JYP Entertainment’s quartet vocal group 2AM extend their reign at the top at No.1 with their latest single, “I Wonder If You Hurt Like Me,” which dethroned BIGBANG’s three-week topper “Blue” last week. Similar to “Blue,” the group has won the hearts of listeners with another boy band ballad topping the K-Pop Hot 100. Still, BIGBANG’s club banger, “Fantastic Baby,” isn’t losing its appeal, climbing back to No. 2 from No. 3 last week.
After focusing on individual gigs in Korea and promotional activities in Japan, 2AM made their highly anticipated comeback with the mini-album “F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Way of Love.” The first single “I Wonder If You Hurt Like Me” is a heart-wrenching ballad composed of subtle piano and cello melodies that emphasize the sorrowful lyrics. “As the title of the album suggests, we wanted to express the inner hardships of enduring a breakup, inspired by the heartbreak of the protagonist of Fitzgerald’s masterpiece, ‘The Great Gatsby,'” leader Jo Kwon has explained.
Fresh-faced quintet boy band SHINee also launched their long-awaited comeback single, “Sherlock,” and claimed the highest Top 10 debut at No. 3 this week, climbing from No. 14. SHINee is managed by one of Korea’s biggest entertainment agencies, SM Entertainment. SM has developed other top Korean artists like TVXQ,Brown Eyed Girls) makes her debut at No. 9. This track is from producer Yoon Il Sang’s commemorative album, “I’m 21 Part 4.” Ga In contributed vocals for this remake version of the track titled “For You Not To Know”.
(Additional reporting and editing by Jeff Benjamin, Billboard)