20&2

In July 2023, SM Entertainment confirmed that TVXQ were working on a new album, ending a five-year group hiatus in Korea. 20&2 and its accompanying concert tour were both officially announced on October 5, 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.starnewskorea.com/stview.php?no=2023100508114985112|title=동방신기, 데뷔 20주년 기념 앨범 12월 26일 발매|trans-title=TVXQ to release their 20th debut anniversary album on December 26|publisher=Star News Korea|last=Kim|first=No-eul|language=ko|date=October 5, 2023|access-date=March 10, 2024}} The first promotional image shared on news outlets and social media showed a series of complex designs and the constellation Cassiopeia, which is also the name of TVXQ's fanclub. 20&2 commemorates the 20th anniversary of TVXQ's formation, with the title also being a reference to the two remaining members, U-Know Yunho and Max Changmin.

On November 27, 2023, the day before TVXQ's scheduled appearance at the 2023 MAMA Awards, SM shared a series of promotional material on social media, including an image of TVXQ's new album logo. At the MAMA Awards on November 28, TVXQ performed their pre-release single "Down" for the first time, followed by their 2005 single "Rising Sun" with the boy band Riize.

The music video teaser for "Down" was unveiled on December 1, 2023,{{cite web | publisher=Sports World | url=https://m.sportsworldi.com/view/20231201505484| title='데뷔 20주년' 동방신기, 신곡 'Down' 뮤비 티저 공개 | trans-title=20-year-old veterans TVXQ drop music video teaser for new single 'Down' | date=December 1, 2023 | accessdate=March 11, 2024 | language=ko}} and the video dropped on December 4.{{cite web | publisher=Chosun Biz | url=https://biz.chosun.com/entertainment/enter_general/2023/12/04/ECHSOU3ICIXPTMX5GCGKGF5I7E/| title=동방신기, 수록곡 'DOWN' MV 공개…데뷔 20주년 컴백 예열 | trans-title=TVXQ warms up comeback with pre-release single 'Down' | date=December 4, 2023 | accessdate=March 11, 2024 | language=ko}} On December 11, SM released a teaser trailer of the new record, which featuried Yunho and Changmin in two different landscapes–the first, depicting Yunho and Changmin as snipers aiming at sheep; the second, depicting the duo running through a snowy forest and a concrete jungle, and a voice over counting up to twenty.{{Cite AV media|title=TVXQ! 동방신기 '20&2' Trailer|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNVUJCvoB14|via=YouTube|publisher=SM Entertainment|date=December 11, 2023|access-date=March 17, 2024}} SM announced the following day that 20&2 will drop on December 26, 2023–the day of TVXQ's twentieth debut anniversary–at 6 pm KST. From December 13 to 21, a series of concept images from the album's photobook were released in consecutive fashion.

Previews of the album's tracklist were revealed on a "Rebel Game soundtrack" video shared by SM on December 24.{{Cite AV media|title=TVXQ! 동방신기 'Rebel Game (Break the rules!)' Soundtrack|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCfTHdWm8P8|via=YouTube|publisher=SM Entertainment|date=December 24, 2023|access-date=March 17, 2024}} The music video teaser for the album's lead single "Rebel" was revealed on December 25. "Rebel" and 20&2 were both released on December 26,{{cite web | publisher=Chosun Ilbo | url=https://www.chosun.com/entertainments/music/2023/12/26/UC4P3MDSPFTBESXSDCPBJKADSA/ | title="규칙을 깨" 동방신기가 나아갈 길..20년 내공 담은 'Rebel' | trans-title=Breaking the rules is TVXQ's path forward, TVXQ reveals 'Rebel' with 20 years of experience | date=December 26, 2023 | accessdate=March 11, 2024 | language=ko}} with the album being available in three different packaged versions–the Vault, the Circuit, and the Photobook; and a limited special edition with only 1,226 prints available.

