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Polaris (Kangta album)

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Polaris
Studio album by
Kangta
ReleasedAugust 16, 2001[1]
Genre
Length55:36
LanguageKorean
LabelS.M. Entertainment
Producer
Kangta chronology
Polaris
(2001) 		Pine Tree
(2002)

Polaris (Korean: 북극성; RR: bukgeukseong; lit. north pole star) is the debut studio album by South Korean singer-songwriter Kangta, released on August 16, 2001, by S.M. Entertainment.[1][3]

Background

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On May 13, 2001, Jang Woo-hyuk, Tony Ahn, and Lee Jae-won of the South Korean boy band H.O.T. held a press conference, announcing that they would end their contracts with SM Entertainment and move to another company. This marked H.O.T.'s de facto disbandment.[4] While Jang, An, and Lee chose to leave SM Entertainment, Kangta and Moon Hee-jun had renewed their contracts the previous year.[5] When SM was asked if the remaining members would pursue solo careers, the company stated, "Regardless of the group disbanding, we had originally planned to do a mix of solo and group activities."[6] In a press conference held on June 27, Kangta and Moon Hee-jun announced that they would release solo albums in August and October respectively.[7]

Composition

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Polaris is predominantly a ballad album, featuring a range of genres such as jazz, R&B, and dance.[2][8] Four of the songs were composed by Kangta, while composers such as Sim Sang-won and Kim Hyeong-seok contributed to the rest of the album.[9][10] The album opens with "Falling in Love", a swing number about the emotions experienced while in love.[11] "Polaris", the lead single, is a pop ballad, which Kangta wrote, composed, and arranged over the span of six months. It features orchestral instrumentation and details a man "who wants to be like the North Star, a star that always stays in one place and acts as a guide."[10][12] "Thanks God" was composed by pianist Chung Won-young and was described as a "jazz ballad". His singing style in the song has been compared to Nat King Cole.[12][13] "My Life" is the album's only dance-pop song,[12] with a triplet rhythm and orchestral backing;[11] the lyrics "express the confidence that young people [Kangta's] age have in the world ahead."[2] "With Your White Face" is a jazz standard-style remake of a 1987 song by Lee Soo-man, while "Rainy Day" is a cover of a Shin Seung-hun song.[14]

Release and promotion

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Polaris was released on August 16, 2001.[15] A month before the album's release, the title track was used in a commercial for KTF's wireless internet service Magic N, which Kangta starred in.[2][16] The commercial was directed by Lee Chan, who also produced the music video for "Polaris".[17] His first solo activity was a guest appearance in an NRG concert on the 17th;[18][19] the next day, he made his TV debut through an hour-long special in the SBS variety program Saturday Is Fun.[15]

Several music videos were released to promote the album. The first, "Polaris", was directed by Cha Seok-ho, a commercial director,[20] and was filmed over the span of four days and three nights.[16] In the video, a yet to debut Dana appeared alongside Kangta.[21] Conceptually, it centers around a man reminiscing about the times spent with his ex-lover. In one scene, said to convey "sadness and longing for her that he cannot forget", Kangta dressed as a woman.[16] A motion control camera was used to film the same scene with Kangta and Dana, allowing for cross-cutting between the two.[16][22] The second music video released was for "Thanks God", which was first revealed through the singer's official website on November 5, 2001.[23] The video, released as an act of "fan service",[23] was shot in Apgujeong-dong and features Kangta playing the piano.[24]

Track listing

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CD and digital streaming[3][note 1]
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."오! 그대를" ("Falling In Love")
  • An So-yeon
  • Ha Jung-ho
HaHa3:33
2."별의 고백" ("Longing", interlude)Lee Jung-ha  2:09
3."북극성" ("Polaris")Ahn Chil-hyunAhnAhn4:03
4."Thanks God"Jung Won-youngJungJung4:53
5."스물 셋" ("My Life")AhnAhnAhn3:23
6."겨울" ("Last Winter")Ahn  1:22
7."In Your Eyes"AhnShim Sang-wonShim4:14
8."당신이 알고 있던 난" ("Still...")AhnAhnAhn4:19
9."Doodidub"Hong Jong-hwa (S.M.)HongHong4:10
10."나 세상 나" ("I Will")Ahn  1:37
11."그해여름" ("Late Summer Night")AhnAhnAhn4:43
12."Blue Moon"AhnEun Bi
  • Eun Bi
  • Lee Hong-rae
4:46
13."하얀 얼굴로" ("With Your White Face")Choi Jae-gyuHongHong3:33
14."오늘같이 이런 창밖이 좋아" ("Rainy Day")Shin Seung-hunShinKim Hyung-seok4:51
15."북극성" ("Polaris" instrumental) AhnAhn4:00
Total length:55:36

