CLC (band)

CLC (CrystaL Clear)
CLC in March 2016
Background information
Origin	Seoul, South Korea
Genres	K-pop dance-pop
Years active	2015–present
Labels	Cube Entertainment
Members	Seunghee Yujin Seungyeon Sorn Yeeun Elkie Eunbin

CLC (Hangul: 씨엘씨) is a seven-member South Korean girl group formed by Cube Entertainment in 2015. The group consists of Seunghee, Yujin, Seungyeon, Sorn, Yeeun, Elkie and Eunbin. CLC is an initialism which stands for CrystaL Clear.^[1] CLC made their debut with the release of their EP First Love on March 19, promoting the title track "Pepe".^[2]

History

Pre-debut

CLC busking event, June 2015

Sorn is the winner of the first season of K-Pop Star Hunt in 2011 after which she subsequently became a trainee under Cube Entertainment.^[3] Seungyeon and Seunghee (credited as Cube Girls) was part of a collaborative track entitled "Perfume" by Beast's Yoseob for Cube Voice Project which was released in 2013.^[4] Seunghee together with BTOB's Sungjae released the soundtrack "Curious" for the drama Plus Nine Boys in 2014.^[5] Seunghee also appeared on BTOB's music videos, "2nd Confession"^[6] and "The Winter's Tale".^[7] CLC also participated in G.NA's "Secret" music video and acted as background dancers during stage performances at music shows. Seungyeon, Yujin, and Yeeun were also spotted at BtoB's "Beep Beep" music video as the dancers.^[8]

The group started gaining attention in 2014 for their non-profit street performances to help children with disabilities.^[1][9] It was featured on their first documentary, "CLC's Love Chemistry".^[10]

2015: Debut with First Love, "Eighteen", Question

CLC in March 2015

CLC originally debuted with 5 members including Seunghee, Yujin, Seungyeon, Sorn and Yeeun. In March 2015, CLC revealed teasers for their upcoming debut with the track "Pepe".^[11] They held their debut showcase on March 18 at the Acts Hotel in Seoul, performing their debut song.^[12][13] They made their official debut on March 19 with the release of the music video for "Pepe" from their debut album First Love. On the same day, they also made their debut performance on Mnet's M! Countdown music show.^[14] "Pepe" is a track written by Duble Sidekick and Yang Geng, and was made in the style of a retro dance number.^[15] Former label-mate Rain choreographed part of Pepe's choreography.^[16][17]

On April 16, CLC released a special single entitled "Eighteen". On the 17th, the group started their promotions for "Eighteen" at KBS's Music Bank.^[18][19] "Eighteen" was described as song that is about teenage love and has a 60-70s motown feel that is combined with synthpop from the 80s.^[20]

On May 28, CLC made their comeback with their second mini-album Question, promoting their lead single "Curious (Like)".^[21] They held their first comeback stage at Mnet's M! Countdown.^[22]

On October 10–11, CLC held their first overseas promotional tour in Malaysia entitled "First Love Promo Tour in Malaysia". Universal Music Malaysia had specially released an "Asia Special Edition" album version of Question. The album includes songs from First Love, Question and their digital single "Eighteen".^[23]

2016–present: New members, Refresh, Japanese debut

On February 24, 2016, CUBE Entertainment announced that CLC would comeback on February 29 with the mini album Refresh and two additional new members, who were later revealed to be Elkie Chong from Hong Kong and Kwon Eunbin, a Cube Entertainment trainee participating in Mnet's girl group survival show Produce 101.^{[24][25][26][27]}

According to Cube Entertainment, Eunbin originally joined CLC in 2015 but was converted back to trainee status following delays in the group's new album. Due to Produce 101 contractual restrictions, she will not promote the album's single "High Heels" on music shows or other broadcasts and will have her scenes in the song's music video removed. The agency plans for Eunbin to join "High Heels" promotions if she is eliminated from the show or to postpone her CLC activities until after Produce 101 promotions if she is a winner.^[28] On February 29, CLC released a short version of the "High Heels" music video that included Elkie but omitted Eunbin.^[29][30] The full version of the music video that includes Eunbin's parts was released on March 21.^[31] Eunbin was officially eliminated from Produce 101 on March 25.

