Baby Vox

Baby V.O.X (Korean: 베이비복스) was a South Korean K-pop group formed in 1997.[1] They are considered one of the most prominent "first generation" K-pop girl groups of the late 1990s and early 2000s along with S.E.S and Fin.K.L,[2][3] and they are recognized as being one of the groups at the forefront of the Korean Wave, having broken into the Chinese market.[4] The group released seven studio albums and disbanded in 2006.[1]

Baby V.O.X
Baby V.O.X at a 2009 concert
Background information
OriginSouth Korea
GenresK-pop, R&B
Years active1997 (1997)–2006 (2006)
LabelsDR Music
Past members
Korean name
Hangul
베이비복스
Revised RomanizationBeibi Bokseu
McCune–ReischauerPeipi Poksŭ

History

Debut and early years (1997–1999)

Baby V.O.X debuted in 1997 as a five-member group consisting of Kim E-Z, Lee Hee-jin, Jung Hyun-jeon, Cha Yu-mi, and Jung Shi-woon.[1] Their debut single was entitled Hair Cut and taken from the album Equalizeher, released in July 10, 1997.[5] The group displayed a style inspired by Spice Girls, but their 1st album was not successful due to their sexy concept. Cha Yumi was injured during their performance, so she was then replaced by Kan Miyoun. Hyun-jeon and Shi-woon left the group due to internal conflict, so they were replaced by Shim Eun Jin, and Lee Gai. The group adopted a more modest and cutesy style, used by popular groups such as S.E.S. and Fin.K.L . From the album Baby V.O.X II, the single, "Ya Ya Ya" became a success, reaching number seven on the Korean pop charts. It was followed by a second single, "Change". Following the release, Lee Gai was forced out by DR Music, because she had been lying about her age.[6] She had debuted with the trio Setorae over ten years previously under her birth name Lee Hee-jung.[7]

Breakthrough years and mainstream success (1999–2003)

In June 1999, Yoon Eun Hye replaced Lee Gai and this lineup became permanent and last. Their single "Get Up" was released. For the first time, they reached the number one spot on the Korean music pop charts. Another single "Killer" also hit the first place on the music charts and earned the 'Top Excellency Award' in Seoul Music Award in 1999. The third single 'Missing You' was also included on the album Come Come Come Baby (1999).

In the years that followed, Baby VOX made a number of appearances in variety shows. After their success of the third album, they started promoting themselves internationally, including China, Japan and other Southeast Asian countries. The fourth album, Why, featured the two singles; "Why" and "배신 (Betrayal)", while they also featured as a show host in SBS variety program, Beautiful Sunday-Cruise to the Korea Strait. Their fifth album, Boyish Story was released in 2001 and included the singles "Game Over", "인형 (Doll)", "I Wish You are My Love".

As well as their success in Asian markets, Baby VOX released a special hits album were from their first five albums, with two single hits 우연 (Coincidence) and Go. With Coincidence, the group hit number one in the Korean music charts for the first time in three years. Coincidence was also released in a World Cup version, and performed all around Korea during the 2002 Korea/Japan World Cup season, and remained popular throughout the summer. In addition to that, they managed to have a Live Concert in Seoul, which was hugely popular. Baby VOX Music Award was also created in China.

The group held a concert in Mongolia in 2004, being the first Korean idol band to do so. The group also performed in Pyongyang, North Korea in 2003, and was the second girl-group to perform in North Korea. [8]

Final albums and separation (2003–2006)

In spring of 2003, Baby VOX released their sixth album "Devotion". Baby VOX topped the Chinese music chart with the Chinese single I'm Still Loving You, 3rd place with 나 어떡해 (What Should I Do) and 4th place with the same single in Thailand as well. In addition, pre-orders in the album in several countries ar as follows: 200,000+ in China, 50,000+ in Taiwan, 30,000+ in Hong Kong and 120,000+ in Thailand, with a total of 400,000 pre-orders plus the album sales in South Korea alone (210,000+) with now a total of 610,000+ of album sales. However, this was also when the group's fortunes started to change. While 'What Should I Do' hit the number one spot in the Korean music chart, their second single, 바램 (The Wish) wasn't as popular.

