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Better (Kim Hyung-jun song)

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"Better ベター"
CD+DVD cover
Single by Kim Hyung-jun
ReleasedNovember 19, 2014 (2014-11-19)[1]
GenreJ-pop, R&B, Hip hop
LabelSwave E&T
Songwriter(s)Han Sang Won
Kim Hyung-jun singles chronology
"Long Night"
(2011) 		"Better ベター"
(2014)
Music video
"Better" on YouTube

"Better" (Japanese: ベター) is the second Japanese single by South Korean entertainer Kim Hyung-jun, after "Long Night". It was released on November 19, 2014 on the Swave E&T label. The single was also released on DVD.

Background and development

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Before "Better"'s release, Kim was active in Japan in 2013 with the release of "Always Love You" (featuring K-pop vocalist Kota) and in 2011 with the release of "Long Night".[2] During the first half of 2014 he focused on his acting career, appearing on the television series Melody of Love,[3] and gave concerts in South Korea and abroad.[4][5] In the second half of the year, Kim prepared for the Japanese release of "Better"[6] with diet and exercise.[7]

Description

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The song, a combination of hip hop, rap and rhythm and blues,[8] features Baby-J and Park Eun-young[9] and was produced by Han Sang Won.[10]

Release and promotion

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On October 10 Kim began a three-day Endless Story tour, organized by the Swave E&T label to promote his upcoming single, in Tokyo and Nagoya.[11] In addition to performing "Better", he introduced its music video before its release.[12] According to a spokesperson, the tour "confirm[ed] Kim Hyung Jun's unchanged popularity" and "[Kim] will gain even more fans after releasing his new single in November".[13]

Kim had autograph-signing sessions and fan meetings in Japan's three largest cities: Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka.[14][15] Other promotional activities included a November 18–24 special event at Tower Records in Shibuya[16] and a TV appearance on Han Love (韓ラブ).[17] "Better" was released on November 19, 2014.[18] After its release Kim continued his Endless Story tour until November 28, with seven shows in Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka.[19]

Track listing

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CD[20]
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."Better" (ベター ～)Han Sang Won, チェ・ガブォン , ハ・ジュヨンHan Sang WonHan Sang Won3:25
2."写真帖 (Photo Book)" (Korean Version)Han Sang Won, ドロップレットHan Sang WonHan Sang Won 
3."Better" (Instrumental Ver.) Han Sang WonHan Sang Won3:25
4."Photo Book" (Instrumental Ver.)Han Sang WonHan Sang Won  
CD+DVD edition: Bonus DVD
No.TitleLength
1."Better (Music video)" 
2."Better (Making of music video)" 

Music video

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The music video for "Better" was uploaded to YouTube on November 19, 2014.[21] The four-minute, 23-second video was filmed primarily in black-and-white with red tinting.[22] Kim's car was used, since the crew suggested that it would allow them to finish shooting on schedule.[22]

In the video, Kim is "tortured by a lost love"[23] and shots of him singing and dancing appear. Baby-J's rap parts were filmed separately. Between cuts, Kim, Baby-J and Eun Young dramatize the story. "Better" abruptly stops in the middle, and the video changes to full color before the car Kim is driving explodes. The song's title and Kim's name, as part of the closing credits, are superimposed over the explosion.[21]

After release

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On January 17, 2015, two months after his Japanese single release, Kim performed at the Seoul Police Promotional Team's Music and Talk Concert with fellow SS501 members Kim Kyu-jong and Heo Young-saeng. Heo, who performed his national service with the Seoul police, invited the other two members to perform at the event.[24]

On March 4, Kim signed with the CI Entertainment agency.[25] His first promotional activity under the new management was a fan meeting in South Korea, Fan Night Live (FNL), at the Blue Square Samsung Concert Hall on April 25.[26][27] Kim performed his own and SS501 songs (including tracks from the "Better" CD single),[28] and mentioned plans for a solo album in July.[29] Alberto Mondi, an actor and member of Kim's soccer team, hosted the fan question-and-answer segment.[30]

Release history

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Country Date Distributing label Format
Japan November 19, 2014 SWAVE E & T CD[31]
CD + DVD (limited edition A)[32]
CD + photobook (limited edition B)[33]

Charts

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Chart Peak
Japan Oricon Singles Chart 38[34]

