I Burn | ||||
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![]() Digital and streaming cover | ||||
EP by | ||||
Released | January 11, 2021 | |||
Recorded | 2020 [1] | |||
Studio | Cube Studio | |||
Length | 18:40 | |||
Language |
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Label | ||||
(G)I-dle chronology | ||||
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Physical edition cover | ||||
![]() Winter, Flower and Fire versions, left to right | ||||
Singles from I Burn | ||||
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I Burn (stylized in sentence case) is the fourth Korean extended play (sixth overall) by South Korean girl group (G)I-dle. It was released on January 11,2021,by Cube Entertainment and Republic Records. The EP consists of three physical versions:Winter,Flower and Fire, [3] and contains six tracks,including the lead single "Hwaa". The album contains various emotions felt in the process of regaining happiness after separation. [4] I Burn is the fourth of the 'I' series,which started from the debut album, I Am (2018). [5] Commercially,the EP surpassed 200,000 copies,making it the group's first project to do so. I Burn is the group's final release as a sextet,before Soojin's hiatus and subsequent departure from the group in August 2021.
On December 9,Newsen reported that (G)I-dle would be making a comeback in mid-January. Cube Entertainment confirmed the news,stating,"(G)I-dle is preparing for a comeback with goals for release in mid-January. Please look forward to their return." [6] On December 27,Cube released a visual film announcing their comeback through the official YouTube channel of the group. [7] The video features various elements of nature such as rain,fire,flowers,and butterflies. [7] On December 28,the group confirmed the album title in a post across all the group's social media accounts,and that I Burn would be released on January 11,2021. [8] On December 31,(G)I-dle revealed the album's track-list on their social media. [9] On January 2,2021,the concept preview video of the album was released. [10] On January 6,the group released the highlight medley for their new album. [11]
On January 11,the group held an online media showcase for the release of I Burn hosted by broadcaster Oh Jung-yeon,who appeared in I'm a Survivor with Yuqi. [12] [13] During the showcase,Yuqi described the intro song "Hann (Alone in Winter)" as a song that connects with the digital single "Hann (Alone)" and the title song "Hwaa". "It's similar to "Hann" but it gives a different feel to it." [12]
"I Burn as a 'novel' that begins with the image of a woman in the cold, her heart frozen in the bitter winter of a break-up. By confronting it, she melts the ice that traps her. The fire of acceptance enables the growth of new love in the form of a flower and the arrival of spring.
Members Minnie, Soyeon and Yuqi participated in the composing and writing of I Burn. [11] (G)I-dle explained that I Burn is about various emotions felt in the process of regaining happiness after separation. "Hann (Alone in Winter)" represents the cold aftermath of a breakup; "Hwaa" is about getting over a heartbreaking farewell; "Moon" touches on the desire to hide one's feelings; and "Where is Love" explores the emptiness of love. [15] "Hann (Alone in Winter)" is a song composed, written and arranged by Soyeon and Ahn Ye-eun. It tells the change of feelings as winter comes from the lonely being alone through betrayal and separation. [16] Minnie, who is in charge of composing "Moon" described that the song contains honest feelings that cannot be shown to others. "I personally cherish it so much." [17] The song was composed by Minnie with the thought of the Moon. [17] Regarding "Dahlia", Minnie explained that the song depicts two opposite meanings; greed and attraction. "It's a song that I studied hard and wrote the lyrics to see if I can express the flowers beautifully." [18] The songs were arranged based on the stories in the lyrics. [19] Minnie explained, "there is a sense of connectivity from the first track through the last track. That's why the story of getting burned by a breakup and then growing into something stronger is easy to follow throughout I burn. It begins with "Hann (Alone in Winter)" — a song about separation — and ends with "Dahlia" — an uplifting track named after a flower." [19]
