T-ara (; ko, 티아라) are a South Korean
girl group
A girl group is a music act featuring several female singers who generally harmonize together. The term "girl group" is also used in a narrower sense in the United States to denote the wave of American female pop music singing groups, many of who ...
formed by
MBK Entertainment
MBK Entertainment (), was a South Korean entertainment company established by Kim Kwang-soo.
The company was originally founded in 1999 as GM Planning. The company was absorbed by Mnet Media in 2006, following Kim Kwang-soo joint with CJ Group a ...
in 2009, consists of four members:
Qri,
Eunjung,
Hyomin
Park Sun-young (born May 30, 1989), known professionally as Hyomin, is a South Korean singer, songwriter and actress. She is a member of South Korean girl group T-ara, which went on to become one of the best-selling girl groups of all time and ...
and
Jiyeon. T-ara's career is marked by
hook-heavy dance-pop
Dance-pop is a popular music subgenre that originated in the late 1970s to early 1980s. It is generally uptempo music intended for nightclubs with the intention of being danceable but also suitable for contemporary hit radio. Developing from a ...
music, a result of their close partnership with composer
Shinsadong Tiger
Lee Ho-yang (born June 3, 1983), known professionally as Shinsadong Tiger, is a South Korean music producer and songwriter. Even after debuting in 2001 at the age of 18, he has worked many odd jobs to fund his music career. He has become a promi ...
. A broad array of visual concepts have earned the group a "chameleon-like" reputation. The group has achieved commercial success in several regions in Asia including South Korea and China, with their 2011 single "
Roly-Poly" being one of the
most downloaded domestic singles since 2010.
T-ara made their debut in July 2009 with the single "Lie" (거짓말), following line-up changes due to creative differences; their debut studio album ''
Absolute First Album
''Absolute First Album'' is the first studio album and debut Korean release by South Korean girl group T-ara. It was released on November 27, 2009, through Core Contents Media. T-ara sought to showcase "two different charms" through ''Absolute Fir ...
'' was released in December 2009 to critical and commercial success, and spawned the hit singles "
TTL (Time to Love)
''Absolute First Album'' is the first studio album and debut Korean release by South Korean girl group T-ara. It was released on November 27, 2009, through Core Contents Media. T-ara sought to showcase "two different charms" through ''Absolute Fir ...
", "
Bo Peep Bo Peep
"Bo Peep Bo Peep" is a song by South Korean girl group T-ara. It is the first lead track (of two) from the album ''Absolute First Album'', the other being "Like The First Time" (Korean: 처음처럼). The song won 5 weekly number one awards on K ...
", and "You Drive Me Crazy". Both their debut Japanese single and
studio album
An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as Digital distribution#Music, digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early ...
reached number one on the ''
Oricon
, established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan and Western music. It started as, which was founded by Sōkō Koike in Nov ...
'' weekly charts and were subsequently certified Gold. They subsequently gained nationwide recognition after releasing "Roly-Poly" in 2011, which went on to become the ''
Gaon'' chart's best-selling single of the year. At the height of K-pop's popularity in Japan, T-ara signed onto management agency J-Rock for $4.7 million—reportedly the highest figure of any Korean girl group expanding into the territory at the time. T-ara's late-2011 Korean release ''
Black Eyes'' spawned three consecutive number ones: "Cry Cry", "We Were in Love" and "
Lovey-Dovey".
In 2012, T-ara experienced a dip in popularity as the group faced accusations of internal discord, resulting in
Hwayoung's immediate departure with Areum following a year after. T-ara's later material was released to varying degrees of success before the group began focusing on promotional activities in China, where they attracted attention for their cover of Chopstick Brothers' "
Little Apple" in 2014. T-ara's final release as six members was tentatively scheduled for May 2017, ahead of
Soyeon and
Boram
Jeon Bo-ram (born March 22, 1986), referred to as Boram, is a South Korean singer and actress. She originally debuted as a solo artist, releasing four singles in 2008, before eventually becoming a member of girl group T-ara in 2009. The gro ...
's expiring contracts; however, conflicts with their management delayed ''
What's My Name?'' until June 2017, effectively ending their involvement.
Qri,
Eunjung,
Hyomin
Park Sun-young (born May 30, 1989), known professionally as Hyomin, is a South Korean singer, songwriter and actress. She is a member of South Korean girl group T-ara, which went on to become one of the best-selling girl groups of all time and ...
and
Jiyeon had previously extended their terms with MBK Entertainment until December 31, 2017.
On January 3, 2018, T-ara went on an indefinite hiatus in order to allow the members to pursue their solo careers.
T-ara reunited after four years and released their first independent album, ''
Re:T-ara'', in November 2021.
History
2009–2010: Formation, debut and ''Absolute First Album''
The original pre-debut five T-ara members (Jiae, Jiwon,
Eunjung,
Hyomin
Park Sun-young (born May 30, 1989), known professionally as Hyomin, is a South Korean singer, songwriter and actress. She is a member of South Korean girl group T-ara, which went on to become one of the best-selling girl groups of all time and ...
and
Jiyeon) trained together for three years under
Mnet Media
Stone Music Entertainment (Hangul: 스톤 뮤직 엔터테인먼트), is a South Korean music distribution company under CJ ENM, along with music streaming store Genie Music. It was one of the largest co-publisher companies in South Korea.
The ...
.
The meaning behind the group's name, which is based on the word "
tiara
A tiara (from la, tiara, from grc, τιάρα) is a jeweled head ornament. Its origins date back to ancient Greece and Rome. In the late 18th century, the tiara came into fashion in Europe as a prestigious piece of jewelry to be worn by women ...
", comes from the idea that they will become the "queens of the music industry". In April 2009, they released their first song "Joheun Saram (Ver. 1)" (좋은 사람, "Good Person") for the ''
Cinderella Man
''Cinderella Man'' is a 2005 American biographical sports drama film directed by Ron Howard, titled after the nickname of world heavyweight boxing champion James J. Braddock and inspired by his life story. The film was produced by Howard, Penn ...
'' soundtrack.
[ Jiyeon teamed up with labelmates SeeYa and ]Davichi
Davichi () is a South Korean pop duo formed in 2008. The duo consists of vocalists Lee Hae-ri and Kang Min-kyung. Their name, "Davichi", is derived from the Korean phrase "shining over everything" ( 다 비치).
The duo has released three studi ...
for a collaboration single titled "Yeoseong Shidae" (여성시대, "Women's Generation"), which was released in May 2009.
In June 2009, Mnet Media announced that Jiae and Jiwon would be leaving T-ara due to differences in music style. The first new member to be added to the group was Boram
Jeon Bo-ram (born March 22, 1986), referred to as Boram, is a South Korean singer and actress. She originally debuted as a solo artist, releasing four singles in 2008, before eventually becoming a member of girl group T-ara in 2009. The gro ...
, the daughter of singer Jeon Young-rok and actress Lee Mi-young. Soyeon, a former trainee of SM Entertainment who was supposed to be the leader of Girls' Generation
Girls' Generation (), also known as SNSD, is a South Korean girl group formed by SM Entertainment. The group is composed of eight members: Taeyeon, Sunny, Tiffany, Hyoyeon, Yuri, Sooyoung, Yoona, and Seohyun. Originally a nine-piece ensembl ...
, and Qri were added to T-ara three weeks prior to debut. In early July 2009, the group was moved from Mnet Media to its subsidiary company Core Contents Media.
T-ara made their debut on MBC's ''Radio Star'' talk show on July 29, 2009. Their first performance was on Mnet
M-Net (an abbreviation of Electronic Media Network) is a South African pay television channel established by Naspers in 1986. The channel broadcasts both local and international programming, including general entertainment, children's series, ...
's ''M Countdown
''M Countdown'' () is a South Korean music program broadcast by Mnet. The show features appearances by popular music artists who also perform live on stage. It is broadcast from CJ E&M Center Studio in Sangam-dong, Mapo District, Seoul.
Bro ...
'' music show on July 30, where they performed "Geojitmal
''Absolute First Album'' is the first studio album and debut Korean release by South Korean girl group T-ara. It was released on November 27, 2009, through Core Contents Media. T-ara sought to showcase "two different charms" through ''Absolute Fir ...
