Genie:us

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The title of the album has dual meanings. First, it aims to give the confidence that we all can be a genius. The other reflects our wish to become a genie from a magic lamp.

Leader Hui on the album's title. [2]

Background and release

On March 15, 2019, Pentagon announced the title and release date of their eighth Korean-language mini album. [1] The lead single "Sha La La" was teased in videos on March 18 and 19, although the title was unknown at the time. [6] [7] A time schedule of the comeback was released on March 19. [8] The track list was released on March 20, [9] and their concert "2019 Pentagon Concert - PRISM", to be held on April 27 and 28 in Seoul, was announced on the same day. [10] Concept images were released on March 21 and 22. [11] [12] The audio teaser for the mini-album was released on March 25, [13] and the music video teaser for "Sha La La" was released the next day. [14] The music video was released on March 27 alongside the album. [15] On the same day, a media showcase was held to commemorate the release of the mini-album at Blue Square iMarket Hall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. [16]

Musicality

The group continues their image as a self-producing idol group, as each song on the album was produced by the members and all members are credited as writers and producers. [5] The songs on the album are filled with messages aimed to excite, comfort, encourage, and give hope to the listeners.

When we staged our first album during a (local) music competition show, we almost broke the floor. We made a crack on the stage because we were so full of energy and ambition... We want to bring back the vigor, passion and confidence with this latest music. That's the whole point of this album.

Hui on the album's meaning. [2]

Songs

"Sha La La" is a future house track with elements of hip hop and rock. [15] The Korean title (신토불이) is an abbreviation of the phrase "신나는 토요일 불타는 이밤", which translates to "let’s light up this Saturday night". [17] The song contains witty lyrics and dynamic dance sounds that aim to ease stress. Billboard highlighted the track's "vibrant soundscape that puts the emphasis on Pentagon’s multi-faceted vocal delivery". [15] Leader Hui said, "You might have moments of stress and feelings of suffocation on your way from work and in school. I wrote the song to resolve them". [2]

"Lost Paradise (Hip Hop Unit)" is a dark hip hop track sung by Hui, Yuto, Kino, and Wooseok, all of whom wrote and composed the song. The members tell their past selves that they are too young to be worried about failure. The tracks spreads the hopeful message that, regardless of one's struggles, a paradise exists within one's self. [5] "Till... (Ballad Unit)" is a ballad sung by Jinho, Hongseok, Shinwon, Yeo One, and Yan An. The piano sounds at the beginning and the full band towards the end enhance the song's theme of perseverance. [5] "Alien" is a witty hip hop track wherein Pentagon expresses their wishes to become a group with a unique, alien-like personality. [5] "Spring Snow" is happy, exciting alternative rock song about the group's experience during the spring of 2018. [4] In the final track, "Round 1", the members playfully diss each other with inside jokes. Every member of Pentagon had a hand in writing and producing the song. [5]

Track listing

Genie:us
Pentagon genie us.jpg
EP by
ReleasedMarch 27, 2019 (2019-03-27)
Genre K-pop
Length22:47
LanguageKorean
Label
Producer
Pentagon chronology
Thumbs Up!
(2018)
Genie:us
(2019)
Sum(me:r)
(2019)
Singles from Genie:us
  1. "Sha La La"
    Released: March 27, 2019
Genie:us [18] [19]
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."Sha La La" (신토불이)
  • Han Yo-han
  • Minit
3:15
2."Lost Paradise (Hip Hop Unit)"
  • Hui
  • Yuto
  • Kino
  • Wooseok
  • NATHAN
NATHAN3:43
3."Till... (Ballad Unit)" (그 순간 그때까지)Hui
  • Hui
  • MosPick
MosPick4:34
4."Alien" (에일리언)
  • Hui
  • Shinwon
  • Yuto
  • Wooseok
  • Hui
  • The Proof
The Proof3:20
5."Spring Snow" (봄눈)
  • Kino
  • Yuto
  • Wooseok
  • Kino
  • NATHAN
  • HOHO
  • NATHAN
  • HOHO
4:01
6."Round 1" (Bonus Track)
  • Jinho
  • Hui
  • Hongseok
  • Shinwon
  • Yeo One
  • Yan An
  • Yuto
  • Kino
  • Wooseok
  • MosPick
MosPick3:54
Total length:22:47

Accolades

Year-end lists
Critic/PublicationListRankWorkRef.
Refinery29 The Best K-Pop Songs Of 201922"Sha La La" [17]
Awards
YearOrganizationCategoryResultRef.
2019 Seoul Music Awards Popular AwardNominated [20]
K-Wave AwardNominated

Charts

Chart (2019)Peak
position
South Korean Albums (Gaon) [21] 5
US World Albums (Billboard) [22] 15

Certifications and sales

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
South Korea40,160 [23]

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pentagon (South Korean band)</span> South Korean boy group

Pentagon is a South Korean multi-national boy band formed by Cube Entertainment in 2016. The group consists of nine members: Jinho, Hui, Hongseok, Shinwon, Yeo One, Yan An, Yuto, Kino and Wooseok. Originally composed of ten members, E'Dawn left the group and the record label on November 14, 2018. They were introduced through the Mnet survival show Pentagon Maker. Pentagon released their self-titled debut EP on October 10, 2016.

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Triple H is a South Korean musical group formed by Cube Entertainment. The group consisted of Hyuna and Pentagon members Hui and E'Dawn. As a group they released two extended plays, 199X (2017) and Retro Futurism (2018). Cube has confirmed that Hyuna and E'Dawn are no longer a part of the company after a released statement of them dating.

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Lee Hoe-taek, better known as Hui (Korean: 후이), is a South Korean singer, songwriter, composer, and actor. He debuted as the leader, main vocalist and lead dancer of boy group Pentagon in October 2016, under Cube Entertainment. He was a member of the co-ed trio Triple H, alongside former bandmate Dawn and former labelmate Hyuna, and is the leader of trot boy group Super Five of MBC's Favorite Entertainment. He is also well known for his participation in the reality competition series Boys Planet, where he placed 13th overall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kino (singer)</span> South Korean singer

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References

  1. E'Dawn wrote and produced several tracks in Thumbs Up, despite not promoting the album.
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