Artist Of The Week - Se7en

Aug 23, 2010

PROFILE

Real name : Choi Dong-wook
Date of birth : November 9th, 1984
Physique : 181cm, 67kg
Blood type : B
Education : National University-Sports Industry Graduate School (Sports Management degree)
Nickname : Seven-eleven
Siblings: Two older sisters
Favorite sports : Basketball, snowboarding, swimming
Favorite musicians : Usher, Justin Timberlake, Alicia Keys
Religion : Christianity
Favorite colors : Black & white
Motto : Always be modest and dream for the best.

BIOGRAPHY
For this week, Soompi’s featured artist is Se7en. He started training under the management agency YG Family at the age of 15. After 4 years of intense training in both singing and dancing, Se7en made his debut in the local pop music scene in 2003 as the first R&B singer of YG Family led by a former Taiji Boys member Yang Hyun Seok. The title song of Se7en’s debut album “Please, Come to Me” is an R&B ballad number with upbeat melodies that received great response from pop music lovers. Se7en’s second album released in July 2004 was also ranked on top of the charts proving that Se7en has become one of the great stars in the K-pop scene. Se7en was awarded the Best Rookie prize during the SBS Music Awards in 2003. He was included among the top 10 artists of the year in 2004 by MBC.

Se7en continued to gain recognition as he was considered an artist that could not only sing and dance, but could sing and dance live. The media started to consider him as the lone star that had the potential to rival K-Pop’s top dog: Rain. He also dabbled in acting, taking on a role in the drama series “Goong S” which was a spin-off of the popular original “Goong”. Although domestic ratings were low, it was a relatively successful breakthrough into the acting realm. It became the most searched for and re-watched drama online in comparison to its rival dramas from the same period.

After several years following his successful debut, Se7en was considered one of the top singers in the K-Pop scene. He had already released songs in Japan and China, solidifying his status not only as a Korean entertainer, but an Asian entertainer. He then announced that he was going to venture out to tackle on the US music market. He invested in not only perfecting his craft, but learning the English language as well. He teamed up with some of the biggest names in music production, eventually releasing the song “Girls” in March of 2009, which was a collaboration with American rapper Lil Kim.

After three years away from the music scene in his home country, Se7en made his long-awaited comeback in July of 2010. Se7en fans, and many K-Pop fans in general, were highly anticipating what the singer had in store amidst the idol group domination. He’s returned with sharper, leaner features and the same electrifying dance moves that he was originally known for. His sound has a more electronic feel to it compared to his previous works. He’s also received some help from his fellow YG Entertainment member T.O.P.

Seven expressed in interviews that although his attempt at breaking into the US market wasn’t exactly successful, he’s walked away from the experience with many lessons learned. He expressed that aside from the musical lessons which he received from working alongside some of the most well-known producers in the business, he also realized what loyal fans he had. Despite the fact that he was MIA in Korea, his domestic and Asian fans stuck by him through and through. He emphasized how much missed his fans and performing here. He was just itching to get back on stage. He was humbled, and vowed to become an artist that didn’t lose his initial focus and drive from his earlier days.

DISCOGRAPHY
Purchase this album
# Just Listen… (1st album, March 08, 2003) : “Intro” featuring Perry, G-Dragon, “I Just Wanna Be”, “와줘…” or “Come to Me”, “한번 단 한번” or “Once Just Once”, “One To Ten”, “아쉬운 이별” or “Sad Goodbye”, “Seven”, “우연히 널 봐도” or “Even If I See You By Chance”, “Luz Control” featuring Wheesung, Lexy, “Baby I Like You Like That”, “꽃을 들고서” or “While Holding Flowers”, “안녕” or “Goodbye” featuring Gummy, “더 멀리 떠나요” or “Go Further Away”, “너이길 바래” or “Hoping It’s You”

# Must Listen (2nd album, July 07, 2004) : “열정” or “Passion”, “욕심” or “Greed”, “Honey I Know”, “2 Nite”, “두 걸음” or “Two Steps”, “문신” or “Tattoo”, “Se7en’s Love”, “I Just Know”, “알아” or “I Know”, “오기” or “Refusing To Give In”, “Wishy Washy”, “Christmas With You”, “듣고 싶지 않은 말” or “Words I Don’t Want To Hear”, “You’re My Everything”, “Real Luv Story”

# Crazy (digital single, December 06, 2004)

Purchase this album
# Hikari (Japanese single, February 22, 2005)

# Must Listen (Chinese album, 2006)

# 24/7 (3rd album, March 07, 2006) : “Intro (24/7)”, “난 알아요” or “I Know” featuring Teddy, “Love Story” featuring Masta Wu, “와줘 Part 2” or “Come To Me Part 2”, “Oh-No!” featuring Teddy, “Interlude (Heaven)”, “밤새도록” or “To Stay Up The Entire Night”, “살고싶어서” or “Because I Want To Live”, “One”, “벌레” or “Bug” featuring Jinu, “내 입 좀 막아줘” or “Cover My Mouth For Me” featuring Perry, “Interlude (Follow Me)”, “Baby U”, “Run” featuring G-Dragon & Tae-gwon, “얼음 같은 이별” or “A Breakup Like Ice”, “그 남자처럼” or “Like That Man”, “Outro (7 Virus)”

# And You Want To Know (featuring Anson Hu, Lucy Ang) (group collaboration single, June 28, 2006)

# 24/Seven (Repackage album, July 13, 2006) :
[CD 1] “Intro (24/7)”, “난 알아요” or “I Know” featuring Teddy, “Love Story” featuring Masta Wu, “와줘 Part 2” or “Come To Me Part 2”, “Oh-No!” featuring Teddy, “Interlude (Heaven)”, “밤새도록” or “To Stay Up The Entire Night”, “살고싶어서” or “Because I Want To Live”, “One”, “벌레” or “Bug” featuring Jinu, “내 입 좀 막아줘” or “Cover My Mouth For Me” featuring Perry, “Interlude (Follow Me)”, “Baby U”, “Run” featuring G-Dragon & Tae-gwon, “얼음 같은 이별” or “A Breakup Like Ice”, “그 남자처럼” or “Like That Man”, “Outro (7 Virus)”,
[CD 2] “2006 24/Se7en Concert Live” DVD, “Making Film: 24/Se7en Concert”, “Special Feature: Choi’s NG Cut”

Purchase this album
# Se7olution (4th album, November 01, 2006) : “Se7olution (Intro)”, “Girl Friend”, “La La La”, “잘할게” or “I’ll Be Good”, “Last Diary”, “Again”, “Can You Feel Me”, “닮은 사람” or “Similar Person”, “I’m Sorry”, “Oh~Ma Girl”, “Get Up And Dance”, “허락해줘” or “Grant Me Permission”, “독백” or “Monologue”, “Promise”

# Se7en 747 (Digital Single, June 29, 2007) : “La La La (Remix)”, “난 알아요” or “I Know (live version)”, “One Last Cry (live version)”, “I Just Wanna Be (remix)”, “Baby I Like You Like That (remix)”

# Girls (digital single, March 11, 2009) : Girls (Feat. Lil Kim)

Purchase this album
# DIGITAL BOUNCE (EP) (1st Mini album, July 21, 2010) : “Reset (Intro)”, “Digital Bounce” featuring T.O.P., “Better Together”, “I’m Going Crazy”, “Money Can’t Buy Me Love”, “Drips”, “Roller Coaster”