20&2 consists of ten tracks. The first track and pre-release single "Down" is described as a "slow R&B song" with "sensual" guitar riffs and heavy synth bass, with lyrics which depict "a fierce thirst for love and a desperate yearning for the other person."{{cite web | publisher=Maeil Business Newspaper | url=https://www.mk.co.kr/news/hot-issues/10888002 | date=December 1, 2023 | accessdate=March 17, 2024 | title=동방신기 신곡 '다운' 베일 벗었다 | trans-title=TVXQ reveals new single 'Down' | last=Jin | first=Hyang-hui | language=ko}} The lead single "Rebel" is a dance-pop song characterized by strong drumb beats, heavy bass, and "dynamic vocals" with a "rhythmic track." The lyrics of the song encompasses the theme of the album, describing a true rebel as someone who "does not simply oppose existing ideas, but someone who pushes forward with their beliefs without wavering."{{cite web | publisher=The Chosun Ilbo | url=https://www.chosun.com/entertainments/music/2023/12/26/UC4P3MDSPFTBESXSDCPBJKADSA/ | title="규칙을 깨" 동방신기가 나아갈 길..20년 내공 담은 'Rebel' | trans-title=Breaking the rules is TVXQ's path forward... 'Rebel' with 20 years of experience | date=December 26, 2024 | accessdate=March 17, 2024 | language=ko}} Tracks three "Rodeo" and four "Jungle" are both described as "atmospheric" songs, the former reminiscent of a Western film with lyrics about not being complacent to reality, while the latter is an "aggressively vivid" hip hop song with lyrics about coming on top while being trapped in a "jungle-like" reality.{{cite web | url=https://m.sportsworldi.com/view/20231213510366 | publisher=Sports World | title=동방신기, 정규 9집으로 보여줄 독보적인 컬러 | trans-title=TVXQ's unrivaled colors to show in 9th album | date=December 13, 2024 | accessdate=March 17, 2024}}

The second half of the album is characterized by light, mid-tempo pop songs, and ballads. The fifth track "Life is a Dance" is described as "cheerful" and "funky" , with lyrics about experiencing life after a rough journey. The sixth track "Fix It" is a disco-style dance song performed by Yunho and featuring the rapper DinDin. The seventh track "Take My Breath Away" is a R&B ballad performed by Changmin. "Promise" is a ballad with lyrics written by Changmin; "The Way U Are" is an acoustic, unplugged remix of TVXQ's 2004 best-selling single of the same name. "Starlight", the final track in the album, is a ballad with lyrics that expresses TVXQ's "grateful and sincere" relationship with each other and their fans.{{cite web | url=https://m.post.naver.com/viewer/postView.naver?volumeNo=37089265&memberNo=41350603 | title=K-Pop 레전드의 귀환! 동방신기 정규 9집 '20&2' 공개! | trans-title=The return of a K-Pop legend! TVXQ's 9th full-length album '20&2' released! | date=December 26, 2023 | accessdate=March 17, 2024 | language=ko}}

On November 28, 2023, TVXQ performed "Down" for the first time at the 2023 MAMA Awards held at the Tokyo Dome in Japan. There, the duo won the Inspiring Achievement award, which recognized their legacy and popularity in the last 20 years.

From December 23 to January 6, 2024, an exhibition highlight TVXQ's achievements in the past 20 years was held on the island of Yeongjongdo, in Incheon, South Korea.{{cite news|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/art/2023/12/398_364966.html|title=TVXQ! to break 5-year hiatus with new song 'Rebel'|newspaper=The Korea Times|last=Pyo|first=Kyung-min|date=December 12, 2023|access-date=December 26, 2023}}

Following the album's launch, the duo held their 20th debut anniversary concert "2023 TVXQ! CONCERT [20&2]" at the new Inspire Arena in Yeongjongdo, Incheon, South Korea on December 30 and 31. The duo then embarked on their 20&2 Asia concert tour, which began in Seoul on December 30, 2023, followed by shows in Hong Kong, Thailand and Taiwan into February 2024, and Macau and Indonesia in March 2024.

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = IZM{{cite web | work=IZM: Neo Music Community | url=http://www.izm.co.kr/contentRead.asp?idx=32301&bigcateidx=1&subcateidx=3&view_tp=1 | title=TVXQ! The 9th Album '20&2' Review | accessdate=April 19, 2024 | language=ko}}

| rev1score = {{Rating|2|5}}

}}

Korean music review magazine IZM: Neo Music Community gave the album a two out of five rating,{{cite magazine | url=http://www.izm.co.kr/contentRead.asp?idx=32301&bigcateidx=1&subcateidx=3&view_tp=1 | title=TVXQ! The 9th Album '20&2' Review | accessdate=April 19, 2024 | language=ko | magazine=Neo Music Community}} stating that the album struggled to find a balance between "uniquness and mass appeal",{{cite web | publisher=Medium | url=https://medium.com/@mattwie94/album-tvxq-20-2-the-9th-album-review-6db4b6162e6d | title=TVXQ 20&2 — The 9th Album Review | date=January 14, 2024 | accessdate=April 19, 2024}} leading to a lack of musical cohesiveness within the album.