" (거짓말, "Lies") and "Norabollae?" (놀아볼래?, "Wanna Play?") from their debut single. Their debut was looked upon negatively by webpostings, where people stated that it was lipsynched and commented that it seemed like an "elementary school" performance. The group announced afterwards that future performances would be live. In September 2009, Eunjung, Soyeon, Hyomin and Jiyeon collaborated with labelmates Kwangsu, Jihyuk, and Geonil of Supernova
A supernova is a powerful and luminous explosion of a star. It has the plural form supernovae or supernovas, and is abbreviated SN or SNe. This transient astronomical event occurs during the last evolutionary stages of a massive star or when ...
for the single "TTL (Time to Love)
''Absolute First Album'' is the first studio album and debut Korean release by South Korean girl group T-ara. It was released on November 27, 2009, through Core Contents Media. T-ara sought to showcase "two different charms" through ''Absolute Fir ...
". It was released on September 15, 2009, and became both groups' first number one song as it topped many of the online charts. T-ara and Supernova collaborated again for "TTL Listen 2
''Absolute First Album'' is the first studio album and debut Korean release by South Korean girl group T-ara. It was released on November 27, 2009, through Core Contents Media. T-ara sought to showcase "two different charms" through ''Absolute Fir ...
", a sequel to "TTL (Time to Love)", which was released on October 9, 2009, and included all the members from both groups.
T-ara released their debut studio album, ''Absolute First Album
''Absolute First Album'' is the first studio album and debut Korean release by South Korean girl group T-ara. It was released on November 27, 2009, through Core Contents Media. T-ara sought to showcase "two different charms" through ''Absolute Fir ...
'', on November 27, 2009. In order to determine the album's title track, Core Contents Media held a survey in which the public had to choose between "Bo Peep Bo Peep
"Bo Peep Bo Peep" is a song by South Korean girl group T-ara. It is the first lead track (of two) from the album ''Absolute First Album'', the other being "Like The First Time" (Korean: 처음처럼). The song won 5 weekly number one awards on K ...
" or "Cheoeum Cheoreom" (처음처럼, "Like the First Time"). 9,000 people took the survey on various music portals with 53% (4,770 people) choosing "Cheoeum Cheoreom" over "Bo Peep Bo Peep". However, the latter was promoted on music shows instead for unknown reasons. "Bo Peep Bo Peep" peaked at number four on the '' Gaon'' chart, while "Cheoeum Cheoreom" peaked at number ten. They held their comeback performance on ''Music Bank
Music Bank may refer to:
* ''Music Bank'' (TV program), a South Korean music program by KBS
**''Music Bank World Tour
The ''Music Bank'' World Tour is a worldwide live concert tour of South Korean music show ''Music Bank'' by the Korean Broad ...
'' on December 4, 2009. At the 24th Golden Disk Awards, T-ara was awarded Rookie of the Year along with girl group 4minute
4Minute (, often stylized as 4MINUTE) was a South Korean girl group formed in 2009 by Cube Entertainment. The members of the group were Son Ji-hyun, Nam Ji-hyun, Heo Ga-yoon, Jeon Ji-yoon, Hyuna, Kim Hyuna and Kwon So-hyun. The group was known ...
.
The group won their first-ever music show award with "Bo Peep Bo Peep" on the New Year's Day episode of ''Music Bank''. The song went on to win five awards in total: two on ''Music Bank'' and three on ''Inkigayo
''Inkigayo'' ( ko, 인기가요; English title: ''The Music Trend'', previously ''Popular Song'') is a South Korean music program broadcast by SBS. It airs live every Sunday. The show features some of the latest and most popular artists who p ...
'', earning them a "Triple Crown". Later in January 2010, the group announced promotions for their follow up single, "Cheoeum Cheoreom", which ended quickly as Soyeon was diagnosed with H1N1
In virology, influenza A virus subtype H1N1 (A/H1N1) is a subtype of influenza A virus. Major outbreaks of H1N1 strains in humans include the Spanish flu, the 1977 Russian flu pandemic and the 2009 swine flu pandemic. It is an orthomyxovirus ...
. The same month, T-ara made a cameo appearance on the seventh and eight episodes of '' God of Study'', in which Jiyeon played a main role.
In February 2010, the group announced a re-release
In the music industry, a reissue (also re-release, repackage or re-edition) is the release of an album or single which has been released at least once before, sometimes with alterations or additions.
Reasons for reissue
New audio formats
Reco ...
of their debut album under the title ''Breaking Heart
''Absolute First Album'' is the first studio album and debut Korean release by South Korean girl group T-ara. It was released on November 27, 2009, through Core Contents Media. T-ara sought to showcase "two different charms" through ''Absolute Fir ...
''. The two lead singles, "Neo Ttaemune Michyeo" (너 때문에 미쳐; "I Go Crazy Because of You") and "Naega Neomu Apa" (내가 너무 아파, "I'm Really Hurt"), were digitally released on February 23, 2010, and peaked at number one and number thirty-one on the '' Gaon'' chart, respectively.
T-ara held their comeback performance on the same day on ''M Countdown
''M Countdown'' () is a South Korean music program broadcast by Mnet. The show features appearances by popular music artists who also perform live on stage. It is broadcast from CJ E&M Center Studio in Sangam-dong, Mapo District, Seoul.
Bro ...
'', and won several music awards for "Neo Ttaemune Michyeo" over the course of their promotions: two consecutive Mutizen wins on ''Inkigayo'' and one first place award on ''M Countdown''. ''Breaking Heart'' was released physically on March 3, 2010, peaking at number two on the weekly ''Gaon'' chart and number thirty-five on the yearly chart; selling 40,695 copies. After promotions for "Neo Ttaemune Michyeo" ended, T-ara performed "Naega Neomu Apa" on music shows until early April 2010. In June 2010, the group donated all the proceeds of the World Cup
A world cup is a global sporting competition in which the participant entities – usually international teams or individuals representing their countries – compete for the title of world champion. The event most associated with the concept i ...
merchandise sold on their online clothing shop T-ara Dot Com to a charity for African children. On July 16, 2010, T-ara representatives announced the addition of Hwayoung Ryu as the seventh member of the group. The reason given was that with so many solo projects, they would be able to have a more complete lineup for T-ara when individual members were filming or doing other appearances. They also stated that it would allow the members to undertake more solo activities, and would give them all some relief from their heavy schedules.
In November 2010, the group was in the third season of the reality show ''Hello Baby
''Hello Baby'' () is a South Korean reality show where celebrities experience parenthood by raising children ages 5 and under. The main purpose is to see whether or not the celebrities make "good" parents.
The show aired for seven seasons, and ...
'', in which they took care of Moon Mason
Mason Moon Moorhouse (born March 21, 2007) is a Canadian-Korean child actor and model. Following his acting debut as an infant in the movie '' Baby and I'', he kept up media appearances by hosting a weekly TV show called '' Good Daddy'' and the ...
and his two brothers. T-ara released the digital download for "Wae Ireoni
''Temptastic'' is the debut extended play by the South Korean girl group T-ara. It was released on December 1, 2010 through digital retailers by Core Contents Media. The EP marked the first appearance of the group's seventh member, Ryu Hwayoung.
...
" (왜 이러니, "Why Are You Being Like This"), the lead single for their first extended play, ''Temptastic
''Temptastic'' is the debut extended play by the South Korean girl group T-ara. It was released on December 1, 2010 through digital retailers by Core Contents Media. The EP marked the first appearance of the group's seventh member, Ryu Hwayoung.
...
'', on November 23, 2010.
''Temptastic'' was released in digital format on December 1, 2010, along with their second single, "Yayaya
''Temptastic'' is the debut extended play by the South Korean girl group T-ara. It was released on December 1, 2010 through digital retailers by Core Contents Media. The EP marked the first appearance of the group's seventh member, Ryu Hwayoung.
...
". The album's physical release was delayed until December 3 due to the bombardment of Yeonpyeong
A bombardment is an attack by artillery fire or by dropping bombs from aircraft on fortifications, combatants, or towns and buildings.
Prior to World War I, the term was only applied to the bombardment of defenseless or undefended objects, ...
earlier in November 2010.
T-ara held their first comeback performance through ''Music Bank'' on December 3 and began promotions with their new seventh member, Hwayoung, and new leader, Boram, and received two consecutive wins for "Wae Ireoni" and "Yayaya" on ''M Countdown''.
2011–2012: Breakthrough and bullying controversy
T-ara's second EP ''John Travolta Wannabe
''John Travolta Wannabe'' is the second extended play by South Korean girl group T-ara. The EP's repackage edition is called ''Roly-Poly in Copacabana'' and it was released as a limited edition on August 2, 2011.
History
It was announced on June ...
