Cheshire (EP)

Last updated

Cheshire
Itzy - Cheshire.png
Digital cover
EP by
ReleasedNovember 30, 2022 (2022-11-30)
Recorded2022
Studio
  • JYPE Studios
  • The Hub Studio
Length12:33
LanguageKorean
Label
Producer
  • Justin Reinstein
  • Timothy Tan
  • Joshua Leung
  • Stian Nyhammer Olsen
  • Jacob "Ontrackz" Andersson
  • Sebastian Thott
Itzy chronology
Checkmate
(2022)
Cheshire
(2022)
Kill My Doubt
(2023)
Singles from Cheshire
  1. "Boys Like You"
    Released: October 21, 2022
  2. "Cheshire"
    Released: November 30, 2022

Cheshire is the sixth extended play by South Korean girl group Itzy. It was released by JYP Entertainment and Republic Records on November 30, 2022, and contains four tracks, including the pre-release English-language single "Boys Like You", and the lead single of the same name.

Contents

Cheshire was a commercial success, where it debuted at number one on South Korea's Circle Album Chart with 779,525 copies sold in the first week of release, becoming Itzy's fifth number-one album on the chart. In January 2023, the EP was certified Million by the Korea Music Content Association (KMCA) for surpassing 1,000,000 copies sold, the group's second million-seller album.

Background and release

On October 21, 2022, Itzy released the pre-release English-language single "Boys Like You" prior to the release of their upcoming album. [1] On November 7, JYP Entertainment announced Itzy would be releasing their sixth extended play titled Cheshire on November 30, with the promotional schedule released on the same day. [2] On November 9, the first concept film was released. [3] On November 16, the second concept film was released. [4] On November 24, the track listing was released with "Cheshire" announced as the lead single. [5] The following day, the track spoiler video was released. [6] The music video teasers for lead single "Cheshire" was released on November 28 and 29. [7] [8] The EP was released alongside the music video for "Cheshire" on November 30. [9]

Composition

The opening track "Cheshire," serves as the album's lead single. It was inspired by the "mischievous" Cheshire Cat from the 1951 Disney movie Alice in Wonderland. [10] It was described as the opposite of the previous lead single "Sneakers". If the latter was more “energetic” and full of "peppy vibe and shouty delivery," then this one flirts with more darker, "subdued" instrumentals, "bold lyrics," groovy, and "sensuous" composition. [10] [11] It's characterized by a "funky" bassline and gritty electronic beats. Lyrically, it’s moved away from the "straightforward takes on love" in comparison to their past music; on "Cheshire," the group become "active players in the game of love, pushing and pulling the subject of their affections to fulfill their every whim and fancy. They almost veer into a femme-fatale approach to romance, though they are motivated by mischief (hence the Cheshire Cat inspiration) rather than more nefarious intentions." [10] Followed by the second track, "Snowy," that samples Beethoven's classical piece "Für Elise". [12] It combines with a keyboard instrumental that "emulates the sound of twinkling bells, all while instilling a dark, unsettling atmosphere." [10] The third track, "Freaky," is a R&B-pop song that takes a more "laid-back" and minimalist approach with lyrics about "shake off a persistent ex-lover." [10] The closing track "Boys Like You," is the group's first English-language song, released prior to the album. It is a pop song that incorporates punk elements, "catchy" rhythmic rap, and ad-libs. The lyrics showcase the group realizing their worth and refusing to "take back a two-timing boyfriend." [13] [14]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
NME Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [10]

Gladys Yeo of NME praised Cheshire as "a mature update to Itzy's sound", giving the album a three-star review. In particular, she found the title track's "darker, more subdued instrumentation" appealing and saw its lyrics as a departure from the group's previous music, with a bolder approach to romance. However, Yeo criticized the pre-release single "Boys Like You" as unfitting on the album with "painfully juvenile" lyrics. [10]

Accolades

Awards and nominations for Cheshire
YearOrganizationAwardResultRef.
2023 Circle Chart Music Awards Artist of the Year – Physical Album (4th Quarter)Nominated [15]

Track listing

Track listing for Cheshire
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."Cheshire"
  • Hwang Su-min (153/Joombas)
  • Jeong Ha-ri (153/Joombas)
  • Timothy Tan
  • Ciara Muscat
  • Josefin Glenmark
  • Jar (153/Joombas)
  • Justin Reinstein
  • Jjean
  • Timothy Tan
  • Justin Reinstein
3:02
2."Snowy"Jang Jeong-won (Jam Factory)
  • Stian Nyhammer Olsen
  • Julia Bognar Finnseter
  • Paulos Solbø
  • Joshua Leung
  • Stian Nyhammer Olsen
  • Joshua Leung
2:53
3."Freaky" Moon Seol-ri
  • Jacob "Ontrackz" Andersson
  • Molly Rosenstrom
Jacob "Ontrackz" Andersson2:55
4."Boys Like You"
  • Didrik Thott
  • Hayley Aitken
  • Sara Davis
  • Ellie Suh (153/Joombas)
  • Lee Joo-hee (Mumw)
  • Didrik Thott
  • Sebastian Thott
  • Hayley Aitken
Sebastian Thott3:43
Total length:12:33

Credits and personnel

Studio

Personnel

Charts

Certifications and sales

Certifications and sales for Cheshire
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
South Korea (KMCA) [28] Million1,008,630 [29]

Release history

Release history for Cheshire
RegionDateFormatLabel
South KoreaNovember 30, 2022 CD
Various

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References

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  29. Accumulated sales for Cheshire: