Chocolate (EP)

Chocolate is the debut extended play (EP) by South Korean singer Max. The album was released on April 6, 2020 by SM Entertainment and is distributed by Dreamus. It features six tracks including the title track, "Chocolate" and also includes a collaboration with Korean singer Chungha. The album was produced by Thomas Troelsen, Yoo Young-jin, German-based international production team Hitimpulse, Bottle God (X&), Bram Inscore, Jake Torrey and Omega. Musically, the album incorporates various genres including pop, dance-pop, R&B and folk-rock. Commercially, the EP debuted at number two on the South Korean Gaon Album Chart and at number three on the Japanese Oricon Albums Chart.

Chocolate
EP by
Max
ReleasedApril 6, 2020 (2020-04-06)
Recorded2019–2020
StudioSM Studios, Seoul, South Korea
Genre
Length20:18
LanguageKorean
Label
Producer
Max chronology
Close to You
(2015)		 Chocolate
(2020)
Singles from Chocolate
  1. "Chocolate"
    Released: April 6, 2020
Music video
"Chocolate" on YouTube

Background and production

On March 13, it was reported that the TVXQ member Changmin was preparing to release a solo album. A source from SM Entertainment confirmed the news and released a statement, saying, “Changmin is currently working hard, with the goal of releasing his solo album in April. Please anticipate it.”[1] On March 23, 2020, SM Entertainment announced that Changmin would be making his Korean solo debut with his first mini album titled Chocolate and title track of the same name. The mini album, consisting of six songs of various genres was set to release on April 6.[2]

For the album, Changmin worked with globally renowned music producer Thomas Troelsen, Ian Kirkpatrick, Hitimpulse and Yoo Young-jin, among others. The album also features a collaboration with Korean singer Chungha.[3] Changmin participated in the lyric-writing process of the album. When he was asked where he gets his inspiration from, he said, “Usually when I write songs, I will hear a word in the demo and get inspiration from that to tell a story. That was the case for ‘Chocolate’ as well. For me, the word "chocolate" feels like a word full of desire. It's not always necessary in a dessert, but if it's there, you find yourself getting addicted and eating it. I wanted to compare chocolate to the desire of wanting to meet someone you're attracted to. I also heard an artist saying how they write lyrics with life advice they want to give their son, so I often wrote lyrics with the hopes of conveying a message to my fans that will give them strength.”[4]

Composition

The album incorporates various music genres including pop, R&B and folk-rock. The lead single "Chocolate" is a dance-pop track with lyrics that compare cravings for chocolate to romantic relationships.[5] "High Heels" features groovy tunes. "Lie" is a collaboration with singer Chungha and has been described as a pop song featuring simple instrumentals, trendy beats, speedy arrangements and vocal harmonies. The lyrics talk about the emotions exchanged between lovers who feel love in different intensities.[6] "Piano" showcases outstanding development while "Me, Myself & I" is a hipster R&B track.[7] "No Tomorrow" is a folk-rock track with lyrics about enjoying the journey of life during in difficult times.[8]

Release and promotion

On March 24, 2020, SM Entertainment and TVXQ released a timeline for Changmin's first extended play through their official homepage and SNS accounts, which shows the singer's promotion schedule beginning March 31 until the release of their album on April 6.[9] Album details were revealed on the same day, with the physical album being available in two different versions- Orange and Gold.[10] According to the timetable, five sets of teaser photos were to be revealed over the course of five days from March 31 to April 4, along with a mood sampler on each day. On April 4, the first teaser for the music video was unveiled.[11] On April 5, the tracklist was released, side by side with the second and final teaser for the music video.[12]

The album and an accompanying music video for the lead single "Chocolate" were released on April 6.[13] The same day, Changmin held a live broadcast on Naver V LIVE broadcasting site to discuss the new album.[14] A performance video for "Chocolate" was released on April 13.[15] Changmin promoted the lead single "Chocolate" on South Korean music shows including KBS Music Bank,[16] MBC Show! Music Core[17] and SBS Inkigayo.[18]

A special music video for the track "Me, Myself & I" was also released on April 15.[19]

Reception

Upon its release, Chocolate debuted number two on the Gaon Album Chart.[20] The album also charted at number three on the Oricon Albums Chart.[21]

Track listing

Credits are adapted from Naver.[22]

Chocolate track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."Chocolate"Changmin
2:52
2."High Heels"Bottle God (X &)
  • Bottle God (x&)
  • Aisle (이아일)
Bottle God (x&)3:40
3."Lie" (featuring Chungha)Seo Ji Eum
Hitimpulse3:26
4."Piano"Hwang YubinThomas TroelsenThomas Troelsen3:11
5."Me, Myself & I"Bottle God (X&)Bottle God (X&)Bottle God (X&)3:44
6."No Tomorrow"Changmin
  • Jake Torrey
  • Omega
  • Bram Inscore
3:25
Total length:20:18

Charts
Sales chart performance for Chocolate
Chart (2020) Peak
position
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[23] 3
South Korean Albums (Gaon)[24] 2
Sales chart performance for singles from Chocolate
Song Chart (2020) Peak
position
"Chocolate" South Korea (Gaon)[25] 100

Release history
Region Date Format Label Ref.
South Korea April 6, 2020
[26]
Worldwide
  • Digital download
  • streaming
 [27]

