CNBLUE’s ‘Robot’ ranks No. 2 in Oricon chart

CNBlue’s EP “Robot”

Four-member band CNBlue has climbed to the No. 2 position on the Japanese Oricon Charts with their latest single as of Tuesday.

The band’s FNC Entertainment said Tuesday that the single titled “Robot” from their latest EP scaled the charts after selling 24,000 on the day of its release on Dec. 19. CNBlue is the only foreign artist in the weekly chart, along with Japanese singers Nogizaka46, Berryz Kobo and AKB48.

Comprising of front man Jung Yong-hwa, bassist Lee Jung-shin, guitarist Lee Jong-hyun and drummer Kang Min-hyuk, the band’s fourth single in Japan was written by its members. Jung co-composed and wrote lyrics for “Robot,” and also composed another track “Ring,” while Lee Jong-hyun wrote “Starlit Night.”

The band’s first Japanese studio album “Code Name Blue” topped the Oricon daily and weekly charts as soon as it was released on Aug. 29 and second single “Where You Are” also took first place in the same charts.

The band, which debuted in 2009, won popularity with their debut Korean EP “Bluetory” and its catchy lead single “I’m a Loner.” They are active in both the Korean and Japanese markets.

The four have also been active on the small screen starring in various popular dramas such as Jung in “You’re Beautiful” (2010) and “Heartstrings” (2011) and Lee Jung-shin in currently airing “My Daughter Seo-young.”

CNBlue is scheduled to release a new album in Korea, all composed by the members, on Jan. 14. <The Korea Times/Kwon Mee-yoo>