Purpose
Digital and Standard version cover
Studio album by
Taeyeon
ReleasedOctober 28, 2019 (2019-10-28)
Recorded2018–2019
Length37:26
LanguageKorean
Label
Taeyeon chronology
Voice
(2019)		 Purpose
(2019)		 #GirlsSpkOut
(2020)
Singles from Purpose
  1. "Spark"
    Released: October 28, 2019
The Repackage version cover
Digital and Purple version cover of Repackage edition artwork
Singles from Purpose (Repackage)
  1. "Dear Me"
    Released: January 15, 2020

Purpose is the second studio album by South Korean singer Taeyeon. It was released through SM Entertainment on October 28, 2019. It features 12 tracks, including the Gaon number-one single "Four Seasons" and its B-side "Blue" alongside ten new tracks, including the title track "Spark".[1] On January 15, 2020, a repackage edition of Purpose was released including three new songs, including title track "Dear Me".[2] Musically, it is a pop record that contains influences of ballad, R&B, blues and jazz. The album was originally set to be released on October 22, 2019, but was postponed until October 28 due to the passing of Sulli.

Purpose was met with generally positive reviews from music critics and debuted at number two in South Korea, selling over 154,258 copies. The album received nominations for Disc Bonsang and Disc Daesang at the 34th Golden Disc Awards, while its single "Four Seasons" won Digital Bonsang, and was also nominated for Digital Daesang. Purpose appeared on numerous year-end best music lists of 2019.

Background

The album features songs in a "variety of styles".[1] The title is said to represent "Taeyeon's goals as both a person and singer and show how music has become the greatest purpose and direction in [her] life".[1]

Promotion

On October 14, 2019, Taeyeon released teaser photos for the album featuring a "red-lit aesthetic" of her face and shoulders,[1] which was called "sultry" by Gulf News.[3] SM originally set the release date of the album on October 22, 2019, but the promotional schedule was temporarily halted due to the death of Sulli.[4] The first teaser of the music video for the title track 'Spark' was released on the official SM Entertainment YouTube channel on October 23,[5] while the second teaser of the music video was released on October 25, 2019.[6] The music video of 'Spark' was released on October 28, 2019, which was released simultaneously with the release of the album.[7]

Taeyeon did not appear on any music shows and or engage in any promotion for Purpose (except for fansign events) as she decided to pay respects to her late friend Sulli, and also to take care of her mental health.[8] On January 13, 2020, a teaser of the music video for the title track "Dear Me" was released on the official SM Entertainment YouTube channel,[9] while the music video was released on January 15, 2020, which was released simultaneously with the release of the Purpose repackage.[10]

Composition

The digital edition of Purpose contains ten songs, while the physical release includes twelve tracks including the Gaon number-one single "Four Seasons" and its B-side "Blue", which was released as a digital single on March 24, 2019. There are three versions of the physical edition – two regular versions with the same dust cover and either a red or white hard cover book and 1 deluxe edition with a different cover, booklet and packaging style.[11]

The album incorporates various genres that are "based on Taeyeon's unique vocals".[12] The title track "Spark" was revealed to be an alternative soul pop song.[13] Meanwhile, "Here I Am" is a melancholy ballad song, which creates a powerful vocal performance from Taeyeon, [14] along with "Gravity", another pop ballad track in the album.[13] "Find Me" takes inspiration from rock and blues with its simple modern piano and drums to lead the melody and "City Love" is an emotional R&B retro song that combines city pop sounds with a soft guitar.[15] "Do You Love Me" is a jazz-based ballad song that combines musical instruments and vintage string sounds reminiscent of a jazz club, while "Better Babe" is a blues-rock track that expresses the sadness of parting with Taeyeon's soulful voice.[16][17] "Love You Like Crazy" was described as an alternative rock and soul-influenced song, "LOL" is an alternative R&B based electropop[18] and "Wine" is a sentimental R&B pop genre song.[19]

