A Shared Dream is the debut Japanese studio album by South Korean boy band U-KISS, released on February 29, 2012 by Avex Trax.
Background and development In May 2011, U-KISS formally signed under Avex Japan for their Japanese debut. Soon thereafter, an album entitled First Kiss, a compilation of all their songs from their debut Korean album up until their Break Time album, was released. A Japanese version of their Korean Bran New Kiss albums and their DVDs from their First Kiss Live in Osaka event were also released. On June 8, 2011, U-KISS went to stay in Japan for three months to prepare for their official Japanese debut. On November 18, 2011 Japan's Fuji TV Network revealed a preview for the music video of the lead single from U-KISS' first new material Japanese album, A Shared Dream, entitled "Tick Tack".U-KISS Official Japanese Website NEWS: 「Tick Tack」 Music Video 初オンエア解禁!! Retrieved November 18, 2011. On November 23, the full track of "Tick Tack" leaked online, and the full music video followed on December 5, 2011. U-KISS released the music video officially through their YouTube account on December 6, 2011. The song was released as a single, with the non-album B-side "Coincidence", on December 18, 2011.
Singles and promotion The album has a total of twelve tracks, which were mostly composed and recorded in high quality facilities in Japan.Go KPOP News: U-KISS Announce Plans for 2 Album Release . Retrieved February 11, 2012. U-KISS made their official Japanese debut on December 14 with a live performance of "Tick Tack" on the Japanese TV show, Made in BS Japan.D Kpop News: U-KISS Japanese Debut http://www.dkpopnews.net/2011/12/video-u-kiss-performed-japanese-debut.html Retrieved December 14, 2011. "A Shared Dream" was leaked on the internet on February 16, 2012.A Shared Dream PV revealed Koreaboo Retrieved February 16, 2012.A Shared Dream PV revealed! TokyoHive Retrieved February 16, 2012. It is a heavy ballad, with a mixture of English and Japanese lyrics incorporated with piano.A Shared Dream PV Asian Addicts Anonymous Retrieved February 18, 2012. The single, "Forbidden Love" is a continuation of the style they had in "Man Man Ha Ni" (2008), "Bingeul Bingeul" (2010) and "Shut Up!" (2010).Forbidden Love MV and Track Kpop Concerts Retrieved February 29, 2012. The group held a fan meeting event with 2,000 fans to celebrate the release of their albums and the very first performance of "Forbidden Love". The song was also performed on the March 16 episode of NTV‘s Happy Music.U-KISS Performed Forbidden Love on Happy Music Tokyo Hive. Retrieved March 17, 2012. U-KISS also promoted on various radio stations such as Skip Beat, KPOP Street and Area Cross of Northwave FM, Now & Next and Groove of Air-G FM and on STV Radio.U-KISS Promotions in Radio Stations U-KISS Japan Official Website Retrieved March 6, 2012. Aside from Radio promotions, the group also appeared on shows like DJ and Play Saturday of TVh.U-KISS Promotions in Television U-KISS Japan Official Website Retrieved March 6, 2012.
Track listing
U-KISS Official Japanese Website: NEWS Retrieved February 5, 2012.
Chart performance The album debuted at number 6 on the daily edition of the Oricon Chart being the album with the highest entry in the Top 50. The album peaked at number 5 on the Oricon weekly charts. "Tick Tack" reached number 5 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.
ChartPeak positionSales totalOricon Weekly Albums Chart5Oricon Monthly Albums Chart3713,138
References