Uniq (band)

Uniq (Hangul: 유니크; stylized UNIQ) is a five-member Chinese–South Korean boy group formed by Chinese company Yuehua Entertainment in 2014.[1] The group consists of Zhou Yixuan, Kim Sung-joo, Li Wenhan, Cho Seung-youn, and Wang Yibo. Uniq officially debuted on October 20, 2014 with their debut single "Falling In Love" in both China and South Korea.[2]

Uniq
Uniq in Shanghai during a fansign event, June 2015
From left to right: Yixuan, Yibo, Wenhan, Seungyoun and Sungjoo
Background information
OriginSeoul, South Korea
Genres
Years active2014–2018
LabelsYuehua
Members

History

Pre-debut

Sung-joo and Seung-youn were originally YG Entertainment Trainees. Later, they joined UNIQ debut team and continued to train in YG Entertainment. It's because UNIQ was cooperatively trained by Yuehua and YG. Hence, all five members were trained in YG Entertainment from 2 to 5 years before official debut.[3][4][5][6]

2014: Debut with Falling in Love

On October 16, they had their first broadcast performance on M Countdown. Their debut single, "Falling In Love", was released on October 20 in both China and South Korea. Uniq was chosen to participate in the OST for the movies TMNT (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and Penguins of Madagascar.[7] On October 23, they released the song "Born to Fight" for the Chinese release of TNMT.[8] The group released the English adaptation of "Falling in Love" on November 5.[9] On November 10, they released "Celebrate" for the Chinese release of Penguins of Madagascar. Uniq made their official debut in China on November 25 with their first Chinese fanmeet in Beijing.[10] On November 27, Uniq commenced their first promotions in Taiwan and held a press conference on December 1.[11] Uniq's reality show The Best Debut began airing on December 2 on the Chinese online video platform, iQiyi, for three episodes.[12]

2015: EOEO and Japanese Debut

In January 2015, Uniq became endorsers for Xtep, a Chinese athletic brand. In February 2015, Uniq began promoting a Chinese beauty shop, Mix-Box, replacing Ko Chen-tung as the official endorser.[13]

Uniq held their first fanmeet in Thailand in Bangkok on March 7.[14]

On April 6 Yuehua Entertainment will aide in promotions in South Korea.[15][16] On April 9, Yuehua Entertainment announced UNIQ's comeback with their first mini album titled "EOEO".[17] Uniq made their official comeback in South Korea on April 22 and held their first comeback broadcast performance on MBC's Show Champion, performing their title track "EOEO" and "Listen to Me". On April 23, Uniq made their official comeback in China, performing "Listen to Me" at the KU Music Asian Music Awards. They were also awarded with KU Music Asian Music Awards' "Best New Artist" the same day.[18] On April 24, Uniq released their mini album and the official music video for "EOEO". After the release of "EOEO", the music video reached number 3 on the YinYueTai Weekly MV Chart.[19]

On May 22, Uniq released the official music video for their follow up track "Luv Again".[20] UNIQ achieved their first music show award on CCTV's Global Chinese Music on May 23.[21][22] Uniq holds the record for most wins on Global Chinese Music Chart with Three wins by non-live voting; Three wins by live voting, beating the record previously held by EXO-M in 2014 (Three wins by non-live voting; Two wins by live voting).[23]

Uniq held their first showcases in Japan on July 19 and July 20 in Osaka and Tokyo respectively marking their debut in Japan.[24]

In December, Uniq began to endorse Dr. Bear, a Chinese candy brand.

To commemorate their one year since debut, Uniq released their second digital album, "Best Friend", on October 16.[25] Uniq announced their 1st Anniversary Tour to be held in Beijing, Shanghai, and Japan. Uniq returned to Japan in November holding fanmeets across the country in Nagoya, Osaka, Fukuoka before ending the Japan tour in Tokyo. At this time, they released a special Japanese single, Best Friend, which includes the Japanese, Korean and Instrumental versions of "Best Friend."[26] UNIQ concluded the tour in Beijing on November 28. The Shanghai stop was postponed, however a new date was never announced.

