What happened to CSJH the Grace - The Most Underrated Group in Kpop History
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 18 ก.ย. 2024
- CSJH the Grace was the girl group of the century - with all four having perfect powerhouse vocals, top notch dance skills, and an image that perfectly mixed sexiness and gracefulness at the same time they should've become legends in Kpop. But they never quite made it to that superstar level they deserved. What happened? This video will explore their career from debut until now to find out!
"One more time ok" - CSJH the Grace • The Grace 천상지희 더 그레이스 ...
"My Everything" - CSJH the Grace • The Grace 천상지희 더 그레이스 ...
"Piranha" - CSJH the Grace • The Grace CSJH - Piranha
"Touch You" - Dana • [STATION] 다나 '울려 퍼져라 (...
"Still" - Sunday ft Kim TaeHyun • [STATION] 선데이 X 김태현 (...
"Say it" - Stephanie ft Lina • [BALLAD] STEPHANIE (스테...
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![[2007.08.30] CSJH The Grace - Dancer In The Rain (Mnet M! Countdown)](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/KJ0w-yL1dCc/mqdefault.jpg)
I stand with you, CSJH is my favorite group ever. Their live performances were always on point, no one can replace them honestly. I miss seeing them sing together so much.
It's sad that now one even knows they were under SM
The only unpopular SM girl group
M.I.L.K is almost unknown and their first comeback song was supposed to be into the new world but it was given to snsd !!
@@joaquincollet4291 I think M.I.L.K was under SM sister label called BM Entertainment
@@brylleangeloegualada2362 yep, but into the new world was created for them, they were going to comeback with the iconic song bit it was cancelled.
I really miss them, my first girl group I know the since I was 14 and I'm 28 now still listen to them till this day,they're like any group on s.korea
How have I not seen this already!? CSJH The Grace are my favourite group of all time, I was a fan of Dana (my ultimate Kpop bias of all time) from her debut and my most prized merchandise is the now completely out of print Dana's First Album. I also loved Isak N Jiyeon's Tell Me Baby.
Considering they threw Dana as a soloist and most known as she was also on the TV show Non-Stop 2 and gained quite a bit of popularity as being really "cool" in her image and enjoyed reasonable success even winning Newcomer of the Year at the South Korean Performing Arts Award . Her second album didn't actually sell that badly, it sold 14,408 which is still 30,000 less than 44,783 that her first album DANA sold. The reason for the drop in sales for Dana's solo career was SM debuting her as the "second BoA", similar issue happened with the Grace but I'll get to that later. However, Dana's first album was released under a subsidiary label of SM called Shining Entertainment that after Dana's success with her first album. The subsidiary label was closed and they migrated her into the main SM Entertainment. Her second album, they completely overhauled Dana's image to cutesy rather than the cool style of her first album she was known and loved for, why? I have no clue, the title tracks Maybe and What is Love? were both cute and also with Dana having one of the most supported and best developed low vocal ranges amongst Kpop groups. The reason why SM decided to change her image and then give her titular tracks that were much higher vocally that was not her most comfortable zone, it saw a drop in sales.
Isak N Jiyeon released one album, I loved Tell Me Baby as well personally. One another titular track was also very good however I don't think duos (other than perhaps Davichi that I know of for female singers) ever really were a popular thing.
Sunday was debuted in Japan with two singles, not really well managed again and so back she went to be shifted elsewhere and then Stephanie the newcomer, a ballet dancer from the US. SM Entertainment didn't give them much choice in the matter or an awful lot of time to train together as a group considering Dana's second album was released in 2003 and then they debuted as a group in 2005. SM made the fatal mistake from the get go with image and promotions once again, as DBSK/TVXQ were thriving and male groups were really dominating in Korea and there wasn't much success for female groups at their time of debut. SM Entertainment make the foolish mistake of promoting their debut as the "female DBSK", this instantly had a lead up of negativity to the group's debut with the acapella (which they did extremely well and only got better considering they had so little time to train together) and then released the ballad Too Good and Boomerang. Personally, I prefer the Japanese version of Boomerang to the Korean.