In South Korea, 20&2 debuted at number three on the Circle Album Chart, selling 69,622 copies in the first week. 20&2 became their fastest selling album in a single day to date, recording 30,066 album sales.{{Cite news |last=Sayson |first=Sophia |website=AllKpop |title=TVXQ sets a new personal best in album sales with '20&2' |url=https://www.allkpop.com/article/2023/12/tvxq-sets-a-new-personal-best-in-album-sales-with-202 |date=December 27, 2023}} By March 2024, it has sold over 109,000 copies.Cumulative Sales of 20&2:

• {{cite web|title=Circle Album Chart – December, 2023|url=https://circlechart.kr/page_chart/album.circle?nationGbn=T&targetTime=12&hitYear=2023&termGbn=month&yearTime=3|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240111022408/https://circlechart.kr/page_chart/album.circle?nationGbn=T&targetTime=12&hitYear=2023&termGbn=month&yearTime=3|archive-date=January 11, 2024|access-date=January 15, 2024|website=Circle Chart|language=ko}}
• {{cite web|url=https://circlechart.kr/page_chart/album.circle?nationGbn=T&targetTime=01&hitYear=2024&termGbn=week&yearTime=3|title=Circle Album Chart – Week 1, 2024|website=Circle Chart|language=ko|access-date=January 16, 2024}}
• {{cite web|url=https://circlechart.kr/page_chart/album.circle?nationGbn=T&targetTime=10&hitYear=2024&termGbn=week&yearTime=3|title=Circle Album Chart – Week 10, 2024|website=Circle Chart|language=ko|access-date=March 14, 2024}}

In Japan, 20&2 debuted at number 11 on the Oricon Albums Chart and sold over 3,000 copies.

{{Track listing

| headline = 20&2 track listing

| extra_column = Arrangement

| title1 = Down

| length1 = 3:10

| lyrics1 = {{hlist|Lee Yoon-seol (Jam Factory)|Choi Ji-ae (Jam Factory)|Na Jung-ah (153/Joombas)|Shin Na-ri (PNP)}}

| music1 = {{hlist|Rokman|Benji Bae|PixelWave}}

| extra1 = {{hlist|Rokman|Benji Bae|Lockhome|PixelWave}}

| title2 = Rebel

| length2 = 2:44

| lyrics2 = Kenzie

| music2 = {{hlist|Jonatan Gusmark|Ludvig Evers|Moa "Cazzi Opeia" Carlebecker|Adrian McKinnon|Kenzie}}

| extra2 = {{hlist|Moonshine|Kenzie}}

| title3 = Rodeo

| length3 = 2:56

| lyrics3 = Kim Min-ji (Jam Factory)

| music3 = {{hlist|Mike Woods|Michael McCall|Patrick McManus|Benjmn|Feli Ferraro}}

| extra3 = Mike Woods

| title4 = Jungle

| length4 = 3:01

| lyrics4 = {{hlist|Maryjane (Lalala Studio)|Kim Min-ji (Jam Factory)}}

| music4 = {{hlist|Brandon Arreaga|Jbach|Kyle Buckley|Charles Roberts Nelsen|MZMC}}

| extra4 = {{hlist|Pink Slip|Inverness|MZMC}}

| title5 = Life's a Dance

| length5 = 3:01

| lyrics5 = Hwang Yu-bin

| music5 = {{hlist|Lars "Chief1" Pedersen|James Jensen|Nermin Harambasic|Mats Koray Genc|Jakob Mihoubi|Rudi Daouk|Adrian Thesen}}

| extra5 = Chief1

| title6 = Fix It

| note6 = by U-Know featuring DinDin

| length6 = 3:09

| lyrics6 = {{hlist|DinDin|Lee Hye-yum (Jam Factory)}}

| music6 = {{hlist|Sebastian Kornelius Gautier Teigen|Thomas Troelsen|DinDin}}

| extra6 = {{hlist|Coucheron|Troelsen}}

| title7 = Take My Breath Away

| note7 = by Changmin

| length7 = 3:11

| lyrics7 = Bong Eun-young (Jam Factory)

| music7 = Cameron Warren

| extra7 = Warren

| title8 = Promise

| length8 = 3:19

| lyrics8 = Changmin

| music8 = {{hlist|Micah Premnath|Ale Alberti|Parrish Warrington|Diederik van Elsas}}

| extra8 = Trackside

| title9 = The Way U Are

| note9 = unplugged version

| length9 = 2:35

| lyrics9 = Tae Hoon

| music9 = {{hlist|Daniel Pandher|Robert Zuddas}}

| extra9 = Kenzie

| title10 = Starlight

| note10 = {{lang|ko|빛나는 계절}}

| length10 = 3:31

| lyrics10 = NIve

| music10 = {{hlist|NIve|Kyum Lyk}}

| extra10 = Kyum Lyk

| total_length = 30:37

}}

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.{{cite AV media notes|title=20&2|last=TVXQ|year=2023|type=photobook|at=Credits|location=South Korea|publisher=SM Entertainment, Kakao Entertainment}}

