This article is about Jonghyun's studio album. For Shinee's single album, see Poet Artist (single album).
Poet | Artist
Studio album
ArtistJonghyun
CoverPoet artist (kim jonghyun) album cover.png
ReleasedJanuary 23, 2018
Recorded2017
StudioSM Studios, Seoul, South Korea
Genre
Length36:37
LanguageKorean
LabelSM
Producer
  • Jonghyun
  • Imlay
Prev year2017

Poet | Artist is the second and final studio album by South Korean singer-songwriter Jonghyun, released posthumously on January 23, 2018, through SM Entertainment.[1]

The album had been confirmed in December 2017 and was completed prior to Jonghyun's death, of which it was announced a day after.[2] Upon release, the album debuted at number 177 on the US Billboard 200, the album being his first to chart on the list.[3][4]

Background and release

In early November 2017, Jonghyun announced a two-date concert in Seoul's SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium. The concert, titled Inspired, was held in Seoul on December 9 and 10.[5] His teleprompter included an announcement for his upcoming studio album, but he ignored it at the time.[6] On December 18, it was reported that Jonghyun had died.[7] The following day, his record label SM announced that he had recently completed his second studio album and filmed a music video.[6] The album's title and release date were announced on January 19, 2018, and the tracklist on January 22.[8] Poet | Artist was released digitally on January 23 and the physical edition was released on January 24.[9][8]

All album proceeds will be going to Jonghyun's mother to create a foundation for people living under difficult circumstances.[10]

Composition

The album has been described as an electropop, R&B and future bass album, with elements of trap.[11][12]

Promotion

Songs were teased during Inspired, where he performed "Take the Dive", "I'm So Curious", and "Only One You Need", the latter of which was about comforting others after the loss of a loved one.[13] "#Hashtag" was featured in a concert intermission video, while "Rewind" appeared in an intermission video from the concert The Agit: The Letter.[14] "Shinin'" and its respective music video were released on January 23, 2018.[15] The music video for "Before Our Spring" was released the following day on January 24.[16]

Reception

Commercial

Poet | Artist debuted atop the Gaon Album Chart on the 4th issued week, dated January 21–27. The following week it dropped one spot, where it spent an additional week. On the 51st issued week, dated December 16–22, the album returned to number one, coinciding with one year since the singer passed. The album spent 36 non-consecutive weeks in the chart's top 100.[17] Poet | Artist also topped the monthly Gaon Album Chart, selling more than 150,000 copies in eight days.[18][19] It eventually became the 20th best-selling album in 2018, moving more than 235,000 copies.[20] Eight of the album's eleven songs charted on the Gaon Digital Chart. The album's first single "Shinin'" debuted at no. five.[21] On February 11, 2021, the album received a platinum certification from Gaon for 250,000 copies sold.[22]

In Japan, Poet | Artist debuted at no. twelve on the Oricon Albums Chart for the week dated February 5, selling around 6,000 copies.[23] The following week the album rose to no. ten on the chart, selling an additional 6,700 copies.[24] In the United States, the album debuted and peaked at no. 177 on the Billboard 200, making Jonghyun only the fourth Korean soloist to place an album on the chart at the time. In its opening week it moved 5,000 album-equivalent units, including 4,000 pure sales. It furthermore debuted atop Billboard's World Albums, his second number-one on the chart.[25]

Critical

Poet | Artist was met with positive reviews by music critics. Writing for Billboard, Tamar Herman described the album as a "farewell and a sonic walk down memory lane".[9] Billboard ranked the album as the second best K-pop album released in 2018, behind BTS' Love Yourself: Answer. Jeff Benjamin wrote that the album is "beautiful" and a "bittersweet reminder of the beloved singer, songwriter and producer's incredible talents."[26] Riddhi Chakraborty of Rolling Stone India called Poet | Artist "bittersweet–awe-inspiring in its detail, finesse and lyrical impact, but also a reminder that there never will be anyone quite like Jonghyun," and also ranked it as the second best K-pop album of 2018.[27] Reviewing for The Jakarta Post, Marcel Thee wrote that the record is a "tragic-reminder of his talents as both a musician and producer".[12] At the 33rd Golden Disc Awards, the album was nominated for the Disc Daesang and Disc Bonsang awards, winning the latter.[28]

"#Hashtag" received media attention for discussing gossip and slanderous comments on the Internet and was praised for both its lyrical content and Jonghyun's use of wordplay.[29]

Shortly after the album's release, KBS banned "Rewind" from its radio stations for containing lyrics in Japanese.[14]

Awards and nominations for Poet | Artist
Award ceremonyYearCategoryResultRef.
Gaon Chart Music Awards2019Album of the Year – 1st Quarter[30]
Golden Disc Awards2019Disc Bonsang
[28]
Disc Daesang

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for Poet | Artist
Chart (2018)Peak
position
Australian Digital Albums (ARIA)[31]20
Australian Hitseekers Albums (ARIA)[32]4
French Download Albums (SNEP)[33]34
Japan Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[34]7
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[35]10
New Zealand Heatseeker Albums (RMNZ)[36]5
South Korean Albums (Gaon)[37]1

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for Poet | Artist
Chart (2018)Position
South Korean Albums (Gaon)[38]20