On December 7, was launched "Erase Your Little Sadness." On December 28 UNIQ released "Happy New Year", with labelmate, Cosmic Girls, making a guest appearance in the music video.[27] The song debuted at #4 position in China V Chart.[28]

2016: China and Japan Promotion

Uniq began Inke endorsements in February, a Chinese live-streaming app.[29]

In February 2016, American magazine Teen Vogue published an article on the group with the title "12 Major Boy Bands to Fill the One Direction-Shaped Hole in Your Heart", Teen Vogue speaks just as glowingly for Uniq, stating that their song "EOEO" is a "body-roll-worthy jam with punchy rap deliveries and a slick sax."[30][31] On March 24, 2016, the group released the song "My Dream" for the soundtrack of the movie MBA Partners, debuting at #3 position in China V Chart.[32] Yixuan, Wenhan and Sungjoo went on a two-week-long roadshow in 14 cities to promote the movie.

On June 25, Uniq held their first fanmeet in Sao Paulo, Brazil.[33]

Uniq released a Japanese single in December 2016, "Falling in Love".[34] Japanese versions of "Falling in Love" and "Listen to Me" are included in the single.[35] UNIQ held a Live Meet and Greet in Japan on December 10, and a fan signing and photo event on December 11.[36]

2017–present

On January 19, 2017, the group released the single "Happy New Year 2017". The song was written by Zhou Yixuan and brings the freshness of the year that begins. Yibo was unable to participate in the music video and the recording of the song due to scheduling conflicts. In the MV, Yixuan, Sungjoo, Wenhan, and Seungyoun assembled a snowman that represents Yibo.[37]

Uniq had two singles "Never Left" and "Next Mistake" released on April 19, 2018. [38]

In 2018, Yibo was a dance mentor for China's version of Produce 101.

In 2019, Wenhan became a contestant of Idol Producer (season 2) by iQiYi, mentored by EXO's Lay, Li Ronghao, Jolin Tsai, MC Jin, After Journey and Seventeen's The8; while Yixuan competed in Youku's All for One, mentored by Kinjaz' Jawn Ha, Miss A's Fei, and S.H.E's Selina. Wenhan and Yixuan both won in the finals, and debuted with UNINE and New Storm respectively.

In 2019, Yibo was in a Chinese drama where he was one of the male leads along side Chinese Idol and fellow male lead Xiao Zhan named The Untamed (TV series) which aired from June 27 – August 20, 2019

On March 20, Seungyoun was revealed to be a contestant of Produce X 101. On July 20, Seungyoun placed 5th overall and became a member of X1. X1 debuted in August 27th 2019.[39]

Members

Discography

Extended plays
Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales
KOR
[40]
EOEO
Track listing
  1. "EOEO"
  2. "Luv Again"
  3. "Listen To Me"
  4. "Falling In Love"
  5. "Born To Fight"
 7

Singles
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
CHN
Baidu
[42]		 CHN
Billboard
[43]		 KOR
Gaon
[44]		 US
World
[45]
"Falling In Love" 2014 ——294— EOEO
"EOEO" 2015 ———16
"Luv Again" ————
"Best Friend" —24—— Non-album singles
"Happy New Year" 84——
"Falling In Love"
(Japanese Ver.)		 2016 ————
"Happy New Year 2017" 2017 ————
"Never Left" 2018 ————
"Next Mistake" ————
"Monster" ————
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Soundtracks
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
CHN
Billboard
[46]
"Born To Fight" 2014 — Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles OST
  • Released: October 23, 2014
"Celebrate" — Penguins of Madagascar OST
  • Released: November 10, 2014
"Erase Your Little Sadness" 2015 12 The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water OST
  • Released: December 7, 2015
"My Dream" 2016 3 MBA Partners OST
  • Released: March 24, 2016
"告白情歌" 2017 — Once Again OST
  • Released: August 7, 2017
"My Special" 2018 One And Another Him OST
  • Released: August 3, 2018
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Other charted songs
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
CHN
Billboard
[47]
"Happy New Year (UNIQ version)" 2015 22 Non-album single