'' was released on June 29, 2011. It charted at number three on the Gaon Album Chart and has sold 30,116 copies as of 2011. The EP's only single, " Roly-Poly", peaked at number two on the Gaon Digital Chart and number one on the Korea K-Pop Hot 100
The K-pop Hot 100 is a music singles chart in South Korea, launched by '' Billboard'' in conjunction with ''Billboard'' Korea () on August 25, 2011. It is the second Asian ''Billboard'' chart after the Japan Hot 100. The chart used the same multi ...
chart. The single became a breakthrough success, becoming the top-grossing and highest-selling single of 2011 in South Korea with over four digital million units sold. "Roly-Poly" was awarded Best Music Video at the 3rd Melon Music Awards and Singer of the Year (July) at the 1st Gaon Chart Awards, and was nominated Best Dance Performance by a Female Group and Song of the Year at the 13th Mnet Asian Music Awards.
The group released a limited edition re-issue
In the music industry, a reissue (also re-release, repackage or re-edition) is the release of an album or single which has been released at least once before, sometimes with alterations or additions.
Reasons for reissue
New audio formats
Reco ...
of ''John Travolta Wannabe'', titled ''Roly-Poly in Copacabana'', on August 2, 2011. The title track, "Roly-Poly in Copacabana", is a eurodance
Euro-Dance (sometimes referred to as Euro-NRG, Euro-electronica or Euro) is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in the late 1980s in Europe. It combines many elements of hip hop, techno, Hi-NRG, house music, and Euro-Disco. This ...
remix of "Roly-Poly", named after the song " Copacabana" which was popularized in the 80's in Jongno disco clubs.[ The album peaked at number three, while the single peaked at number forty and forty-five on the ''Gaon'' and ''Billboard'' Korea K-Pop Hot 100 charts. The group began follow up promotions for the remixed single on '']Music Bank
Music Bank may refer to:
* ''Music Bank'' (TV program), a South Korean music program by KBS
**''Music Bank World Tour
The ''Music Bank'' World Tour is a worldwide live concert tour of South Korean music show ''Music Bank'' by the Korean Broad ...
''. T-ara released their debut Japanese single "Bo Peep Bo Peep
"Bo Peep Bo Peep" is a song by South Korean girl group T-ara. It is the first lead track (of two) from the album ''Absolute First Album'', the other being "Like The First Time" (Korean: 처음처럼). The song won 5 weekly number one awards on K ...
" on September 28, which peaked at number one on the ''Oricon'' weekly singles chart with over copies sold,[ making them the first non-Japanese girl group to rank at number one for a debut single in ''Oricon'' history. The single peaked at number one on the ''Billboard Japan'' Hot 100, and was certified Gold by the RIAJ for both full-length cellphone downloads and PC downloads.
]
In November 2011, T-ara released their third extended play '' Black Eyes'' which charted at number two on the ''Gaon'' charts. The album was preceded by the release of "Cry Cry", which peaked at number one on the ''Billboard Korea'' K-Pop Hot 100 and won two consecutive first-place awards on ''M Countdown''. The music video for "Cry Cry" was noted for having a billion Korean won
The Korean won ( ko, 원 (圓), ) or Korean Empire won (Korean: 대한제국 원), was the official currency of the Korean Empire between 1902 and 1910. It was subdivided into 100 ''jeon'' (; ko, 전 (錢), ).
Etymology
Won is a c ...
production budget and a thirty-minute drama story line. The group released their second Japanese single, a remake of "Yayaya
''Temptastic'' is the debut extended play by the South Korean girl group T-ara. It was released on December 1, 2010 through digital retailers by Core Contents Media. The EP marked the first appearance of the group's seventh member, Ryu Hwayoung.
...
" from their ''Temptastic
''Temptastic'' is the debut extended play by the South Korean girl group T-ara. It was released on December 1, 2010 through digital retailers by Core Contents Media. The EP marked the first appearance of the group's seventh member, Ryu Hwayoung.
...
'' EP, on November 30. The single peaked at number seven on the ''Oricon'' charts and number six on the ''Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
'' Japan Hot 100
The ''Billboard Japan'' Hot 100 is a record chart in Japan for songs. It has been compiled by ''Billboard Japan'' and '' Hanshin Contents Link'' since February 2008. The chart is updated every Wednesday at Billboard-japan.com ( JST) and every Thur ...
.
In December 2011, Core Contents Media announced that T-ara's third leader Hyomin
Park Sun-young (born May 30, 1989), known professionally as Hyomin, is a South Korean singer, songwriter and actress. She is a member of South Korean girl group T-ara, which went on to become one of the best-selling girl groups of all time and ...
would be passing on her leadership to Soyeon. The group performed a three-day mini-concert tour titled X-mas Premium Live, that was held at the Shinagawa Stella Hall in Tokyo
Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, with an estimated 37.468 ...
, the Zepp
The Zepp music halls are a group of Japanese music venues covering every area of the country. They play host to many international tours and are a popular stop among Japanese musicians. Each venue takes the Zepp name, along with the city in which ...
in Nagoya
is the largest city in the Chūbu region, the fourth-most populous city and third most populous urban area in Japan, with a population of 2.3million in 2020. Located on the Pacific coast in central Honshu, it is the capital and the most pop ...
, and the Zepp in Osaka
is a designated city in the Kansai region of Honshu in Japan. It is the capital of and most populous city in Osaka Prefecture, and the third most populous city in Japan, following Special wards of Tokyo and Yokohama. With a population of 2. ...
. T-ara rose to become the second biggest girl group in Korea in 2011 by ranking at number eight on the Gallup Korea
Gallup Korea () or Gallup Korea Research Institute () is a South Korean research company. Founded by Park Moo-ik in 1974, the company became a member of Gallup International Association in 1997. It is best known for conducting public surveys on ...
poll. T-ara and Davichi
Davichi () is a South Korean pop duo formed in 2008. The duo consists of vocalists Lee Hae-ri and Kang Min-kyung. Their name, "Davichi", is derived from the Korean phrase "shining over everything" ( 다 비치).
The duo has released three studi ...
released their Christmastide
Christmastide is a season of the liturgical year in most Christian churches. In some, Christmastide is identical to Twelvetide.
For the Catholic Church, Lutheran Church, Anglican Church and Methodist Church, Christmastide begins on 24 December ...
ballad, "Uri Saranghaetjanha" (우리 사랑했잖아, "We Were in Love") on December 23, 2011; which was later included on T-ara's ''Funky Town'' re-release album. The single reached number one on the '' Gaon'' Chart and peaked at number two on the ''Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
'' Korea K-Pop Hot 100
The K-pop Hot 100 is a music singles chart in South Korea, launched by '' Billboard'' in conjunction with ''Billboard'' Korea () on August 25, 2011. It is the second Asian ''Billboard'' chart after the Japan Hot 100. The chart used the same multi ...
. Both groups performed the song weekly on SBS's ''Inkigayo
''Inkigayo'' ( ko, 인기가요; English title: ''The Music Trend'', previously ''Popular Song'') is a South Korean music program broadcast by SBS. It airs live every Sunday. The show features some of the latest and most popular artists who p ...
'' in the midst of T-ara's heavy preparations for their year-end ceremonies.
T-ara re-released ''Black Eyes'' under the title ''Funky Town
"Funkytown" is a song by the American disco/ funk band Lipps Inc., released in 1980 as the second single from their 1979 debut album, '' Mouth to Mouth''. It was successful globally, reaching top spots in places such as the United States, Wes ...
'' on January 3, 2012. The album peaked at number one on the ''Gaon'' weekly album chart and number two on the monthly album chart, selling 76.749 copies. " Lovey-Dovey" was released as the second single from the album, which peaked at number one on both the ''Gaon'' and ''Billboard Korea'' K-pop Hot 100 charts. The single has sold more than 3 million digital copies in South Korea alone. In February, Forbes Korea, in celebration of their ninth year of establishment, reported the year's list of the "Top 40 Power Celebrities". T-ara ranked on the list at number seventeen, thus making them as the third most powerful girl group and the seventh most powerful female celebrity in Korea.
In April, Core Contents Media announced that two new members were to be added to T-ara's line-up in July, thus transforming T-ara into a nine-member group. On May 30, 2012, 14-year-old Dani was announced as one of the group's new members. She later starred in the drama version of T-ara's "Day by Day" music video. However, as of August 2016, Dani is still a trainee and has not debuted as a member of T-ara. On June 14, 2012, Core Contents Media introduced 18-year-old Areum as the new ''maknae'' (, youngest member) and last of the group's two new additions.