CLC made their Japanese debut on April 13 with the release of their first Japanese EP, "High Heels". The album includes the Japanese version of "Pepe", "First Love", "Like", "High Heels" and a cover of Kylie Minogue's I Should Be So Lucky.^[32]

Members

• Oh Seunghee (Hangul: 오승희 was born on October 10, 1995 in Gwangju, Gyeonggi, South Korea. She is the main vocalist and former leader of the group.^[33][34]
• Choi Yujin (Hangul: 최유진) was born on August 12, 1996 in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province. She is the sub-vocalist and lead dancer of the group. She graduated at Hanlim Multi Art School.^[35][33]
• Chang Seungyeon (Hangul: 장승연) was born on November 6, 1996 in Seongnam, Gyeonggi. She is the leader, lead vocalist, and main dancer of the group. She graduated at School of Performing Arts Seoul.^[36][33]
• Sorn (Hangul: 손) or Chonnasorn Sajakul (Thai: ชลนสร สัจจกุล) was born on November 18, 1996 in Thailand. She is the lead vocalist of the group. She graduated at Korea Kent Foreign School.^[37][33] She is the first winner of the competition K-Pop Star Hunt.^[3]
• Jang Yeeun (Hangul: 장예은) was born on August 10, 1998 in Dongducheon, Gyeonggi.^[38] She is the main rapper of the group. She is currently studying at School of Performing Arts Seoul.^[39][33]
• Elkie (Hangul: 엘키) or Chong Ting Yan (Chinese:莊錠欣) was born on November 2, 1998 in Hong Kong, China.^[40] She is the sub-vocalist of the group.^[33] She is one of the new members introduced in February 2016. She is a former child actress in Hong Kong under TVB^[41] and a former member of the Hong Kong girl group, Honey Bees. She studied at Carmel Pak U Secondary School.
• Kwon Eunbin (Hangul: 권은빈) was born on January 6, 2000 in South Korea. She is the youngest member of the group.^[42] She participated in the girl-group survival show, Produce 101 and was eliminated in Episode 10.^[43] She was added to the group in February 2016 together with Elkie, but she wasn't able to join the group's promotion for "High Heels" because of her contract with Mnet.^[28]

Discography

Extended plays

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions		Sales
		KOR [44]	JPN [45]
Korean language
First Love	Released: March 19, 2015 Label: Cube Entertainment, CJ E&M Music Format: CD, digital download	9	—	KOR: 4,945+[46]
Question	Released: May 28, 2015 Label: Cube Entertainment, CJ E&M Music Format: CD, digital download	9	—	KOR: 4,635+[47]
Refresh	Released: February 29, 2016 Label: Cube Entertainment, CJ E&M Music Format: CD, digital download	6	—	KOR : 2,209+[48]
Japanese language
High Heels	Released: April 13, 2016 Label: Cube Entertainment Format: CD, digital download	—	23	JPN: 2,599[49]

Singles

Title	Year	Peak chart positions	Album
		KOR
Korean language
"Pepe"	2015	—	First Love
"Eighteen"		—	Refresh
"Like"		—	Question
"High Heels"	2016	—	Refresh
Japanese language
"High Heels"	2016	—	High Heels

Original soundtracks

Year	Title	Album
2015	"Remember Your Wish"	Ar:piel OST
	"지금은 연구중"
2016	"Pounding Love"	Choco Bank OST

Collaborations

Year	Title	Member	Artist	Album
2012	"Because You Are The One"	Sorn	G.NA	Oui
2013	"Perfume"	Seunghee, Seungyeon	Yang Yo-seob ft. Cube Girls	Cube Voice Project
2014	"Curious"	Seunghee	Yook Sungjae	Plus Nine Boys OST
2016	"Don't Matter"	Eunbin	Hualyeogangsan	Produce 101 – 35 Girls 5 Concepts

Videography

Music videos

Year	Title	Length	Notes
2015	"Pepe"	03:30	Debut MV
	"궁금해 (Like)"	03:54
2016	"High Heels (Short Ver.)"	02:05	First MV with Elkie
	"High Heels"	03:46	First MV with Eunbin