This is where a lot of the groups problems already started to surface, SM were running the girls ragged debuting in Korea, then off to Japan (with Sunday being the originally most fluent in Japanese having debuted and studied the language for her own solo debut there prior to CSJH), and as you mentioned they also were whisked off to China where Dana was studying Chinese and so the most fluent member for speaking at events releasing their Too Good etc. in China (which never charted). This never let them properly get cemented in any one territory, SM Entertainment also as you stated couldn't decide where to promote them, what music style they wanted to promote changing styles every single and release. The girls however, nailed the concepts every time and always their live vocals and performance were stellar, the harmonising, personality and stage presence.
When they finally got success with My Everything and Hanbeondo, Ok? in South Korea where they even managed to gain number 1 on some of the music shows and stages for the song. Once again, they sent them back to Japan where although Piranha didn't chart so well. Their live performance at the Avex Concert of Piranha drew a lot of attention that their stage which is how it ended up being included on the Avex concert DVD release. Their final single was actually Here feat. Cliff Edge in Japan, the single was their first to have a tie-in being chosen as the theme song of drama and movie Homeless School Student (Homeless Chugakusei). The single managed to reach 18 on the weekly Oricon peaking at 12 on the Daily Chart.
However, despite when they started to get some success, the back injury tied well for SM Entertainment to focus all their promotional efforts and attention to SNSD who were taking off big time that SM neglected The Grace. Eventually, Stephanie left the label and debuted under a new label, the other girls remained but once Stephanie had left the label it kind of prevented the girls from regrouping. I think the reason she left was likely due to SM Entertainment's poor management and SM Entertainment have a very shady past and present for how it treats its idols.
Dana is the saddest of all, she suffered depression and essentially had a mental breakdown with the knives etc. which unfortunately in Korea, mental health is pretty much taboo. It is bad press, South Korea still in 2024 currently has the 5th highest suicide rate in the world of all countries. After her breakdown, there were comments made while she attended Sulli from f(x)'s funeral after she committed suicide due to the heart breaking and dark side of the Korean idol culture, instead of showing sympathy for Sulli there were people hiding behind their screens saying that they hoped Dana would be the next after Sulli.
When it came to her contract renewal, the breakdown and mental health issues and stigma that had come to light was when SM Entertainment are I'm almost certain the ones who decided to not renew her contract after 19 years. Dana was always hard working and never stopped trying to better herself, came back in variety shows (such as King of Masked Singer where her performance wowed audiences that is when she garnered enough attention for SM to give her "Touch You" with SM Station as a solo song after so many years). Dana is my ultimate bias and I've followed her since her debut, it really breaks my heart what happened to her and The Grace. Now that Korean music has gone global as a phenomenon, it's despicable how nobody has even heard of or know anything about CSJH The Grace.
Between the bad timing for debut, the way in which they were debuted as a DBSK counter-part, unsure of what style, concept and sure even when they changed the name from CSJH to CSJH The Grace with My Everything just shows how disorganised they were when it came to making all sorts of attempts and efforts to make the most talented K-pop girl group now and forever (in my opinion) where there was only the need for 4 members, all sexy, powerful vocals, dancing, and they also adapted and melded so well that even when they were given different single concepts, for what they were given they did fantastic jobs. When they finally started getting success, they whisked them off to another country and then fell off the map. They had such charisma, the vocals and harmonies were insanely powerful, gorgeous and they could dance and they just really really were the full package. I haven't been excited about Kpop for a number of years now, and never another girl group since CSJH as they were just perfection all-rounders. Many groups don't sing live these days, properly without needing reinforced backing tracks, many members, same formulas as one another that is the industry itself. I think all idols are EXTREMELY hard working and talented to get to debut and what they do and where they are, but I've lost track of one group to another and what song is which and who is singing what. I miss the days of getting excited for this amazing group, and the best part was always the fact that I loved the singles and albums recorded of course but I was always most excited to see and hear the live performances! Where they showcased their power, charisma, strayed to add their own ad libs and flair and mix it up that no two performances were the same. Ah, it was Dana's birthday just gone on July 17th, I hope she managed to have a wonderful day and is doing well, same goes to Sunday, Stephanie and Lina.
