Why (Taeyeon EP)

{{Infobox album

| name = Why

| type = EP

| artist = Taeyeon

| cover = Taeyeon Why album cover.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Digital cover artwork

| released = {{Start date|2016|06|28}}

| recorded =

| venue =

| studio =

| genre = {{flatlist|

}}

| length = 23:13

| language = Korean

| label = {{flatlist|

}}

| producer = {{hlist|Lee Soo-man {{small|(exec.)}}| LDN Noise}}

| prev_title = I

| prev_year = 2015

| next_title = My Voice

| next_year = 2017

| misc = {{Singles

| name = Why

| type = EP

| single1 = Starlight

| single1date = June 25, 2016

| single2 = Why

| single2date = June 28, 2016

}}

Why is the second extended play (EP) by South Korean singer Taeyeon, released by SM Entertainment on June 28, 2016. Lee Soo-man, founder of SM Entertainment, served as the producer of the album. The EP saw the contributions of alternative R&B singer Dean and Taeyeon's fellow Girls' Generation member Hyoyeon. Musically, Why incorporates various genres including EDM, R&B, and Pop.

To promote the EP, Taeyeon performed on three music programs, Music Bank, Show! Music Core, and Inkigayo from July 1–3, 2016. She further embarked on her first concert tour Butterfly Kiss, which visited Seoul and Busan in July and August 2016. Upon its release, Why received generally positive reviews from media outlets, who were favorable towards the EP's diverse musical styles and Taeyeon's vocals.

The EP was a commercial success in South Korea, peaking atop the Gaon Album Chart and has sold over 110,000 physical copies in the country. It also fared well in Taiwan, charting at number two on the G-Music chart and became the second best-selling release by a South Korean artist of 2016 in the country. The EP additionally charted at numbers thirty and two on the Japanese Oricon chart and the US Billboard World Albums, respectively. Two singles from Why, "Starlight" featuring Dean and "Why" also fared well commercially, entering the top ten of South Korea's Gaon Digital Chart.

Background and release

On June 17, 2016, Taeyeon was announced to be releasing her second extended play titled Why.{{cite news|url=http://www.newsis.com/ar_detail/view.html?ar_id=NISX20160617_0014158155&cID=10601&pID=10600|title=여름 걸그룹 대전, 최종보스 등판…태연 28일 컴백|publisher=Newsis|language=ko|author=Jo In-woo|date=June 17, 2016|accessdate=June 18, 2016}} On June 20, it was reported that South Korean singer Dean was featured in the album.{{cite news|url=http://newsindaily.com/content/view.html?section=9&category=95&no=1366&wh=12|title='솔로컴백' 태연, 'R&B 대세' 딘 피처링 합류|publisher=My Daily|language=ko|author=Choi Ji-ye|date=June 20, 2016|accessdate=June 22, 2016}} On June 22, Taeyeon's fellow Girls' Generation member Hyoyeon was revealed to be featured in the track "Up & Down".{{cite news|url=http://tenasia.hankyung.com/archives/960619|title=효연, 태연 솔로앨범 피처링 참여…소녀시대 특급의리|work=Korea Economic Daily|author=Son Ye-ji|language=ko|date=June 22, 2016|accessdate=June 22, 2016}}

Promotion

Taeyeon began performing "Why" on South Korean music television programs on July 1, 2016.{{cite news|url=http://star.mt.co.kr/view.html?no=2016062214591186068|title=태연, 7월 1일 '뮤뱅'서 신곡 '와이' 무대 첫 공개|publisher=Money Today|language=ko|author=Lee Kyung-ho|date=June 22, 2016|accessdate=June 23, 2016}} Her first concert tour titled "Butterfly Kiss" was held in Seoul and Busan in July and August 2016 respectively.{{cite news|url=http://sports.donga.com/3/02/20160524/78284968/1|title=태연, 첫 단독 콘서트 'TAEYEON, Butterfly Kiss' 개최|work=The Dong-a Ilbo|language=ko|author=Jang Kyung-guk|date=May 25, 2016|accessdate=June 18, 2016}}

