Infinite (
Korean:
인피니트,
Japanese:
インフィニット; stylized as
INFINITE) is a seven member South Korean pop boy group under
Woollim Entertainment, which is also home to other talents such as
Epik High and
Nell.
The group consists of 7 members: Sunggyu, Dongwoo, Woohyun, Hoya,
Sungyeol, L (Myung-soo), and Sungjong. The group is known for their
highly synchronized dancing as well as the 'Scorpion Dance' in their
"Before The Dawn" music video. With 2011 being their breakout year,
Infinite continues to become successful and gain more popularity
amongst other idol groups in both South Korea and Japan.
Career
2010: First Invasion
In 2010, Infinite first appeared in the reality show
You Are My Oppa introducing the group before making their debut in June (9th). They performed songs from their first EP
First Invasion with the singles "Come Back Again" and "She's Back"
[1]
2011: Evolution, Over the Top, and Japanese debut
On January 7, 2011, the band debuted the single
Before the Dawn (BTD) (Before the Dawn) from their second EP
Evolution. Promotions for
BTD ended on the February 17, 2011 on Inkigayo where Infinite performed a remix version of the song.
The MV teaser for their next title song
Nothing's Over, off their first single album
Inspirit, was released on March 7, 2011. The full version was later released on March 16, 2011 ahead of their comeback stage on
M! Countdown on March 17, 2011 where they performed both
Nothing's Over and part of
Shot. Infinite then continued promotions with their follow-up track
Can U Smile on May 12 on Mnet’s "
M! Countdown".
Their first album
Over The Top was released on July 21, 2011 together with the MV of their title track
Be Mine
(내꺼하자). The music video teaser of their title track was first released
on their official website at midnight of July 15 followed by an album
preview on the 20th. The group then had their comeback on July 23, 2011
on
Music Core. They received their First Music Show #1 Award in
M! Countdown on September 1, 2011. They have received a "Double Crown" for winning two consecutive #1 wins at
M! Countdown. Infinite re-released their first album
Over the Top as a repackaged album. This repackaged album was titled
Paradise.
"Paradise" was released on September 26, 2011. Woollim Entertainment
revealed the music video teaser of "Paradise", the repackaged album's
promotional track on September 22, 2011. On 9th of October, Infinite
came first on
Inkigayo for "Paradise." Infinite then won their second trophy with "Paradise" on October 13 on
M! Countdown.
Infinite members Sungyeol and L walked the runway in Fashion Week in Seoul.
In November 2011, INFINITE participated in "
Birth of a Family" where they had to take care of three dogs.
[2]
Infinite unofficially debuted in Japan with their first Japanese single
To-Ra-Wa[3] on January 26, 2011. Immediately after its release, their
Evolution album hit #3 on real-time charts for sales in Korea.
[4]
The song topped to #1 for ringtones on the daily charts of the K-POP
section of Japan’s top mobile website. Infinite released various rental
singles song including "
She's Back", "
BTD (Before The Dawn)", and "
Nothing's Over" before they officially debuted in Japan. Infinite made their official debut with the Japanese version of "
BTD". "
BTD"
was released on November 19, 2011. The single was released in three
versions, a CD+Photobook including a 40-page photobook, CD+DVD that
includes their first Japanese showcase at Zepp Tokyo on July 21, 2011
as well as "BTD"'s music video and making-of, and regular edition. All
editions comes with a random (1 out of 7) trading cards. The B-side for
the single is "
Can U Smile", a remake from their 2nd Mini Album
EVOLUTION found on the 3rd track of their first single album
Inspirit.
On December 2011, they digitally released their first Christmas song "White Confession (Lately)".
2012: Touring, individual activities and comeback
Infinite performed their very first Korean concert
[5]
in front of approximately 8,000 fans on February 11–12 at the Seoul
Olympic Park in Songpa District, eastern Seoul. The concert was titled
Second Invasion, following after the band's debut album,
First Invasion.
