Bare & Rare

Last updated

Bare & Rare
Chungha - Bare & Rare Part 1.png
Part 1 digital cover
Studio album by
ReleasedJuly 11, 2022
Recorded2021
StudioMNH Studios
Genre Pop
Length25:23
Language
  • Korean
  • English
Label
Producer Chungha
Chung Ha chronology
Killing Me
(2021)
Bare & Rare
(2022)
Eenie Meenie
(2024)
Singles from Bare & Rare
  1. "Sparkling"
    Released: July 11, 2022

Bare & Rare is the second studio album by South Korean singer Chung Ha. The first part was released on July 11, 2022, under MNH Entertainment and 88rising.

Contents

Background

On June 27, 2022, Chung Ha revealed a detailed teaser schedule for the first part of her second studio album, titled Bare & Rare. [1] [2] The mood sampler in "Bare" version was uploaded on June 28. It showcased a "dreamy" and "mechanical" sound with a "strange" tension. [3] On June 30, the official photo of "Bare #1" was released, showing Chung Ha in silhouette along with vintage colours and natural styling, [4] while the "Bare #2" was released on July 1. The teaser images for the lead single "Sparkling" were released on July 2, which were said to have an "enchanting" atmosphere. [5] The second image depicts the singer in a red dress surrounded by flowers. [6] The track list for the album was released on July 4, with the highlight medley being released two days later on July 6. The music video teaser was released on July 8 and 9 respectively. [7] Countdown posters were released on July 9 and 10 respectively before the official D-day countdown poster and album was released on July 11, 2022. [8]

Composition

The album consists of 8 tracks, all of which were co-produced and co-written by Chung Ha. The album includes: "XXXX", "Sparkling", "Louder" "California Dream", "Good Night My Princess", "Love Me Out Loud", "Nuh-Uh" and "Crazy Like You" featuring 88rising labelmate Bibi. The album marks Chung Ha's first full comeback after her first full-length album "Querencia" which was released in 2021. [9]

"Louder" is a catchy pop track with bouncy beats and twinkling effects. Chung Ha aims to encourage listeners to stop apologising for the space they take up and start owning their strength.

The lead single "Sparkling" was considered a change to Chung Ha's previous music style. [10]

Conception

At a press conference in Seoul, Chung Ha shared her feelings about the album and reflected on her previous works, citing that she "felt empty for some reason". [11] [12]

"I realized that while I've been a singer for the past few years, I had never really expressed my personal memories through my music. So far, I thought of myself as a performer; someone who performs the stage routine and lyrics that others designed for me. For this album, I wanted to fill it up with my innermost stories. I asked myself what was causing that feeling, and I thought of the times that I sang lyrics that I couldn't relate to, or wanted to change some musical aspects in my songs. So I really wanted to tell my own story this time."

Chung Ha explaining her thoughts on the album [11]

Release and promotion

Prior to the release of the album, Chung Ha performed "California Dream" on June 25, 2022, at the Seoul Waterbomb Festival 2022. [13] The album initially was announced as a double album, with a second part of the album being scheduled for release in late 2022. [13] A release of the second part of the project failed to materialize in 2022. Chung Ha's departure from her label MNH Entertainment was announced in January 2023, her contract with the label expired in April 2023. [14] [15] The status of the project is unknown.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
IZM Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [16]
NME Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [17]

Tanu I. Raj of NME gave 3 out of 5 stars while stating that "the K-pop soloist's second studio album stumbles occasionally but displays her complexity and commendable desire to grow". [17]

Track listing

Bare & Rare Part 1 track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."XXXX"
  • Chungha
  • Sophia Pae
  • Fuxxy
  • Any Masingga
  • Ximon
  • Winnie
  • Fuxxy
  • Any Masingga
  • Any Masingga
  • Fuxxy
2:48
2."Sparkling"
  • BXN
  • Chung Ha
  • BXN
  • Prime Time
BXN3:06
3."Louder"
  • Tushar Apte
  • Alma Goodman
  • Klara Elias
Tushar Apte2:59
4."Crazy Like You" (featuring Bibi)
  • Ryan Jhun
  • Kloe
  • Sam Preston
  • Rick Parkhouse
  • George Tizzard
  • Jhun
  • Red Triangle
2:55
5."California Dream"Chungha
  • Kella Armitage
  • Josh McClelland
  • Gus Ross
Gus Ross2:59
6."Good Night My Princess"
  • Lee Hyun-sang (Artmatic)
  • Choi Ji-san (Artmatic)
  • Adora
  • Lee
  • Choi
3:52
7."Love Me Out Loud"
  • Chung Ha
  • Jo Yoon-kyung
  • Peter Wallevik
  • Daniel Davidson
  • Mich Hansen
  • Neil Omandy
  • Phil Plested
3:24
8."Nuh-Uh"
  • Any Masingga
  • Fuxxy
3:20
Total length:25:23

Charts

Release history

Release dates and formats for Bare & Rare
RegionDateFormatLabelRef.
VariousJuly 11, 2022 [20]
South Korea

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chung Ha</span> South Korean singer (born 1996)

Kim Chung-ha, known mononymously as Chung Ha, is a South Korean singer, dancer and choreographer. She finished fourth in Mnet's girl group survival show Produce 101, becoming a member of the resulting girl group I.O.I. Following the dissolution of I.O.I in 2017, Chung Ha debuted as a solo artist with the extended play Hands on Me.

