12] His 12-day tour was held from January 27 to February 14 in ten major cities in Japan.[13] The tour was extended for three more days later on, totaling to 15 performances in eleven cities.[14] Announced on February 7, 2015 in commemoration of Imademo, Kim also held a panel exhibition at the Tower Records Shibuya from February 10 to 16 to promote his album.[15]

Imademo was Kim Hyun-joong's last album release before his mandatory military service as a border guard between North and South Korea.[16] He was to enlist on March 31 after receiving his draft notice, though he postponed it for personal reasons.[17] He moved his enlistment on May 12; he had undergone his five-week basic training at the Recruit Training Center of Army Division 30 in Goyang-si.[18]

Release history

Country Date Label Format
Worldwide February 11, 2015 Universal Music Japan, Delicious Delidigital download[19]
Japan digital download[20]
CD[21]
CD + Blu-ray DVD (Limited Edition - Type A)[22]
CD+DVD (Limited Edition - Type B)[23]
CD+Goods (Limited Edition - Type C)[24]
TaiwanFebruary 13, 2015CD+DVD (Limited Edition)[25]

Charts

ChartCountryPeak
Oricon Daily Albums ChartJapan2[26]
Oricon Weekly Albums Chart3[27]
Oricon Monthly Albums Chart12[28]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kim Hyunjoong, Super Junior, TVXQ and more in the yearly Oricon for 2012 . 3 January 2013 . koreaboo . 2013-01-03 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130107121241/http://www.koreaboo.com/index.html/_/charts/kim-hyunjoong-super-junior-tvxq-and-more-in-t-r19422 . 7 January 2013 .
  2. Web site: "Million single / album" certification work list. July 2012 Certified Works List . ja . 10 August 2014 . Recording Industry Association of Japan . Recording Industry Association of Japan.
  3. http://mwave.interest.me/enewsworld/en/article/69220/kimhyunjoong-sets-record-in-japan-with-new-single-album "Kim Hyun Joong Sets New Record by Ranking No. 1 on Oricon’s Weekly Chart"
  4. Web site: キム・ヒョンジュン(リダ)、約2年振りとなる国内ニュー・アルバム. Tower Records. 5 August 2015. ja.
  5. Web site: キム・ヒョンジュン『今でも』 ファン待望の2ndアルバムが遂にリリース!. DATV. 6 August 2015. ja.
  6. Web site: 김현중, 10일 일본 발매 앨범 '지금도' 오리콘 2위. Zum. 6 August 2015. ko. 8 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151208053233/http://m.zum.com/news/entertainment/19796684. dead.
  7. Web site: Kim Hyun Joong to make a Japanese comeback next month. Allkpop. 8 August 2015.
  8. Web site: 今でも[初回限定盤A][+Blu-ray] 【CD】]. Universal Music Japan. 6 August 2015. ja.
  9. Web site: Kim Hyun-joong still popular in Japan. Kpop Herald. 5 August 2015.
  10. Web site: [영상] 김현중, 10일 일본 발매 앨범 '지금도' 오리콘 2위]. Top Star News. 6 August 2015. ja.
  11. Web site: 今でも. Oricon Charts. 5 August 2015. ja.
  12. Web site: '日컴백' 김현중, 새 앨범 발매 첫날 오리콘 2위 등극. Star. 12 February 2015 . 6 August 2015. ko.
  13. Web site: キム・ヒョンジュン2ndアルバムを『今でも』発売イベント&ジャケ写公開!. Asian-hana.com. 6 August 2015. ja.
  14. Web site: 【キム・ヒョンジュン】入隊前ファイナル公演! ファンのサプライズに涙「次は笑顔で会いましょう」. Yumerumo News. 8 August 2015. ja.
  15. Web site: キム・ヒョンジュン、2ndアルバムリリース記念パネル展開催決定!. Tower Records Shibuya. 6 August 2015. ja.
  16. Web site: Recently Enlisted Kim Hyun Joong Assigned To Border Patrol Unit. Kpopstarz. 6 August 2015.
  17. Web site: Kim Hyun Joong Postpones His Military Enlistment. Mwave. 6 August 2015.
  18. Web site: Kim Hyun Joong to Enlist in Army Today (5/12) Amidst Legal Battles. Mwave. 6 August 2015.
  19. Web site: 今でも. iTunes Japan. 11 February 2015 . 5 August 2015. ja.
  20. Web site: Imademo. iTunes. 11 February 2015 . 5 August 2015.
  21. Web site: Imademo (Normal Edition)(Japan Version). YesAsia. 6 August 2015.
  22. Web site: Imademo [Type A](ALBUM + BLU-RAY) (First Press Limited Edition)(Japan Version)]. YesAsia. 6 August 2015.
  23. Web site: Imademo [Type B](ALBUM + DVD) (First Press Limited Edition)(Japan Version)]. YesAsia. 6 August 2015.
  24. Web site: Imademo [Type C](ALBUM + GOODs) (First Press Limited Edition)(Japan Version)]. YesAsia. 6 August 2015.
  25. Web site: Imademo (ALBUM + DVD) (First Press Limited Edition)(Taiwan Version). YesAsia. 6 August 2015.
  26. Web site: デイリー CDアルバムランキング 2015年02月10日付. Oricon Charts. 6 August 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150212022811/http://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/d/2015-02-10/. 12 February 2015. ja.
  27. Web site: 週間 CDアルバムランキング 2015年02月23日付. Oricon Charts. 6 August 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150218234920/http://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/w/2015-02-23/. 18 February 2015. ja.
  28. Web site: 月間 CDアルバムランキング 2015年02月度 11〜20位. Oricon Charts. 6 August 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150317063648/http://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/m/2015-02/p/2/. 17 March 2015. ja.