The tickets for the concert sold out within 10 minutes after being
released online on December 14. A teaser for the concert was released.
[6]
Dongwoo was featured on Baby Soul/Yoo Jia's new single "She's a Flirt" released on the 18 January.
[7]
Sunggyu and Woohyun made their musical debuts in "Gwanghwamun Sonata" on the 7, February to the 11 March at the LG Arts Center.
[9]
On April 1, an encore performance of Infinite's first concert
"Second Invasion" was held, once again at the Seoul Olympic Park. The
performance was titled "Second Invasion - Evolution". Ticket sales for
the concert began on February 28, and instantly sold out all 10 000
seats.
[10]
The encore performance also obtained a partnership with
Youtube to broadcast parts of it live worldwide. Infinite is now the first K-pop group to ever live stream a concert through Youtube.
[11]
Be Mine
was remade to serve as their 2nd Japanese single. It was released on
April 18 2012 with fourth versions, a CD+DVD limited edition ("SOLID
VERSION"), two CD Only limited editions ("POP ART VERSION"/"INNOCENT
VERSION"), and a regular CD Only edition. All the limited editions
include a different packaging design and 9 photocards (of a total of 15
types). The title track is a Japanese version of their song
"Naekkeohaja", which was the lead track for their Over the Top album.
The single also includes the introduction track of the album, and a
Japanese version of "Julia".
Be Mine peaked at #2 both in Oricon Daily and Weekly Charts.
[12] Total reported sales amount to 54,218 copies.
Infinite made their comeback with their 3rd Mini Album "
INFINITIZE" with the title track "The Chaser". Before the official release, they released a prologue single "Only Tears" on May 07, 2012.
Infinite was awarded a "Triple Crown" for winning #1 in a week at
all Music Programs. On June 14, 2012, Infinite won their first triple
crown on
M! Countdown for the "The Chaser" which achieved top spot on the charts for three consecutive weeks.
[13]
Hoya was cast in
Reply 1997 that aired on the 24 July with
A Pink's Eunji and
Seo In-guk.
[14] Woohyun was cast in
The Thousandth Man which started airing on the 17 August featuring T-ara's Hyomin.
[15]
Members
| Stage name |
Birth name |
Date of Birth |
Position[16] |
| Romanized |
Hangul |
Romanized |
Hangul |
| Sunggyu |
성규 |
Kim Sung Gyu |
김성규 |
(1989-04-28) 28 April 1989 (age 23) |
Leader, Main Vocalist |
| Dongwoo |
동우 |
Jang Dong Woo |
장동우 |
(1990-11-22) 22 November 1990 (age 21) |
Main Rapper, Lead Dancer |
| Woohyun |
우현 |
Nam Woo Hyun |
남우현 |
(1991-02-08) 8 February 1991 (age 21) |
Main Vocalist |
| Hoya |
호야 |
Lee Ho Won |
이호원 |
(1991-03-28) 28 March 1991 (age 21) |
Lead Rapper, Main Dancer, Vocalist |
| Sungyeol |
성열 |
Lee Seong Yeol |
이성열 |
(1991-08-27) 27 August 1991 (age 21) |
Vocalist |
| L |
엘 |
Kim Myung Soo |
김명수 |
(1992-03-13) 13 March 1992 (age 20) |
Vocalist, Visual |
| Sungjong |
성종 |
Lee Sung Jong |
이성종 |
(1993-09-03) 3 September 1993 (age 19) |
Vocalist |
Discography
Korean discography
- Studio albums
- Mini-albums
- Single Albums
- Digital Singles
- 2011: White Confession (Lately)
Japanese discography
- Singles
Awards and nominations
Music programs
| Year |
Date |
Song |
| 2011 |
September 1 |
Be Mine |
| September 8 |
| October 13 |
Paradise |
| 2012 |
May 31 |
The Chaser |
| June 7 |
| June 14 |
| Year |
Date |
Song [17] |
| 2012 |
June 1 |
The Chaser |
| Year |
Date |
Song |
| 2011 |
October 9 |
Paradise |
| 2012 |
June 3 |
The Chaser |
| June 10 |
| Year |
Date |
Song |
| 2012 |
June 5 |
The Chaser |
References
- ^ (Korean) "포토엔,인피니트,긴장되는 첫 무대~ On December 19, 2010 L (Myung-soo) was featured in label mate Strawberry Field's "Starlight March" music video." (in Korean). Newsen. June 9, 2010. http://www.newsen.com/news_view.php?uid=201006091807141002. Retrieved March 15, 2010.
