Seo Tai-ji

Infobox musical artist 2
Name = Seo Taiji (서태지)


Img_capt = (left–right) Yang Hyeon-seok, Seo Tai-ji, and Lee Ju-no in 1995
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = 정현철, 鄭鉉哲 ("Jeong Hyeon-cheol")
Alias = Taiji
Born = Birth date and age|1972|2|21|mf=y
Died =
Origin = Seoul, South Korea
Instruments = Singing, guitar, bass guitar
Genre = K-Rock, Heavy metal, Hip hop, Rapcore, Nu Metal
Occupation(s) = singer-songwriter
Years_active = 1989–1996
1998–Present
Label = Seo Tae Ji Company
Notable_albums = "Seo Taiji 7th Issue", "Seo Taiji & Boys Vol. 1"
Notable_songs = Live Wire, Heffy End, Nan Arayo (난 알아요)
Related_acts = Sinawe
URL = http://www.seotaiji.com/
Current_members = Top
Kim Seok-Jung
Former_members = Lee Ju-no, Yang Hyeon-seok

Seo Tai-ji (Jeong Hyeon-cheol 정현철(Hanja: 鄭鉉哲) , born on February 21, 1972) is a legendary South Korean singer and musician. He is one of the most prominent and influential cultural icons in Korea. The level of his popularity in Korea during the 1990s was comparable to that of Michael Jackson in the mid-1980s.

Biography

eo Tai-ji & Boys

After the break up of Sinawe in 1991, Tai-ji switched gears and formed the dance group Seo Tai-ji & Boys (서태지와 아이들) with dancers Lee Ju-no (이주노) and Yang Hyeon-seok (양현석).

The introduction of the first Seo Tai-ji and Boys album announced a complete shift in the focus of popular Korean music that is still felt today. Their first single, "Nan Arayo" (난 알아요, "I Know") was a hugely successful hit, being one of the first songs in K-Pop to meld contemporary dance sounds with urban-influenced rap lyrics.

The sound of Seo Tai-ji and Boys' albums was constantly evolving. The first album was very dance-oriented, while the second album began to display more hard rock and heavy metal influences, but still remaining mostly a dance album. The first single from their second album, "Hayeoga" (하여가), which means "Anyhow Song", combined heavy metal sounds with traditional sounds of the "taepyeongso", a traditional Korean wind instrument.

The third album switched gears to being much more heavy metal and rock driven. The danceable tunes are nearly non-existent. Instead, songs such as the extremely controversial Gyosil Idea (교실 이데아, Classroom Idea) with an impressive death grunt backvocal by Ahn Heung-Chan (안흥찬) of Crash took center stage. Gyosil Idea was extremely critical of the Korean education system and its brainwashing of the youth of Korea. This was the first of the numerous controversies regarding Seo Tai-ji and Boys. They were accused of backwards masking Satanist messages in their songs. Although the mainstream news media later proved these accusations to be based on extremely tenuous evidence, the moral panic proved difficult to eliminate entirely.

Not backing down, Seo Tai-ji and Boys' fourth album exploded with more controversial songs. Come Back Home was a foray into Korean gangster rap. Shidaeyugam (시대유감, "Regret of the Times") was nearly banned by the Korean Performance Ethics Committee(한국공연윤리위원회, present is '한국영상물관리위원회' [Korean Video Management Committee] ) for having lyrics that were considered inappropriate for youth consumption. The backlash from the fans was immense, and the system of 'pre-censorship'(사전심의제) was abolished in July 1996, partially as a result of this.

eotaiji Band

Although Taiji's career is strictly "solo", the following musicians consistently play with him during tours, studio recordings, and music videos:
*Top (guitar) for SeoTaiJi's 6th~7th album
*Rock (guitar) for SeoTaiJi's 6th~7th album
*Sang Uk (Monkey) (bass) for SeoTaiJi's 6th~7th album
*Heff "The Machine" Holter (drums) for SeoTaiJi's 6th~7th album

His 8th album members include:

*Guitar/arrange: Top
*Keyboards/Samples/FX/arrange: Kim Seok-Jung
*Bass: Kang Joon-Hyung (of A'ccel in a story,guest member)
*Drums: Choi Hyun-Jin (of Vassline,guest member)

Discography

Albums (Seo Tai-ji and Boys)

