"Handlebars" is a song by South Korean singer and rapper Jennie featuring English singer Dua Lipa. It was released to US contemporary hit radio through Columbia Records on March 11,2025,as the fifth single from Jennie's debut studio album,Ruby (2025). It was also released to Italian radio by Sony Music Italy on March 14. The song was written by Lipa,Amy Allen,Delacey,James Alan Ghaleb and Rob Bisel and produced by the latter with Ido Zmishlany. It is a mid-tempo R&B track with lyrics about the reckless thrill of falling in love too quickly.
Critics praised "Handlebars" for its carefree vibe and the artists' chemistry as close friends. The song debuted at number 21 on the Billboard Global 200,while peaking within the top ten in Hong Kong,Malaysia,Singapore,Taiwan,and Thailand and at number 68 on South Korea's Circle Digital Chart. It also debuted at number 80 on the US Billboard Hot 100,Jennie's fifth consecutive single from Ruby to enter the chart.
An accompanying music video was directed by BRTHR and released on Jennie's YouTube channel on March 10. Set in a technicolor psychedelic-inspired world,the video shows the artists in a heart-shaped spider's web,symbolizing their entanglements in love. Jennie performed "Handlebars" on the Ruby Experience (2025),Billboard's Iconic Stage,the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival,and Blackpink's Deadline World Tour (2025–2026). The song received a nomination for the Ballad Award at the 34th Seoul Music Awards.
Background and release
After she departed from YG Entertainment for solo activities,Jennie founded her record label,Odd Atelier,in November 2023.[1] She signed as a solo artist with Columbia Records in partnership with Odd Atelier in September 2024.[2] Jennie released "Mantra," "Love Hangover," and "ExtraL" between October 2024 and February 2025 as the first three singles from her debut studio album.[3] On January 21,she officially announced the album's title,Ruby and its release date of March 7,2025.[4] The announcement was accompanied by a teaser video revealing the list of featured artists on the record,which included Dua Lipa.[5] Jennie had previously collaborated with Lipa as a member of Blackpink on the 2018 song "Kiss and Make Up."[6]
Jennie revealed the album tracklist on February 18,which confirmed the duet's name was "Handlebars."[7] On February 27,an album sampler video was released with snippets of "Handlebars" and other unreleased songs from Ruby.[8] The day before the album's release,Jennie and Lipa teased the song by posting photos on Instagram of themselves posing together,with Dua Lipa wearing a crystal net dress.[9]Ruby was released for digital download and streaming alongside the single "Like Jennie" on March 7,while "Handlebars" was included as the album's fourth track.[10] The latter song was sent to US contemporary hit radio on March 11 and Italian radio on March 14,becoming the album's fifth single.[11][12]
Composition and lyrics
"Handlebars" was written by Dua Lipa,Delacey,Amy Allen,James Alan Ghaleb,and Rob Bisel.[6] It has been described as a "mid-tempo," "chilled-out R&B track"[13] with a "slinky,drum-driven instrumental" evoking the out-of-control beating of a heart in love.[14] The song and its title compare falling in love to crashing a bike,with Jennie singing in the chorus:"I always go all in,all in,all in,/ Over the handlebars / Hitting the ground so hard / If I'm alone,fallin',fallin',fallin'."[14] In her first verse,she describes the song's core message regarding her frustration of giving in to love despite it hurting her previously:"Mercy / Why is it love is never kind to me? / I heard that fools rush in and,yeah,that's me / It burns me time and time again / So why am I still fixing for this frying pan." In the chorus,the duo belt "I trip and fall in love / Just like a Tuesday drunk," comparing their pursuit of love to getting tipsy on a weekday. The comparisons to alcohol continue throughout the song,with Lipa asking for "another round,another drink" before she gets "a little too buzzed on your love" in her verse.[15]
Critical reception
Writing for Billboard,Jeff Benjamin named "Handlebars" the 11th best song on Ruby and a "playful collaboration that feels like it captures the real-life fun and friendship between two pop powerhouses" and leaves listeners wanting more from the duo.[16] Similarly,Joshua Minsoo Kim of Pitchfork praised how "the two trade verses here as if close friends,bonding over their tendency to crush hard" and used it as an example of Jennie's versatility.[17]Clash's Letícia L. Gomes lauded the song as an "undeniably feel-good,summery anthem" and a "definite highlight" on the album,noting the undeniable chemistry between the artists. She argued that although the song doesn't push sonic boundaries,the song succeeds in its simplicity as an "effortless,confident,and infectious" track that could be put on repeat.[18]NME's Crystal Bell described it as a "sultry tie-up",[19] while Associated Press's Maria Sherman called it "perfect for TikTok".[20] On the other hand,The New York Times's Jon Caramanica derided the song as a "listless duet".[21]
A scene in the music video of Jennie and Dua Lipa lying in a heart-shaped spider web signifies their entanglement in love.
An accompanying music video for "Handlebars" was directed by BRTHR and uploaded to Jennie's YouTube channel on March 10.[24] The video depicts the two artists in a technicolor psychedelic-inspired fantasy world and opens with Jennie lying on a circular bed surrounded by TV screens.[25] Wearing a glittery shirt over a metallic mini dress,[13] she walks through a rainy neon alleyway and freezes the rain in place with a snap of her fingers.[25] For most of the video,she lies on an electrified,heart-shaped spider's web,symbolizing her entanglement in love and desire.[25] A glowing Dua transports in from another dimension and joins Jennie in lounging side-by-side in the spider web,which is located in a futuristic landscape filled with piles of glitchy monitors and colorful flashing lights. Near the end,the women shoot streams of shiny water from their eyes,which crash into each other and form a floating,fiery disco ball heart.[13]
Live performances
Jennie included "Handlebars" on the setlist of her concert tour,the Ruby Experience,which commenced in Los Angeles on March 6,2025,at the same time as Ruby's release.[26] She performed it for Billboard's Iconic Stage,which was uploaded to Billboard and Billboard Korea's official YouTube channels on March 12.[27] Jennie also performed the song at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 13 and 20.[28] Beginning on August 2,"Handlebars" was included on the setlist as part of Jennie's solo stage during Blackpink's Deadline World Tour.[29]
Recorded and engineered at Paradise Sound Recordings LA (Los Angeles,California),Conway Studios (Los Angeles,California),and Ponzu Studios (Los Angeles,California)
↑Ahn, Byeong-gil (March 13, 2025). "제니, 빌보드 출연 첫 주인공···독점 인터뷰+퍼포먼스"[Jennie, Billboard's first appearance as the main character···Exclusive interview + performance]. Sports Kyunghyang (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 13, 2025. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
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