Singles

The first single from Why, "Starlight", featuring South Korean singer Dean, and its music video were released on June 25, 2016, three days ahead of the album's release.{{cite news|url=http://osen.mt.co.kr/article/G1110443239|title=태연, 딘을 만나 ♥에 빠졌다..러블리 듀엣곡 'starlight'|publisher=Online Sports and Entertainment News|language=ko|author=Park So-young|date=June 24, 2016|accessdate=June 24, 2016}} The title track and second single, "Why", and its music video were released together with the album on June 28.{{cite news|url=http://mydaily.co.kr/new/read.php?newsid=201606231002951139|title='음원퀸 귀환' 태연, 25일 딘 피처링 '스타라이트' 선공개|publisher=My Daily|language=ko|author=Jeon Won|date=June 23, 2016|accessdate=June 23, 2016}} A second music video for "Why", featuring the song's choreography, was released on July 7.{{cite news|url=http://osen.mt.co.kr/article/G1110449465|title=태연, 주간 음반차트 1위..오늘 'Why' 댄스버전 MV공개|publisher=Online Sports and Entertainment News|language=ko|author=Choi Na-young|accessdate=September 18, 2016|date=June 23, 2016}} "Starlight" and "Why" peaked at number 5 and 7 respectively on the South Korean Gaon weekly digital chart.{{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=ALL&targetTime=27&hitYear=2016&termGbn=week|title=Gaon Digital Chart, June 26 – July 2, 2016|publisher=Gaon Music Chart|language=ko|accessdate=July 7, 2016}}

Reception

{{Album ratings

| rev1 = Korea JoongAng Daily{{cite web|url=http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=3020835|title=[New Release] Taeyeon|work=Korea JoongAng Daily|author=Lee Seo-jin|date=July 5, 2016|accessdate=April 11, 2017}}

| rev1Score = Positive

| rev2 = The Star

| rev2Score = 8/10

| rev3 = The Straits Times

| rev3Score = {{rating|3.5|5}}

| rev4 = Idology{{cite web|url=https://idology.kr/disc/7232|title=태연 – Why (2016) by Idology|work=Idology|author=Mimyo

|date=2016-06-28|accessdate=December 15, 2022}}

| rev4Score = Positive

}}

Why received generally positive reviews from media outlets. Lee Seo-jin from Korea JoongAng Daily praised Taeyeon's "addictive" vocal tone and wrote that the EP "proves [Taeyeon]'s potential as a solo artist". Chester Chin from The Star lauded the album's musical styles with "impressive melodies and a general feel-good vibe". He additionally complimented on Taeyeon's vocals and labelled Why as "a super solid" follow-up to her previous extended play I.{{cite web|url=http://www.star2.com/entertainment/music/music-reviews/2016/08/01/review-why-by-taeyeon/|title=Review: Why by Taeyeon|work=The Star|first=Chester|last=Chin|date=August 1, 2016|accessdate=August 14, 2016}} Gwendolyn Ng writing for The Straits Times was mildly favorable, writing "Lead vocalist Kim slips into soloist mode with ease". However, Ng selected "Up & Down" as the EP's drawback and did not approve of Hyoyeon's contribution, saying "Hyoyeon's abrupt rapping comes in far too early and does not gel with the rest of the melody".{{cite web|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/entertainment/hot-tracks-52|title=Hot Tracks|work=The Straits Times|first=Gwendolyn|last=Ng|date=July 20, 2016|accessdate=April 7, 2017}}

Why debuted at number one on the South Korean Gaon weekly album chart.{{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=27&hitYear=2016&termGbn=week|title=Gaon Album Chart, June 26 – July 2, 2016|publisher=Gaon Music Chart|language=ko|accessdate=July 7, 2016}}

