Love (Korean: 러브; Leobeu) is the third Koreanstudio album by S.E.S., released in October 29, 1999, by SM Entertainment. It sold 760,475 copies and became the second best-selling Korean girl group album at the time, only behind The Pearl Sisters' My Dear (1968).[1] The lead single of the same name was promoted along with another single "Twilight Zone".
Background and release
The album includes "talk" tracks recorded by the group members before and after each song. Two singles were released from the album: "Love" and "Twilight Zone". The latter single uses the metaphor of a "twilight zone" to represent a state of uncertainty, with its lyrics containing themes of the complexities of love and longing. The song achieved a first place music program award on SBS's Inkigayo.
In Japan, the title track "Love" was recorded in Japanese and released as a single on April 21, 2000. The single was promoted as "Love ~Itsumademo Onje Kajima~" and featured the track "Round and Round" as a b-side. However, it was not commercially successful, peaking at only number 100 on the Oricon Singles Chart with sales of 2,030 copies.[2] In November 2016, "Love" was remade as "Love [Story]" as part of S.E.S.'s 20th anniversary album Remember (2017).
Commercial performance
Love was a commercial success in South Korea upon its release, peaking at number one of the MIAK monthly album chart in October 1999 with 550,030 copies sold.[3] It sold 723,528 total copies in 1999 and was one of the year's best-selling releases.[4] It continued to show strong sales the following year, having accumulated total sales of 760,475 copies by the end of 2000.[5] It remained the second best-selling album by a girl group in South Korea for 21 years until Blackpink's The Album (2020).
S.E.S. held their first live solo concert titled "A Sweet Kiss From The World of Dream" in support of the album. It took place on March 19, 2000, at the Olympic Gymnastics Arena in Seoul[7] and included performances of both their Japanese and Korean songs. A live video CD of the concert was released by SM Entertainment in June 2000.[8]
^"「s.e.s.」の芸能人名検索結果" [S.E.S. Japanese Discography on Oricon Style] (in Japanese). Oricon Style. May 2002. Archived from the original on February 23, 2018. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
^ ab"1999.10월 – 가요 음반 판매량" [1999.10 – Sales volume] (in Korean). Music Industry Association of Korea. Archived from the original on June 16, 2007. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
^ ab1999년 12월 가요음반판매량 [December 1999 Album Sales Figures] (in Korean). Recording Industry Association of Korea. Archived from the original on April 25, 2018. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
^ ab"2000년 가요 판매량 순위집계". Music Industry Association of Korea. Archived from the original on June 5, 2008. Retrieved January 29, 2015.
^"S.E.S 19일 체조경기장서 첫 단독 콘서트" [SES's first solo concert to be held at the gymnastics stadium on the 19th]. The JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). February 25, 2000. Archived from the original on October 28, 2022. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
^2000년 가요음반판매량 [2000 Album Sales Figures] (in Korean). Music Industry Association of Korea. Archived from the original on May 16, 2007. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