The group released their first Japanese album ''Jewelry Box
A casket is a decorative box or container that is usually smaller than a chest and is typically decorated. In recent centuries they are often used as boxes for jewelry, but in earlier periods they were also used for keeping important documents an ...
'' on June 6, 2012. The album debuted at number two on the ''Oricon
, established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan and Western music. It started as, which was founded by Sōkō Koike in Nov ...
'' weekly albums chart with sales of over 57,000 copies. They embarked on their first Japanese concert tour T-ara Japan Tour 2012: Jewelry Box in Nagoya
is the largest city in the Chūbu region, the fourth-most populous city and third most populous urban area in Japan, with a population of 2.3million in 2020. Located on the Pacific coast in central Honshu, it is the capital and the most pop ...
on June 19; the tour's attendance was expected to exceed 40,000 people. Four singles had been released prior to the album: "Bo Peep Bo Peep
"Bo Peep Bo Peep" is a song by South Korean girl group T-ara. It is the first lead track (of two) from the album ''Absolute First Album'', the other being "Like The First Time" (Korean: 처음처럼). The song won 5 weekly number one awards on K ...
", "Yayaya
''Temptastic'' is the debut extended play by the South Korean girl group T-ara. It was released on December 1, 2010 through digital retailers by Core Contents Media. The EP marked the first appearance of the group's seventh member, Ryu Hwayoung.
...
", " Roly-Poly" and " Lovey-Dovey". On July 3, T-ara released their fourth extended play, '' Day by Day'', which charted at number five on the ''Gaon'' chart. The title track, " Day by Day", was released as a single on the same day, peaking at number two. The first comeback performance for "Day by Day" was held on July 7, 2012, on ''Music Core'', which was backed by a 70-person orchestra and featured the stage debut of the group's eighth member, Areum.
On July 25 and 26, T-ara held a concert in Japan, with Hwayoung only performing one song due to an alleged leg injury. After the concert, Hyomin took to Twitter
Twitter is an online social media and social networking service owned and operated by American company Twitter, Inc., on which users post and interact with 280-character-long messages known as "tweets". Registered users can post, like, and ...
and posted "There are differences in levels of determination. Let us have more determination", while the other members agreed, with Jiyeon posting "The differences in levels of determination ^^, Always be humble ^^ and sensible ^^ I applaud you, acting genius ^^". Subsequently, Hwayoung tweeted "Sometimes, even determination alone is not enough. At times like these, I feel upset but I trust that it's a blessing in disguise from the heavens. God, you know everything right?", while her sister Hyoyoung wrote "My better half is suffering. My heart hurts. No matter what anyone else says, (Hwayoung), you can get through this". This event caused Korean netizen
The term netizen is a portmanteau of the English words ''internet'' and '' citizen'', as in a "citizen of the net" or "net citizen". It describes a person actively involved in online communities or the Internet in general. s to suspect that there was conflict between the group members. Netizens retweeted the messages and speculated that Hwayoung was being bullied, sparking a huge firestorm of controversy and backlash against the members. When the bullying controversy got out of hand, Core Contents Media abruptly announced Hwayoung's immediate departure on July 30, after being with the group for one year and eight months. CCM's CEO, Kim Kwang-soo, claimed that Hwayoung's contract was terminated because staff members felt her behavior was hurting teamwork,[ and that the bullying controversy was not the reason for her departure. By this point public opinion was almost universally in favor of Hwayoung, and the extreme negative reaction the other members received caused the group to temporarily suspend activities, although the members continued with their individual activities. At the time, both sides of the situation said that there was no bullying, only natural conflicts between the members.
It was later announced that there would be no changes to T-ara's upcoming comeback; however, their agency took the statement back and announced that their comeback would be postponed indefinitely. Their ''Day by Day'' extended play re-issue, ''Mirage'', was eventually released on September 3, 2012. Two singles, "Sexy Love" and "Najgwa Bam (Love All)" (낮과 밤, "Day and Night"), were released from the album on the same day, with "Sexy Love" peaking at number four on the ''Gaon'' charts and number three on the ''Billboard Korea'' K-pop Hot 100 charts. "Najgwa Bam (Love All)" was a collaboration single featuring T-ara's Areum with Gun-ji of Gavy NJ and Shannon.
On September 10, 2012, it was announced that the group would release a best of album in Japan consisting of all of their Korean singles to date (excluding "Day by Day" and "Sexy Love") in celebration of one year since their Japanese debut. The ]album
An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as Digital distribution#Music, digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early ...
was eventually released on October 10. On September 26, T-ara released the Japanese version of "Day by Day", which is mainly composed of scenes from their Korean music videos for that song. In October, T-ara released the Japanese version of "Sexy Love" and shortly after, the group departed to Japan to promote for their upcoming single.
In September 2012, T-ara was offered a 10-Billion Won funding for an asian tour including China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia. With 20 stops, the tour was set hold 10,000~20,000 arena concerts adding up to over 150,000 total attendance.
2013–2014: Subunits, ''Again'', and ''And & End''
T-ara released their sixth Japanese single on March 20, 2013. The A-side "Bunny Style!" is their first single composed specifically for the Japanese market. The single was released in ten different editions each with a different B-side: seven regular editions that contain a solo song by one of the members, and three limited editions which contain a song performed by a sub-unit. To promote the single, the group held special showcases in 10 Japanese cities, starting on February 20, 2013, at the Sapporo Factory
The is a complex that includes a shopping mall, office, multiplex movie theaters, and museum, located in Chūō-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaidō, Japan. The building was formerly a brewery that belonged to the Kaitakushi, the old government of Hokkaidō ...
Atrium and ending on March 9, 2013, at the Seagull Square in Nagasaki. On April 1, 2013, T-ara's Japanese label, EMI Music Japan
, formerly , was one of Japan's leading music companies. It became a wholly owned subsidiary of British music company EMI Group Ltd. on June 30, 2007, after Toshiba sold off its previous 45% stake. Its CEO and president was Kazuhiko Koike. When ...
, was absorbed into Universal Music Japan
, often referred to as just Universal Music Japan or UMJ, is a Japanese subsidiary of the Universal Music Group founded in 1990. It is the largest subsidiary for a foreign company in the country regarding music distribution. The company is resp ...
, became defunct as a company and was renamed to EMI Records Japan
EMI Records Japan was a Japanese record label which operated as a sublabel of Universal Music Japan. Established in April 2013, it was the successor of its previous entity as a company, EMI Music Japan. The sublabel's headquarters was located a ...
. Therefore, all of T-ara's further Japanese promotions will be done through Universal Music Japan.
In early April 2013, it was announced that T-ara would be forming a sub-unit with members Eunjung, Hyomin
Park Sun-young (born May 30, 1989), known professionally as Hyomin, is a South Korean singer, songwriter and actress. She is a member of South Korean girl group T-ara, which went on to become one of the best-selling girl groups of all time and ...
, Jiyeon, and Areum called T-ara N4
T-ara N4 was the first official sub-group of South Korean girl group T-ara, composed of Eunjung, Hyomin, Jiyeon and previously Areum until her departure from the main group in July 2013. The sub-group only released one extended play, ''Jeon W ...
. This is a shortened form of 'T-ara Brand New 4', signifying the transformation of the four members. The sub-unit debuted on April 29, 2013, with the song "Jeon Won Diary
''Jeon Won Diary'' (, also translated as "Countryside Life", "Countryside Diaries" or "Rural Life") is the debut extended play (EP) by South Korean girl group T-ara N4, a sub-unit of T-ara. It was released on April 29, 2013 and was promoted by the ...
" (전원일기), produced by Duble Sidekick
Duble Sidekick () is a South Korean music producer and songwriting duo consisting of lyricist Park Jang-geun and composer Mikey (also known as Chancellor and formerly a member of One Way). The duo was formed in 2010, and rose to fame after produc ...
. T-ara performed at the Nippon Budokan
The , often shortened to simply Budokan, is an indoor arena located in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. It was originally built for the inaugural Olympic judo competition in the 1964 Summer Olympics. While its primary purpose is to host martial arts con ...
on July 13, 2013, to celebrate the release of their second Japanese album ''Treasure Box
''Treasure Box'' (1996) is a horror novel by American writer Orson Scott Card. It takes place in modern-day America.
Plot introduction
The plot details a middle-aged man, Quentin Fears (pronounced "fierce"), who marries a woman who turns out t ...
