TVXQ

TVXQ

TVXQ, an acronym for Tong Vfang Xien Qi (東方神起), is a quintet South Korean boy band formed under SM Entertainment, and later debuted under Avex Trax in Japan. TVXQ is one of the most popular groups in Asia. Its five members specialize in the areas of singing, dance, a cappella, acting, and pop with an R&B and hip-hop vibe. Since debut, the group gained a great popularity in South Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan, and other East Asian countries.[1][2].
TVXQ fans use various versions of the group's name in different countries. In South Korea, the group is known as Dong Bang Shin Gi (동방신기), abbreviated as DBSG or DBSK, while the Japanese equivalent of the group's name is Tōhōshinki, abbreviated as THSK. TVXQ, the acronym based on the Chinese counterpart of their name Tong Vfang Xien Qi, is the abbreviation officially used on all advertisements and products outside of Japan. Their name roughly translates as "Rising Gods of the East." (동방의 신이 일어나다.)[3]

Musical style

Although TVXQ was initially marketed as an a cappella group, most of the group's music is mainstream K-pop or J-pop. Their debut single "Hug" was a bubblegum pop song, where as their follow up single "The Way U Are" was a dance/R&B number, complete with stylized outfits and choreographed dance moves. Their third major single release, "믿어요" (I Believe), in contrast, was a ballad. TVXQ concluded the year with a Christmas album that also had an a cappella version of "Jesus, Joy Of Man's Desiring". With their releases in 2004, the group showed a versatility in style and has managed not to be permanently typecast as a certain "genre style" (as opposed to Fly to the Sky's R&Bs or Koyote's dance songs).
With consecutive releases, they have not moved from this formula, as their second and third albums have had a similar mixture without moving outside of the mainstream label. The second album's singles, for example, included a dance song (their first release) and a ballad (their follow up). The third album's releases have been dance, ballad and pop tracks. The group also recorded a cappella tracks for official albums released in both Korea and Japan, in which they rearrange original songs as a cappella versions. In the 13th single released in Japan, TVXQ arranged their debut single 'Hug' as a cappella track and performed it in their 2nd Live Tour in Japan.
In Japan, the group's image and music has shifted towards a different market from the one in South Korea. Owing to their more mature fan base in Japan, TVXQ has gravitated towards a cappella and melodic pop songs rather than the heavy and fast pop tunes, coupled with intensive dance choreography, that are commonly seen in their usual hits in South Korea.