Se7en (singer)

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Se7en

Background information
Birth name Choi Dong-Wook (최동욱, Hanja: 崔東昱)

(surname, Choi)
Also known as Seven-Eleven
Born November 9, 1984 (1984-11-09) (age 23)[1]
Origin Seoul, South Korea
Genre(s) K-pop, J-pop, R&B, Pop
Occupation(s) singer, actor, dancer
Years active 2003–Present
Label(s) YG Entertainment (South Korea)

NEXSTAR Records (Japan)
Gold Label Records (Hong Kong)
21 East Entertainment (China)
EMI (Taiwan)
GMMInternational (Thailand)
Website Hello7.com

Hello7.jp

Se7en (Korean: 세븐, born Choi Dong-Wook, Hangeul: 최동욱, Hanja: 崔東昱, November 9, 1984) is a South Korean pop/R&B singer. He began training under a management agency YG Entertainment at the age of fifteen. After four years of training in voice and dance, he made his debut in 2003 and became successful throughout Asia.

Contents

[edit] Career

Se7en has worked exclusively under the YG Entertainment label. Much of his career is composed of constant promotions for his songs through live performances on TV, radio shows, and occasionally, concerts. He also began learning Japanese in preparation for his promotional activities for his Japan debut in 2005.

Se7en has traveled throughout Asia, particularly Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, and China. He has also performed a few times in the United States, specifically Los Angeles (Grand Olympic and Hollywood Bowl), New York City (Madison Square Garden), and Washington DC (DAR Constitution Hall).

In addition to performing, he has been featured on game shows in South Korea and Japan, and commercials for Samsung's Anycall, Baskin Robbins, Coca Cola, LG Telecom[2], Sprite (directed by David Fincher)[3] and most recently, K-SWISS[4] and KTF. He has held a total of five concerts in Japan: one held in 2005 at Yokohama, and for the year 2006, two held in Tokyo and two in Osaka[5]. He held a total of three concerts for his "24/SE7EN" album promotion June 2006 in Seoul, South Korea. His popularity has earned him an award for the Most Popular Korean Singer in the MTV Asia Awards 2006 at Bangkok, Thailand [6], and the MTV Best Buzz Asia Award 2006 [7].

On April 7, 2007, his 747 concert was held at Seoul's Olympic Park Stadium, which marks Se7en's last activity in Korea for this year. He is currently working on his oversea activities in Japan and the United States. He has held another Japanese tour called '7rhythm' in Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya in early July. According to his Japanese label, Nexstar Records, all of the 20,000 tickets for the concerts were sold out in a short amount of time[8]. Se7en is currently preparing for his U.S. debut, which is scheduled soon this year in 2008.

[edit] American Debut

Se7en and YG Family (including Big Bang, Jinusean and Gummy) have made an appearance on MTV K, followed by 3 concerts in Washington DC, New York City, and Los Angeles, to celebrate YG Family's 10th Anniversary [9] and to help promote Se7en before his American debut. The MTV K documentary aired on December 11, 2006.

Se7en is a featured guest on Amerie's Take Control on her album, Because I Love It, which was released in May 2007[10]. This remix is available on Asian versions of the album [11].

Yang Heon Seok, (CEO of YG Entertainment) had announced that Fabolous will be featured in Se7en's first U.S. single[12]. However, due to a leak in March 2007 of his US debut song, "This is My Year" featuring Fabolous[13], on Myspace and YouTube, this caused some changes in Se7en's U.S. debut.

Se7en has been working with former CEO of LaFace Records, Mark Shimmel and Grammy-winner Rich Harrison on his first American album[14]. A new production team called Noize Trip, who produced The Black Eyed Peas' Disco Club[15] has also contributed some work. It was also reported that Teddy from 1TYM has produced a song for Se7en's American album and possibly will make more songs[16]. Darkchild has also joined the team and produced songs for Se7en[17]. It was also reported from Far East Movement's blog that they, as well as Three 6 Mafia will also participate in Se7en's upcoming English album[18].

Se7en also took necessary steps to ensure his debut such as trademarking his name in America[19].

Se7en began promoting his English songs through a U.S. album preview party tour with his first stop at the Hiro Ballroom in New York City on March 14th (produced by Swerve Media and Base NYC). Three of his U.S. album tracks were played at this preview party. He is currently holding other album preview parties across the country, which includes Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago (pending), Houston, and also in Toronto, Canada [20]. Verizon Wireless has been sponsoring his preview parties and autograph signings by Se7en for a charitable cause[21].