'' due August 7, 2013. The title for ''Treasure Box'' was revealed on June 15, 2013, along with the album's track list of thirteen songs. The group's concept for the album will be . T-ara released the music video "Painkiller" as a digital single song. The song was a collaboration with T-ara, Davichi, See Ya, 5dolls and Speed. Jiyeon appeared as the main character in the music video.
On July 10, 2013, it was confirmed with a video released by Core Contents Media that Areum would be leaving the group to pursue a solo career "towards the beginning of next year". In August, T-ara released the music video "Bikini" featuring Davichi and Skull. At their Budokan Concert, it was announced that Qri would be the new leader of T-ara. On September 15, Core Contents Media announced that T-ara would hold their long-awaited Korean comeback on October 10. Before their comeback, T-ara, together with Davichi
Davichi () is a South Korean pop duo formed in 2008. The duo consists of vocalists Lee Hae-ri and Kang Min-kyung. Their name, "Davichi", is derived from the Korean phrase "shining over everything" ( 다 비치).
The duo has released three studi ...
, SPEED
In everyday use and in kinematics, the speed (commonly referred to as ''v'') of an object is the magnitude of the change of its position over time or the magnitude of the change of its position per unit of time; it is thus a scalar quanti ...
and The SeeYa
The SeeYa ( ko, 더 씨야; stylized as "The SEEYA") was a South Korean R&B girl group that consisted of Minkyung, Youngjoo, Yoojin and Yeonkyung. They debuted on November 12, 2012 with the single album ''Good To Seeya'' featuring the title tr ...
was holding a concert in Mongolia
Mongolia; Mongolian script: , , ; lit. "Mongol Nation" or "State of Mongolia" () is a landlocked country in East Asia, bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south. It covers an area of , with a population of just 3.3 million, ...
, which attracted a crowd of 20,000 people. On October 6, T-ara performed "Number 9" for the first time at "Hallyu Dream Concert" along with "Sexy Love". "Number Nine" was released with T-ara's mini album ''Again
Again may refer to:
Entertainment
* ''Again'' (video game), a 2009 adventure game for the Nintendo DS
* ''Again!!'' manga
* ''Again!'', a 2011 children's book by Emily Gravett
* ''Again'' (film), a 2015 Japanese film
Music
* Again (band), a ...
'' on October 10. T-ara also released a Japanese album to promote a Japanese movie, ''Jinx'', featuring Hyomin named ''Kioku ~Kimi ga Kureta Michishirube~'', in November. The album was released according to the date on which the movie will premiere.
T-ara had a Korean comeback on December 2 with the song "Do You Know Me". Their concept for this comeback and music video according to theater concept with retro style. They also release a repackage album named ''Again 1977'' which contains the best songs from their album, ''Again''. The group also released a ballad version of "Do You Know Me". On December 13, T-ara released a Christmas song, " Hide & Seek". T-ara was ranked seventh as the group with most number one hit songs on digital music charts in the past decade with 13 songs, despite debuting 4.5 years ago. On January 19, T-ara had their second concert in Chengdu, China, one out of five concerts they planned to stage China in 2014. On February 14, T-ara held a joint concert with label-mates Speed in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. On the 19th of February CCM released a music video for a promotional track from Cho Young Soo's All Star Project with the single titled as "First Love" sung by Hyomin, Jiyeon and Soyeon featuring rapper EB. T-ara had a Japanese comeback with the double A-side single "Lead The Way" and "LA'booN" on March 5, and their third Japanese album ''Gossip Girls
Gossip Center (formerly known as Gossip Girls) is a celebrity news and gossip website owned by Bluefin Media. The site's original content is regularly featured on the homepage of Google News and FoxNews.com, and it reports over 10,000 original ...
'' was released on May 14.
On September 11, T-ara's sixth mini album ''And & End
''And & End'' is the sixth extended play by South Korean girl group T-ara, which was released on September 11, 2014 by Core Contents Media.
Release
On August 6, 2014, it was revealed that the group would be returning with a new album the following ...
'' was released along with two music videos for the title track, "Sugar Free". The song was inspired by EDM
EDM or E-DM may refer to:
Music
* Electronic dance music
* Early Day Miners, American band
Science and technology
* Electric dipole moment
* Electrical discharge machining
* Electronic distance measurement
*Entry, Descent, and landing demonstrat ...
and is part of the Big Room subgenre of electro house
Electro house is a genre of electronic dance music characterized by heavy bass and a tempo around 130 beats per minute. The term has been used to describe the music of many ''DJ Mag'' Top 100 DJs, including Benny Benassi, Skrillex, Steve Aoki ...
music. On September 24, a remix album was released called ''EDM CLUB Sugar Free Edition''. This album included an English version of "Sugar Free", which was the first song T-ara had recorded in English. On October 13, T-ara signed a management contract with influential Chinese entertainment company, Longzhen Culture Development. The contract worth 5 billion KRW (~US$4.8 million). On November 24, T-ara released a Korean/Chinese cover of " Little Apple" by Chopstick Brothers, as well as a music video. This video featured Jiyeon, Eunjung, Qri, and Hyomin, as well as Seunghee from F-ve Dolls
F-ve Dolls ( ko, 파이브돌스; sometimes stylized as F-VE DOLLS, formerly known as 5dolls) was a South Korean girl group formed by Core Contents Media in 2011. The group was composed of six members: Hyoyoung, Seunghee, Yeonkyung, Hyewon, Eunk ...
and Dani. The video hit ́8 millions views within two days on website Tudou. On December 25, T-ara held their first domestic concert named "Dear My Family" at COEX
World Trade Center Seoul (WTC Seoul) () is a building complex centered on the COEX Convention & Exhibition Center (Coex) on Teheranno in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu district of Seoul. It is operated by KITA (Korea International Trade Association). ...
Auditorium in Samseongdong, Seoul. In order to be close with fans and spend a meaningful time with them, the concert was small with 1100 seats. On December 27, T-ara held their concert in Shanghai as the beginning stop of their 2013–2014 China tour.
2015–2016: ''So Good'' and ''Remember''
After their first concert in Korea, T-ara headed to Vietnam for a Mini Concert. On January 9, the group arrived at the airport, where problems occurred which resulted in scheduling changes. Nevertheless, the group's mini-concert, which took place on October 10, drew in more than 3000 Vietnamese and International Fans.
On February 7, 2015, MBK Entertainment debuted a project group known as "TS" with the artists Eunjung, Soyeon, Cho Seunghee, Minkyung (The SeeYa
The SeeYa ( ko, 더 씨야; stylized as "The SEEYA") was a South Korean R&B girl group that consisted of Minkyung, Youngjoo, Yoojin and Yeonkyung. They debuted on November 12, 2012 with the single album ''Good To Seeya'' featuring the title tr ...
), Ki-O, Jongkook and Sejun (SPEED
In everyday use and in kinematics, the speed (commonly referred to as ''v'') of an object is the magnitude of the change of its position over time or the magnitude of the change of its position per unit of time; it is thus a scalar quanti ...
). The group released a winter single, titled "Don't Forget Me."
In March 2015, it was announce that T-ara would be the main performer for Malaysia's Sultan Of Johor Coronation celebrations in Johor Bahru
Johor Bahru (), colloquially referred to as JB, is the capital city of the state of Johor, Malaysia. It is located at the southern end of Peninsular Malaysia,along the north bank of the Straits of Johor, opposite of the city-state Singapore. T ...
. The group will appear at the event alongside Sistar
Sistar (, often stylized as SISTAR) was a South Korean girl group formed in 2010 by Starship Entertainment. The group consisted of Hyolyn, Bora, Soyou and Dasom. They made their official debut with the song " Push Push" on 3 June 2010. Their ...
and The Black Eyed Peas
Black Eyed Peas (also known as The Black Eyed Peas) is an American musical group consisting of rappers will.i.am, apl.de.ap, Taboo. The group's line-up during the height of their popularity in the 2000s featured Fergie, who replaced Kim Hil ...
' Taboo
A taboo or tabu is a social group's ban, prohibition, or avoidance of something (usually an utterance or behavior) based on the group's sense that it is excessively repulsive, sacred, or allowed only for certain persons.''Encyclopædia Britannica ...
, which attracted 50,000 audience.
On June 20, 2015, T-ara began their first China tour, Great China Tour started from Nanjing, Beijing and Hefei. It was the first concert held by T-ara after signing with their new agency Banana Plan, who manages their Chinese promotions. The group performed 22 songs and sold out 4,000 tickets. The next concert on their Great China Tour was held in Guangzhou on December 19, and sold more than 5,000 tickets – making it the second consecutive sold-out concert on the tour.
