Baby V.O.X (standing for Baby Voices of Xpression) was one of South Korea's… Read Full Bio ↴Baby V.O.X (standing for Baby Voices of Xpression) was one of South Korea's most popular girl groups, belonging to record company DR Music. Although it initially had much internal turmoil, Baby V.O.X eventually became a successful, cohesive group from 1999 to 2005, releasing many hit albums. However, after the dismal failure of their last album 'Ride West', it began to unravel again. By the end of that year, all of the members had left the company, with some going solo, and others moving into other entertainment areas.

The group was formed in 1997, just as other groups like S.E.S. were starting out. Their first single ("Haircut") hit #47 on the Korean charts, and the success of the first album was dismal. This was attributed to the different, edgier style that Baby V.O.X had, considering that their rivals Fin.K.L and S.E.S. had adopted cute looks to great success. DR Music (their record company) then replaced three members (with 간미연 (Kan Miyoun), 이가이 (Lee Gai), and 심은진 (Shim Eunjin)) and had them train for the next year in order to succeed. Their second album, titled 'Baby VOX II', was a much bigger success, hitting #7 on the Korean pop charts. However, there was more internal turmoil when it was revealed that 이가이 (Lee Gai) was much older than the rest of the girls and had actually lied to the management company about her age. Considering that she was also viewed as not fitting in with the rest of the members, she was cut from the group and replaced by 윤은혜 (Yoon Eun Hye), who was significantly younger and appeared to have more mass appeal. Their third album, released in 1999, showed off the new Baby V.O.X, and it was their first major success, topping the Korean music charts and having three strong singles: "Get Up", "Killer", and "Missing You".

Their third album's success can be partially attributed to changing music tastes in Korea. Baby V.O.X, like many K-pop groups, has gone through several image makeovers through the years. However, although they focused on a cuter image for their second album (apparent in their music video and performances for the second album's lead single "야야야" (Ya Ya Ya)), the group was always seen as the more mature and sexier Korean girl group. As older, sexier images were more widely received by the Korean public, Baby V.O.X's success continued.

In 2002, Baby V.O.X released a greatest hits album as their "5.5"th, featuring two CDs of dance music and one of ballads, with a VCD of their music videos included. One of the new songs on the album, "우연" (Uyeon), was a great success, and Baby V.O.X managed to perform it on the network music shows for almost the whole summer. The single's success was sustained by the Latin remix of the single, which fit in with popular tastes at the time. It was also during this time that the group found fame outside of Korea; they were successful in China and Thailand with this album and single.

In spring of 2003, Baby V.O.X released their 6th album, a feat achieved by very few Korean pop groups. They even released a photo album that was purported to have semi-nude images of the girls (with 윤은혜 (Yoon Eun Hye) unable to participate due to her being underage), causing some controversy, but it faded as the image content was found to be hyped up by the media. However, this was also when Baby V.O.X's luck started to change. Although their singles "나 어떡해" (Na Eotteokhae) and "바램" (Baraem) were popular, album sales were lower than usual. In addition, performances appeared to be lackluster, especially with the latter single, as it was not promoted for a long time; this may be attributed to the fact that members have stated that they did not like this album's concept.

Their seventh and last album 'Ride West', released in April 2004, featured songs in English, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean, as well as appearances by well-known American hip hop artists, such as 2Pac and Jennifer Lopez, although 2Pac's "appearance" is a freestyle rap that he recorded while in prison. This album was proclaimed to be what catapulted Baby V.O.X into the international spotlight, hence the English single. In fact, the music video for the album's feature song, "Xcstasy", was done in English, featuring expensive luxury vehicles and well-dressed, highly preened divas, apparently in emulation of the "Bling bling" style of hip-hop videos popular in the United States during the late 1990s and early 2000s. They performed in this style as well, with sexy dance moves and provocative clothing, seen as a bit extreme in conservative Korea. However, this release was accompanied by much controversy. There was first the issue as to whether their managing group, DR Music, could legally use 2Pac's material in the recording, with 2Pac's repesentatives claiming that DR did not have authorization. Eventually, the group stopped performing the single. A second single, "Play", featuring Jennifer Lopez, was promoted for a short while, but sales were lower than previous albums.