Track listing

{{Track listing

| headline = Why

| extra_column = Arrangement

| title_width = 20%

| lyrics_width = 20%

| music_width = 35%

| extra_width = 25%

| title1 = Why

| note1 =

| lyrics1 = {{hlist|Jo Yoon-kyung}}

| music1 = {{hlist|LDN Noise|{{ill|Lauren Dyson|pl|Lauren Dyson}}|Rodnae "Chikk" Bell}}

| extra1 = {{hlist|LDN Noise|{{ill|Lauren Dyson|pl|Lauren Dyson}}|Rodnae "Chikk" Bell}}

| length1 = 3:27

| title2 = Starlight

| note2 = featuring Dean

| lyrics2 = {{hlist|Lee Seu-ran}}

| music2 = {{hlist|Jamil "Digi" Chammas|Taylor Mckall|Jeremy "Tay" Jasper|Adrian McKinnon|Leven Kali|Sara Forsberg|MZMC}}

| extra2 = {{hlist|Jamil "Digi" Chammas|Taylor Mckall|Jeremy "Tay" Jasper|Leven Kali}}

| length2 = 3:43

| title3 = Fashion

| note3 =

| lyrics3 = {{hlist|Kim In-hyung}}

| music3 = {{hlist|LDN Noise|Marissa Shipp|Brittany Mullen}}

| extra3 = {{hlist|LDN Noise|Marissa Shipp|Brittany Mullen}}

| length3 = 3:12

| title4 = Hands on Me

| note4 =

| lyrics4 = {{hlist|Yorkie (Devine Channel)|Ryu Woo}}

| music4 = {{hlist|Harvey Mason Jr. (The Underdogs)|Damon Thomas (The Underdogs)|Dewain Whitmore Jr.|Michael Jiminez}}

| extra4 = {{hlist|The Underdogs|Dewain Whitmore Jr.|Michael Jiminez}}

| length4 = 3:48

| title5 = Up & Down

| note5 = featuring Hyoyeon

| lyrics5 = {{hlist|Lee Seu-ran|Kim Min-ji}}

| music5 = {{hlist|Ylva Dimberg (The Kennel)|Herbie Crichlow|LDN Noise}}

| extra5 = {{hlist|Ylva Dimberg (The Kennel)|Herbie Crichlow|LDN Noise}}

| length5 = 2:53

| title6 = Good Thing

| note6 =

| lyrics6 = {{hlist|Jung Joo-hee}}

| music6 = {{hlist|LDN Noise|Alice Sophie Penrose|Carolyn Jordan}}

| extra6 = {{hlist|LDN Noise|Alice Sophie Penrose|Carolyn Jordan}}

| length6 = 2:57

| title7 = Night

| note7 =

| lyrics7 = {{hlist|Ryu Woo|Yorkie (Devine Channel)}}

| music7 = {{hlist|{{ill|Im Kwang-wook (Devine Channel)|ko|임광욱}}|Ryan Kim (Devine Channel)|{{ill|Im "Chase" Chae-seop|ko|임채섭}}|Amanda Moseley (Devine Channel)}}

