VIXX and the “Fantasy” Comeback
On August 12, 2016, VIXX released their sixth single album and the second part of their VIXX 2016 CONCEPTION trilogy. The first single album in the trilogy is Zelos, centering around the Greek God of Jealousy and Rivalry, Zelos. Titled Hades, the theme of the second part of the CONCEPTION trilogy is Hades, Greek God of the Dead and King of the Underworld. The single album features four tracks: title track “Fantasy,” the B-sides “Love Me Do” and “Butterfly Effect,” and an instrumental version of “Fantasy.” Ravi participated in writing the lyrics for all three tracks.
“Fantasy” has a dramatic quality to it, with violins crescendoing throughout the track and a soft piano intro and outro. These qualities not only made it stand out among other K-Pop songs coming out around that time, but they also just really laid into that darker Hades vibe that the concept required. VIXX, who was featured last October with their “VOODOO DOLL” comeback, are no strangers to darker concepts. While “Fantasy” may not have needed a clean version of the music video, its video still possesses an overwhelmingly dark and mysterious aura befitting any Halloween playlist, but with an air of sensuality as well. If this is what awaits us in the Underworld, we don’t mind.
A month later, VIXX released a performance video and a drama video for “Fantasy.”
VIXX made their comeback on music shows following their third concert VIXX Live Fantasia - ELYSIUM on August 13 and a live comeback special on V LIVE on August 14, promoting “Fantasy” and “Love Me Do” on music shows. For their performance of “Fantasy” on M!COUNTDOWN, the stage set looked like a blend of creepy, haunted forest meets deserted town, complete with a smoky stage. VIXX won three music show trophies during promotions for “Fantasy.” The first win was on August 23 on The Show, with the group winning the following day on Show Champion. Their third win was on September 6 and was also from The Show.
As for charting, Hades and “Fantasy” performed well domestically and internationally. Hades peaked and debuted at No. 1 on the Gaon Weekly Album Chart, with the single album also appearing at No. 3 on the Gaon Monthly Album Chart for the month of August and No. 22 on the Gaon Yearly Album Chart for 2016. “Fantasy” peaked at No. 22 on the Gaon Weekly Digital Chart and No. 14 on the Gaon Weekly Download Chart. B-sides “Love Me Do” and “Butterfly Effect” also appeared on the Gaon Weekly Download Chart, debuting at No. 58 and No. 65 respectively before dropping off the chart the next week. Although the single album didn’t appear on any Billboard charts, “Fantasy” peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard World Digital Song Sales Chart.
VIXX, Hades, and “Fantasy” were nominated for a slew of awards at the year-end awards programs, with the group winning “Best Celebrity Award” at the 2016 Asia Artist Awards and “Hottest Group of the Year” at the China Music Awards. However, these are the only wins that were specific for this comeback and era.
Award nominations include multiple “Popularity Award” nominations for VIXX, the “Hallyu Special Award” at the Seoul Music Awards, and “Artist of the Year (Album Division)” at the Gaon Chart Music Awards. Hades was also nominated for an award at the Gaon Chart Music Awards (“3rd Quarter Best Selling Record Award”) while “Fantasy” was nominated for “Best Dance Performance - Male Group” and “Song of the Year” at the Mnet Asian Music Awards.