Production credits
Year Album Song Lyrics by With
2014 Falling in Love "Falling in Love" (Chinese version) Yixuan Matthew Heath, GG Riggs, Wang Ya Jun
"Falling in Love" (Korean version) Sungjoo Matthew Heath, GG Riggs
Seungyoun
2015 EOEO "EOEO" (Chinese version) Yixuan Deanfluenza
Wenhan
"EOEO" (Korean version) Seungyoun
"Luv Again" (Chinese version) Yixuan Francis Sooho Kim, DJ Nure
Wenhan
"Luv Again" (Korean version) Seungyoun
"Listen to Me" (Chinese version) Yixuan Atozzio, Jarah Lafayette Gibson, Wang Ya Jun
"Listen to Me" (Korean version) Seungyoun Atozzio, Jarah Lafayette Gibson
Best Friend "Best Friend" (Chinese version) Yixuan N/A
Wenhan
"Best Friend" (Korean version) Sungjoo
Seungyoun
微公益 "One More Love" (益起爱) Yixuan Jeffrey Kong
The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water OST "Erase Your Little Sadness" Yixuan Xiao Ke
Seungyoun
2016 MBA Partners OST "My Dream" Yixuan Jeon Changyeop, Chun Joonkyu
2017 Happy New Year 2017 "Happy New Year 2017" Yixuan N/A

Music videos
Year Music video Length
2014 "Falling in Love" (Chinese version) 3:40
"Falling in Love" (Korean version) 3:40
"Born To Fight" 3:04
"Falling In Love" (English version) 3:35
"Celebrate" 3:17
"Celebrate" (Dance version) 3:11
2015 "EOEO" (Korean version) 3:12
"EOEO" (Chinese version) 3:12
"EOEO" (Dance version) 3:09
"Luv Again" (Korean version) 3:42
"Luv Again" (Chinese version) 3:42
"Best Friend" (Korean version) 3:06
"Best Friend" (Chinese version) 3:06
"Erase Your Little Sad" 3:38
"Happy New Year" 4:05
"Happy New Year" (UNIQ version) 4:10
2016 "My Dream" 4:05
2017 "Happy New Year 2017" 3:40

Awards
Year Award Category Nominated work Result
2014 2015 iQiyi Awards Most Anticipated Award[48] Uniq Won
2015 Apollo Music Awards Best Movie Soundtrack Born to Fight Won
International K-Music Awards 2015 Best Choreography E.O.E.O Won
Asia Billboard Awards Popular Group Award Uniq Won
Tencent Beijing App Awards Most Promising Group of the Year (Asia) Uniq Won
KU Music Asian Music Awards Best New Artist[49] Uniq Won
MTV Europe Music Awards Best Artist in Mainland China & Hong Kong Uniq Nominated
2016 iQiyi Awards Award Uniq Won
2017 17th Top Chinese Music Annual Festival New Force Idol Yibo Won
2017 Asian Influence Awards Best New Actor[50] Yibo Won
2017 Asian Influence Awards New Fashion Figure Yixuan Won
2017 IFeng Fashion Choice (2017年度票选) Netizens’ Favorite New Actor (网友最爱新晋演员) Yibo Won
gollark: Here's a picture of me capturing it.
gollark: I used applied energistics spatial IO to "borrow" the end exit portal and shove it in my basement, along with that end gateway in the background.
gollark: I made a self-sustaining baguette generator which also produces free energy, because Minecraft has none of that "conservation of matter" nonsense.
gollark: I really don't understand why they wrote their own serialization format personally.
gollark: Minecraft apparently has issues with NBT data growing too large.

References
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