- ^ "INFINITE members take care of three (heart injured) puppies". http://news.nate.com/view/20111118n26084.
- ^ (Korean) "인피니트, 日 강타 'TO-RA-WA' 벨소리 1위 기염" (in Korean). Osen. January 28, 2011. http://osen.mt.co.kr/news/view.html?gid=G1101280306. Retrieved January 29, 2011.
- ^ (Korean) "인피니트 ‘에볼루션’ 발매 즉시 한터 실시간 차트 3위 ‘기염’" (in Korean). Nate News. January 7, 2011. http://news.nate.com/view/20110107n20130. Retrieved January 07, 2011.
- ^ "INFINITE 1st CONCERT TEASER". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLZXhHoAcB8.
- ^ "Infinite tickets sell out in 10 minutes" (in English-Korean). Korea JoongAng Daily By Carla Sunwoo. December 15, 2011. http://koreajoongangdaily.joinsmsn.com/news/article/Article.aspx?aid=2945616. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
- ^ "Dongwoo featured on Baby Soul/Yoo Jia's new single" (in Korean). allkpop. Jan 19, 2012. http://www.allkpop.com/2012/01/baby-soul-yoo-jia-rank-high-on-music-charts-with-shes-a-flirt. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
- ^ "Member L casted on TV drama" (in Korean). OSEN via Naver. Jan 6, 2012. http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=106&oid=109&aid=0002293288. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
- ^ "INFINITE Sung-kyu, Woo-hyun to make debut as musical actors". 10asia. Dec 27, 2011. http://10.asiae.co.kr/Articles/new_view.htm?sec=ent0&a_id=2011122711540924719. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
- ^ "INFINITE’s ‘Second Invasion – Evolution’ encore concert sells out". allkpop. February 29, 2012. http://www.allkpop.com/2012/02/infinites-second-invasion-evolution-encore-concert-sells-out. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
- ^ "INFINITE to partner with YouTube to live stream performances from their encore concert". allkpop. March 27, 2012. http://www.allkpop.com/2012/03/infinite-to-partner-with-youtube-to-live-stream-performances-from-their-encore-concert. Retrieved April 2, 2012.
- ^ "INFINITE & FT Island place in Top 10 on Oricon Weekly Chart". allkpop. April 25, 2012. http://www.allkpop.com/2012/04/infinite-ft-island-place-in-top-10-on-oricon-weekly-chart.
- ^ "INFINITE wins #1 triple crown + performances from June 14th’s ‘M! Countdown’!". allkpop. June 14, 2012. http://www.allkpop.com/2012/06/infinite-wins-1-triple-crown-performances-from-june-14ths-m-countdown.
- ^ http://www.allkpop.com/2012/04/infinites-hoya-a-pinks-eunji-to-join-cast-of-new-tvn-sitcom
- ^ http://www.allkpop.com/2012/07/infinites-woohyun-cast-in-hyomins-upcoming-drama-the-thousandth-man
- ^ (Korean) "Member - INFINITE 인피니트!". http://ifnt7.com/members.wol.
- ^ (Korean) Official Music Bank homepage. List of K-Charts. KBS. Retrieved 5 September 2012
External links