Three new songs added to the reissue album are "Dear Me", "My Tragedy" and "Drawing Our Moments". "Dear Me" is an emotional ballad song with the harmony of an acoustic and string melody,[20] while "My Tragedy" is a trip hop, which starts with the sound of a reed organ and leads to an orchestral arrangement,[21] and "Drawing Our Moments" is a ballad song that makes delicate performances of acoustic folk guitars with a pretty flute-like instrument and a piano carrying the song alongside Taeyeon's voice.[22]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Idology(positive)[23]
IZM[24]
The Star9/10[25]

Purpose received generally positive reviews from media outlets. Chester Chin from The Star lauded the album's musical styles with "the artistic confidence on Purpose feels intensely liberating, and it is one heck of a confident record – in soul, sentiment and sound" and "On Purpose, the Girls' Generation alumni delivers a larger-than-life performance on a deliciously darker and much more musically complex record". He additionally complimented on Taeyeon's vocals and labelled Purpose as "artistic clarity" follow-up to her previous studio album My Voice.[25] Idology Korea ranked it the eighth best K-pop album of 2019.[26]

Accolades

Awards and nominations for Purpose
Organization Year Award Result Ref.
Golden Disc Awards 2020 Album Bonsang (Main Prize) Nominated [27]
Korean Music Awards 2020 Best Pop Album Nominated [28]

Commercial performance

Within just a few hours of its release, "Purpose" took over iTunes charts in 22 regions. She had set a record taking over the number one spot on iTunes charts in most countries for a Korean female soloist.[29] She broke her own record by landing on the top spot in 26 countries with Repackaged version,[30][31] after being surpassed by Wendy's Like Water.[32][33] The repackaged album also rose to the top of China's largest music site QQ Music, KuGou Music, and Kuwo Music's album sales chart.[34]

In South Korea, Purpose debuted at number two[35] on the Gaon Album Chart with 154,258 copies sold.[36] The album became Taeyeon's sixth top ten album in the country, and broke the record for the largest first day sales for a female artist with 78,327 copies on Hanteo[37] being hit days later by IU's Love Poem.[38]

In Japan, the album debuted at number twenty-five on the Oricon Albums Chart and has sold over 3,000 copies as of October 2019.[39] Purpose debuted at number nine the Billboard World Albums, becoming Taeyeon's fifth top 10 entry on the chart.[40] It additionally charted at number 14 on the Top Heatseekers.[41]

