Career Turbo (South Korean band)

1 career

1.1 years
1.2 1997-2000
1.3 disbandment
1.4 return

career
early years

turbo formed in october 1994 compete against popular dance group, deux. leader , former dj kim jung nam responsible rap , choreography while kim jong-kook, former vocalist high school band, took care of vocals. combo proved matched, turbo s name became synonymous dance music.

they launched first album in august 1995, titled 280 km/h speed . living group name , album title, turbo took dance world storm debuting song 나 어릴적 꿈 (my childhood dream). untimely death of deux member kim sung jae 1 month after turbo s debut, made turbo heir apparent become kings of korean dance scene. following songs 검은 고양이 (black cat) , 선택 (choices), turbo labeled dance music s scary kids rising in popularity fast.

just year after debut, turbo returned second album, new sensation . reaffirming popularity, album sold 800,000 copies within first 2 months. after twist king turbo performed love is...(3+3=0) , 어느 재즈 바... (at jazz bar...) . end of second album promotion, turbo firmly entrenched premier dance group.

this status short lived however, turbo broke months later. citing problems management, turbo went seclusion. hiding effective police brought in investigate whereabouts. eventually, due public demand turbo s return, half of turbo returned. kim jung nam, unable reconcile differences management, left group. later joined 5 member group snap in 1999. left kim jong kook looking new partner.

1997-2000

that partner found in california resident mikey. immigrating america @ age of 6, had dreams set on becoming singer ever since watching videos of popular group seo taiji , boys. in may 1997, goal of becoming singer, mikey returned south korea alone. 2 months later auditioned turbo among 3500 other hopefuls. mikey shined both in rapping skills , ability speak english, gaining him spot.

resurrected addition of mikey, turbo returned gayo world october 1997 aptly titled 3rd album born again... . performing 회상 (reminiscence/december), 금지된 장난 (forbidden games) , goodbye yesterday , took dance music title. reminiscence composed yoon il-sang , sold 1,200,000 copies. during time, turbo offered sing duet american singer , movie star smith. smith, had launched fourth single 2 of (bill withers song) said wanted make asian version of song. after reviewing singers asia picked turbo music abilities , unique style. of interest, singer choi chang min served dancer turbo 97-98 before launching own solo career.

while preparing 4th album kim jong kook injured hip, hampering album release. released october 1998, entitled perfect love turbo ventured different types of music, including latin, techno, r&b, hip hop , ballad. turbo s title track 애인이 생겼어요 (i got girlfriend) described fresh , comical change turbo. following more traditional turbo style song x: greatest love , turbo showed still going strong, getting voted 1 of best artists of 98.

but once again turbo faced breakup. turbo invited participate in asia superconcert on 30th of december 1998 represent south korea names h.o.t., s.e.s., fin.k.l, clon , sechs kies. concert featured singers on asia including japan, hong kong, malaysia , taiwan , broadcast live south korea, china , japan. due arguments management before concert, kim jong kook protested role in concert not performing section of concert , leaving without bowing. rude behavior heavily criticized many watched live kbs 1tv broadcast, including top politicians. due incident kim jong kook , turbo banned appearing on tv.

with ban reluctantly lifted october 1999, turbo returned in full force 4 months later 5th album email heart . wanting raise level of music, turbo requested of korea s top musicians , composers including yoon il sang, yoo jung yun, joo young hoon, , ahn jung hoon. labeled cyber lover , turbo s title track not exciting song provided entertaining @ today’s internet based society. celebrate millennium turbo included special ticket in 2000 of albums, winners guaranteed copy of turbo s new albums henceforth.

not 5th album success, music video follow song tonight garnered popularity , regarded 1 of years best music videos. starring talent kim min , turbo s own kim jong kook, video directed kim sae hoon did videos heaven jo sung mo , youngone [sky]. set in south los angeles, tonight dramatizes gang violence in typical korean style. dramatization deemed violent tv , turbo forced take off air. having video banned nothing new, since title video, cyber lover banned inappropriate chat dialog within video.

disbandment

after releasing 5th album, kim jong kook left management due contract expiration. kim jong kook later pursued solo career. mikey, visa expiring, took leave new york city study music under paul bay. end long career, turbo released 1 last album titled history revisiting hit songs previous albums , including 3 new songs. music video history released, featuring first time transgender model , singer harisu.

amid ups , downs turbo faced in career , premature breakup, have remained hugely popular. attributing popularity fact every turbo album has been million seller. kim jong kook has major solo success, releasing 7 albums , winning many accolades, including 3 of best artist awards in 2005, feat hasn t been matched since cho yong pil did in 1980s. mikey part of k-pop group m3.

on stage kcon la 2016, july 30.


return

in celebration of group s 20th year anniversary, 3 previous members have reunited first time in 15 years. group had comeback album on december 21, 2015, featuring 3 members. on july 25, 2017 released first mini-album turbo splash hot sugar serving album s title track.