The one positive thing to take from CSJH The Grace being the underrated hidden gem that they are and were, we got to hear and experience them while they were active and have their great tracks and performances and memories that SM and nobody can take away from us. All the later generation Kpop fans who have no idea who they are and never heard of them and their tracks are missing out on top-notch quality.
OMG finally someone talk about them. I love them so much :(
It’s why I made this video! Literally no one talks about them! It’s sad ‘cause they’re so talented and such a crime they’re so underrated LOVE 💗 them forever!
My Everything was one of the first songs I danced to with my wife at our wedding. Still one of my favorite songs of all time.
One more time ok is on repeat everyday! The only one song I can't get over! And I love them since I was a little boy
I miss them! Still have their 1st full album on repeat
im still jamming to one more time, ok 😭whatta bop, thx for this video
Ah! What a throwback. I want to mention their single "A Little Bit Of Good" was lovely, and if you're into angelic-sounding harmonies, that's one to listen to. I also remember the drama in the forums when SM assigned SNSD pink with pastel rose pink when it had been previously CSJH's.
Im still listening to my everything everyday
Great video !
I cried while watching your video.
I really miss CSJH The Grace.
I really wish Shapleys, SM Stans and big fandoms could come together to make petitions (for example Someone could make a korean petition for the blue house about CSJH The Grace, f(x) etc.), LED Truck and send e-mails to SM. SM needs to give them comeback please ... we need reunion.
YES!!! That's a brilliant idea! We NEED a CSJH the Grace reunion!!!
Nice coverage. Stephanie actually rapped at a lot of SM Town songs
I just knew Lina is still in SM. I thought she left already tho. But anyway, I agree with everything you said here.
The fact that all of my fav groups (including CSJH) are in bad situations (or whatever that's called) really breaks my heart. They need justice
Mine too!!! Thank you so much for making this..
Now I realize how I missed them so much...
Me being a SM gg Stan only found about the grace ages after the others they are very underrated
TASTE girl. Suju and CSJH are the best male and female group in kpop ever
I'm just (respectfully) obsessed with this group. I'm so happy I found out about them through a tiny Twitter meme last year. Such a classy group and wish they got more flowers.
It’s such a shame The Grace never took off. They could’ve been one of the most legendary groups of all time
ive been trying to find things about them online but its been so hard. thank you so much for making this
Probably the only K-Pop Female Band that could really bring songs in Acapella
I love love LOVE Dancer In The Rain. It is one of my favourite K-pop songs of all time. I was wondering where they went and what happened to them. Thanks for this.
Before I give my long thoughts, did anyone else here follow this group via SOOMPI😂 ✋ ?! BOY those were the DAYS. Brings back so much memories tracking their activities everyday on that thread.
Just wanted to add a few things:
- “The Grace” wasn’t added to their stage name until “My Everything” came out, which as you’ve pointed out, was to hint at their more graceful side of things, vocally and image wise (even though it was kind of disregarded when Han Beon Do Ok released lol). They were otherwise just Cheon Sang Ji Hee beforehand while “Tenjochiki” throughout their Japanese ventures
- One More Time OK JP version was not a single but an album promo track for their JP album “Graceful 4” in Nov 2007. Piranha actually came out prior to that in Aug of the same year as their summer single (and their first JP single in over a year since Juicy Love).
- the era from Dear was also a bit out of chronological order in terms of how it was laid out here. Should have been Stand Up People, Here/Near: Thoughtful then Sukoshi de Ikara (also not a single but an album promo track for that respective 2nd album).
My own commentary:
- I do agree, Boomerang did felt meh. While it didn’t chart well in the japanese release, the vocal arrangements / overall production was much better, especially during the choruses
- Just for One Day JP version from their GRACEFUL 4 album I also loved the arrangement for, dubbed with “Special Edition” with a more jazz touch to it. I vivdly remembered this song sold more than their main singles on iTunes JP during its time of release, as well as the original version from the Piranha single, mainly and mostly because TOHOSHINKI fans caught wind of it (not to mention, TOHOSHINKI were RISING in fame with Summer Dream. Being natural label mates with Rhytmzone, avex’s urban sublabel, I think it was a natural choice to have Jae Jong be their male JP vocalist for that version, which brings me to my next point ….