Track listing

Credits adapted from Naver

Purpose – Digital standard edition[42]
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."Here I Am"
3:24
2."Spark" (불티; Bulti)
3:37
3."Find Me"
  • Mike Daley
  • Mitchell Owens
4:07
4."Love You Like Crazy"
2:59
5."LOL" (하하하; Hahaha)
  • Jung Min-seung (ron)
  • Kang Eun-jung
  • dress
  • glowingdog (Munhwain
3:16
6."Better Babe"
  • Kim Boo-min
  • Hitchhiker
  • Luke "Lukr" Foley (Combustion Music)
  • Dan "DWhit" Whittemore
  • Allison Victoria Pincsak
4:11
7."Wine"
  • Robin Ghosh
3:57
8."Do You Love Me?"
  • Lee Joo-hyoung (MonoTree)
  • Lee Joo-hyoung (MonoTree)
  • Lee Joo-hyoung (MonoTree)
4:08
9."City Love"
  • Mike Daley
  • Mitchell Owens
  • Micky Blue
  • Realmeee
  • Mike Daley
  • Mitchell Owens
3:38
10."Gravity"
  • Lance Shipp (LIONCHLD)
  • Rachael Kennedy (LIONCHLD)
  • Nathalia Marshall (LIONCHLD)
  • Angel Lopez (Mono Music Group)
  • Gilde Flores (Mono Music Group)
  • LIONCHLD
  • Mono Music Group
3:59
Total length:37:26
Purpose – Korean and deluxe bonus tracks[43]
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
11."Blue"
  • Alex Mood (Mr Radar)
  • Mariella "Bambi" Garcia Balandina (Mr Radar)
  • Oskar Salhin
  • Mimmi Gyltman
  • Rassmus "Raise" Björnson
  • Mr Radar
  • Rassmus "Raise" Björnson
3:32
12."Four Seasons" (사계; Sagye)
3:08
Total length:44:10
Purpose – Repackage[44]
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."Dear Me" (내게 들려주고 싶은 말; Naege Deullyeojugo Sip-eun Mal; lit. What I Want To Tell Myself)
3:42
2."My Tragedy" (월식; Wolsik; lit. Lunar Eclipse)
  • Kim Boo-min
  • Hitchhiker
  • Dan "DWhit" Whittemore
  • Bonx
  • Elizabeth Russo
4:29
3."Here I Am"
3:24
4."Spark" (불티; Bulti)
3:37
5."Find Me"
  • Mike Daley
  • Mitchell Owens
4:07
6."Love You Like Crazy"
2:59
7."LOL" (하하하; Hahaha)
  • Jung Min-seung (ron)
  • Kang Eun-jung
  • dress
  • glowingdog (Munhwain
3:16
8."Better Babe"
  • Kim Boo-min
  • Hitchhiker
  • Luke "Lukr" Foley (Combustion Music)
  • Dan "DWhit" Whittemore
  • Allison Victoria Pincsak
4:11
9."Wine"
  • Robin Ghosh
3:57
10."Do You Love Me?"
  • Lee Joo-hyoung (MonoTree)
  • Lee Joo-hyoung (MonoTree)
  • Lee Joo-hyoung (MonoTree)
4:08
11."City Love"
  • Mike Daley
  • Mitchell Owens
  • Micky Blue
  • Realmeee
  • Mike Daley
  • Mitchell Owens
3:38
12."Gravity"
  • Lance Shipp (LIONCHLD)
  • Rachael Kennedy (LIONCHLD)
  • Nathalia Marshall (LIONCHLD)
  • Angel Lopez (Mono Music Group)
  • Gilde Flores (Mono Music Group)
  • LIONCHLD
  • Mono Music Group
3:59
13."Drawing Our Moments" (너를 그리는 시간; Neoreul Geurineun Sigan)
  • Lawrence Lee
  • Malin Johansson (Songs of Sweden)
  • Dan Sundquist
  • Hjalmar Wilén
  • Lawrence Lee
4:33
14."Blue"
  • Alex Mood (Mr Radar)
  • Mariella "Bambi" Garcia Balandina (Mr Radar)
  • Oskar Salhin
  • Mimmi Gyltman
  • Rassmus "Raise" Björnson
  • Mr Radar
  • Rassmus "Raise" Björnson
3:32
15."Four Seasons" (사계; Sagye)
3:08
16."Dear Me [Instrumental]" (Digital Bonus Track) 
3:42
Total length:60:37

Charts

Sales

Region Sales
China (digital)[58] 171,376
South Korea[57][59][60][61][62] 232,215[lower-alpha 3]

Release history

Region Date Format Version Label Ref.
Various October 28, 2019
Original SM Entertainment
January 15, 2020 Repackage
South Korea January 22, 2020 Kihno

Notes

  1. ↑ Repackage
  2. ↑ Kit
  3. ↑ Sales combined with the Repackage and Kit version (Original – 172,422, Repackage – 54,227, Kit – 5,566)

