How Sweet

Last updated

"How Sweet"
NewJeans - How Sweet.png
Single by NewJeans
from the album How Sweet
Language
  • English
  • Korean
B-side "Bubble Gum"
ReleasedMay 24, 2024 (2024-05-24)
Genre
Length3:39
Label ADOR
Composer(s)
Lyricist(s)
  • Gigi
  • Sarah Aarons
  • Elvira Anderfjärd
  • Oscar Scheller
  • Stella Bennett
  • Tove Burman
  • Danielle
Producer(s) 250
NewJeans singles chronology
"ETA"
(2023)
"How Sweet"
(2024)
"Supernatural"
(2024)
Music video
"How Sweet" on YouTube

"How Sweet" is a song by the South Korean girl group NewJeans from their second single album of the same name. It was released by ADOR on May 24, 2024, along with the B-side track "Bubble Gum". NewJeans began promoting the single in April 2024, through the release of the music video for "Bubble Gum" on YouTube, featuring the Japanese version of the track in advertisements and television programs in Japan, and appearing on music shows and variety shows in South Korea. The single album debuted at number one in South Korea. It has been described as a Miami bass song with electroclash production.

Contents

Background and composition

NewJeans debuted in 2022 under ADOR, a subsidiary label of Hybe Corporation, and their 2023 EP Get Up was the group's first entry and first number-one on the US Billboard 200. [1] Selling over two million copies, [2] Get Up established NewJeans as one of the most prominent international music acts of the year. [1] [3] Several publications named it among the best music releases of the year. [3] In April 2024, a dispute between Hybe and ADOR's CEO Min Hee-jin over Min's authority within the label became widely publicized. [4] [5] Amid the controversy, NewJeans released their subsequent single, "How Sweet", which had been announced prior. [4]

According to ADOR's press release, "How Sweet" is a Miami bass song. [6] NME wrote that the track "sees NewJeans playing with Miami bass". They continue to reimagine Y2K sounds, transforming them into their own "enchanting spells." [4] Nylon opined that the production "gives off zingy electroclash". [7] Billboard described it as electropop. [8] Lyrically, the group, known for their "witty approach" to relationships, stays true to form with "How Sweet," delivering yet another track focused on self-love. [4]

Release and promotion

On March 27, 2024, ADOR announced that NewJeans would host a fan meeting in Japan and release two double singles in 2024: "How Sweet" and "Bubble Gum" on May 24 and "Supernatural" and "Right Now" on June 21. [9] ADOR stated that NewJeans would be making their debut in the Japanese music market with the release of "Supernatural", their first song in Japanese, while they would focus on promoting "How Sweet" and "Bubble Gum" in South Korea. [9] In conjuction with the singles' announcement, ADOR stated that NewJeans would release an album in the second half of 2024 and embark on a worldwide tour in 2025. [9] The press release caused Hybe Corporation's daily market capitalization to increase by nearly 1 trillion. [10] In April 2024, ADOR announced that member Hyein would not participate in promotional activities to recover from an injury. [11]

The CD single became available for pre-order on April 26, 2024, in two physical formats: a vinyl LP-sized version and a Weverse-exclusive version. Additional items available with the CD include a book containing interviews with the members, a photo book, stickers, posters, photo cards, and post cards. [12] In May 2024, NewJeans began making appearances on South Korean music shows, including Music Bank , and variety shows, including 2 Days & 1 Night and Park Myung-soo's web show on YouTube. [13] [14] NewJeans performed at the K-Wave Concert Inkigayo on June 2, 2024. [15] The single album debuted at the number one spot in South Korea. [16]

Reception

NME 's Tássia Assis, praises the group's continuation of their signature style, blending Y2K influences with fresh elements. Assis suggests that tne song feels like a safe, even lukewarm, addition to their discography. While the song is enjoyable and fit well with their previous work, the release lacks the innovation and impact of their past singles like "Hype Boy" or "Ditto." [4] Jeff Benjamin included it in his list of "the 20 best K-pop songs of 2024 so far." He praised the track as a refreshing breakup anthem with a breezy, summery feel, highlighting the group's harmonies and how the song becomes more infectious with each listen. [17]

Accolades

Music program awards for "How Sweet"
ProgramDateRef.
Show Champion May 29, 2024 [18]
Music Bank May 31, 2024 [19]
Show! Music Core June 8, 2024 [20]
June 15, 2024 [21]
June 22, 2024 [22]

Track listing

All tracks are arranged by 250.

