TVXQ's U-Know Yunho is back in the spotlight with a surprise chart resurgence. His 2021 solo track 'Thank U' is experiencing a massive second wave—four years after its original release.
📈 Melon: Listeners Surge by 56x
According to Korean music platform Melon on July 8, 'Thank U' saw a 56-fold increase in listeners compared to the average between June 3–5. The track has been rediscovered thanks to a wave of memes, edits, and SNS buzz.
🎬 Backstory: 'Thank U' and the Viral Lesson Series
'Thank U' was the title track of Yunho's second solo mini album NOIR, released in January 2021. Blending bold trumpet riffs with a pop-dance vibe, the song features lyrics full of dramatic flair and cinematic swagger.
Sample lines like:
- "Lesson 1, only you get to like the good stuff."
- "Lesson 2, only you get to cry."
- …sparked massive meme culture under the tagline: "So what's Lesson 4?"
🔥 From Memes to Millions
The track exploded after a reaction video by streamer LOOKSAM went viral. TikTok and Instagram reels followed, flooding timelines with dramatic stage clips and parody edits. The phrase "Lesson 4 is reverse run" became a running joke online.
🎥 Reuploads, Reactions, and #ThankUChallenge
TVXQ's official account even posted a #ThankUChallenge video with RIIZE, drawing over 8.7 million views. KBS's Music Bank joined in by re-uploading Yunho's 2021 live performance, which garnered 560,000 views in just three days.
👊 Yunho's Comeback with Disney+ Series 'FINE: The Bumpkins'
While the song rides a new high, Yunho is gearing up for his return to the screen. In the Disney+ original FINE: The Bumpkins, premiering July 16, he plays Bulgu, a hot-tempered but oddly endearing small-town gangster.
He recently gave "3 life lessons" during the press conference—and fans online jokingly added: "Lesson 4 is reverse run."