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Ong, Kimberly (October 14, 2019). "Taeyeon of Girls' Generation Releases New Teasers For Solo Comeback". E! Online. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
  2. 1 2 "TAEYEON's second full-length repackage album 'Purpose' will be released on JAN. 15". SM Entertainment. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  3. ↑ Khouri, Samar (October 13, 2019). "K-Pop Corner: Girls Generation's Taeyeon to drop second album". Gulf News. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
  4. ↑ Kim, Noeul (October 15, 2019). "태연, 설리 사망 비보에 콘텐츠 일정 중단 "추후 다시 진행…양해 부탁"". MK Sports (in Korean). Retrieved October 17, 2019.
  5. ↑ "TAEYEON 태연 '불티 (Spark)' MV Teaser #1". October 23, 2019. Retrieved March 18, 2020 – via YouTube.
  6. ↑ "TAEYEON 태연 '불티 (Spark)' MV Teaser #2". October 25, 2019. Retrieved March 18, 2020 – via YouTube.
  7. ↑ "TAEYEON 태연 '불티 (Spark)' MV". October 28, 2019. Retrieved March 18, 2020 – via YouTube.
  8. ↑ "Taeyeon Wins No. 1 For "Spark" On Music Bank + Lyric Video Release". The Standom. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  9. ↑ "TAEYEON 태연 '내게 들려주고 싶은 말 (Dear Me)' MV Teaser". January 13, 2020. Retrieved March 18, 2020 – via YouTube.
  10. ↑ "TAEYEON 태연 '내게 들려주고 싶은 말 (Dear Me)' MV". January 15, 2020. Retrieved March 18, 2020 – via YouTube.
  11. ↑ "Taeyeon – Vol. 2 'Purpose'" (in Korean). Synnara. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  12. ↑ "Taeyeon – 'Purpose – The 2nd Album Repackage'" (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
  13. 1 2 "태연, 정규 2집 타이틀 곡 '불티' 강렬한 감성 예고..소울 가득[공식]" (in Korean). OSEN Naver. October 14, 2019.
  14. ↑ "태연, 수록곡 하이라이트 클립 공개..11월23일 팬미팅 개최" (in Korean). Newsen. October 25, 2019.
  15. ↑ "태연, 정규 2집 수록곡 하이라이트 클립 공개..11월 23일 팬미팅 개최" (in Korean). Seoul Economic Daily. October 25, 2019.
  16. ↑ "'컴백 D-5' 태연, 'Purpose' 폭넓은 음악 스펙트럼 예고" (in Korean). Newsen. October 23, 2019.
  17. ↑ "컴백 D-5 태연, 정규 2집 'Purpose' 폭넓은 음악 스펙트럼 예고!" (in Korean). SMTOWN. October 23, 2019.
  18. ↑ "Purpose - TAEYEON (앨범소개)". Melon. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  19. ↑ "Comeback TAEYEON unveils 'Wine' Highlight Clip from The 2nd Album!". SMTOWN. October 22, 2019.
  20. ↑ "TAEYEON, release of 2nd full-length repackage album 'Purpose' track list is gathering much attention!". SMTOWN. January 9, 2020.
  21. ↑ ""처절한, 사운드"…소녀시대 태연, 신보 수록곡 '월식' 하이라이트 공개". Naver. January 11, 2020.
  22. ↑ "태연, 정규 2집 리패키지 신곡 '너를 그리는 시간' 하이라이트 클립 공개" (in Korean). BizEnter. January 12, 2020.
  23. ↑ Squib (February 12, 2020). "Review – Taeyeon "Purpose" (2020)". Idology (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 15, 2022. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  24. ↑ Hwang, Seoneob (November 4, 2019). "Album Review Taeyeon – 'Purpose'". IZM. Korea. Archived from the original on December 15, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  25. 1 2 Chin, Chester (November 4, 2019). "'Purpose': Taeyeon sparkles on career-defining 2nd solo album". The Star. Malaysia. Archived from the original on December 15, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  26. ↑ "결산 2019 : 올해의 음반". Idology. February 24, 2020. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
  27. ↑ "Here's the nominees for the 34th Golden Disc Awards". SBS Pop Asia. December 6, 2019. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  28. ↑ "Korean Music Awards 2020: Complete nominations list, live streaming details and more". IBTimes. January 23, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  29. ↑ "Girls' Generation's Taeyeon Tops iTunes Charts Around The World With Repackaged Album "Purpose"". Soompi. January 16, 2020. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
  30. ↑ "태연 정규 2집 리패키지 Purpose 아이튠즈 톱 앨범 차트 24개 지역 1위!". Girls' Generation Official Facebook. Facebook. January 16, 2020. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  31. ↑ "#1. TAEYEON – Purpose – The 2nd Album (repackage) *26th #1* (PEAK DATE: 01/15/2020)". SNSD Charts Twitter. Twitter. February 14, 2020. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  32. ↑ "Red Velvet Wendy's 'LIKE WATER' Attains the Most No. 1s on iTunes Top Album Chart". kpophit. April 7, 2021. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