The opening track, "Hann (Alone in Winter)" is a medium-tempo ballad that connects the group's 2018 single "Hann (Alone)" with the album's title track "Hwaa". [16] [11] The second song, "Hwaa" is a moombahton song that adds a cool sensibility to an oriental musical instrument. [11] "Moon", the third song is a pop track about honest feelings. [11] "Where is love" is a disco retro styled dance song with a funky bass. [11] The song is about feelings after parting. [11] "Lost", the fifth song, is an R&B song. [11] The closing track, "Dahlia", is a medium pop genre song with the theme of a Dahlia flower. [11]
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Beats Per Minute | 75/100 [20] |
Elite Daily | positive [19] |
The Kraze | 7.5/10 [21] |
The Quietus | positive [22] |
Gab Ginsberg and Jason Lipshutz writing for Billboard describe "Dahlia" as "[a] riveting garden that is "Dahlia", where Miyeon, Minnie, Soojin, Soyeon, Yuqi and Shuhua sing about a love that can't be tainted by outsider critics. [23] Oh Jung-yeon praised (G)I-dle for their songwriting and stated, "Listening to the explanation of the philosophy and emotions of the six members melted into each song, I suddenly wanted to call them 'teachers'." [24] Heran Mamo from Billboard, regarded the album as, "together musical arrangements and Eastern instrumentation to collect the pieces of a broken heart, as I burn describes the aftermath of a painful breakup through the motif of a blazing fire and the sequential triumph like a blooming flower." [25] Michele Mendez of Elite Daily affirmed that I Burn is "the breakup album everyone needs to hear because it's a reminder something beautiful can emerge from darkness." [19] Writing for The Quietus online publication, Verónica A. Bastardo remarked: "A theatrical extended player, flooded with grandiloquent orchestral instrumentals mixed with pop structures and EDM drops, that explores in a metaphorical way the path of regaining happiness and strength after the separation from a loved one." [22]
Writing for Beats Per Minute , JT Early gave the album a score of 75/100, describing the material as "surprising and emotional project from a girl-group who have sheathed their sharpness to start repairing their internal hurt" [...] "further established them as one of the most versatile girl-groups in the industry". In the review, the author emphasize that "these songs are self-produced and self-written by the members themselves, as their output has been for years." and concluded "by wholly committing to this concept of defeat and resurrection, they have created a project that is not only relatable and inspiring to listeners, but also an exercise in transparency from the group itself." [20] The Kraze magazine gave the album a rating of 7.5/10 points and overall score including lead single and music video of 8.6/10 points, praising the production work by Soyeon, Minnie and Yuqi and the member's unique vocal colours. [21]
Critic/Publication | List | Rank | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
Rolling Stone India | 10 Best K-pop Albums of 2021 | 10 | [26] |
According to Hanteo Chart, I Burn debuted at No. 1 on the daily album chart with 75,510 copies sold. This is higher by 19,147 copies compared to (G)I-dle's Dumdi Dumdi album released on August 3, 2020, which recorded 56,363 copies in first-day sales. The album also debuted at No.1 on Gaon Retail Album Chart with 59,086 copies sold. [27] On January 13, it was reported that the album charted on iTunes Top Album charts in 52 regions around the world, including the Netherlands, New Zealand, Canada, Russia, Brazil, Italy and Finland. [28] [29] Moreover, on iTunes I Burn spent 3 days atop the summit of the iTunes Worldwide Albums Chart, beating out the record of their previous EP, I Trust . [30] In Melon chart, (G)I-dle not only charted "Hwaa", but also all the songs from I Burn. [31] This is the first time that the group has made such achievement since its debut in 2018. [32]
On the chart issued January 10–16, 2021, I Burn debuted at number 3 on South Korea's Gaon Album Chart, [33] and Gaon Weekly Retail Album Chart. [34] It also scored their best one-week sales with 115,500 copies. [35] Moreover, all songs in the EP entered the Gaon Digital Chart. [36]