| extra7 = {{hlist|Devine Channel}}

| length7 = 3:13

| total_length = 23:13

}}

Charts

= Weekly charts =

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center;"
Chart (2016) ! Peak position
scope="row"\| French Digital Albums (SNEP){{cite web\|url=http://www.snepmusique.com/tops-semaine/top-albums-telecharges/?ye=2016&we=26\|title=French Digital Albums: Week 26, 2016\|date=June 26, 2016\|accessdate=March 30, 2019}} \| 120
scope=row\|Japanese Albums (Oricon){{cite web\|title=Weekly CD Rankings – July 11, 2016\|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/w/2016-07-11/p/3/\|publisher=Oricon\|language=ja\|accessdate=July 6, 2016}} \| 30
scope=row\|South Korean Albums (Gaon) \| 1
scope="row"\| Taiwanese East Asian Albums (G-Music){{cite web\|url=http://www.g-music.com.tw/website_module.php?website_module_classify_sn=106\|title=Albums Chart – September 9, 2016\|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160922200359/http://www.g-music.com.tw/website_module.php?website_module_classify_sn=106\|publisher=G-Music\|archivedate=September 22, 2016\|language=zh}} \| 2
scope="row"\| US World Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine\|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/world-albums/2016-07-16\|title=World Albums, July 16, 2016\|magazine=Billboard\|accessdate=July 15, 2016}} \| 2
scope="row"\| US Heetseekers Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine\|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/heatseekers-albums/2016-07-16\|title=Heetseekers Albums – July 16, 2016\|magazine=Billboard\|accessdate=July 15, 2016}} \| 15
scope="row"\| US Independent Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine\|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/independent-albums/2016-07-16\|title=Independent Albums – July 16, 2016\|magazine=Billboard\|accessdate=July 15, 2016}} \| 48

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center;"

Chart (2016)

! Peak
position

scope="row"| French Digital Albums (SNEP){{cite web|url=http://www.snepmusique.com/tops-semaine/top-albums-telecharges/?ye=2016&we=26|title=French Digital Albums: Week 26, 2016|date=June 26, 2016|accessdate=March 30, 2019}}

| 120

scope=row|Japanese Albums (Oricon){{cite web|title=Weekly CD Rankings – July 11, 2016|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/w/2016-07-11/p/3/|publisher=Oricon|language=ja|accessdate=July 6, 2016}}

| 30

scope=row|South Korean Albums (Gaon)

| 1

scope="row"| Taiwanese East Asian Albums (G-Music){{cite web|url=http://www.g-music.com.tw/website_module.php?website_module_classify_sn=106|title=Albums Chart – September 9, 2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160922200359/http://www.g-music.com.tw/website_module.php?website_module_classify_sn=106|publisher=G-Music|archivedate=September 22, 2016|language=zh}}

| 2

scope="row"| US World Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/world-albums/2016-07-16|title=World Albums, July 16, 2016|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=July 15, 2016}}

| 2

scope="row"| US Heetseekers Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/heatseekers-albums/2016-07-16|title=Heetseekers Albums – July 16, 2016|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=July 15, 2016}}

| 15

scope="row"| US Independent Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/independent-albums/2016-07-16|title=Independent Albums – July 16, 2016|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=July 15, 2016}}

| 48

= Year-end chart =

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
Chart (2016) ! Position
scope="row"\| South Korean Albums (Gaon){{cite web\|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/total.gaon?serviceGbn=S1060\|title=Gaon Album Chart of 2016\|publisher=Gaon Music Chart\|language=ko\|archivedate=January 13, 2017\|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113054422/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/total.gaon?serviceGbn=S1060}} \| align="center"\| 19
scope="row"\| Taiwanese East Asian Albums (G-Music){{cite web\|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170125141633/http://www.g-music.com.tw/website_module.php?website_module_classify_sn=107\|url=http://www.g-music.com.tw/website_module.php?website_module_classify_sn=107\|title=G-Music 2016 Annual Sales Chart\|publisher=G-Music\|language=zh\|date=December 31, 2016\|archivedate=January 25, 2017}} \| align="center"\| 2

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

Chart (2016)

! Position

scope="row"| South Korean Albums (Gaon){{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/total.gaon?serviceGbn=S1060|title=Gaon Album Chart of 2016|publisher=Gaon Music Chart|language=ko|archivedate=January 13, 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113054422/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/total.gaon?serviceGbn=S1060}}

| align="center"| 19

scope="row"| Taiwanese East Asian Albums (G-Music){{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170125141633/http://www.g-music.com.tw/website_module.php?website_module_classify_sn=107|url=http://www.g-music.com.tw/website_module.php?website_module_classify_sn=107|title=G-Music 2016 Annual Sales Chart|publisher=G-Music|language=zh|date=December 31, 2016|archivedate=January 25, 2017}}