Music video appearances

Year	Song title	Artist	Members
2013	"2nd Confession"	BTOB	Seunghee
2014	"G.NA's Secret"	G.NA	All
	"Beep Beep"	BTOB	Yujin, Seungyeon & Yeeun
	"The Winter's Tale"	BTOB	Seunghee
2015	"Family" (with B1A4 and GOT7)	SMART CF	All except Elkie and Eunbin
	"Remember Your Wish"	Ar:piel OST	All except Elkie and Eunbin
	"KIMISHIKA"	Dongwoon (Beast)	Yeeun
	"Pick Me"	Produce 101	Eunbin

Filmography

Documentaries

A list of documentaries that CLC members have participated in.

Year	Show	Network	Members	Notes
2011	K-Pop Star Hunt	tvN	Sorn	Audition show Sorn won to become Cube trainee
2013	MBC Special Documentary Program	MBC	Seunghee
	Seoul: Capital of K-Pop (Inside K-Pop)	NAT GEO People	Sorn	A documentary which Includes BEAST, Junhyung, ‘UNITED CUBE’ family concert, open audition at CUBE Entertainment, Papa Hong, Sorn, M4M.
2014	Cube Entertainment's Way of Training Sorn	Arirang	Sorn	It shows Sorn's schedule as a trainee in Cube Entertainment
	When Charles Met Chulsoo	SBS	Sorn
2015	CLC's Love Chemistry	Cube Entertainment's YouTube channel	All	A reality documentary which shows CLC's busking performances
	Yaman TV	Mnet	All	with Madtown
	CLC Queen Game	Naver TV Cast	All	There are 5 episodes in total
	CLC's Beautiful Mission	Cube TV, KStar	All	Started airing the 1st of July
2016	Produce 101	Mnet	Eunbin	A girl group survival show Eunbin participated in. She was eliminated at episode 10.

Variety shows

Year	Show	Network	Members	Notes
2015	Weekly Idol	MBC Every1	All	Episode 198
	Music Bank's Stardust	KBS1	All
	Running Man	SBS	Yeeun	Episode 253
	Let's Go! Dream Team Season 2	KBS2	Seungyeon
	MBC Idol Star Athletic Championship	MBC	All
	Real Men (Female Special)	MBC	Yujin
	Comedy Big League	tvN	Yujin
2016	MBC Idol Star Athletic Championship	MBC	All
	The Boss Is Watching	SBS	All
	Beautiful Mission	Kawaii-an TV	All
	Same Bed, Different Dream	SBS	Yujin	With BTOB's Eunkwang and Minhyuk

Drama

Year	Title	Network	Role	Member	Notes
2010	Be a Better Man	Channel 9 MCOT HD	Kaiwei	Sorn	Thai Drama
2012	Light and Shadow	MBC	Herself	Seungyeon	Cameo
2013	The Hippocratic Crush ll	TVB	Yannis	Elkie	Hong Kong drama
2016	Nightmare Teacher	Naver TV Cast	Cheon Yuna	Yujin[50]	Supporting role. Episode 10

Endorsements

Year	Product	Member(s)	Note
2014	SMART School Uniforms	All	With B1A4 and Got7[51]
2015	Gorgotago Bicycle Shopping Mall	All	Song for commercial was composed by 4Minute's Jiyoon[52]
	Touch In Sol Make-up	All	[53][54]
	Shoemarker	All	[55]
	Gamedreamer Dance App	All	[56]
2016	TBJ	Yeeun	With BTOB[57][58]

Awards and nominations

Year	Recipient/Nominated Work	Award	Category	Result
2015	CLC	Korean Culture Entertainment Award	Rookie Award	Won
		MelOn Music Awards	Best New Female Artist	Nominated
		17th Mnet Asian Music Awards[59]	Best New Female Artist	Nominated
2016		Golden Disk Awards	New Artist Award	Nominated
		Seoul Music Awards[60]	New Artist Award	Nominated

