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| ▲ This image is screenshot from singer-actor U-Know Yunho's 2021 solo track "Thank U." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, July 8 (Yonhap) -- Singer-actor U-Know Yunho's 2021 solo track "Thank U" has seen a dramatic resurgence in popularity more than four years after its release, driven by viral short-form videos on social media platforms.
According to Melon, a leading South Korean music streaming platform, the number of listeners for "Thank U," the title track from the TVXQ member's second mini album "NOIR," skyrocketed between July 3–5, increasing by 56 times compared to the same period a month earlier.
The song’s sudden resurgence appears to have been triggered by Instagram Reels and other SNS algorithms. Comments on Melon include remarks like, “I came here after watching Reels,” “Honestly, it grew on me,” and “I ended up searching for it.”
"Thank U," a pop dance track written and composed by Yoo Young-jin, is known for its addictive and witty chorus. The lyrics present a message of resilience, turning even online ridicule and cynicism into fuel for personal growth, using the structure of a “lesson” to convey its themes.
It is particularly noteworthy that a solo song, not a group release, has resurfaced years later through meme-like virality on SNS platforms. According to the music industry, internet streamer Looksam recently featured the music video for "Thank U" in content styled like a narrative film, prompting widespread sharing of the track’s lyrics and performance clips online.
The song’s unique structure — beginning with the lines “This is the first lesson,” “Now the second lesson,” and “Finally, the third lesson” — combined with its film noir-style music video and U-Know’s serious rap delivery and choreography, contributed to its appeal.
Listeners were especially intrigued by the fact that while the first verse includes the first and second lessons, the second verse jumps straight to the third, leaving fans curious about a potential fourth lesson — a mystery that has further fueled online buzz.
Short-form video edits of "Thank U" performance clips have already racked up millions of views, and parody content is rapidly multiplying across social platforms.
U-Know himself appears to have taken note of the trend. On July 6, he visited SM Entertainment junior group RIIZE’s concert and filmed a “Thank U” challenge video titled “Lesson Complete” with the members. The video, posted on the official Instagram accounts of both TVXQ and RIIZE, surpassed 6 million views in under 24 hours.
Pop music critic Lim Hee-yoon commented, “The out-of-context lyrics of 'Thank U' are often seen in K-pop, but usually in English, where they convey a vibe rather than meaning. This track, however, delivers its message in straightforward Korean, allowing listeners to engage with it more playfully.”
He added, “It satisfies the fundamental entertainment instinct to have fun together. The song’s distinctive lyrics, paired with U-Know’s famously earnest persona, produced an unexpectedly powerful synergy.”
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