"I Love You" (Korean: 사랑해요; RR: Salanghaeyo) is a ballad song recorded by South Korean singer Taeyeon as the main theme for the 2010 action-drama television series Athena: Goddess of War and the main title track for its soundtrack album. It was released as a digital single on December 13, 2010, under the record label of SM Entertainment.[1]
| "I Love You" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Taeyeon | ||||
| from the album Athena: Goddess of War OST | ||||
| A-side | "I Love You" | |||
| B-side | "I Love You (Instrumental)" | |||
| Released | December 13, 2010 | |||
| Recorded | 2010 | |||
| Length | 3:22 | |||
| Label | SM Entertainment | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Ahn Youngmin | |||
| Producer(s) | Lee Soo Man | |||
| Kim Taeyeon singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "I Love You" MV on YouTube "I Love You" MV 2 on YouTube | ||||
Production and background
edit"I was so shocked by Taeyeon's singing ability. It's a mature song so I was worried, but she made tears fall down my face. Barely an hour into production had passed, and I remember clapping my hands. It felt regrettable just then that this voice and emotion could be covered up by the title of 'idol' [star].[2]
"I Love You" was composed and written by Korean music producer Ahn Youngmin, who is known for producing many ballad songs for various K-pop artists including T-ara, Davichi and SeeYa among others.[3] Taeyeon had collaborated with the producer before on her previous single "Like a Star" for which Ahn had provided the lyrics and singing advice.[2] For "I Love You", Ahn composed, wrote the lyrics for, and arranged the song.
The song was used as the main theme song for the love-hate relationship between the lead characters Lee Jung-woo (portrayed by Jung Woo-sung) and Yoon Hye-in (Soo Ae) of the action-drama television series Athena: Goddess of War. According to South Korean music portal site Naver, the song is "a blend of Irish whistle and a 50-piece orchestra" and the lyrics describe the feelings of a woman trying to grab hold of her lover who is breaking up with her, confessing her deep love for him in the process.[4]
Release
edit"I Love You" debuted as the ending theme song for Athena: Goddess of War when the show started airing its run on SBS on December 13, 2010. On the same day, the song was released as an A-side and B-side single and made available for music download on various music portal sites such as iTunes, Naver, Soribada, Daum, Melon, Olleh, Bugs, Genie and Monkey3.[1][5] The instrumental version was also included in the single. "I Love You" was the first song of the series' soundtrack to be unveiled and released for download. Later, the song was also included as the title track in the original soundtrack and score album of the series, released in physical CD format on February 11, 2011.[6] All releases were marked under the record label of S.M. Entertainment.
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Artist | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "사랑해요 (I Love You)" | Ahn Youngmin | Ahn Youngmin | Kim Taeyeon | 3:22 |
| 2. | "사랑해요 (I Love You)" (Instrumental) | — | Ahn Youngmin | Kim Taeyeon | 3:22 |
| Total length: | 06:44 | ||||
Music videos
editTwo accompanying music videos for "I Love You" were released, though neither was filmed specifically for that purpose and contained only a compilation of various scenes from the television drama series Athena: Goddess of War. The first music video was released on December 10, 2010, three days prior to the release of the actual single and first broadcast of the series itself.[5] It was uploaded on the official channel of S.M. Entertainment on YouTube and featured a summary outlook of the entire series that revolved around the tragic love and betrayal relationship between the two lead characters, Lee Jung-woo (portrayed by Jung Woo-sung) and Yoon Hye-in (portrayed by Soo Ae), and their eventual reconciliation.[7] Due to the unexpected popularity that the series and the song itself enjoyed after debut, a second special music video, subtitled "Highlight of SBS 'ATHENA: Goddess of War'", was aired and uploaded on the same channel on December 16, 2010.[8] The video featured various scenes from the series that revolved around the interactions between Lee Jung-woo and his co-worker Han Jae-hui (portrayed by Lee Ji-ah) as well as their confused feelings for each other.[9]
Charts
editLive performances
editTaeyeon performed "I Love You" live in front of a combined audience of around 50,000 during concerts at Saitama Super Arena in Tokyo and Osaka-Jo Hall in Osaka on January 5 and 9, 2011 respectively.[14] The Japanese leg of the tour was aimed for the promotion of the television series in Japan which started airing in the country on November 30, 2010.[15] Although her fellow Girls' Generation members were unable to attend due to busy schedules, her label-mates BoA, TVXQ, Super Junior and Shinee as well as the cast and crew of the series were present.[16]
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Award ceremony | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Mnet Asian Music Awards | Best OST | Nominated | [17] |
| Song of the Year | Longlisted | [17] | ||
| MelOn Music Awards | Best OST | Nominated | [18] |
References
edit- ^ a b "I Love You (From "Athena") - Single". iTunes. December 13, 2010. Archived from the original on March 7, 2024. Retrieved March 7, 2024 – via Apple Music.
