Page is the first studio album by South Korean singer-songwriter Kang Seung-yoon. It was released by YG Entertainment on March 29, 2021. The physical album was released in three versions: the Epilogue version, the Prologue version and the Kit version.[1] The album contains 12 tracks, including the lead single "Iyah". Page has sold 122,202 copies in South Korea as of May 2021.[2]
Background and promotion
On March 18, 2021, YG Entertainment reported that Kang Seung-yoon would be making a comeback on March 29 and confirmed the album title.[3] On March 22, YG revealed the album's track-list.[4] On March 23, the concept teaser of the album was released. The video features Seung-yoon sitting between black and white toned lights, which slowly changed to blue, red and purple, symbolizing the variety of musical colors he will show through the album.[5] On March 29, the sampler for Seung-yoon's new album was released.[6]
On March 29, Seung-yoon held an online media showcase for the release of Page. During the showcase, Seung-yoon described the lead single "Iyah" as a song responsibilities and burdens of becoming an adult as one gets older.[7]
"I’ve put in the things I’ve learned while making music, and living the past 10 years as a ‘person’. The album is like a memoir.
Billboard Vietnam described the album as "carrying the most sincere messages that [Seung-yoon] wants to send to himself as well as to his fans".[10] Writing for online magazine IZM, Hong-hyun Lee praised Seung-yoon for his songwriting and stated "it makes no sense to worry about the talented musician's actions".[9] Lizet Chavez from Vacancy Magazine regarded the album as "raw and vulnerable access to [Yoon's] last ten years in music and on the person those years helped shape today".[11]
Commercial performance
On April 6, 2021, it was reported that the pre-orders of the album has surpassed a total of 100,000 orders, as of April 5.[12] On the chart issued April 2021, Page debuted at number 3 on the South Korean Gaon Album Chart, scoring 122,202 copies of monthly sales.[2]
Composition
Seung-yoon participated in the composing and writing of Page.[4] He explained that Page is about himself and the messages he would like to spread. "Better" (featuring Mino) is a song about regrets and attachment on past relationships. The special track "Iyah" (featuring Yoon Jong-shin) is "formed with a format of Yoon Jong-shin answering to the questions of life Yoon had for the past 10 years". Regarding "Tread on Me", Seung-yoon explained, "I spotted a sprout while walking on the streets. I admired it. While I was trying to take a photo of the sprout in the pavements, a pedestrian stepped on the sprout. That’s when I wrote it on the memo".[7] In a commentary film uploaded by YG Entertainment through their official blog, Yoon explained that the lead single "Iyah" is "a story to myself. It began with the thought, ‘What would I like to tell myself when I’m worn out’".[13]
Artwork and packaging
Seung-yoon released three album versions for Page. The "Prologue" and "Epilogue" versions include a 104-page hardcover photobook, an accordion lyric book, a random photocard, a random polaroid, a random poster, a double-sided poster and a random postcard. The "KiT" version includes a package box, a random Air KiT, a lyric photocard set, a selfie photocard, and masking tape.[12]