So far the songs that have been revealed and performed is "Them Girls" produced by Darkchild, which will be his debut single, You Got Me Now featuring Three 6 Mafia, "Money Can't Buy Me Love" produced by 1TYM's Teddy Park and "Scandalous". During his preview party in San Francisco, Se7en also performed La La La both in Korean and then in English, giving a possibility that an English version of La La La will be on his debut English album.

[edit] Acting career

Se7en accepted the lead role for the Korean drama Goong S, a spinoff of the popular drama Goong. The first episode of Goong S premiered on January 10, 2007 on MBC; the average nationwide rating for the entire series was 9.7%, which was considerably lower than the ratings of its predecessor, Goong.

Despite the low ratings, Goong S was the most searched and rewatched drama online; it ranked higher than its competition: KBS2 Dal Ja's Spring and SBS Surgeon Bong Dal Hee[22]. The drama has also gained a wide variety of support from international fans in the U.S., Thailand, Malaysia, Brazil, Australia, and Singapore.[23].

Although he is aware that criticisms still remain, Se7en has taken note of those criticisms and is determined to continue acting in the near future[24]. Se7en had said that even though the drama was not of much of a success, he does not ever regret accepting the role of his character in the drama. It even helped Se7en to sing with more emotion during performances. He also mentioned that he was thankful to have a chance to work with the drama crew and take his career to a new level by acting [25].

[edit] Artistry

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[edit] Voice

Se7en's vocal range can be classified in the tenor range. His voice can be described as smooth, mellow, and sometimes mildly abrasive (see vocal belting) when songs, such as "Crazy," "La La La," and "I Know," call for it. He often sings with a vibrato in his voice that American R&B singers are known for, and also incorporates beatboxing into many of his songs such as "Passion." Se7en maintains an adamant belief that he should not lipsync during his live performances[26].

[edit] Dance

Additionally, Se7en is known for his dance moves. His dance style, like his vocals, can also be described as "leaning more towards freestyle" rather than heavy choreography. Some dance techniques he sports during live performances are gliding, popping of the chest, various one-handed handstands, swipe, and kicks. His signature handstand, which he executes during his "Come Back to Me" performances, is the Nike (see picture). Most recently, he has been executing the gainer and the pike (see breakdance) during his "I Know" performances.

[edit] Discography

Main article: Se7en discography

[edit] Korean Albums

Just Listen (Volume 1) (1st full-length Korean album)

  • Released: March 8, 2003
  • Producer: YG
  • Chart position: #4 KOR Monthly, #10 KOR Year-End (2003)
  • Sales: KOR: 212,317
  • Singles: 와줘.. (Come Back To Me), 한번 단 한번 (Once, Just Once), Baby I Like You Like That

Must Listen (Volume 2) (2nd full-length Korean album)

  • Released: July 13, 2004
  • Producer: YG
  • Chart position: #1 KOR Monthly, #16 Year-End (2004)
  • Sales: KOR: 161,880
  • Singles: 열정 (Passion), 문신 (Tattoo)

24/Se7en (3rd full-length Korean album)

  • Released: March 8, 2006
  • Producer: YG
  • Chart position: #1 KOR Monthly, #8 KOR Year-End (2006)
  • Sales: KOR: 108,381
  • Singles: 난 알아요 (I Know), 와줘 Part 2 (Come Back To Me Part 2), 밤새도록 (All Night)

Se7olution (4th full-length Korean album)

  • Released: November 1, 2006
  • Producer: YG
  • Chart position: #10 KOR Monthly, #23 KOR Year-End (2006)
  • Sales: KOR: 52,362
  • Singles: 라라라 (La La La), 잘할게 (I Will Do Well)

[edit] Korean Singles

[edit] Japanese Albums

  • First SE7EN (2006.03.08) #15 Oricon Weekly Chart (Total sales: 18,710)