On July 17, 2015, MBK Entertainment
MBK Entertainment (), was a South Korean entertainment company established by Kim Kwang-soo.
The company was originally founded in 1999 as GM Planning. The company was absorbed by Mnet Media in 2006, following Kim Kwang-soo joint with CJ Group a ...
confirmed that the group will join the summer comeback lineup in the first week of August. On August 3, 2015, T-ara's seventh extended plays
An extended play record, usually referred to as an EP, is a musical recording that contains more tracks than a single but fewer than an album or LP record. , '' So Good'' with title track "So Crazy" was released. It was composed by Brave Brothers, the composer of Hyomin
Park Sun-young (born May 30, 1989), known professionally as Hyomin, is a South Korean singer, songwriter and actress. She is a member of South Korean girl group T-ara, which went on to become one of the best-selling girl groups of all time and ...
's solo debut title track "Nice Body", and surpassed 1 million views in 2 days.
On August 13, T-ara held a press conference for their web-drama "Sweet Temptation" which features a total of 6 episodes for 6 separate stories. The drama was released in October 2015.
On October 15, the website "Insider Monkey" published a list of 16 best selling girl groups of all time where T-ara was placed N°10 with a total of 36.18 million sales recorded. The group continued to make further impact by appear on season 3 of a famous Chinese variety show The Brain
A brain is an organ that serves as the center of the nervous system in all vertebrate and most invertebrate animals. It is located in the head, usually close to the sensory organs for senses such as vision. It is the most complex organ i ...
, making them the 2nd Korean act to appear on this show after Kim Soo-hyun
Kim Soo-hyun (; born February 16, 1988) is a South Korean actor. One of the highest-paid actors in South Korea, his accolades include four Baeksang Arts Awards, two Grand Bell Awards and one Blue Dragon Film Award. From 2012 to 2016 and in ...
, who visited the show during season 1.
On June 4, T-ara participated alongside other artists at the Dream Concert 2016. The group's performance was a remix of Be Peep Bo Peep, Roly Poly and So Crazy, which was well received by the public.
As of 2016, the Dong-a Ilbo
The ''Dong-A Ilbo'' (, literally ''East Asia Daily'') is a newspaper of record in Korea since 1920 with a daily circulation of more than 1.2 million and opinion leaders as its main readers. ''The Dong-A Ilbo'' is the parent company of Dong-A ...
newspaper has published many items on the Korean idol stars who have had influence in the last 20 years based on a poll of 2,000 people in Korea. In the category "Top 14 Favorite Songs", T-ara ranked 14th with the song "Roly-Poly".
On September 9, T-ara performed 3 songs for the IASGO in Seoul.
On September 11, T-ara flew to Japan for their Tokyo Fan-meeting. The "Premium Live Concert" was held the Tokyo Dome City Hall where T-ara performed 7 songs and talked to their fans. T-ara performed twice during the day as the event was divided into 2 parts, one in the afternoon and the other in the evening. T-ara performed their song "Memories" for the first time live.
On September 17, T-ara held their last Concert for their Great China Tour at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai with around 8500 people attending.
On September 29 was the first broadcast of the new Variety Show "Master of Driving" with Hyomin and Eunjung as part of the cast. The show consists of 3 experimented celebrity drivers who will give them driving lessons.
T-ara participated in the Busan One Asia Festival 2016 on the opening performance on October 1. They also took part in Kpop concert on October 4 and performed 8 different songs, with many Chinese and international fans attending and cheering them on.
Following their appearance, T-ara flew to Jeju to perform at the Jeju Olleh Duty Free Shop Concert on the 9th and performed 5 songs such as "Sexy Love" or "I don't want you".
In October 2016, MBK Entertainment announced that T-ara would be releasing a mini-album produced by Duble Sidekick in November. T-ara's eighth extended play
An extended play record, usually referred to as an EP, is a musical recording that contains more tracks than a single but fewer than an album or LP record. , ''Remember
Remember may refer to:
Film and television
* ''Remember?'', a 1939 film starring Robert Taylor and Greer Garson
* ''Remember'' (1926 film), an American silent drama film
* ''Remember'' (2015 film), a Canadian film by Atom Egoyan, starring Chris ...
'', with lead single ''TIAMO'' was released on November 9. The release was followed by 3 fan-signing events.
2017–2019: End of the bullying controversy, ''What's My Name?'' and hiatus
In February 2017, Hwayoung and her twin sister Hyoyoung appeared on a reality show and spoke about the controversy again. Despite Hwayoung having initially claimed that there was no bullying, she now described the situation as having been "hated" and bullied by the other members, how hard everything had been for her and how her sister was the only person who had supported her during the incident. Shortly after the interview aired, a former staff member stepped forwards and alleged that it had actually been the twins who had "bullied" the other members, and released texts that appeared to show Hyoyoung threatening former member Areum with physical harm for not supporting Hwayoung's behaviour. Soon afterwards, more and more staffers came forwards with evidence that Hwayoung had been disrespectful to the other members as well as stylists, and had faked how severe her initial injury was in order to get more sympathy. Hwayoung initially tried to deny the rumours, lashing out at the staffers in return, but eventually admitted that the texts were real. After suffering from an intense backlash, including being removed from several television shows, Hwayoung deleted her Instagram account.
On March 6, 2017, MBK Entertainment announced that T-ara will be releasing their final album in May, with Soyeon and Boram terminating their contracts after its release. Qri, Eunjung, Hyomin, and Jiyeon will stay with the label until December 31, 2017.[ On May 7, MBK Entertainment revealed the group's plans had changed, and that the final album had been rescheduled to release in June 2017, with members Boram and Soyeon not being able to partake due to the expiry of their contracts.] On May 8, it was announced that T-ara's last performance as six-members will be in Taiwan concert on May 13.
The remaining four members continued as a group with releasing their ninth extended plays
An extended play record, usually referred to as an EP, is a musical recording that contains more tracks than a single but fewer than an album or LP record. and last promotional album, '' What's My Name?'' on June 14, 2017. After a five-year period without receiving any awards on music shows, T-ara won first place on ''The Show
Show or The Show may refer to:
Competition, event, or artistic production
* Agricultural show, associated with agriculture and animal husbandry
* Animal show, a judged event in the hobby of animal fancy
** Cat show
** Dog show
** Horse show
** Sp ...
'' on June 20.
T-ara has released track "My Love" on July 15 for KBS 2TV's drama ''Greatest One-Shot''.
On November 4, the group held their first concert in Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam, which reportedly attracted 10,000 attendees. A portion of the ticket sales would be donated to charity in Vietnam in honour of the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and South Korea.
On January 3, 2018, Hyomin took to her Instagram account to announced that she, Jiyeon, Eunjung, and Qri had decided to not renew their contracts with MBK, thus leaving the company. The company later confirmed that the group had left the company, however they did not state that the group had disbanded. MBK Entertainment later confirmed that they had been registered a trademark for T-ara on December 28. The members officially filed documentation outlining grounds for rejection of MBK Entertainment's trademark on January 19. On August 8, MBK Entertainment trademarks for T-ara had been denied by Trademark Act.
2020–present: Reunion and comeback
On October 2, 2020, T-ara held a single reunion performance in the televised Chuseok
''Chuseok'' (; , literally "autumn evening"), also known as ''Hangawi'' (Hangul: ; ; from archaic Korean for "the great middle (of autumn)"), is a major mid-autumn harvest festival and a three-day holiday in South Korea celebrated on the 15th ...
of the SBS online variety program ''MMTG'', performing "Roly-Poly" and "Sexy Love".
In July 2021, T-ara reunited again with an appearance on JTBC's ''Knowing Bros''. On July 29, it was announced through the group's 12th anniversary livestream that they would be making their first comeback in four years before the winter of 2021. Released in collaboration with Dingo Music, the group made their long-awaited comeback with the single album '' Re:T-ara'' on November 15, 2021. The album consists of two tracks: "All Kill" and "Tiki Taka". On November 21, the group held the fan meeting "T-ARA 2021 FAN PARTY"
Members
Jiae and Jiwon left the group in 2009, prior to debut due to creative differences. Boram
Jeon Bo-ram (born March 22, 1986), referred to as Boram, is a South Korean singer and actress. She originally debuted as a solo artist, releasing four singles in 2008, before eventually becoming a member of girl group T-ara in 2009. The gro ...