• SM LVYIN Studio – recording {{small|(track 1, 10)}}, digital editing {{small|(track 1, 3)}}, engineered for mix {{small|(track 3, 8)}}, mixing {{small|(track 8)}}
• SM Big Shot Studio – recording {{small|(track 2–3)}}, engineered for mix {{small|(track 6)}}, mixing {{small|(track 3)}}
• SM Yellow Tail Studio – recording {{small|(track 4, 6)}}, digital editing {{small|(track 4, 10)}}, engineered for mix {{small|(track 4, 10)}}
• doobdoob Studio – recording {{small|(track 5–6)}}, digital editing {{small|(track 5, 8)}}
• Sound Pool Studio – recording {{small|(track 7)}}, digital editing {{small|(track 6)}}
• SM SSAM Studio – recording {{small|(track 8–9)}}, digital editing {{small|(track 1–2, 7, 9)}}, engineered for mix {{small|(track 5, 7, 9)}}
• 77F Studio – digital editing {{small|(track 2)}}
• SM Concert Hall Studio – mixing {{small|(track 1)}}
• SM Blue Ocean Studio – mixing {{small|(track 2, 6, 9)}}
• KLANG Studio – mixing {{small|(track 4–5)}}
• SM Blue Cup Studio – mixing {{small|(track 7)}}
• SM Starlight Studio – mixing {{small|(track 10)}}
• 821 Sound – mastering {{small|(all tracks)}}