References
  1. Hwang, Hyejin (March 13, 2020). SM 측 “동방신기 최강창민, 4월 솔로앨범 발매 준비중…기대 부탁”(공식). Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved April 20, 2020 – via Naver.
  2. Park, Se-yeon (March 23, 2020). 동방신기, 최강창민 4월 6일 솔로 데뷔…타이틀곡 `초콜렛`. MK. Retrieved April 20, 2020 – via Naver.
  3. Kwon, Yae-rim (April 6, 2020). "TVXQ's Changmin releases first solo album". The Korea Herald. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  4. "동방신기 최강창민 "첫 솔로 기뻐..유노윤호 무언의 응원 감사"(일문일답)". Herald Corporation. April 6, 2020 – via Naver.
  5. "Max Changmin of TVXQ calls his 1st solo album 'Chocolate' 'sweet addiction'". The Korea Times. April 6, 2020. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  6. Jeong, Byeong-geun (April 6, 2020). "최강창민 "압박 벗어나 스스로를 만들어갈 때 왔다"(일문일답)". The Fact (in Korean). Retrieved April 20, 2020 – via Naver.
  7. Lee, Jaehun (April 6, 2020). "동방신기 최강창민, 17년만의 솔로앨범 오늘 공개" [TVXQ's Choi Chang-min, 17 years of solo album released today]. Newsis (in Korean). Retrieved April 20, 2020 – via Naver.
  8. Hwang, Ji-young (April 2, 2020). "최강창민, 작사 참여한 첫 솔로 앨범 '초콜릿'" [Changmin Choi, the first solo album 'Chocolate']. Daily Sports (in Korean). Retrieved April 20, 2020 – via Naver.
  9. Kim, Min-ji (April 25, 2020). "'솔로 데뷔' 최강창민, 첫 EP '초콜릿' 스케줄 포스터 공개…강렬 비주얼" ['Solo debut' Choi Changmin, the first EP 'Chocolate' schedule poster released ... Intense visual]. News1 (in Korean). Retrieved April 22, 2020 – via Naver.
  10. "MAX 최강창민 The 1st mini album ['Chocolate'] - Album Details". Twitter.
  11. Im, Lara (April 5, 2020). "TVXQ's Choi Chang-min, first solo album 'Chocolate', album details released". Top Star News (in Korean). Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  12. Park, So-young (April 5, 2020). "동방신기 최강창민, 첫 솔로앨범 트랙리스트 공개..청하 피처링 '찰떡'" [TVXQ's Choi Chang-min, the first solo album track list released ..]. OSEN (in Korean). Retrieved April 12, 2020 – via Naver.
  13. Lee, Seung-rok (April 6, 2020). ""치명적인, 솔로데뷔"...최강창민, 오늘 '초콜릿' 발표" ["Fatal, solo debut" ... Chang Kang Min, today announced 'Chocolate']. My Daily (in Korean). Retrieved April 20, 2020 – via Naver.
  14. Go, Seung-hee (April 6, 2020). "최강창민, 첫 미니앨범 발매…화려한 홀로서기". Herald Corporation (in Korean). Retrieved April 20, 2020 – via Naver.
  15. Lee, Ho-yeon (April 13, 2020). "최강창민, 오늘(13일) 옴므파탈 진수 담은 '초콜릿' 안무영상 오픈". Hankook Ilbo. Retrieved April 20, 2020 – via Naver.
  16. "'뮤뱅' 수호, '사랑, 하자' 방송 출연 없이 1위..최강창민·(여자)아이들·스텔라장 컴백[종합]". Chosun (in Korean). Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  17. Kang, Min-kyung (April 11, 2020). "'음악중심' 수호, 출연 없이 1위 2관왕..최강창민 솔로→임영웅X영탁 컬래버 [★밤TView]" [Guardian of 'Music Core', No.1 2nd place without appearing .. Choi Changmin Solo → Im Young-woong X Young-Tak Collaborator [★ Night TView]]. Star Today (in Korean). Retrieved April 11, 2020 – via Naver.
  18. Ha, Soo-jung (April 12, 2020). "'인기가요' 수호, 1위·3관왕..최강창민 솔로 데뷔→임영웅 스페셜 무대 '풍성' [종합]" [Guardian of 'Inkigayo', 1st, 3rd king .. Strongest Changmin solo debut → Lim Young-woong's special stage 'Pungseong' [Overall]]. OSEN (in Korean). Retrieved April 12, 2020 – via Naver.
  19. "MAX 최강창민 'Me, Myself & I' Special Video". YouTube. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  20. "Gaon Album Chart – Week 15, 2020". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Retrieved April 16, 2020.
  21. "Weekly album ranking April 20, 2020". Oricon Albums Chart (in Japanese). Retrieved April 16, 2020.
  22. "Chocolate-The 1st Mini Album" (in Korean). Naver. Naver Corporation. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  23. "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2020-04-20" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  24. "Gaon Album Chart – Week 15, 2020". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Retrieved April 16, 2020.
  25. "Week 15, 2020 Digital Chart". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  26. "Chocolate-The 1st Mini Album" (in Korean). Naver. Naver Corporation. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  27. "Chocolate – The 1st Mini Album – EP". iTunes Store (SG). Apple Inc. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
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