| align="center"| 2

Sales

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
Country ! Sales amount
scope=row \| South Korea \| 112,754Sales references for Why in South Korea: {{cite web\|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&termGbn=month\|title=December 2016 albums\|publisher=Gaon Music Chart\|language=ko\|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170126061801/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&termGbn=month\|archivedate=January 26, 2017}} {{cite web\|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=01&hitYear=2017&termGbn=month\|title=January 2017 albums\|website=\|publisher=Gaon Music Chart\|language=ko}}
scope=row \| Japan \| 6,234{{cite web\|url=http://ranking.oricon.co.jp/\|title=Oricon Ranking Service 'You Big Tree'\|publisher=Oricon\|language=ja\|accessdate=July 7, 2016\|url-access=subscription }}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

Country

! Sales amount

scope=row | South Korea

| 112,754Sales references for Why in South Korea:

{{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&termGbn=month|title=December 2016 albums|publisher=Gaon Music Chart|language=ko|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170126061801/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&termGbn=month|archivedate=January 26, 2017}}
{{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=01&hitYear=2017&termGbn=month|title=January 2017 albums|website=|publisher=Gaon Music Chart|language=ko}}

scope=row | Japan

| 6,234{{cite web|url=http://ranking.oricon.co.jp/|title=Oricon Ranking Service 'You Big Tree'|publisher=Oricon|language=ja|accessdate=July 7, 2016|url-access=subscription }}

Release history

class = "wikitable plainrowheaders" ! Region ! Date ! Format ! Label ! {{abbr\|Ref.\|References}}
scope="row" \| South Korea \| rowspan=2 \| June 28, 2016 \| {{hlist\|CD\|digital download}} \| rowspan="2"\| SM Entertainment \| align=center \|{{cite web\|url=http://www.melon.com/album/detail.htm?albumId=2693802\|title=Why – The 2nd Mini Album by Taeyeon\|publisher=Melon\|accessdate=July 15, 2016}}
scope="row" \| Worldwide \| Digital download \| align=center \|{{cite web\|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/why-the-2nd-mini-album/1127320872\|title=Why – The 2nd Mini Album by Taeyeon\|date=June 28, 2016 \|publisher=iTunes Store. Apple Inc\|access-date=July 15, 2016}}
scope="row"\| Taiwan \| July 22, 2016 \| CD \| {{hlist\|SM Entertainment\|Universal Music Taiwan}} \| align="center"\|{{cite web\|url=http://www.fangoods.com.tw/UMG/Default.aspx?m=ProductDetail&ItemId=9955\|title=Taeyeon – Why\|publisher=Universal Music Taiwan\|language=zh\|accessdate=January 25, 2017}}

class = "wikitable plainrowheaders"

! Region

! Date

! Format

! Label

! {{abbr|Ref.|References}}

scope="row" | South Korea

| rowspan=2 | June 28, 2016

| {{hlist|CD|digital download}}

| rowspan="2"| SM Entertainment

| align=center |{{cite web|url=http://www.melon.com/album/detail.htm?albumId=2693802|title=Why – The 2nd Mini Album by Taeyeon|publisher=Melon|accessdate=July 15, 2016}}

scope="row" | Worldwide

| Digital download

| align=center |{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/why-the-2nd-mini-album/1127320872|title=Why – The 2nd Mini Album by Taeyeon|date=June 28, 2016 |publisher=iTunes Store. Apple Inc|access-date=July 15, 2016}}

scope="row"| Taiwan

| July 22, 2016

| CD

| {{hlist|SM Entertainment|Universal Music Taiwan}}

| align="center"|{{cite web|url=http://www.fangoods.com.tw/UMG/Default.aspx?m=ProductDetail&ItemId=9955|title=Taeyeon – Why|publisher=Universal Music Taiwan|language=zh|accessdate=January 25, 2017}}