[Who is CLOSE YOUR EYES]
Formed through the JTBC audition program 'Project 7' that ended last December, this 7-member boy group consists of Jeon Min-wook, Zhang Xiang, Jang Yeo-jun, Kim Seong-min, Song Seung-ho, Kenshin, and Seo Kyung-bae. Lee Hae-in, who achieved great success as the creative director of the girl group KISS OF LIFE, known as the 'miracle of a small agency', is in charge of overall producing.
The team name CLOSE YOUR EYES signifies the intention to deliver music that is convincing not only through visible performances but also when listened to with closed eyes, and to continuously strengthen their image as the idol everyone imagines every time they open their eyes. As a project group rather than a regular group, the activity period is 3 years.
[What is ‘ETERNALT’]
The debut album ‘ETERNALT’, released on the 2nd, is a combination of ‘ETERNAL’, meaning ‘eternal’, and the ‘T’ from ‘TIME’, reflecting the members' desire to share eternal time with their fans. It includes a total of 8 tracks, including the debut title song ‘All the Poems and Novels Inside Me’.
‘ETERNALT’ recorded 310,000 copies in first-week sales (sales within a week of album release), ranking 5th in the all-time first-week sales for boy group debut albums. Additionally, it sold over 139,000 copies on the day of release alone, achieving 9th place in all-time daily sales for boy groups.
[Debut Song ‘All the Poems and Novels Inside Me’]
This song features lyrical lyrics expressing feelings towards an inspiring person, showcasing a 2000s retro R&B-style song. The honest and delicate lyrics depict a literary boy awkwardly writing about love, creating a fascinating contrast with the mature atmosphere of the track. Notably, member Jeon Min-wook participated in rap making, adding authenticity.
CLOSE YOUR EYES achieved 1st place on SBS M's ‘The Show’ just 6 days after debut on the 8th. They then topped KBS2’s ‘Music Bank’ on the 11th, just 9 days after debut, reaching the top of terrestrial music shows as well.
[Targeting Points]
Four members from the group were included in the top 7 visuals chosen by trainees during the filming of ‘Project 7’, boasting ‘all members are center-level’ stunning visuals. Additionally, with members who have ‘survival experience’ and ‘idol experience’, they show excellent average skills, and even members with shorter trainee experiences are rapidly growing, raising expectations for their potential.
[Whispering Reporter Talk]
Member Jeon Min-wook (Jaymin), who previously participated in the group BAE173, faced controversy before the debut of CLOSE YOUR EYES due to a conflict between his former agency and current agency regarding group activities. The situation was resolved when Jeon Min-wook expressed his intention to halt BAE173 activities, but he faced negative issues before debut, impacting his image.
However, CLOSE YOUR EYES turned the atmosphere around with their unique concept of being ‘literary boys’ and music that you want to keep listening to. Rising as a ‘super rookie’ by achieving 1st place in music shows just 6 days after debut, there is growing interest in whether they can change the landscape of 5th generation boy groups with their natural charm.
[Lee Da-kyum, Star Today Reporter]
