"The First" is the first Japanesestudio album by South Korean boy groupShinee. The album was scheduled for release on November 23, 2011, however it was delayed to December 7, 2011 in Japan under EMI Music Japan. The album features three previously released singles, "Replay", "Juliette" and "Lucifer", all of which have ranked within the top three on Oricon charts.
Background and release
Five of the songs from the album have been released as A-side singles, "Replay", "Juliette" and "Lucifer", in Japan. On January 13, 2012, it was announced that The First was certified Gold for selling over 100,000 copies. The album was released in three versions, a limited edition special box containing a DVD, an 88-page photo book, a can badge type MP3 player including all the album tracks, and an original 2012 calendar. The DVD includes digest of "Japan Debut Premium Reception Tour" and jacket photo shooting. A limited edition contains a DVD, a 68-page photo book, and a desktop calendar for 2012. The DVD includes digest of "Japan Debut Premium Reception Tour in Japan" and digest of "Japan Debut Premium Reception Tour in London" and a regular edition contains a bonus song "Stranger", the main theme of the TV drama series Strangers 6. Also comes with a 44-page photo book.
Singles
"Replay (Kimi wa Boku no Everything)"
Shinee's debut Japanese single was released June 22, 2011. It is a remake of their debut Korean single "Noona Neomu Yeppeo ", included on their Korean debut mini-album of the same name. The B-side is the Japanese version of their Korean single "Hello", part of their second repackage album. The single was released in two CD+DVD versions. The limited version was packed in a digipack includes two bonus tracks, a 68 pages photobook and a random trading card. The regular version contains with a different 44 pages photobook and a postcard. In the first week of sales, the single sold over 91,419 copies giving the group second place on the Oricon Weekly Chart. It is also the most sales a Korean idol group has had for their debut in their first week of sales. It was certified gold by the RIAJ for having 100,000 physical copies shipped in June 2011, a first for a debut single for a Korean male group and also won the #1 Single of the Year in Japan’s "K-Pop Lovers!" Awards 2011 by Tower Records Online.
"Juliette"
"Juliette" was released on August 29, 2011 as Shinee's second Japanese single with an original Japanese song "Kiss Kiss Kiss" as a B-side.
"Lucifer"
On October 12, 2011 a Japanese version of "Lucifer" was released as their third Japanese single. The B-side is the Japanese version of their Korean single "Love Like Oxygen", from their first album. It was released in three versions: a limited edition type A, which included a can badge-type MP3 player including the song "Lucifer", a bonus DVD, a 68-page photo book, a trading card, and digipak; a limited edition type B with the same contents as type A but minus the MP3 player; and a regular edition including a bonus DVD and a 44-page photo book. The single ranked inside the top three of the Oricon charts, including their debut "Replay" and "Juliette," setting a new record for a foreign artist in the country.
Promotion
Shinee held a commemorative live for the successful release of their first Japan album, "The First" on December 24 at the Tokyo International Forum Hall A. The live took place 3 times in order to accommodate the 15,000 fans that won the lottery to attend. Onew opened the concert by shouting out, “Let’s have some fun with SHINee today!”. They performed a total of 6 songs including their debut single, "Replay -Kimi wa Boku no Everything-" and "Lucifer", as well as a new song in their album called “To Your Heart“.
The First Japan Arena Tour
Shinee held a 20 performance tour hitting 7 locations around Japan, this tour make Shinee became the first Korean group to set a record for the most people in attendance with total of 200,000 people in the first Japan tour.