The group's seventh and final album Ride West, released in April 2004, featured songs in English, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean, as well as appearances by well-known American hip hop artists, such as Tupac Shakur, Jennifer Lopez, & independent rapper Floss P, although Tupac's "appearance" was a freestyle rap that he recorded while in prison. The rights for the sample of Tupac's verse were not cleared, and this resulted in a court case pursued by the rapper's mother, Afeni Shakur.[9] A music video for the album's feature song, "Xcstasy", was done in English and emulated of the hip-hop videos popular in the United States at the time. A member of Korean hip hop group DJ DOC, offended by their alleged misuse of Tupac Shakur's lyrics, denounced them in the media, but later apologized.[10] The group were forced to abandon the release of the single. A second single, "Play Remix" featuring Jennifer Lopez, was promoted for a short while, but sales were lower than from its previous albums.

Shim Eun-jin officially left the group on October 2004. Stating that she "didn't like the direction where their company was going".

After May 2005, Baby VOX went into hiatus and Yoon Eun-hye departed the group in April 2005. In February 2006, Baby VOX was officially disbanded.

Members

Former members
  • Kim E-Z - singer, rapper, dancer (1997 - 2006)
  • Lee Hee-jin - singer (1997 - 2006)
  • Shim Eun-Jin - singer, dancer (1998 - 2004)
  • Kan Mi-Youn - singer (1998 - 2006)[2]
  • Yoon Eun-Hye - singer (1999 - 2005)

Early members
  • Cha Yumi (1997-1998)
  • Jung Hyun-jeon (1997-1998)
  • Jung Shi-woon (1997-1998)
  • Lee Gai (1997-1999)

Discography

Studio albums
Title Album details Peak chart
positions		 Sales
KOR
[11]
Equalizeher (Voice of Xpression)
  • Released: July 10, 1997
  • Label: DR Music
  • Format: CD, cassette
 No data No data
Baby V.O.X. II
  • Released: September 15, 1998
  • Label: DR Music
  • Format: CD, cassette
 9
Come Come Come Baby
  • Released: July 21, 1999
  • Label: DR Music
  • Format: CD, cassette
 5
Why
  • Released: May 15, 2000
  • Label: DR Music
  • Format: CD, cassette
 5
Boyish Story
  • Released: June 4, 2001
  • Label: DR Music
  • Format: CD, cassette
 8
Devotion
  • Released: April 3, 2003
  • Label: DR Music
  • Format: CD, cassette
 3
Ride West
  • Released: March 18, 2004
  • Label: DR Music
  • Format: CD, cassette
 3

Compilation albums
Title Album details Peak chart
positions		 Sales
KOR
Special Album
  • Released: April 23, 2002
  • Label: DR Music
  • Format: CD, cassette
 6

Extended plays
Title Album details Peak chart
positions		 Sales
JPN
Go (Japanese release)
  • Released: March 12, 2003
  • Label: Six Beat Records
  • Format: CD
 — N/A

Awards

KMTV Music Awards
Year Category Nominated work Ref.
1998 Popularity Award N/A
1999
2002 Achievement Award
2003 Main Award (Bonsang)

SBS Gayo Dajeon
Year Category Nominated work Ref.
1998 Rookie Award N/A [19]
1999 Top 10 Singers Award
2000 SBS Producer's Award [20]
2002 Main Award (Bonsang) [21]
2003 [22]

Seoul Music Awards
Year Category Nominated work Ref.
1999 Main Award (Bonsang) N/A [23]
2000 Popularity Award
2002 Hallyu Award
Popularity Award
2003 Main Award (Bonsang)
2004 Hallyu Award

Other awards
Year Award-giving body Category Nominated work Ref.
1999 MBC Gayo Daejejeon Top Popular Artist N/A
2000 Korea Entertainment and Arts Awards Next Generation Group Award N/A [24]
2002 Golden Disc Awards Popularity Award "Coincidence" (우연) [25]
Chinese Radio Broadcasting Association Best Hallyu Artist Award N/A [26]

Endorsements
  • 2004: Korean Airlines[27]

Future generations
Main article: Baby Vox Re.V

On December 26, 2006, DR Music unveiled the members of the 2nd generation Baby V.O.X, a spinoff group called "Baby V.O.X. Re.V" (pronounced "reeve"). Like the original group, there is one lead vocalist, three "sub-vocalists", and a singer/rapper.