References

1. "Cube Entertainment’s first multi-national girl group "CLC" to debut in 2015". Koreaboo. December 8, 2014. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
2. "Cube’s new girl group CLC drops anticipated debut MV "Pepe"". Koreaboo. 18 March 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
3. "Sorn, The Rising K-Pop Star From Thailand". Hype. July 20, 2012. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
4. "B2ST's Yoseob and Cube Girls release "Perfume"". 30 April 2013. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
5. "Melon Music "Curious" song page". Melon Music. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
6. "BTOB - 두 번째 고백 (2nd Confession) M/V". BTOB 비투비 (Official YouTube Channel). YouTube. April 10, 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
7. "BTOB - 울면 안 돼 (The Winter's Tale) M/V". BTOB 비투비 (Official YouTube Channel). YouTube. December 21, 2014. Retrieved 2016-03-15.
8. "Cube to Debut New Girl Group CLC in Mid-March". Mwave. March 3, 2015. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
9. "(ko)실검보고서, ‘착한 버스킹’ 독자노선 걷는 씨엘씨, 성공할까?". March 18, 2015. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
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11. "Cube’s new girl group CLC is casual and colorful in new teasers for "Pepe" debut EP". Koreaboo. March 15, 2015. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
12. "(ko)씨엘씨(CLC), '첫사랑처럼 순수한 다섯 소녀의 멜로디'-CLC, 'The five member's melody like a first love' (article talking about their showcase)". My Daily. March 19, 2015. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
13. "(ko)‘데뷔’ 씨엘씨 "실력 인정받고 싶어… 선배들 응원 힘 된다" - We want our skills to be recognized - Our seniors support us. The article talks about CLC having the showcase after busking in Hongdae". Sports Hankooki. March 21, 2015. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
14. "(ko) ‘엠카운트다운’ 씨엘씨, 데뷔무대 성공적으로 마쳐 ‘기대되는 소녀들’ - CLC held their debut stage in M! Countdown". Tenasia. March 19, 2015. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
15. "CLC Is Beautiful and Charming in "Pepe" MV". 18 March 2015. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
16. "Rain Created the Choreography for CLC′s Debut Title Song". mwave. Newsen. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
17. "(ko) 비, 씨엘씨 안무 제작 참여..전폭적인 서포트 '지지' - Rain participated in creating the choreography". Baekn. March 20, 2015. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
18. "(ko) 씨엘씨, 신곡 '에잇틴'으로 방송활동 지속 [ CLC, Single 'Eighteen' will begin promoting activities]". Yonhapnews. April 16, 2015. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
19. "(ko) 걸그룹 씨엘씨, 16일 신곡 '에이틴' 공개 스페셜 활동 돌입 [Girl group CLC, 16th will release special single 'Eighteen']". Naver. April 15, 2015. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
20. "CLC releases special digital single "EIGHTEEN"". Retrieved 14 February 2016.
21. "(ko) 씨엘씨(CLC), 28일 초고속 컴백 확정..티저 속 '여름 소녀' 변신 [ CLC, on the 28th will comeback...the teaser shows the transformation of the girls as Summer Girls]". TheStar. May 20, 2015. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
22. "CLC Transforms into Adorable Girls in Love for "Like" MV". Soompi.
23. LC Reveal Deatails For 'First Love' Promotional Tour In Malaysia Next Month
24. Jang, Kyeong-gook. "씨엘씨(CLC), 7인으로 팀 재정비… 29일 전격 컴백". Sports Donga. Sports Donga. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
25. Ahn, Woorim. "CLC to Make Comeback with New Members". Mwave. BNT News. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
26. "[공식] 권은빈, CLC 새 멤버 합류…"프로듀스101은 어떻게?" [출처] 본 기사는 조선닷컴에서 작성된 기사 입니다". Chosun. Chosun Media. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
27. Lee, Eun-ho. "‘프로듀스101’ 출연 권은빈, 씨엘씨 새 멤버로 합류". TenAsia. Korea Entertainment Media. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