The US-released on April 30, 2021, the album debuted at number 10 on the US Billboard World Album, [37] number 20 on the US Billboard Heatseekers Albums, [38] and rank at number 22 on the Billboard Top Current Album Sales chart. [39] They also charted at number 54 on Billboard Top Album Sales chart, making it their first entry on the chart, [40] and peaked at number 20 on the Billboard Emerging Artists Chart since the released of I Trust (2020). [41]
(G)I-dle released three physical album versions for I Burn. In Winter version (寒), the group showed a cold and lonely winter atmosphere wearing white dresses in a space full of antique props, lace fabrics, and lit candles. [42] In Flower version (花), the group showed in dresses with colourful patterns that contrast with the cold blue background. [43] In Fire version (火), the group shows their charms through shaking images that expressed as the fire is spreading while holding props reminiscent of a blazing flame in the pitch-black darkness and emit vivid light. [44] Every version of the EP contains a sleeve, a booklet, a lyric paper, a CD, a CD package, a mini-poster, a postcard with a message on the card, a photo card, a lucky card and a sticker paper. [45] [46]
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Arrangement | Length |
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1. | "Hann (Alone in Winter)" (한(寒)) |
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| 2:55 | |
2. | "Hwaa" (화(火花)) | Soyeon |
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| 3:17 |
3. | "Moon" |
|
|
| 3:20 |
4. | "Where Is Love" | Soyeon |
| Lee Woo-min "Collapsedone" | 2:57 |
5. | "Lost" |
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| Seo Jae-woo | 3:01 |
6. | "Dahlia" |
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| BreadBeat | 3:10 |
Total length: | 18:40 |
Notes
I Burn was included in the mid-year list of South China Morning Post 's Best K-pop albums of 2021, calling it "short and sweet" and an "intense, impassioned show of the band’s dynamic vocals, offering up the ultimate take on getting over a fiery love affair and its resulting break-up. [...] The cinematic album [...] incorporates elements of moombahton, nu-disco, R&B, and pop, blending with traditional Eastern musical elements to create something that is very 2021 and yet timeless." [47]
Year | Organization | Category | Result | Ref. |
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2021 | Mnet Asian Music Awards | Album of the Year | Nominated | [48] |
2022 | Golden Disc Awards | Album Bonsang | Nominated | [49] |
Weekly charts
| Monthly charts
Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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South Korea (KMCA) [53] | Platinum | 202,573 [51] |
Region | Date | Format | Label |
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Various | January 11, 2021 | ||
January 12, 2021 | CD | ||
United States | April 30, 2021 |
Jeon So-yeon, known mononymously as Soyeon, is a South Korean rapper and record producer under Cube Entertainment. She first gained attention for competing in the television shows Produce 101 and Unpretty Rapstar before debuting as a solo artist on November 5, 2017. On May 2, 2018, she debuted as the leader and rapper of the girl group (G)I-dle, for whom she has written and produced most title songs. She is also part of SM Station X girl group project Station Young and has portrayed League of Legends character Akali in the virtual musical groups K/DA and True Damage.
(G)I-dle is a South Korean girl group formed by Cube Entertainment in 2018. The group consists of five members: Miyeon, Minnie, Soyeon, Yuqi, and Shuhua. The group was originally a sextet, until Soojin left the group on August 14, 2021. They are praised for their musicality, versatility, and for breaking stereotypes as a "self-producing" idol group, known for writing and producing much of their material. Since their debut, they have been acknowledged as one of the most successful South Korean girl groups outside of the "big four" record labels.
I Am is the debut extended play by South Korean girl group (G)I-dle. The album was released digitally on May 2, 2018, and physically on May 3, 2018, by Cube Entertainment. The album contains six tracks including the lead single, "Latata", which was composed by Big Sancho and member Soyeon, and is a blend of several different genres.
"Hann (Alone)" (Korean: 한(一); stylized as "HANN (Alone)") is a song recorded by South Korean girl group (G)I-dle. It was released on August 14, 2018, by Cube Entertainment as a digital single. A music video for the song was also released on August 14.