Product Title : Seo Tai Ji & Boys Vol. 1 - I Know!
Release Date : March, 23th, 1992
1. Yo! Taiji
2. Nan Arayo! (난 알아요 I Know!)
3. Hwansangsoke Kude (환상속의 그대 You, in the illusion / You, in the Fantasy)
4. Nowa hamkehan sigan sogeso (너와 함께한 시간 속에서 In The Time Spent With You)
5. I Bami Gipeo Gajiman (이 밤이 깊어 가지만 Though Tonight Is Growing Late)
6. Nae Modeungeot (내 모든것 My Everything)
7. Ijeneun (이제는 Now)
8. Blind Love - "Nan Arayo! English Version"
9. Rock'n Roll Dance
10. Missing
Product Title : Seo Tai Ji & Boys Vol. 2
Release Date : June, 21th, 1993
1. Yo! Taiji
2. Hayeoga (하여가 何如歌 Anyhow Song)
3. Urideulman-ui Chu-eok (우리들만의 추억 Our Own Memories)
4. Jug-eum-ui Neup (죽음의 늪 Swamp of Death)
5. Neo-ege (너에게 TO YOU)
6. Susi-a (수시아 Who Am I)
7. Majimak Chugje (마지막 축제 Last Festival)
8. Urideulman-ui Chu-eok (우리들만의 추억 Our Own Memories) [Instrumental]
Product Title : Seo Tai Ji & Boys Vol. 3 - Dreaming of Bal Hae
Release Date : August, 13th, 1994
1. Yo! Taiji
2. Barhaereul Ggumggumyeo (발해를 꿈꾸며 Dreaming Of Bal-hae)
3. A-ideul-ui Nun-euro (아이들의 눈으로 Through Eyes of Children)
4. Gyosil Idea (교실 이데아 Classroom Idea)
5. Nae Mam-i-ya (내 맘이야 It's All Up To Me)
6. Jikil Bagsawa Haideu (지킬 박사와 하이드 Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde)
7. Youngwon (영원 Eternity)
8. Barhaereul Ggumggumyeo (발해를 꿈꾸며 Dreaming Of Bal-hae) [Instrumental]
9. Neol jiuryeo Hae (널 지우려해 I'm Gonna Try To Erase You)
Product Title : Seo Tai Ji & Boys Vol. 4 - Come Back Home
Release Date : Octorber, 6th, 1995
1. Yo! Taiji
2. Seulpeun Apeum (슬픈 아픔 Sorrowful Pain)
3. Pilseung (필승 Sure win)
4. Come Back Home
5. Sidae-yugam(시대유감-時代有感 Regret of the Times) [Instrumental]
1. (1996, When They Conquer the World)
2. Taijiboys!
3. Good-bye
4. Free Style
5. Innerbeelistenervy

Executive Producer / Taiji
Producer / Taiji Co. Producer / Kook Kim
All Songs written / Taiji (Free Style : Taiji & Kim Jong Seo) STAFF :
Recording engineer / Jason Roberts, Kook Kim, Taiji
Assistants engineer / Michael Scotella
at Ocean Way Studio Lamont Hyde at Larrabee Studio
Mixing engineer / Jason Roberts
('GOOD BYE' /John Ven Nest 'TAIJI BOYS' 'inervylisnervy' / Kook Kim, Taiji)
Mastering engineer / Jason Arnold, Kim ho jung
Recording Studio / Ocean Way Studio in LA Bay Studio
in Seoul Techno Taiji Studio in Seoul
Mixing Studio / Larrabee Studio in LA Image Studio in LA
Mastering Studio / Capital Record Tower Mastering in LA,
Sound Vision in Seoul

Albums (Solo)

*Seo Tai Ji (1998) - his first solo work. This album includes Heavy metal, Nu metal songs, but the main genre is Alternative rock
*Ultramania (울트라맨이야) (2000) - Seo Taiji's second solo studio album. This album shows Tai-ji's favor in Nu metal
*태지의 話 [Live concert album] (2000)
*6th Album Re-Recording and ETPFEST Live (2003)
*Seo Taiji 7th Issue (2004) - 3rd solo album.
*Seo Taiji Live Tour ZERO 04 (2004)
* [&] 15th anniversary album - remastered all songs from 'Seo Tai-ji & Boys' albums, live albums, solo albums,and remix songs are included. (2007)
*Upcoming 8th Full length + Two Singles. The first being called "ATOMOS Part MOAI", 2008 [ [http://us.yesasia.com/en/PrdDept.aspx/aid-545/section-music/code-k/version-all/did-20/pid-1011106808/ YESASIA: Seo Tai Ji 8th Atomos Part Moai CD - Seo Tai Ji, Yedang Entertainment Company (KR) - Korean Music - Free Shipping - North America Site ] ] .

ingles

*Feel The Soul (2001)(Released in Japan)
*Atomos Part Moai (2008 July 29th)
1.Moai
2.Human Dream
3.T`ikT`ak
4.Moai(RMX)

Videos

*2004 SEO TAIJI Record of the 7th (2005)
*The Shedding Bird: Seo Taiji Company DVD+Art book (2005)
*Seo Taiji Live Tour ZERO 04 DVD+Art book (2004)

Live Releases

*태지의 話 (Tai-ji Speaks) [Live concert album] (2001)
*6th Album Re-Recording and ETPFEST Live (2003)
*Seo Taiji Live Tour ZERO 04 (2004)

ongs appearing in Pump it Up

*I Know (난알아요) http://titles.ph-online.net/509/640.png*My Fantasy (환상 속의 그대) http://titles.ph-online.net/510/640.png*Unforgettable Memory (우리들 만의 추억) http://titles.ph-online.net/511/640.png*Hayuga (하여가) http://titles.ph-online.net/512/640.png*Certain Victory (필승) http://titles.ph-online.net/513/640.png*Ultramania http://titles.ph-online.net/514/640.png*It's My Business (내 맘이야)
*Come Back Home
*Feel the Soul (대경성)

ee also

*List of Korea-related topics
*K-pop

References

External links

* [http://www.withtaiji.com/ withtaiji.com] - the top fan site of unofficial
* [http://seotaiji.com/ Seotaiji.com] - official site
* [http://www.myspace.com/seotaijiband Unofficial MySpace page]
* [http://taijihistory.com/ Taiji History] - unofficial fan site in [http://taijihistory.com/english English] , [http://taijihistory.com/korea Korean] and [http://taijihistory.com/china Chinese]