, Qri, and Soyeon were added to the group shortly before debut single, "Lie". Hwayoung joined the group on July 26, 2010, thus making T-ara a seven-member group. Core Contents Media announced on May 30, 2012, that a new member named Dani would join the group following the completion of her training, and one month later, Areum joined T-ara.
Following the bullying controversy, CCM announced Hwayoung's contract was to be terminated. On July 10, 2013, T-ara returned to its original debut lineup after Areum left to start a solo career. T-ara then continued as a six-member group until Core Contents Media (now under MBK) announced Soyeon and Boram were leaving the group.
ImageSize = width:600 height:280
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bar:Jiwon from:start till:06/01/2009 Color:pre-debut
bar:Eunjung from:start till: end
bar:Eunjung from:10/02/2020 till: end
bar:Eunjung from:start till:07/28/2009 Color:pre-debut
bar:Hyomin from:start till: end
bar:Hyomin from:10/02/2020 till: end
bar:Hyomin from:start till:07/28/2009 Color:pre-debut
bar:Jiyeon from:start till: end
bar:Jiyeon from:10/02/2020 till: end
bar:Jiyeon from:start till:07/28/2009 Color:pre-debut
bar:Qri from:07/28/2009 till: end
bar:Qri from:10/02/2020 till: end
bar:Qri from:07/03/2009 till:07/28/2009 Color:pre-debut
bar:Soyeon from:07/28/2009 till:05/15/2017
bar:Soyeon from:07/03/2009 till:07/28/2009 Color:pre-debut
bar:Boram from:07/28/2009 till:05/15/2017
bar:Boram from:07/06/2009 till:07/28/2009 Color:pre-debut
bar:Hwayoung from:07/01/2010 till:07/30/2012 Color:blue
bar:Areum from:06/14/2012 till:07/10/2013 Color:green
bar:Dani from:05/30/2012 till:07/11/2013 Color:pre-debut
bar:Dani from:07/11/2013 till:11/01/2014 Color:yellow
Leader timeline
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bar:Eunjung from:06/03/2009 till:07/28/2009 Color:Pre-debut
bar:Boram from:06/13/2010 till:06/04/2011
bar:Hyomin from:06/04/2011 till:12/31/2011
bar:Soyeon from:01/01/2012 till:07/12/2013
bar:Qri from:07/13/2013 till:end
bar:Qri from:10/02/2020 till:end
Sub-unit
T-ara N4
On April 12, 2013, Core Contents Media announced the launch of the group's first sub-unit, T-ara N4 (티아라 엔포), standing for "T-ara Brand New 4", consisting of four members: Jiyeon, Eunjung, Hyomin, and Areum. T-ara had previously tried sub-units with the promotions of their sixth Japanese single "Bunny Style!
is a song by South Korean girl group T-ara. The single was released on March 20, 2013 as their last release under EMI Music Japan.
Background and promotion
T-ara held special showcases in fifteen Japanese cities, starting in Sapporo on February ...
", in which the B-sides were sung by units of two and three members; however this was their first time doing formal unit activities. The group's debut song, "Jeon Won Diary
''Jeon Won Diary'' (, also translated as "Countryside Life", "Countryside Diaries" or "Rural Life") is the debut extended play (EP) by South Korean girl group T-ara N4, a sub-unit of T-ara. It was released on April 29, 2013 and was promoted by the ...
" (전원일기; ''Jeon-won Ilgi''), was inspired by the 1980s drama of the same name. Produced by Duble Sidekick, it is a "funky and intense" dance song with elements of hip-hop. with the main motif of "Jeon Won Diary" being about breaking away from the same everyday routine. T-ara N4's extended play, ''Jeon Won Diary
''Jeon Won Diary'' (, also translated as "Countryside Life", "Countryside Diaries" or "Rural Life") is the debut extended play (EP) by South Korean girl group T-ara N4, a sub-unit of T-ara. It was released on April 29, 2013 and was promoted by the ...
'', and the music video for the title track were released on April 29, 2013.
QBS
A Japanese sub-unit called QBS was announced in May 2013, featuring members Qri, Boram and Soyeon. The group focused on the Japanese market. The sub-unit released their debut single "Kaze no You ni Kaze may refer to:
* KAZE, an American radio station located in Texas
* KAZe, a Japanese video game developer
* Kazé, a French publishing company
* Kaze-Forces for the Defense of Democracy, a political party in Burundi
Fiction
* ''Kaze'' (telev ...
" (風のように, ''Like the Wind'') on June 26, 2013. Written and composed by Takanori Fukuta, the song is described as a refreshing pop tune with an evergreen melody that leaves a "lasting impression". To promote the single, QBS held a live show at the Sunshine City Fountain Square in Ikebukuro
is a commercial and entertainment district in Toshima, Tokyo, Japan. Toshima ward offices, Ikebukuro station, and several shops, restaurants, and enormous department stores are located within city limits. It is considered the second largest ...
, Tokyo
Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, with an estimated 37.468 ...
on June 10, 2013. The group performed "Kaze no Yō ni", along with Boram and Qri's and Soyeon's "Love Poem" from their "Bunny Style!
is a song by South Korean girl group T-ara. The single was released on March 20, 2013 as their last release under EMI Music Japan.
Background and promotion
T-ara held special showcases in fifteen Japanese cities, starting in Sapporo on February ...
" single, in front of 2,000 fans.
Legacy
Recognized for their diversity, T-ara became known for shifting styles and genres which earned them the title "chameleon of the music industry". In 2021, Aedan Juvat of ''Pop Wrapped'' praised their newest b-side track "All Kill" and included it in the magazine's "Top 21 Kpop Songs of 2021" descriping them as the "Second-generation K-pop legends" who "have offered fans some of the catchiest dance tracks in a decade". In June 2021, Clara Ribeiro from ''Pop Matters'' credited T-ara for bringing disco to K-pop with their second mini album ''John Travolta Wannabe
''John Travolta Wannabe'' is the second extended play by South Korean girl group T-ara. The EP's repackage edition is called ''Roly-Poly in Copacabana'' and it was released as a limited edition on August 2, 2011.
History
It was announced on June ...
'' and calling them "a force to be reckoned with" and "Roly Poly
Roly Poly is an American restaurant chain, chain of sandwich stores. They first opened their doors in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1996.
History
The first Roly Poly Sandwich Shop opened in 1997 in the Buckhead (Atlanta), Buckhead section of Atlanta, ...
" as "one of the catchiest K-pop songs ever made".
T-ara repeatedly appeared on Top 5 on "List of the most searched female artists on Google Korea starting from 2010.
On March 30, 2022, rookie boy group NINE.i selected T-ara as a role model at their first album's release showcase.
Endorsements
T-ara has been an in-demand CF model since before their debut, In July 2009, a few days before debut, T-ara's agency CCM revealed that the group received a total of 7 CF offers including from beverages, clothing, telecommunication, and teen cosmetics brands.
In October 2009, the group signed a contract for their first commercial-film with Nonghyup Apples. They recorded the song "Apple Song" especially for the CF, which was later included and retitled as "Apple is A" on the group's debut studio album ''Absolute First Album
''Absolute First Album'' is the first studio album and debut Korean release by South Korean girl group T-ara. It was released on November 27, 2009, through Core Contents Media. T-ara sought to showcase "two different charms" through ''Absolute Fir ...
,'' T-ara received approximately 300,0000$ for the CF, reportedly the biggest offer given to a rookie. T-ara also filmed a CF for Nene Chicken in 2009 with comedian and public figure Yoo Jae-suk
Yoo Jae-suk (; or ; born on 14 August 1972) is a South Korean comedian, host and television personality. He has hosted several variety television shows in South Korea, including ''Infinite Challenge'', '' Running Man'', '' Happy Together, and ...
.
On 15 January 2010, it was reported that the group received about 900,000$ from 3 CFs alone, "The Best treatment in the industry" , according to official reports.
In February, T-ara was chosen to film a CF with Supernova for Guesto; one of the largest restaurant chains in Japan with 1,000 stores nationwide for about $1,000,000 each. About 140 Japanese media officials, including TBS TV, participated in the contract signing press conference.
In 2010, the group modeled for such companies as Mentholatum Korea, Tedin Water Parks, and Olympus cameras
is a Japanese manufacturer of optics and reprography products. Olympus was established on 12 October 1919, initially specializing in microscopes and thermometers. Olympus holds roughly a 70-percent share of the global endoscope market, estimated ...
. T-ara was chosen to model for Tedin Waterpark again in 2011.