  33. ↑ "Red Velvet's Wendy Achieves Most Global #1's For Female K-Pop Soloist On iTunes Album Chart". koreaboo. April 6, 2021. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
  34. ↑ "韓 여자 솔로 앨범 사상 최다 1위 또 경신! 中 QQ뮤직, 쿠거우뮤직, 쿠워뮤직 디지털 앨범 판매 차트 1위!". smtown.com. January 16, 2020. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  35. ↑ "Gaon Album Chart – Week 44, 2019". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  36. ↑ "2019년 10월 Album Chart". Gaon. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  37. ↑ "Taeyeon's "Purpose" Album Breaks Record For Highest Amount Of First Day Sales By A Female Artist". koreaboo. October 28, 2019. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  38. ↑ "IU Breaks Record for Highest Amount of First Day Sales by Female Artists with 'Love Poem'". KStarLive. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  39. ↑ "Oricon Chart （2019年10月28日-2019年11月03日）" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on November 6, 2019. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  40. ↑ "Taeyeon Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  41. ↑ "Taeyeon Chart History: Heatseerkers Albums". Billboard. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  42. ↑ "Purpose – The 2nd Album". Apple Music. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  43. ↑ "앨범 정보>멜론: Purpose – The 2nd Album". Melon (in Korean). Retrieved October 28, 2019.
  44. ↑ @GirlsGeneration (January 8, 2020). "TAEYEON 태연 The 2nd Album Repackage ['Purpose']" (Tweet) (in Korean). Retrieved January 11, 2020 – via Twitter.
  45. ↑ "ARIA Australian Top 50 Digital Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. November 4, 2019. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  46. ↑ "WayV – Take Over the Moon (2nd Mini Album): French Album Charts – Week 44, 2019". Snep Musique. November 1, 2019. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  47. ↑ 11, 2019/ "Oricon Top 50 Albums: November 11, 2019" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  48. ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot Albums: 2019/10/07 付け". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  49. ↑ "Gaon Album Chart – Week 44, 2019". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  50. ↑ "Gaon Album Chart – Week 03, 2020". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  51. ↑ "Gaon Album Chart – Week 04, 2019". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  52. ↑ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  53. ↑ "Taeyeon Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  54. ↑ "Taeyeon Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  55. ↑ "Taeyeon Chart History (World Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  56. ↑
  57. 1 2 "2019년 Album Chart". Gaon. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  58. ↑ Cumulative sales of Purpose:
  59. ↑ "2020년 01월 Album Chart". Gaon. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  60. ↑ "Taeyeon has sold 875,073 copies on Gaon Album total sales (October 2015 – March 2020)". Twitter. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  61. ↑ "2020년 종합 Album Chart". Gaon Chart. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  62. ↑ "Circle Chart's Observation Note #1 [Album Sales]". OK POP!! (오케이팝!!) on YouTube (in Korean). Circle Music Chart. September 9, 2022. Archived from the original on September 11, 2022. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
  63. ↑ "Purpose – The 2nd Album by Taeyeon". Apple Music. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  64. ↑ "Purpose – The 2nd Album Repackage – EP". Apple Music. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  65. ↑ "태연(TAEYEON) The 2nd Album Repackage – Purpose (키트앨범 Ver.)". kitalbum. Archived from the original on March 7, 2020. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
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