- SM / Rhythmzone realized too late that the group fared better in ballads, which didn’t surprise me considering JP market caters to that favorably. Not saying upbeat dance artists don’t exist (Koda Kumi for example) but as a new group with a sexy image from Korea debuting in Japan, it was a much harder sell. I find it ironic how the less they danced, the more accepting their music became. Going back to Just for One Day, it should have been released as a MAIN single. Here, their highest charting oricon single, proved they had potential in that genre. Shame it didn’t came to further fruition.
- Dear was probably their last album to fulfill their contract in JP. It felt so low budget overall aside from the singles
I don’t regret my time with being a fan. Still have my imported copies of both their Korean and Japanese albums. I remastered their music videos for my own digital collection from the DVDs too. I wish them all the best as human beings. Don’t think we’ll ever see them together again but I’m grateful for their time.
And more importantly, thank you for putting this together. It’s a miracle someone even covered this
They're the first korean girl group I knew and still is my fav till this day, they're just so good. Really was a combination of bad timing (as imo the trend were transitioning into more cute or girl crush instead of sexy back then) and bad decision to make them go to japan when their korean fanbase was not as steady (and this really was how sm treated all their artists from boa, took a huge toll on all of them mentally and physically). CSJH will always hold a special place in my heart
They're my fav kpop gg 🥹 my bias is LINA!!!! So underrated
Actually Stephanie rapped again in the SMTOWN song “Only Love” 😅
omg someone made a video about them! miss the girls!
I loved them in 2006 they even showed their music videos on the international channel in the usa
It's no question their best tracks were the Japanese ones. Also it should be clear that CSJH was a test group for SM to perfect their future products IE Red Velvet. I love both groups, and kind of feel CSJH was sacrificed for trying things out, but then Red Velvet became kind of the perfection based on SM's hit and misses with CSJH. In the end we are looking at a company trying to maximize their success (monies), regardless of their groups talents.
I love them tooo!! They were the very first girl group I loved. My favorite up until now after so many yeara!! Their vocals are soo great and they are soo beautiful too
Only jiyeon (Lina) CSJH members who still in SM ent
@gc ek with ningning periodt
@gc ek really?😍😍
@@allykelly no lol
I just became a fan
13:12 she rapped in her solo “WHAT U WANT” that was released the same time as “The Club”.
The grace was popular back then. They went to promote with KangTa but popularity was short lived
Boomerang got my attention, Dancer in the Rain sold me, still one of my top groups.
I agree with what you said, I felt like the the shipped them off way too much and the lead singles weren’t that great compared to the song son the albums
Wow
OMG Dana... idk she had those.... I wish she gets help and getting better
I really hope she has support and help too. She deserves the best! Pray for her! 🙏
Thanks for making this video. My fav group is also SuJu and most of the other groups I like are also from SM, but I only became a fan of Kpop in 2018, and I hadn't heard of CSJH before.
That said, I think we all know that talent alone isn't enough for success, taste differ, and I think you are being too judgmental. I would be more interested to know WHY exactly this group didn't take off.
I suspect the reason was that this group was targeted mainly for the Western market from the outset, but there it wasn't distinct enough, whereas Asian markets didn't like the mature sexy concept nor the music that much.
Notice that it wasn't before MAMAMOO and recently RIIZE (also SM) that Kpop groups are set up with a wider range of voice registers and release music that employs vocal harmonizing. The Asian music tradition is monophonic and prefers very high voices, polyphony is a Western invention. It's culturally insensitive to claim that one is "better" than the other, it's a different cultural aesthetic.
❤❤❤❤❤
So nice song
Shame on sm ent. My fav kpop bb EXO and gg CSJH 🥹🥹🥹🥹
Stephanie also had a rap in flower but it was rlly bad
SM is really lazy with their gg if their unlucky
You can be successful as SES or forgotten like The Grace
Same can be said for SNSD and f(x)