Main article: RaNia

RaNia debuted in April 2011. It was originally scheduled to debut in mid-2010. However, their company, DR Music decided to rebrand them as a new group with eight members. RaNia is the 3rd generation of Baby V.O.X.

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gollark: I have, of course, precommitted but not very hard to saying "they" mostly.
gollark: It seems very exploitable.
gollark: But "do not talk about this person" as a solution is not really ideal.
gollark: I think it's more like "people sometimes want you to".

References
  1. "베이비복스(Baby V.O.X) 소개" [Baby V.O.X Profile]. Mnet (in Korean). Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  2. Kim, Hee-eun (May 15, 2014). "Baby V.O.X. star joins Makoa". Korea Joongang Daily. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  3. Doo, Rumy (May 26, 2016). "New generation of K-pop girl groups". The Korea Herald. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  4. Fuhr, Michael (2015). Globalization and Popular Music in South Korea: Sounding Out K-Pop. Routledge. p. 132. ISBN 9781317556916.
  5. "Baby V.O.X - girlband - kpop". JpopAsia. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
  6. (editor), Justin (May 13, 2012). "Baby V.O.X All Grown Up". seoulbeats. Archived from the original on May 16, 2012. Retrieved June 5, 2016.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  7. (editor), minyua (May 13, 2014). "K-pop Girl of the Week". K-pop Amino. Archived from the original on January 11, 2015. Retrieved April 4, 2019.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link) Alt URL
  8. "Baby V.O.X All Grown Up". seoulbeats. May 13, 2012.
  9. "U.S. Record Company Accuses Baby Vox for Copyright Infringement". The Chosun Ilbo. June 17, 2004. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
  10. "The Chosun Ilbo (English Edition): Daily News from Korea". Archived from the original on March 11, 2007.
  11. "K-pop Album Sales Volume". Recording Industry Association of Korea (in Korean). Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  12. "98년 음반판매량 집계". Recording Industry Association of Korea (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 22, 1999. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
  13. "November K-pop 1999 Album Sales Volume". Recording Industry Association of Korea (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 28, 2018. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  14. "August K-pop 2000 Album Sales Volume". Recording Industry Association of Korea (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 1, 2018. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  15. "First Half of 2001 K-pop Album Sales Volume". Recording Industry Association of Korea (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 19, 2008. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  16. "2003 K-pop Album Sales Volume". Recording Industry Association of Korea (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 1, 2018. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  17. "First Half of 2004 K-pop Album Sales Volume". Recording Industry Association of Korea (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 18, 2007. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  18. "2002 Album Sales Volume". Recording Industry Association of Korea (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 1, 2018. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  19. "심은진X간미연, 베이비복스 데뷔 20주년 "세월 참 빠르다"". Newsen (in Korean). July 3, 2017. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
  20. "SBS 올해의 10대가수 선정". Maeil Business Newspaper (in Korean). December 18, 2000. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
  21. "'2002 SBS 가요대전" 대상은 보아". Yonhap News (in Korean). December 30, 2002. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
  22. "2003 SBS 가요대전 대상에 이효리". The Korea Daily (in Korean). December 29, 2003. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
  23. "역대수상자". Seoul Music Awards (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 18, 2014. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
  24. "9일 제7회 대한민국 연예예술대상 시상식". The Korea Economic Daily (in Korean). November 8, 2000. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
  25. "역대수상자". Golden Disc Awards (in Korean). Retrieved November 19, 2018.
  26. "'베이비복스 가요제' 중국서 열린다". Joongang Ilbo (in Korean). April 21, 2002. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
  27. "KAL, '한류스타' 후원에 적극 나선다". 네이트뉴스.
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