28. Kim, Jin-seok. "큐브 측 ”권은빈 출연 분량 M/V 다 들어낸다”[공식]". Ilgan Sports. DramaHouse & J Content Hub Co.,Ltd. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
29. Kim, Ye-na. "[핫100신곡] 앙큼한 씨엘씨, 하이힐신고 더 ‘예뻐지게’…미완성 7인조". TV Report. TV Report. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
30. Seon, Mi-gyeong. "[한밤의 신곡] 씨엘씨, 리즈 찍은 앙큼돌의 여자 공감송..'예뻐지게'". OSEN. OSEN. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
31. "CLC Reveals “High Heels” MV That Includes Kwon Eunbin From “Produce 101″". soompi. 21 March 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
32. Choi, Na-young. "씨엘씨, 한일 동시 프로젝트 가동..4월 日미니음반 발매". Osen. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
33. Kim, Han-jun (15 March 2016). "CLC가 궁금해? 안전담당부터 보호본능까지". Retrieved 15 March 2016.
34. "큐브 걸그룹 CLC, 메인보컬 오승희 공개…비스트, 비투비 듀엣곡 화제". sportsseoul. 14 March 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
35. Lee, Jong-hyun (13 March 2015). "큐브 신인 씨엘씨, ‘비율 종결자’ 최유진 프로필 공개". Retrieved 15 March 2016.
36. Lee, Min-ji (12 March 2015). "큐브 걸그룹 CLC 세번째 멤버 장승연 공개 “만능 재주꾼”". newsen. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
37. Lee, So-dam (11 March 2015). "큐브 걸그룹 태국인 멤버 손(SORN) 공개, 19세 4개국어 능통". newsen. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
38. "동두천이 낳은 걸그룹 씨엘씨 장예은". 17 March 2015.
39. "큐브 걸그룹 씨엘씨, 막내 랩퍼 장예은 공개…첫사랑의 모습? 알고보면 왈가닥 소녀". MBN News. 10 March 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
40. "CLC 새 멤버, 홍콩 하이틴 스타 엘키". Naver. 25 February 2016. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
41. "CLC's new member Elkie is making headlines in Hong Kong". allkpop.
42. Lee, Eun-ho (26 February 2016). "‘프로듀스101’ 출연 권은빈, 씨엘씨 새 멤버로 합류". Retrieved 15 March 2016.
43. "Kwon Eunbean's Profile Page at Produce 101". Mnet. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
44. "Gaon Weekly Album Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
45. "High Heels". Oricon. Retrieved April 19, 2016.
46. Cumulative Sales of First Love:
    • "Gaon Album Chart - April 2015". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
47. Cumulative Sales of Question:
    • "Gaon Album Chart - June 2015". Gaon Music Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
48. Cumulative Sales of Refresh:
    • "Gaon Album Chart - February 2016 (see #36)". Gaon Music Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
49. "오리콘 위클리 싱글/앨범/DVD/블루레이 차트 1~100위 April - Week 2 - 2016 (#23)". Oricon. Retrieved April 19, 2016.
50. "Nightmare Teacher". Naver. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
51. "스마트학생복, B1A4·갓세븐·씨엘씨 총출동한 하복 광고 영상 공개" (in Korean). Retrieved 19 February 2016.
52. "CLC are already endorsement models for bicycle shopping mall 'GorgoTago'". Allkpop. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
53. "CLC’S YUJIN MODELS FOR MAKEUP BRAND ‘TOUCH IN SOL’". Kpopfans. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
54. "터치인솔, CLC 유진의 가을 메이크업 룩 공개" (in Korean). 24 September 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
55. "슈마커, 테바 모델에 걸그룹 씨엘씨(CLC) 발탁". May 1, 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
56. "CLC, 흥을 보탰다! 댄스업 간담회". May 15, 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
57. "TBJ, 비투비와 모델 계약 연장…CLC 장예은 추가 발탁". 26 January 2016. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
58. "비투비, 2016년에도 TBJ 모델로 활동한다…여성 모델 CLC 장예은 발탁". 26 January 2016. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
59. "The 30th Anniversary Golden Disk Awards International Voting". The 30th Annual Golden Disk Awards. ilgansports, DramaHouse, & J Content Hub Co., Ltd. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
60. "Seoul Music Awards Global (scroll to K-POP STAR 2015 [LIVE VOTE] and click "Main, Popular (Overseas) and Rookie" to reveal the nominees)". Seoul Music Awards. SportsSeoul. Retrieved 9 December 2015.

External links

• Official Cafe (Korean)
• Official YouTube
• Official Twitter