Toy (South Korean band)

Toy (Korean토이; RRToyi) is a one-man project band of Korean pop singer-songwriter and pianist You Hee-yeol.[1]

Toy
OriginSeoul, South Korea
GenresK-pop, electronica
Years active1994–present
LabelsAntenna Music
MembersYou Hee-yeol,
Hahm Choon-ho,
Song Sung-kyung
Past membersYoon Jeong-oh
Kim Yeon-woo
Websitetoymusic.co.kr

Career

edit

Toy started as a duo of You Hee-yeol and Yoon Jeong-oh, and was named after their two initials 'Y', as in Two + Y = Toy.

However, after releasing Toy's debut album, Yoon Jeong-oh left the band to study overseas and You Hee-yeol joined the navy for his mandatory military service. You Hee-yeol has been the sole member of Toy since 1996.[2]

After his discharge from military service, You released Toy's second studio album Yooheeyeol. The title song "Remember I Was Next to You" (Korean내가 너의 곁에 잠시 살았다는 걸; RRNaega Neoui Gyeote Jamshi Sarattaneun Geol), sung by Kim Yeon-woo, became a big hit and the album was a commercial success.[2]

In 1997, Toy released the third studio album Present and also started a record label named Toy Music (currently Antenna). After a six-year hiatus from Fermata (2001), the band released their sixth studio album Thank You,[3] with the title song "A Passionate Goodbye" (Korean뜨거운 안녕; RRTteugeoun Annyeong) featuring vocals by E Z Hyoung.

Discography

edit

Studio albums

edit
  • Da Capo (2014)
  • Thank You (2007)
  • Fermata (2001)
  • A Night in Seoul (1999)
  • Present (1997)
  • Youheeyeol (1996)
  • Inside My Heart (1994)

Live albums

edit
  • Toy Live (2001)

Compilation albums

edit
  • The History of Toy (2001)

Awards

edit

Korean Music Awards

edit
Year Category Work Result
2009 Musician of the Year Won
Best Pop Song "A Passionate Goodbye" Won

Mnet Asian Music Awards

edit
Year Category Work Result
2008 Album of the Year Thank You[4] Nominated
Best Male Artist "Rockin' On Heaven's Door"[4] Nominated

References

edit
  1. ^ He intentionally spells his family name as You instead of Yoo. See his album cover. Toy6
  2. ^ a b Toy (You Hee-yeol) KBS World.
  3. ^ Toy Vol. 6 – Thank You YesAsia.
  4. ^ a b "2008 Mnet KM Music Festival Part1" Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. MAMA. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
edit