K-pop oldies Turbo reboot with 'Again'
From left, Kim Jung-nam, Kim Jong-kook and Mikey from Turbo / Yonhap
Male K-pop electronic dance music band Turbo from the 1990s have returned with a new studio album, “Again.”
As the nation embraces pop culture from the 1980s to 1990s, led by hit TV drama “Reply 1988” on tvN, the band’s comeback has intensified the trend, rekindling people’s memories of the stars who once reigned on K-pop charts.
The band, which had two members on debut in 1995, has returned with three - Kim Jong-kook, the band’s iconic vocalist and star of TV variety show “Running Man” on SBS, and two rappers, Kim Jung-nam and Mikey. Jong-kook and Jung-nam jammed together until the second album, “New Sensation,” released in 1996. Mikey took Jung-nam’s spot from the “Summer Remix” album released in 1997.
Scenes from Turbo's "Again" music video / Screen capture from YouTube
Turbo released a music video for the album’s title song online on Sunday. The video features a cameo by actor Cha Tae-hyun and TV entertainer Lee Kwang-soo from “Running Man,” both of who are close friends of Jong-kook.
The album, with 19 tracks, was released on Monday. The numbers feature star singers and producers, including vocalists Lena Park and K. will, rappers San E and Jessi, and composers Joo Young-hoon and Yoon Il-sang.
Turbo was active during 1990s, with Kim Jong-kook debuting with Kim Jung-nam, left, and then continuing with Mikey. / Korea Times file, Courtesy of Turbo
Turbo took No.1 on the nation’s eight online music charts, including Naver Music and Olleh Music, soon after the album’s release.
The SNS websites of Jung-nam and Mikey showed a video Tuesday of the two celebrating the band’s chart success at a ski resort by keeping their promise to douse themselves with ice water if their song went to No.1.
Turbo announced their demise in 2000 after releasing their fifth album. After 14 years, the band resurfaced on TV when MBC variety show “Infinity Challenge” planned a music festival of stars from the 1990s and contacted Jung-nam to invite Turbo. The festival became a nationwide sensation and Jung-nam received hefty praise for retaining his break-dance moves and showmanship that made him popular during his heyday.
“I appreciate Jong-kook for offering me a chance to join the reunited band,” Jung-nam was quoted by media reports as saying.