{{div col}}

• SM Entertainment – executive producer
• Jang Cheol-hyuk – executive supervisor
• TVXQ – vocals {{small|(all tracks)}}, background vocals {{small|(all tracks)}}{{efn|Including U-Know's background vocals in track 6 and Max Changmin's background vocals in track 7.}}
• Max Changmin – lyrics {{small|(track 8)}}
• DinDin – vocals {{small|(track 6)}}, lyrics, composition {{small|(track 6)}}
• Lee Yoon-seol (Jam Factory) – lyrics {{small|(track 1)}}
• Choi Ji-ae (Jam Factory) – lyrics {{small|(track 1)}}
• Na Jung-ah (153/Joombas) – lyrics {{small|(track 1)}}
• Shin Na-ri (PNP) – lyrics {{small|(track 1)}}
• Kenzie – producer {{small|(track 2, 9)}}, lyrics {{small|(track 2)}}, composition {{small|(track 2)}}, arrangement {{small|(track 2, 9)}}, vocal directing {{small|(track 2, 9)}}
• Kim Min-ji (Jam Factory) – lyrics {{small|(track 3–4)}}
• Maryjane (Lalala Studio) – lyrics {{small|(track 4)}}
• Hwang Yu-bin – lyrics {{small|(track 5)}}
• Lee Hye-yum (Jam Factory) – lyrics {{small|(track 6)}}
• Bong Eun-young (Jam Factory) – lyrics {{small|(track 7)}}
• Tae Hoon – lyrics {{small|(track 9)}}
• NIve – lyrics, composition {{small|(track 10)}}
• Rokman – producer {{small|(track 1)}}, composition, arrangement, background vocals {{small|(track 1)}}
• Benji Bae – composition, arrangement, background vocals {{small|(track 1)}}
• PixelWave – producer {{small|(track 1)}}, composition, arrangement {{small|(track 1)}}
• Lockhome – arrangement {{small|(track 1)}}
• Jonatan Gusmark (Moonshine) – producer {{small|(track 2)}}, composition, arrangement {{small|(track 2)}}
• Ludvig Evers (Moonshine) – producer {{small|(track 2)}}, composition, arrangement {{small|(track 2)}}
• Moa "Cazzi Opeia" Carlebecker – composition, background vocals {{small|(track 2)}}
• Adrian McKinnon – composition, background vocals {{small|(track 2)}}
• Mike Woods – producer {{small|(track 3)}}, composition, arrangement {{small|(track 3)}}
• Michael McCall – composition {{small|(track 3)}}
• Patrick McManus – composition {{small|(track 3)}}
• Benjmn – composition, background vocals {{small|(track 3)}}
• Feli Ferraro – composition, background vocals {{small|(track 3)}}
• Brandon Arreaga – composition, background vocals {{small|(track 4)}}
• Jbach – composition, background vocals {{small|(track 4)}}
• Kyle Buckley {{small|a.k.a.}} Pink Slip – producer {{small|(track 4)}}, composition, arrangement {{small|(track 4)}}
• Charles Roberts Nelsen {{small|a.k.a.}} Inverness – producer {{small|(track 4)}}, composition, arrangement {{small|(track 4)}}
• MZMC – producer {{small|(track 4)}}, composition, arrangement {{small|(track 4)}}
• Lars "Chief1" Pedersen – producer {{small|(track 5)}}, composition, arrangement {{small|(track 5)}}
• James Jensen – composition {{small|(track 5)}}
• Mats Koray Genc {{small|a.k.a.}} JFMee – composition {{small|(track 5)}}
• Jakob Mihoubi – composition {{small|(track 5)}}
• Rudi Daouk – composition {{small|(track 5)}}
• Nermin Harambasic – composition {{small|(track 5)}}
• Adrian Thesen – composition {{small|(track 5)}}
• Thomas Troelsen – producer {{small|(track 6)}}, composition, arrangement {{small|(track 6)}}
• Sebastian Kornelius Gautier Teigen {{small|a.k.a.}} Coucheron – producer {{small|(track 6)}}, composition, arrangement {{small|(track 6)}}
• Cameron Warren – producer {{small|(track 7)}}, composition, arrangement, background vocals {{small|(track 7)}}
• Micah Premnath – composition {{small|(track 8)}}
• Ale Alberti – composition {{small|(track 8)}}
• Parrish Warrington (Trackside) – producer {{small|(track 8)}}, composition, arrangement {{small|(track 8)}}
• Diederik van Elsas (Trackside) – producer {{small|(track 8)}}, composition, arrangement {{small|(track 8)}}
• Daniel Pandher – composition {{small|(track 9)}}
• Robert Zuddas – composition {{small|(track 9)}}
• Kyum Lyk – producer {{small|(track 10)}}, composition, arrangement {{small|(track 10)}}
• Maxx Song – vocal directing {{small|(track 1, 4)}}, Pro Tools operating {{small|(track 1)}}
• MinGtion – vocal directing {{small|(track 3, 6)}}
• Jeon Seung-woo – vocal directing {{small|(track 5, 7)}}
• Kim Jin-hwan – vocal directing {{small|(track 8)}}
• Lee Joo-hyung – vocal directing {{small|(track 10)}}, background vocals {{small|(track 8, 10)}}
• Esbee – background vocals {{small|(track 3)}}
• Young Chance – background vocals {{small|(track 4)}}
• Kang Tae-woo {{small|a.k.a.}} Soulman – background vocals {{small|(track 5–6)}}
• Xydo – background vocals {{small|(track 9)}}
• Kim Yoo-hyun – guitar {{small|(track 9)}}
• Klozer – piano {{small|(track 10)}}
• Lee Ji-hong – recording {{small|(track 1, 10)}}, digital editing {{small|(track 1, 3)}}, engineered for mix {{small|(track 3, 8)}}, mixing {{small|(track 8)}}
• Lee Min-kyu – recording {{small|(track 2–3)}}, engineered for mix {{small|(track 6)}}, mixing {{small|(track 3)}}
• Noh Min-ji – recording {{small|(track 4, 6)}}, digital editing {{small|(track 4, 10)}}, engineered for mix {{small|(track 4, 10)}}
• Jang Woo-young – recording {{small|(track 5)}}, digital editing {{small|(track 5)}}
• Eugene Kwon – recording {{small|(track 6)}}, digital editing {{small|(track 8)}}
• Jeong Ho-jin – recording {{small|(track 7)}}, digital editing {{small|(track 6)}}
• Kang Eun-ji – recording {{small|(track 8–9)}}, digital editing {{small|(track 1–2, 7, 9)}}, engineered for mix {{small|(track 5, 7, 9)}}
• Woo Min-jeong – digital editing {{small|(track 2)}}
• Nam Koong-jin – mixing {{small|(track 1)}}
• Kim Cheol-sun – mixing {{small|(track 2, 6, 9)}}
• Koo Jong-pil – mixing {{small|(track 4–5)}}
• Jung Eui-seok – mixing {{small|(track 7)}}
• Jeong Yoo-ra – mixing {{small|(track 10)}}
• Kwon Nam-woo – mastering {{small|(all tracks)}}

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{{TVXQ}}

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Category:2023 albums

Category:2020s Korean-language albums

Category:SM Entertainment albums

Category:TVXQ albums

Category:Kakao Entertainment albums