In 2011, T-ara modeled in commercial films for sports brand Spris, electronics brand iRiver, software company Windysoft, optical store Look Optical, instant noodles brand Shin Ramyun
Shin Ramyun is a brand of instant noodle (including Instant noodle#Korea, cup ramyeon) that has been produced by the South Korean food company Nongshim since 1 October 1986. It is now exported to over 100 countries, and is the best-selling insta ...
, Crown Mountain and many others. The same year, T-ara was chosen as the new advertisement models for cosmetics brand Tony Moly
Tony Moly (Hangul: 토니모리) is a South Korean cosmetics brand.
Tony Moly was established in 2006 with the support of Tae Sung Industry. The name Tony Moly means "putting style into packaging".
History
In July 2006, Tony Moly Cosmetics w ...
. The group is expected to model for the brand in not only South Korea, but China, Japan, and other Asian countries as well.
T-ara is also the first idol group to sign a contract with online shopping mall Hi-Mart
Lotte Hi-Mart () is a South Korean retailer of electronic goods. It was originally a unit of bankrupt Daewoo Electronics that founder Seon Jong-koo spun off in 1999. Hi-Mart is headquartered in Seoul. Hi-mart was taken over by Lotte Corporation o ...
.
In February 2012, T-ara became models for the chicken chain Brilliant Chicken for over US$1 Million; reportedly the highest figure ever proposed to a Korean Idol.
In early 2015, T-ara reportedly signed a US$1 million contract with Celucasn, a Chinese popular clothing brand with images and a short promotional video also have already been released. In November, T-ara became spokesperson for Chinese server of a multiplayer game World of Warships
''World of Warships'' is a free-to-play naval warfare-themed multiplayer online game, developed. produced and published by Wargaming. Players can battle others at random or play cooperative battle types against bots or an advanced player versus e ...
and released the Chinese version of "Cry Cry" as the official Theme Song. The group also became the face of the mobile game Dream of the Three Kingdoms.
In 2016, the group became brand ambassadors in Vietnam for Pantech Korea as the company was launching new phone models.
Ambassadorships
In October 2009, T-ara became the ambassador for the "2009 Apple Day Event" in which they performed their commercial song "Apple Is A" on October 22 held at Cheonggye Plaza in Seoul. By December 2009, T-ara were the official ambassador for both "Busan Science Museum" and the Japanese anime ' Evangelion: Breaking' forwhich were SS501
SS501 is a South Korean boy band consisting of five members: Kim Hyun-joong, Heo Young-saeng, Kim Kyu-jong, Park Jung-min and Kim Hyung-jun. They debuted in 2005 with the EP ''Warning'', which included their first number one song, "Never Again ...
previously models for.
In June 2011, T-ara along with girl group 4minute waere appointed as public relations ambassadors for "National Sharing Movement" by the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare. The two groups attened the appointment ceremony on June 14 held at Seoul Plaza in Jung-gu, Seoul.
In August 2011, T-ara were appointed as honorary public relations ambassadors for "2011 Gyeonggi Functional Game Festival". Mmebers Qri and Boram represtented the group by attending the appointment ceremony on August 31th where they received a plaque of appreciation by Gyeonggi Province governor Choi Chan-heung. over 150 companies will participate in exhibitions and export consultations for the event's third edition.
In November 2015, T-ara was appointed ambassadors in respect of the establishment of business partnership between Hankyung Media Group and Sina Weibo
Sina Weibo (新浪微博) is a Chinese microblogging ( weibo) website. Launched by Sina Corporation on 14 August 2009, it is one of the biggest social media platforms in China, with over 582 million monthly active users (252 million daily acti ...
. The greoup attended the "2015 Hallyu Center Awards" and received the Hallyu Envoy Award.
Other ventures
''Café "Page One"''
T-ara launched their own café franchise called Cafe Page One that will expand into a chain of 500 nationwide stores. The name of their café was influenced from the cafe that member Eunjung ran in her drama ''Coffee House
A coffeehouse, coffee shop, or café is an establishment that primarily serves coffee of various types, notably espresso, latte, and cappuccino. Some coffeehouses may serve cold drinks, such as iced coffee and iced tea, as well as other non- ...
''. Cafe Page One was opened on July 1, 2011, where the members were present to greet the customers.A special limited photobook was released celebrating the opening, itwas only giver to a limited number of fans who attended the opening.
Philanthropy
On December 22, 2009, T-ara announced that they donated 100 boxes of ramen purchased with their CF appearance fee and 50 packs of toilet paper recently received as a gift from a toilet paper company to JTS, a private international organization for hunger disease literacy.
In January 2010, T-ara donated 10 million Won (~$10,000) to Haiti victims after the earthquake disaster. T-ara used all their Variety program fees for the donation. In addition, T-ara held a fundraising event in the Jamsil Gymnasium in Seoul along with other artists like SG Wannabe and many more. The said event will be hoping to gather a larger amount of money from stars. Producers from several other companies also attended the event.
On March 11, 2012, T-ara announced through their company's representative that they donated all their latest Japanese single ''Roly Poly'' profit to the victims of the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident.In October of the same year, T-ara donated part of their performance fee to a local Korean school in Malayasia. In July, T-ara donated 0.73 tons of rice received ahead of their first fan meeting in Korea to underprivileged children and other neighbors in need.
In February 2013, T-ara donated 100 sacks of rice to an orphanage in Bucheon ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday. On December 14 of the same year, the group held a charity event in Eunjung's mother's cafe, Cafenne. T-ara's old clothing, stage costumes and donations from Davichi
Davichi () is a South Korean pop duo formed in 2008. The duo consists of vocalists Lee Hae-ri and Kang Min-kyung. Their name, "Davichi", is derived from the Korean phrase "shining over everything" ( 다 비치).
The duo has released three studi ...
, Ha Seokjin, Hwang Jungeum and Son Hojun were to be auctioned off. T-ara raised a total of 12.5 million won (~US$12,000) from the sales and donated about 2.5 million won (~$2,400) directly on the same day. On the 27th, T-ara donated the remaining 10 million won (~$10,000) to the Sharing Campaign "Hope Windmill" organized by the Red Cross by directly visiting the event. T-ara said, "We are able to end the year with a warm heart thanks to the many people who took part in the charity event and we give thanks to those who helped T-ara take the steps necessary for it."
In September 2014, T-ara members donated 1,500Kg of rice "Dongducheon Angel" Movement. Hyomin, Qri and Boram personally delivered the donation to "Dongducheon Angel" Headquarters and held an additional fan-sign event to celebrate the Chuseok holiday.
Discography
*''Absolute First Album
''Absolute First Album'' is the first studio album and debut Korean release by South Korean girl group T-ara. It was released on November 27, 2009, through Core Contents Media. T-ara sought to showcase "two different charms" through ''Absolute Fir ...
'' (2009)
*''Jewelry Box
A casket is a decorative box or container that is usually smaller than a chest and is typically decorated. In recent centuries they are often used as boxes for jewelry, but in earlier periods they were also used for keeping important documents an ...
'' (2012)
*''Treasure Box
''Treasure Box'' (1996) is a horror novel by American writer Orson Scott Card. It takes place in modern-day America.
Plot introduction
The plot details a middle-aged man, Quentin Fears (pronounced "fierce"), who marries a woman who turns out t ...
'' (2013)
*''Gossip Girls
Gossip Center (formerly known as Gossip Girls) is a celebrity news and gossip website owned by Bluefin Media. The site's original content is regularly featured on the homepage of Google News and FoxNews.com, and it reports over 10,000 original ...
'' (2014)
Concerts
Published works
* ''Sparkle'' (2012) Tokyo: Gentosha, 2012. . Shot by Shin Yamagishi.
* ''T-ara Private Book'' (2013) Tokyo: Kodansha, 2013. .
Filmography
Awards and nominations
See also
* T-ara videography
* List of songs recorded by T-ara
* List of best-selling girl groups
A girl group is a popular music act featuring several female singers who generally harmony, harmonize together. Girl groups have been popular at least since the heyday of the The Boswell Sisters, Boswell Sisters beginning in the 1930s, but the t ...
Notes
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:T-ara
Articles which contain graphical timelines
2009 establishments in South Korea
Japanese-language singers of South Korea
K-pop music groups
MBK Entertainment artists
Universal Music Japan artists
Musical groups established in 2009
Musical groups from Seoul
South Korean dance music groups
South Korean girl groups
Musical groups disestablished in 2017
South Korean synthpop groups
Melon Music Award winners
Musical groups reestablished in 2020