The slow implosion of Baby V.O.X continued in 2005. As their contract was up by the end of 2004, fans wondered whether Baby V.O.X would stay together. 심은진 (Shim Eunjin) decided that she would not, because she did not agree with the group's image and direction, and was the first to leave the group (in order to pursue a solo career). She was followed by 윤은혜 (Yoon Eun Hye), who initially renewed her contract but left it in order to pursue an acting career, which so far has been quite successful (as evidenced by her hit drama Goong). Baby V.O.X continued for a while as a threesome, doing some promotional activities outside of Korea, with their record company promising that Baby V.O.X would continue. However, as the months passed on, so did the members. 김이지 (Kim Eiji, also known as Kim E-Z) left sometime in early 2006 (to pursue acting), with 간미연 (Kan Miyoun) also leaving (and signing a solo deal on another label). 이희진 (Lee Heejin) was the only remaining Baby V.O.X member, and she also left DR Music to pursue a career in acting. However, DR Music eventually created a spinoff group called Baby V.O.X Re.v. This group made its debut in January, visiting various countries; the group's first single is "Shee".

Missing You
Baby V.O.X Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

인스타로 몰래 보는 너의 하루들
누가 봐도 헤어진 티를 내
팔로우 다 끊고서 좋아요는 왜 눌렀니?
참 바보 같은 사람이야

잘 먹지도 못하는 술은 왜 매일 마시고
늘 예쁜 얼굴 많이 야위었어
혼자 있으면 나도 그래

술이 없으면 못 자고 많이 괴로워해

이럴 거면 우리
미친 척하고 다시 만날까 봐
다시 시작할까 봐

친구들 만나는 거 그렇게 좋아하면서
집에만 있니, 더 우울하게
혼자 있으면 나도 그래
누구도 만나기 싫어 숨고만 싶은데

이럴 거면 우리
미친 척하고 다시 만날까 봐
다시 시작할까 봐 워우워

못 잊을 거야 너와 추억한 지난날들을
난 아직까지도 너무나 선명해
워어 그렇게 선명한 만큼 (선명한 만큼)
지키고픈 우리 기억들이
잊혀지는 게 정말 많이 두려워

혼자 있으면 나도 그래
늘 혼자 센척했지만 많이 두려워해
이럴 거면 우리 (우리)
미친 척하고 다시 만날까 봐
다시 시작할까 봐

우리 여기서 끝나면 안 돼

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Baby V.O.X's song "Missing You" express a longing for a past love and an internal struggle with the emotions that come with missing someone they once shared a connection with. The opening line "Texts that I'll never send" suggests unspoken words and bottled-up feelings that were never expressed to the person they are missing. The following line, "Breath me out and breath me in," uses the metaphor of breathing to symbolize how this person is a part of them and has left an impression that they can't shake. The line "Lies that I never told" suggests that they were holding something back in the relationship, but now it's too late to share these thoughts. They are left with the regret of never revealing the truth.

As the chorus kicks in, the use of the word "homesick" and "nauseous" evokes physical symptoms that are brought on by the emotional turmoil they are facing. They are struggling to come to terms with their feelings and the fact that they miss this person so much. The line "Time spent on time away, I don't wanna leave but I can't stay" suggests that they have gone their separate ways, but circumstances have kept them apart. They are torn between wanting to stay connected and moving on from the past. The lyrics "Not everything's up to me" acknowledge that their relationship had its own course, and they must accept what has happened, even if it's painful.

The final verse shows the singer's contemplation of wanting what they had once again, and jealousy toward the person who is now with their former lover. The line "And I think what would've been, what could've been if we had just slowed things down" speaks to the regret they have for not taking things slower in their relationship and the possibilities that could have been achieved. Overall, the lyrics of "Missing You" express a heartfelt yearning to return to a time when they felt complete with the person they are now missing.

Line by Line Meaning

Texts that I'll never send
Unspoken words I've written

Breath me out and breath me in
Take me in and let me out

Lies that I never told
Truth that I'll never unfold

Wake me up before you go
Don't leave without saying goodbye

Ohhh, I'm homesick
Feeling lost and alone

I'm nauseous
Feeling sick and dizzy

I'm missing you baby
Longing for your presence

Ohhh, I'm selfish
Thinking only of myself

Can't help it
Can't control my feelings

Time spent on time away
Moments lost in separation

I don't wanna leave but I can't stay
Can't bear to leave, but can't remain