References

  1. ^ "[Update] SHINee's Jonghyun dies in hospital". The Korea Herald. December 18, 2017. Archived December 18, 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  2. ^ "故샤이니 종현, 내년초 솔로 신곡 발표 앞두고 사망…슬픔 더하는 이유" (in Korean). Naver. December 19, 2017. Archived December 24, 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  3. ^ "Top 200 Albums - February 3". Billboard. Archived 2 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  4. ^ Benjamin, Jeff (30 January 2018). "Jonghyun Makes Billboard 200 Debut With Posthumous 'Poet/Artist' Album". Billboard. Archived 19 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  5. ^ Jo, Yoon-sun (November 7, 2017). "ko:샤이니 종현, 12월 솔로 콘서트 개최…15일 예매 오픈" [SHINee's Jonghyun to hold a solo concert in December…Ticket sales open on the 15th]. Sports Chosun. Archived May 22, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 22, 2021. – via Naver.
  6. ^ "ko:故샤이니 종현, 내년초 솔로 신곡 발표 앞두고 사망…슬픔 더하는 이유" [The late SHINee Jonghyun dies ahead of the release of a new solo album early next year...Another reason to be sad] (in Korean). XSportsNews. December 19, 2017. Archived May 22, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 22, 2021. – via Naver.
  7. ^ "[ SHINee's Jonghyun dies in hospital". The Korea Herald. December 18, 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-12-18. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  8. ^ Lam, Lydia (January 19, 2018). "K-pop star Jonghyun's posthumous Poet | Artist album to be released online on Jan 23". The Straits Times. Archived May 22, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  9. ^ "Jonghyun Leaves Behind Posthumous Gift of an Album, 'Poet | Artist'". Billboard. January 23, 2018. Archived November 2, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  10. ^ "[공식]故 종현 유작앨범 공개된다… SM "23일 발표"" (in Korean). Archived January 19, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  11. ^ Hong, Dam-young (January 24, 2018). "[ 'Poet | Artist,' testament to Jonghyun's genius". The Korea Herald. Archived October 31, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  12. ^ Thee, Marcel (February 9, 2018). "Album Review: 'Poet/Artist' by Jonghyun". The Jakarta Post. Archived October 24, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  13. ^ "[스브스타] 故 종현이 남기고 간 노래 '환상통'…"사랑하는 사람이 사라진 아픔"" (in ko-KR). SBS News. 2017-12-21. Archived 2017-12-23 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2017-12-24.
  14. ^ "故ジョンヒョン（SHINee）、新アルバムの一部収録曲がKBSで"放送不適格"に" (in Japanese). Yahoo! News Japan. 2018-01-24. Archived from the original on 2018-01-25. Retrieved 2018-01-24.
  15. ^ "[공식] 故 종현 유작, 오늘(23일) 공개…타이틀곡 '빛이나'" (in Korean). 2018-01-23. Archived 2018-02-02 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2018-01-22.
  16. ^ Herman, Tamar (January 24, 2018). "Jonghyun's Life and Career Remembered in 'Before Our Spring' Music Video: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  17. ^ "Jonghyun – Poet | Artist" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Archived November 1, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  18. ^ "ko:2018년 01월 Album Chart" [January 2018 Album chart] (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Archived February 21, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  19. ^ Kim, Hye-Soo (December 29, 2018). "Jonghyun's 'Poet | Artist' tops Gaon album chart". The Jakarta Post. Archived November 1, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  20. ^ "ko:2018년 Album Chart" [2018 Album chart] (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Archived January 11, 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  21. ^ "ko:2018년 04주차 Digital Chart" [Week 4 of 2018 Digital Chart] (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Archived February 2, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  22. ^ "가온 인증 (Gaon Certification)" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Archived February 11, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  23. ^ "ja:CDアルバムランキング" [Weekly CD album ranking] (in Japanese). Oricon. February 5, 2018. Archived January 31, 2018 at the Wayback Machine.
  24. ^ "ja:CDアルバムランキング" [Weekly CD album ranking] (in Japanese). Oricon. February 12, 2018. Archived February 7, 2018 at the Wayback Machine.
  25. ^ Benjamin, Jeff (January 30, 2018). "Jonghyun Makes Billboard 200 Debut With Posthumous 'Poet/Artist' Album". Billboard. Archived February 8, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
  26. ^ "The 20 Best K-pop Albums of 2018: Critics' Picks". Billboard. December 17, 2018. Archived December 17, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  27. ^ Chakraborty, Riddhi (December 29, 2018). "10 Best K-pop Albums of 2018". Rolling Stone India. Archived December 29, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  28. ^ Yoon, So-Yeon (January 7, 2019). "BTS shines bright at Golden Disc Awards". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived October 31, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  29. ^ "故ジョンヒョン（SHINee）が楽曲「ワッフル（＃Hashtag）」に込めた思い…直接的な歌詞が話題" (in Japanese). Yahoo! News Japan. 2018-01-25. Archived from the original on 2018-01-25. Retrieved 2018-01-24.
  30. ^ "8th Gaon Chart Music Awards 2018" (in Korean). Gaon Chart Music Awards. Archived from the original on January 23, 2019. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  31. ^ "Issue 1457". The ARIA Report. ' (1457): 10. Archived from the original on January 30, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2025. – via National Library of Australia
  32. ^ "Issue 1457". The ARIA Report. ' (1457): 21. Archived from the original on January 30, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2025. – via National Library of Australia
  33. ^ "Top Albums Téléchargés". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. January 31, 2018. Archived from the original on February 6, 2018. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  34. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Albums: 2018/01/31" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. Archived October 5, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  35. ^ "Oricon Weekly Albums, February 12, 2018". Oricon. February 12, 2018. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved February 10, 2018.
  36. ^ "NZ Heatseeker Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. January 29, 2018. Archived from the original on January 27, 2018. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
  37. ^ "Gaon Album Chart – Week 4, 2018" (in Korean). Gaon Chart. Archived from the original on February 1, 2018. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  38. ^ "2018년 Album Chart". Gaon. Archived from the original on January 11, 2019. Retrieved January 16, 2019.