Notes

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  1. ^ Durations for each track may vary depending on which streaming platform.[1][3][25][26]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Polaris - The 1st Album". Spotify. August 16, 2001. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d Heo, Yeop (August 26, 2001). "[톡톡인터뷰]강타 ＂솔로 데뷔는 뮤지션 인생의 시작점＂". The DongA Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 15, 2021. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d "Polaris - 강타 (KANGTA)". Melon (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 6, 2021. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  4. ^ 댄스그룹 H.O.T 사실상 해체. JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). May 14, 2001. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  5. ^ [HOT 사실상 해체선언 안팎]. JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). May 14, 2001. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  6. ^ "H.O.T. 해체 팬들 반발, 재결합 관심". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). May 15, 2001. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  7. ^ H.O.T. 강타·문희준 솔로로 활동. JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). June 28, 2001. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  8. ^ 강타 – 영원히 H.O.T. 안에 있을 거예요. Teen Star (in Korean). September 2001. Archived from the original on March 1, 2002. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  9. ^ 강타, 가장 찬란하게 빛나는 별이 되었다는 사실…. JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  10. ^ a b 다섯에서 하나로... 싱어송라이터로 변신 성공한 Kang Ta. Syndrome (in Korean). September 2001. Archived from the original on January 16, 2003. Retrieved July 31, 2024 – via junior.co.kr.
  11. ^ a b Cover Story – 현명한 남자 Kang Ta. Syndrome (in Korean). October 2001. Archived from the original on January 16, 2003. Retrieved July 31, 2024 – via junior.co.kr.
  12. ^ a b c 강타 솔로변신 "성공"…"재미있는 음악할래요". Sports Seoul (in Korean). August 19, 2001. Retrieved July 31, 2024 – via mk.co.kr.
  13. ^ H.O.T서 홀로서기 강 "아이돌 탈피…내 色 찾아야죠". Hankook Ilbo (in Korean). August 31, 2001. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  14. ^ 강타, 이수만곡 ‘하얀…’ 재즈로 리메이크. Sports Today (in Korean). August 21, 2001. Archived from the original on March 11, 2005. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  15. ^ a b 강타, '토요일은 즐거워'서 특집쇼. Sports Chosun (in Korean). August 16, 2001. Archived from the original on May 24, 2003. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  16. ^ a b c d Kang-Ta 타이틀곡 <북극성> 들고 팬들곁으로 돌아온다!. Syndrome (in Korean). September 2001. Archived from the original on August 7, 2002.
  17. ^ 강타 모델.... "CF야..? 뮤비야..?". Sports Chosun (in Korean). July 24, 2001. Archived from the original on July 26, 2001. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  18. ^ 강타 NRG콘서트로 컴백. Sports Seoul. August 12, 2001. Archived from the original on August 19, 2001. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  19. ^ 댄스그룹 NRG콘서트, 중국팬들 열광. Sports Seoul (in Korean). August 17, 2001. Retrieved July 27, 2024 – via mk.co.kr.
  20. ^ 이지형 (November 11, 2001). 올해 최고 뮤직비디오 가린다. Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved January 26, 2025.
  21. ^ 오광수 (August 16, 2001). ‘H.O.T’강타 “솔로 신고합니다”. Kyunghyang Shinmun (in Korean). Retrieved January 26, 2025.
  22. ^ ［뮤비봤어!］강타‘북극성’. Kyunghyang Shinmun (in Korean). September 6, 2001.
  23. ^ a b 강타 ' 그해 여름' 으로 두번째 정상을.... Teen Star (in Korean). December 2001. Archived from the original on March 1, 2002. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
  24. ^ KANG TA | 뮤지션으로, 연기자로, 사랑의 수호천사로… 최고의 주가로 맹활약중인 강타의 겨울 맞이. Junior (in Korean). November 2001. Archived from the original on January 16, 2003. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
  25. ^ "Polaris / 강타(KANGTA)". Bugs! (in Korean). Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  26. ^ "Polaris / 강타 (KANGTA)". genie (in Korean). Retrieved November 7, 2021.
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