- ^ a b Choi Min-ji (December 13, 2010). "작곡가 안영민 "태연 가창력에 눈물 쏟았다" 호평일색" [Composer Ahn Young-min says, “I shed tears over Taeyeon’s singing ability”, all positive reviews]. TV Daily. Archived from the original on March 7, 2024. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
- ^ "Ahn, Young - Min". Naver. Retrieved July 13, 2013.
- ^ a b Kwon Soo-bin (December 11, 2010). "태연 '아테나' OST 참여곡 '사랑해요' 13일 음원공개" [Taeyeon's 'Athena' OST song 'I Love You' released on the 13th] (in Korean). Newsen. Archived from the original on March 7, 2024. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
- ^ "Athena : Goddess of War OST (SBS TV Drama)". YesAsia. February 11, 2011. Archived from the original on March 7, 2024. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
- ^ 'I Love You' ATHENA OST - TAEYEON - Music Video. S.M. Entertainment channel on YouTube. December 10, 2010. Retrieved July 13, 2013.
- ^ 'I Love You' - TAEYEON - Highlight of SBS 'ATHENA : Goddess of War'. S.M. Entertainment channel on YouTube. December 16, 2010. Retrieved July 13, 2013.
- ^ "'아테나' 과거연인 정우성-이지아 달달 베드신 '뮤직비디오 같아'" [‘Athena’ former lovers Jung Woo-sung and Lee Ji-ah’s sweet bed scene ‘It’s like a music video’] (in Korean). Newsen. 2010-12-15. Archived from the original on March 7, 2024. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
- ^ "Gaon Search – 소녀시대" (in Korean). Gaon Chart. Retrieved July 13, 2013.
- ^ "Digital Chart - 2010 Weeks 52". Circle Chart previously known as the Gaon Music Chart. December 19–25, 2010. Archived from the original on March 7, 2024. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
- ^ "Digital Chart - December 2010". Circle Chart previously known as the Gaon Music Chart. Archived from the original on March 7, 2024. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
- ^ "Gaon Digital Chart of 2010". Gaon Music Chart. Archived from the original on October 18, 2013.
- ^ Hwang Yoo-young (2012-01-11). "아테나 드라마틱 콘서트, 5만여 오사카 팬 열광" [Athena Dramatic Concert, 50,000 Osaka fans go wild]. Newsen. Archived from the original on March 7, 2024. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
- ^ Lee Tae-mun (January 9, 2012). "드라마 '아테나' 日 콘서트 성황리 개최" [Drama ‘Athena’ Japanese concert held successfully]. Yonhap News. Archived from the original on March 7, 2024. Retrieved March 7, 2024 – via Naver.
- ^ "'아테나' 日서 콘서트 성공리 개최…차승원·수애·슈주·샤이니 등 참여" [‘Athena’ concert held successfully in Japan… Cha Seung-won, Soo-ae, Super Junior, SHINee, etc. participated]. BNT News. January 9, 2012. Archived from the original on March 7, 2024. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
- ^ a b Yoon, Hyo-jeong (2011-11-01). "'제 1회 멜론 뮤직어워드', 성공가능성 쐈다" ['2011 MAMA' candidates revealed, Brown Eyed Girls, Soshi, Kara female group category 'biggest battleground']. TV Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2024-03-07. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
- ^ Min, Kyung-hoon (2011-11-24). "써니힐, 'MMA' OST상 수상 "'두근두근' 사랑 감사"...'열창'". Osen (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2024-03-07. Retrieved 2024-03-07.