BTOB beats Highlight to shoot to top

K-pop boy band BTOB members pose before the press conference for their new album “Brother Act.” at the Imperial Palace Hotel in Gangnam, Seoul, Monday. / Yonhap

By Kim Jae-heun

K-pop group BTOB beat one of its rival boy bands Highlight as they returned with a second album “Brother Act,” Monday, topping four major local music charts.

Both BTOB and Highlight released new albums on the same day, heralding a competition in good faith. They were contracted to the same management company CUBE Entertainment until Highlight left to seek new careers shedding their old name BEAST.

BTOB’s new track “Missing You” ranked No. 1 on the biggest online music streaming service Melon on Tuesday morning, along with Genie, Olleh Music and Bugs.

Highlight’s title song of the new mini-album “CELEBRATE” commemorating the eighth anniversary of their debut stopped at No. 3 on Melon’s top 100 list and No. 2 on Genie, Olleh Music and Bugs.

Such a result is meaningful not only that BTOB defeated Highlight, who has a large fan base, but also that they beat Bolbbalgan4, an indie musician duo who seemed unbeatable. Bolbbalgan4 has been ruling the local online music charts with two tracks off their second mini-album “Red Diary Page. 1” for almost four weeks since its release on Sept. 28.

BTOB’s new album “Brother Act” is their first full studio piece in two years celebrating the sixth anniversary of their debut.

“We are not a band that pursues something extraordinary or shocking,” said band member Jung Il-hoon during the media showcase at Imperial Palace Hotel in Gangnam, Seoul, Monday. “We have never spread rumors with the intention to grab people’s attention. We hope to become a group that anybody can like, regardless of age, like the clothing brands H&M or Uniqlo.”

The band’s new album has been made to look like an episode of a movie. BTOB members discarded their fresh and bright image and showed a serious side.

It consists of 13 tracks including the single “Missing You,” written by band member Lim Hyun-sik. The track has a lyrical melody of one’s broken heart.

Many popular boy bands such as BTS and Wanna One released new albums during the fall and BTOB was asked whether they feel pressure to compete against them. BTOB said they feel motivated to show their improved performance on the stage.

“We are also surprised by watching boy groups like Wanna One or BTS who surprise the world. It also gives us a chance to show something that we have not shown before,” said member Lee Min-hyuk.

Lee added to say that the group spent four years as unknowns and they did not cling to reaching the top on the music chart. The group is only happy to have a chance to play their music for their audiences.

“Before, when we held a press conference, I asked managers how many reporters were coming. We were so worried. We want to become a long lasting group like the Energizer battery,” said member Yook Sung-jae.

BTOB debuted in 2012 and rose to stardom with the digital single “It’s Okay” that gave the band its first top honor in 2015. The group received much love with other hit-songs such as “Way Back Home,” “Remember That,” “Pray” and “Movie.”