References

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  1. ^ "ベター". Oricon Charts (in Japanese). Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  2. ^ "[싱글] Better". Cyworld (in Korean). Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  3. ^ "【オリ特絵柄決定】キム・ヒョンジュン(マンネ)、ニューシングル『BETTER』". HMV Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  4. ^ Lee, So Yeon. "Kim Hyung Jun to Leave for South American Solo Concert". mwave. Newsen. Archived from the original on 20 January 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  5. ^ Kwon, Soo Bin. "Kim Hyung Jun to Perform Duet with Park Jung Min for Korea Concert". mwave. Newsen. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  6. ^ "김형준, 19일 日 두 번째 싱글 'Better' 발매". Star Daily News (in Korean). Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  7. ^ "キム・ヒョンジュン（マンネ）「KIM HYUNG JUN 2014 LIVE TOUR「ENDLESS STORY」". Asian-Hana (in Japanese). Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  8. ^ "김형준, 日 싱글 '베터' 발매..본격 활동 돌입 [출처] 본 기사는 조선닷컴에서 작성된 기사 입니다". Chosun (in Korean). Newsen. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  9. ^ "김형준, 19일 日 두번째 싱글 'Better' 발매". Star.mt (in Korean). Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  10. ^ "김형준, 19일 日 두 번째 싱글 'Better' 공개 '열도 사로잡는다'". Top Star News (in Korean). Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  11. ^ "김형준, 가수 활동 기지개…日 단독 콘서트 개최". Star.mbn (in Korean). Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  12. ^ "김형준, 日 도쿄-나고야 5회 단독 콘서트 성료". Edaily (in Korean). Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  13. ^ "Kim Hyung Jun successfully finishes his solo concerts in Japan". The Korea Economic Daily. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  14. ^ "김형준, 19일 日 두 번째 싱글 'Better' 발매". Munhwa Ilbo (in Korean). November 19, 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  15. ^ "김형준, 日 싱글 '베러' 발매…야누스적 매력 담아". MK (in Korean). Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  16. ^ "キム・ヒョンジュン（SS501/マンネ）2014 SINGLE「Better」発売記念展示開催決定!". Tower Shibuya (in Japanese). November 16, 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  17. ^ "ドンへ＆キム・ヒョンジュン＆チャン・グンソク&BTOB登場！". Entertainment Mabui (in Japanese). Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  18. ^ Bae, Sonyeoung. "김형준, 일본 도쿄 나고야 5회 단독 콘서트 성황리 마무리". tenasia (in Korean). Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  19. ^ "『KIM HYUNG JUN 2014 LIVE TOUR 「ENDLESS STORY」』取材レポート！". k-plaza (in Japanese). Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  20. ^ "キム・ヒョンジュン（マンネ）／ベター（初回限定盤Ｂ）". Kinokuniya Web Store (in Japanese). Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  21. ^ a b "Kim Hyung Jun 2014 Japan Single 'Better' M/V (Full Ver.)". YouTube. Kim Hyung Jun Official TV. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  22. ^ a b "【個別インタビュー】キム・ヒョンジュン（マンネ）、飾らない気さくな人柄が魅力！". Wow Korea.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  23. ^ "Kim Hyung Jun releases MV for new song 'Better' feat. Baby J". Allkpop. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  24. ^ Hong, Grace Danbi (January 16, 2015). "SS501's Heo Young Saeng, Kim Kyu Jong, and Kim Hyung Jun to Perform Together at Police Concert". Mwave. CJ E&M enewsWorld. Archived from the original on 3 June 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  25. ^ An, So Hyoun. "SS501's Kim Hyung Jun Signs with Shinhwa Kim Dong Wan's Agency CI ENT". Mwave. CJ E&M enewsWorld. Archived from the original on 8 May 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  26. ^ "김형준, 4월 팬미팅 'FNL' 개최". heraldk (in Korean). March 3, 2015. Archived from the original on 28 April 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  27. ^ "SS501 김형준, 2년만에 국내서 팬미팅 연다". Sports Seoul (in Korean). Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  28. ^ "김형준, 2년 만에 국내 팬미팅 'FNL' 개최". The Fact (in Korean). April 26, 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  29. ^ "SS501 김형준, 2년만의 팬미팅 'FNL' 성료.."감사"". Star.mt.co.kr (in Korean). April 26, 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  30. ^ "Alberto Shows Off His Close Friendship With Kim Hyung Jun". yahoo PH. BNT News. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  31. ^ "Better＜通常盤＞". Tower Records Online (in Japanese). Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  32. ^ "Better ［CD+DVD］＜初回限定盤A＞". Tower Records Online (in Japanese). Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  33. ^ "Better ［CD+フォトブック］＜初回限定盤B＞". Tower Records Online (in Japanese). Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  34. ^ "Oricon Weekly Singles Charts - 3rd week of November, 2014". Oricon Charts (in Japanese). Archived from the original on November 26, 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
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