<i>Hands on Me</i> (EP) 2017 extended play by Chung Ha

Hands on Me is the debut extended play by South Korean singer Chung Ha. It was released on June 7, 2017 by MNH Entertainment and distributed by CJ E&M Music. It consists of five songs, including the title track "Why Don't You Know" featuring rapper Nucksal. A music video for the title track was also released on June 7.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chung Ha discography</span>

The discography of South Korean singer, dancer and choreographer Chung Ha consists of two studio albums, four extended plays (EPs), three single albums, seventeen singles, and forty-four music videos. In addition, the singer has collaborative and soundtracks for television series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gotta Go (Chung Ha song)</span> 2019 single by Chung Ha

"Gotta Go" is a song recorded by South Korean singer Chung Ha. It was released as a single on January 2, 2019, by MNH Entertainment and distributed by Genie Music, and was promoted as a single album. Adopting a darker style, the princess concept appears to be a shift away from the "girl crush" image of her previous albums Hands on Me and Offset.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bvndit</span> South Korean girl group

Bvndit was a South Korean girl group under MNH Entertainment. The group consisted of five members: Yiyeon, Songhee, Jungwoo, Simyeong, and Seungeun. They made their debut on April 10, 2019, with the single album Bvndit, Be Ambitious!, the group disbanded on November 11, 2022 as all the members ternimated their exclusive contracts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MNH Entertainment</span> South Korean entertainment management company

MNH Entertainment is a privately held multinational entertainment group and talent agency based in Seoul. Founded in November 2014 by Lee Ju-seop, a former manager at JYP Entertainment. The company was founded on 18 November 2014.

<i>Flourishing</i> (EP) 2019 extended play by Chung Ha

Flourishing is the fourth extended play by South Korean singer Chung Ha. It was released by MNH Entertainment and distributed by Stone Music Entertainment on June 24, 2019. "Snapping" was released as the title track on the same day. It is her first EP since the release of Blooming Blue in July 2018.

"Snapping" is a song by South Korean singer Chung Ha released on June 24, 2019, by MNH Entertainment, Stone Music Entertainment. The track acts as the title track for her Korean fourth extended play Flourishing, which was released simultaneously with the single. As of February 2021, it has over 75 million views on YouTube and 80 million streams on Spotify. "Snapping" placed first on the music show, Show Champion on July 3, 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everybody Has</span> 2020 single by Chung Ha

"Everybody Has" is a song recorded by South Korean singer Chung Ha released on February 29, 2020, by MNH Entertainment and distributed by Stone Music Entertainment. The song is part of MNH Entertainment's project album New.wav and of Chung Ha's first full-length studio album Querencia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stay Tonight</span> 2020 single by Chung Ha

"Stay Tonight" is a song by South Korean singer Chung Ha as the lead single from her debut Korean-language studio album Querencia. The song was released on April 27, 2020, by MNH Entertainment and Stone Music. It was written and produced by VINCENZO, Any Masingga, Fuxxy and Anna Timgren. "Stay Tonight" is a house and disco-pop song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Play (Chung Ha song)</span> 2020 single by Chung Ha

"Play" is a song by South Korean singer Chung Ha, which features Changmo. The song was released on July 6, 2020, by MNH Entertainment and Stone Music as the second single from her first Korean-language studio album Querencia. The single was later repackaged into a maxi single, which consists of the two pre-released singles, together with "Stay Tonight" peaked at number 7 on the Gaon Album Chart with 12,613 sales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bad Boy (Chung Ha and Christopher song)</span> 2020 single by Chung Ha and Christopher

"Bad Boy" is a song by South Korean singer Chung Ha and Danish singer Christopher. It was released on September 23, 2020, by MNH Entertainment, Parlophone Denmark and Warner Music Korea.

<i>Querencia</i> (album) 2021 studio album by Chung Ha

Querencia is the debut studio album by South Korean singer Chung Ha. It was released on February 15, 2021, under MNH Entertainment and 88rising. Originally set for a January 4 release, the album was delayed to February 15 after Chung Ha tested positive for COVID-19 on December 7, 2020, to focus on her recovery. It is the singer's first full-length album since her debut in 2017. The concept of the album lies in its title, "Querencia" which is a metaphysical concept in Spanish referring to a place where "one can be one's true self".

"Bicycle" is a song by South Korean singer Chung Ha. It was released on February 15, 2021, through MNH and 88rising as the title track from Chung Ha's first Korean-language studio album, Querencia. It was originally scheduled to be released on January 4, 2021, however it was delayed after she was diagnosed with COVID-19. Musically, "Bicycle" incorporates R&B, trap and dance-pop beats developed with the introduction of the intense fuzz guitar, and expresses excitement and the feelings of overwhelming energy of the moment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demente (song)</span> 2021 single by Chung Ha and Guaynaa

"Demente" is a song by South Korean singer Chung Ha and Puerto Rican rapper Guaynaa from her first Korean studio album Querencia. It was released on February 15, 2021, through MNH and 88rising. The song is the thirteenth track on the album, and was written by Lao Ra, Guaynaa, Tinashé Fazakerley and Vincenzo and produced by him and Fuxxy. "Demente" solidifies the singer's "versatility as she flawlessly sings in Spanish and Korean" over a reggaeton beat. The song marks the first collaboration between a Korean female soloist and a Latin singer. Lyrically, the song tell a story of a confused love that causes great sadness due to the lack of interest from a lover.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Killing Me (Chung Ha song)</span> 2021 single by Chung Ha

"Killing Me" is a song by South Korean singer Chung Ha. It was released as a special single on November 29, 2021, through MNH Entertainment, and Stone Music Entertainment.

"Sparkling" is a song by South Korean singer Chung Ha. It was released on July 11, 2022, through MNH and 88rising as the title track from Chung Ha's second Korean-language studio album, Bare & Rare.

References

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