"How Sweet" track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."How Sweet"
  • 250
  • Aarons
  • Anderfjärd
  • Scheller
  • Bennett
  • Burman
3:39
2."Bubble Gum"
  • 250
  • Bell
  • Simmons
3:20
3."How Sweet" (Instrumental) 
  • 250
  • Aarons
  • Anderfjärd
  • Scheller
  • Bennett
  • Burman
3:39
4."Bubble Gum" (Instrumental) 
  • 250
  • Bell
  • Simmons
3:20
Total length:13:58

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for How Sweet
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
South Korea (KMCA) [49] 3× Platinum750,000^
South Korea (KMCA) [50]
Weverse Albums version
Platinum250,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release history and formats for "How Sweet"
RegionDateFormatLabelRef.
VariousMay 24, 2024 ADOR [9]
South Korea CD
United States
[51]

Related Research Articles

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

NewJeans is a South Korean girl group formed by ADOR, a sub-label of Hybe. The group is composed of five members: Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein. Mainly produced by Min Hee-jin, they are known for their 'girl next door' image and musical stylings reminiscent of the 1990s and 2000s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Min Hee-jin</span> South Korean art director (born 1979)

Min Hee-jin is a South Korean creative designer, art director, and graphic designer. She is the former CEO of ADOR, a subsidiary of entertainment company Hybe Corporation, and the former executive producer of K-pop girl group NewJeans. She was formerly a creative director at SM Entertainment, where she was responsible for the branding of groups such as Girls' Generation, Shinee, f(x), Exo, and Red Velvet.

<i>New Jeans</i> (EP) 2022 EP by NewJeans

New Jeans is the debut extended play (EP) by the South Korean girl group NewJeans. It was released on August 1, 2022, by ADOR, a subsidiary of Hybe Corporation. Produced by Min Hee-jin, 250, and Park Jin-su, the EP draws from synth-pop, hip hop, and R&B and infuses elements of musical styles from the 1990s and 2000s decades. The songs "Attention", "Hype Boy", and "Cookie" were released as singles.

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

South Korean girl group NewJeans has released two extended plays, three single albums, ten singles, and five promotional singles. The group debuted under the independent music label ADOR in July 2022, and is composed of members Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein.

"Attention" is the debut single by the South Korean girl group NewJeans. The music video for the song was surprise-released on July 22, 2022, and the track was released for download and streaming as part of their self-titled debut EP in August 2022. Written and composed by 250, Duckbay, Gigi, and the group member Danielle, "Attention" is a pop and R&B track with elements of late-1990s and early-2000s music such as house music on a new jack swing beat, and it incorporates dynamic key changes between the major and minor chords. Its lyrics are about the sensations of young infatuation.

"Hype Boy" is a song by the South Korean girl group NewJeans, taken from their debut extended play (EP), New Jeans (2022). ADOR, an independent division of Hybe Corporation, released four music videos for the song on July 23, 2022, each focusing on the members and their narratives. "Hype Boy" was officially released for download and streaming as the second single of the EP on August 1, 2022.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">NewJeans videography</span>

South Korean girl group NewJeans have appeared in 19 music videos and several commercials over the course of their career. Their first music video, "Attention", was surprise-released on July 22, 2022, through YouTube. To promote their first extended play (EP) New Jeans (2022), they released music videos for all the tracks — "Attention", "Hype Boy", Cookie" and "Hurt". Three music videos for the songs "Ditto" and "OMG" accompanied their next release, the single album OMG (2023). In 2023, they released music videos for all the tracks — "New Jeans", "Super Shy", "Cool with You", "ETA", "Get Up" and "ASAP" — of their second EP Get Up (2023).

<i>OMG</i> (single album) 2023 single album by NewJeans

OMG is the first single album by South Korean girl group NewJeans. It was released on January 2, 2023, by ADOR. It contains the lead single of the same name and "Ditto", which was released prior to the single album on December 19, 2022.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ditto (song)</span> 2022 single by NewJeans

"Ditto" is a song by the South Korean girl group NewJeans, released on December 19, 2022, by ADOR, a label of Hybe Corporation. The producer 250 composed "Ditto" with Ylva Dimberg, who wrote the lyrics with The Black Skirts, Oohyo, and NewJeans member Minji. With a sound rooted in Baltimore club, the track incorporates a balladic electronic and dance production with influences of house, breakbeat, and UK garage. The lyrics are about reminiscing a platonic love.

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<i>Get Up</i> (EP) 2023 EP by NewJeans

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"Super Shy" is a song by the South Korean girl group NewJeans, featured as the first of three singles from their second extended play, Get Up (2023). ADOR, a division of Hybe Corporation, released the song for download and streaming on July 7, 2023, alongside the prologue song "New Jeans." Later, "Super Shy" was sent to contemporary hit radio in the United States through Interscope Records on August 15, 2023. It is a mix of liquid drum and bass, bubblegum, and Jersey club, featuring a staccato kick drum pattern. Written by Gigi, Kim Dong-hyun, Erika de Casier, Kristine Bogan, Frankie Scoca, and NewJeans member Danielle, it is about a shy person who expresses their feelings to a crush.

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"ETA" is a song by the South Korean idol girl group NewJeans from their second extended play (EP), Get Up (2023). ADOR released the song on July 21, 2023, as a single to promote the EP. "ETA" was written by Beenzino, Gigi, and Ylva Dimberg whilst composition was handled by 250 and Dimberg. Its accompanying music video, a collaboration with Apple, was filmed in Barcelona and shot entirely on the iPhone 14 Pro.

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"Bubble Gum" is a song by South Korean girl group NewJeans. It was released by ADOR on May 24, 2024, as a B-side on the group's second single album How Sweet (2024). NewJeans began promoting the song on April 27, 2024, through the release of a music video on YouTube. The single album debuted at number one in South Korea.

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