[edit] Japanese Singles

  • Hikari (光) (2005.02.23) #28 Oricon Weekly Chart (Total sales: 16,412)
  • Style (2005.05.18) #10 Oricon Weekly Chart (Total sales: 16,426)
  • Start Line (スタートライン) / Forever (double A-side single) (2005.10.19 )
  • I Wanna... (2006.09.13) #10 Oricon Weekly Chart (First week sales: 9,265)
  • Aitai (会いたい) (2007.03.28) #10 Oricon Daily Chart, #17 Oricon Weekly Chart (Total sales: 8,039)
  • Ari no Mama (ありのまま) (2007.07.04) #5 Oricon Daily Chart, #11 Oricon Weekly Chart (Total sales: 11,284)
  • Kimi Dake ni (君だけに) (2008.01.23) First Japanese Digital Single

[edit] Awards

  • 2003 November 27 : M.net Music Video Festival - New male Artist Music Video Award
  • 2003 December 5 : SBS The 18th Golden Disc - New Artist Award
  • 2003 December 10 : KMTV Korean Music Awards - New Male Vocalist Award
  • 2003 December 12 : MTV Korea Seoul Music Awards - New Artist Award
  • 2003 December 29 : SBS Popular Song Awards - New Singer Award
  • 2003 December 29 : MBC Entertainment Awards - Pop Singer Section - Special Award
  • 2003 December 31 : MBC Top Ten Vocalist Awards - New Vocalist Award
  • 2004 December 2 : SBS The 19th Golden Disc - Main Award + Popular Music Video Award
  • 2004 December 4 : M.net & KM Music Video Festival - Male Solo Vocalist Award
  • 2004 December 30 : KBS Korea Pop Award - Main Award
  • 2004 December 31 : MBC Top Ten Vocalist Award - Main Award
  • 2005 May 28 : Channel V Thailand Awards - Asian Sensation Award
  • 2006 January 14 : China Original Music Ranking Chart SPRITE Awards - Best Artist in Asia
  • 2006 March 9 : Japan Golden Disc - Special Award
  • 2006 May 6 : MTV Asia Awards - Favorite Artist Korea
  • 2006 May 27 : MTV Video Music Awards Japan - Best Buzz Asia from Korea
  • 2006 December 1: MTV Korea 16th Seoul Music Awards - Best Video Award - 난 알아요
  • 2006 December 29: SBS Gayo Daejun - Top Artist Award (Bonsang)
  • 2007 August 21: M.net Summer Break 20's Choice - Best Male Artist Award


[edit] References

  1. ^ 스타클릭 / 세븐 - "일본에서 보아처럼 성공하고 싶어요"
  2. ^ Se7en's profile on YG Family website
  3. ^ 세븐, '파이트클럽' 데이비드 핀처 감독 만났다
  4. ^ K-SWISS
  5. ^ Seven to Tour Seven Japanese Cities in May
  6. ^ Se7en says "Korean pop music meets the international standard"
  7. ^ Singer Seven Receives MTV Best Buzz Asia Award
  8. ^ 세븐, 美 데뷔 전 성공적인 마지막 활동
  9. ^ Se7en’s Performance to Be Aired in the U.S.
  10. ^ Seven and R&B Star Amerie Duet
  11. ^ 세븐-에이머리, 다정한 듀엣곡 녹음모습 공개
  12. ^ Message from YG (2006.12.21)
  13. ^ 세븐 미국 진출 타이틀곡 UCC 유투브 유출사고에 활동 비상
  14. ^ Se7en Set to Make U.S. Debut
  15. ^ Message from YG (2007.07.18)
  16. ^ Message from YG (2007.10.18)
  17. ^ 세븐 美 데뷔 앨범 작업 막바지 “최고 레코드사와 발매 협의 중”
  18. ^ Far East Movement Blog (2008.01.18)
  19. ^ 세븐, 美서 상표등록..미국진출 '순풍'
  20. ^ 세븐, 美 진출 본격 시동... 신곡 3곡 현지서 선보여
  21. ^ ASIAN SUPERSTAR, SE7EN, AND VERIZON WIRELESS TEAM UP FOR ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH CHARITY PROGRAM
  22. ^ '궁S' 팬들 기대 이하 시청률에 '닥본사' 운동 깃발 올렸다
  23. ^ '궁S' 해외에서 후끈 "시청률 우리도 안타까워"
  24. ^ SE7EN,首次演技挑戰是'苦?',還是'藥'
  25. ^ 세븐 "'궁S' 탓 우울증? 말도 안돼!" 일축
  26. ^ Different Strokes for Different Folks from Se7en

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