Seventeen years is a long time to be active in the K-Pop industry. For the formidable duo TVXQ!, it means boasting a repertoire of more than 300 songs from over 25 albums released in Korea and Japan. This repertoire includes enduring hits such as Mirotic, Rising Sun, Love in the Ice, and Catch Me. These are songs every K-Pop fan inevitably comes across, whether from the duo’s own performance or through covers by newer idols.

To celebrate their 17th anniversary, let’s take a walk down their expansive discography and rediscover some hidden gems!

This list is in no particular order. 

1. Sooner Than Later from New Chapter #2: The Truth of Love 

This suave R&B track is fresh from their latest Korean album New Chapter #2: The Truth of Love. The duo ventures out of their comfort zone with this rare collaboration with Illionaire founder The Quiett. The rapper’s gritty verse contrasts Max Changmin and U-Know Yunho‘s smooth hook, rounding up the song’s mature charm. The guitar riffs and resounding percussion keep the song grounded, while the light finger snaps give it an airy feeling during the bridge. Sooner Than Later is a polished title track-worthy offering from TVXQ!. 

2. She from Keep Your Head Down

This medium ballad is a standout from TVXQ!’s first album as a duo. One could say it’s the seed of what later becomes the duo’s signature ballad sound. The string instruments in this smooth ballad highlight the duo’s effortless show of vocal prowess. Max Changmin’s higher registry shines in the chorus while U-Know Yunho’s lower voice balances out the verses. The result is a song that shows the duo’s promise of what to come, at a time when everyone was unsure about TVXQ!’s future. The way they softly croon and hum at the end of the song though? *Chef’s kiss*

3. Viva (인생은 빛났다) from Catch Me

This track is TVXQ! in their element. Unapologetically loud with lavish electro beats, this is the kind of song that you can picture the duo intricately dancing to on stage, complete with vertigo-inducing lights and fireworks. U-Know Yunho leads this song with his low and staccato delivery in the verses while Max Changmin’s powerful aria-like part on the chorus is a perfect complement. While this song might not be everyone’s cup of tea, there is something admittedly charming in the track’s gleeful embrace of the SM Music Performance (SMP) genre. It really bring back memories of the older days, where SM Entertainment’s boy groups had intense dance-focused title tracks that focus on performance above all else. 

4. Like A Soap (비누처럼) from Catch Me

For many fans, Catch Me is the album where TVXQ! successfully reinvented the group’s identity as a duo. The album is full of great songs, including this mid-tempo bop. The minimalist arrangement of this song is light on the ear and delicately gorgeous, while the duo’s intense vocals fill the song up without being overbearing. I remember instantly falling in love with the song at first listen and it is so gratifying to see how this laid the groundwork for their more mature sounds down the road.

5. Fated from TIME

This song is one that you cannot miss from their Japanese discography. Fated has everything that is so distinctively TVXQ! — from the dramatic intro and unabashed SMP-esque beat to vocal-led parts with bare minimum instrument. While five and a half minutes is quite long for a song dominated by a repetitive hook, it grows on you after a few listens. This song will be perfect as the epic opening for one of their concerts. 

6. Back to Tomorrow from TONE

Speaking of epic, Back to Tomorrow is another song that perfectly showcases TVXQ!’s dramatic flair. It is a ballad, yes, but it is clear from the get go that this is not your usual ballad. With a grand intro and layered vocals, this powerful track is how you put a TVXQ! spin on a traditional ballad. The harmonies are especially out of the world and the song is absolutely catchy. With top notch production and the duo’s all-out performance, it is hard not to fall in love with this song.

7. Off-Road from Tense

Jazzy but dramatic, Off-Road is chock-full of hard-hitting beats. It only mellows out to a piano-led melody during the bridge, allowing the duo to unleash their superb vocals before the music explodes back in. This song is intense from start to finish but it never once feels too much. It is an early example of musical control that would be TVXQ!’s signature in their recent releases. 

8. Sun & Rain from New Chapter #1: The Chance of Love

Though they fabulously excel at dramatic fast songs, the duo also know how to turn it down for a chill ballad. With lyrics penned by Max Changmin himself, this stripped down track is perfect to relax with. Using only piano to deliver the melody, the music in this song is clearly arranged to take a back seat while the duo’s voices become the main instrument. And the two really delivers, alternating between smooth solo and soft harmonization with practiced ease. I honestly thank them everyday for this mature and calming ballad that can make every hard day instantly better. 

9. Flower Lady from Mirotic

Flower Lady is a beautiful acapella-ish song that reminds you of the reason why TVXQ! is considered as one the most talented vocal K-Pop groups. It is one thing to hear each of the then quintet show off in their solo parts. It is another thing entirely to hear their harmonisation and the way they build this song through layers of vocals. The cheesy but romantic lyrics, of course, is the cherry on top that made this song a true gem. 

10. Tears of the Firefly (ホタルの涙) from XV

Concluding this list is another ballad track that shows why TVXQ! still is a vocal powerhouse. Tears of the Firefly (ホタルの涙) from their 2019 Japanese album XV is a balanced combination of grand arrangement and simple instruments and gives us a glimpse of the duo’s effortless delivery of even the highest notes. U-Know Yunho’s falsetto, in particular, is in full display as he and Max Changmin build this opera-like ballad into its climax. This is, hands down, one of their best releases to date and should definitely go down as their trademark song.

Our list of 10 TVXQ!’s underrated gems is but a glimpse into their musical treasures. We hope it could be your getaway to learn more about their songs, just in time to celebrate their 17th anniversary!

Are there any other hidden gems of TVXQ! you think more people should know about? Tell us in the comments below!

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Written by: Erlita
Image by: Agnes

Established in 2011, The Seoul Story is a Southeast Asia-based Korean Events, Entertainment & Lifestyle News Site On The Go

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