Song Yuqi, known mononymously as Yuqi, is a Chinese singer-songwriter, dancer and record producer. She is a member of the South Korean girl group (G)I-dle, which debuted under Cube Entertainment in May 2018. She has been a cast member of the Chinese variety show Keep Running since 2019 and hosted the KakaoTV reality show Learn Way (2020–2021). In May 2021, Yuqi made her solo debut with single album A Page.
I Made is the second extended play by South Korean girl group (G)I-dle. The album was released digitally and physically on February 26, 2019. The album contains five tracks including the lead single, "Senorita", which was composed by member Soyeon and producer Big Sancho.
"Uh-Oh" is a song recorded by South Korean girl group (G)I-dle. It was released on June 26, 2019, by Cube Entertainment as their second digital single.
Nicha Yontararak, better known by her nickname and stage name Minnie, is a Thai singer, composer and actress based in South Korea. She is a member of South Korean girl group (G)I-dle, which debuted on May 2, 2018 under Cube Entertainment.
"Lion" is a song recorded by (G)I-dle, a South Korean girl group who participated in the reality girl group survival show, Queendom. It was released digitally on October 25, 2019, as part of the show's extended play Queendom Final Comeback. Its lyrics were written by Jeon So-yeon, who also composed, produced and arranged the song with Big Sancho. (G)I-dle went on to finish third in show.
I Trust is the third Korean extended play by South Korean girl group (G)I-dle. It was released digitally on April 6, 2020 and physically on April 7, 2020 by Cube Entertainment. I Trust features 5 tracks including the previously released single "Lion" and the lead single "Oh My God", which was produced and written by Jeon Soyeon alongside Big Sancho. The physical version is available in two versions: "True" and "Lie". I Trust is the followup to their second EP I Made, released in 2019.
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Dumdi Dumdi is the first single album by South Korean girl group (G)I-dle. The single album was released digitally and physically on August 3, 2020, by Cube Entertainment in both a Korean and Chinese version. The physical version is available in two versions: "Day" and "Night". The single contains two tracks, including the lead single of the same name. The group participated in visual concept planning such as hair, makeup, and styling, and leader Soyeon participated in lyrics, composition, and arrangement. Commercially, the album recorded 94,587 copies of one-week sales, making (G)I-dle the second girl group to break the single album sales record.
"Dumdi Dumdi" is a song recorded by South Korean girl group (G)I-dle, released on August 3, 2020, by Cube Entertainment and Republic Records as the lead single of the group's single album of the same name. It was written by member Soyeon, who also produced the song alongside Pop Time who has produced many of Zico and Block B's songs.
"Hwaa" is a song recorded by South Korean girl group (G)I-DLE, released on January 11, 2021, by Cube Entertainment and Republic Records as the lead single of the group's fourth extended play, I Burn. The song is written by member Soyeon and co-produced by Pop Time. The inspiration for the song came to Soyeon when member Shuhua once said 'winter girl' in a conversation. She took the idea and created the concept of a woman trapped in winter. Musically, it is a moombahton, dark pop, dream pop and synth-pop track with oriental instrumentations, and contains double entendres about fire and flowers. The song was the last single released by (G)I-DLE as a sextet, before Soojin's departure from the group in August 2021.
"Moon" is a song by South Korean girl group (G)I-dle from their fourth Korean-language extended play, I Burn (2021). The song was written by Soyeon, and its producers Minnie, FCM Houdini and FCM 667. The song was released on January 11, 2021, as the third track on the album.
This is the list of South Korean girl group (G)I-dle videography. It includes music videos, lyric videos, dance practice videos, music clips and commercial films since its debut in 2018.
I Never Die is the first studio album by South Korean girl group (G)I-dle. It was released digitally on March 14, 2022 and physically the following day, by Cube Entertainment. It consists of three physical versions: RiSKY, CHiLL and SPOiLED, and contains eight tracks, including the lead single "Tomboy". The album marks the group's first release as a quintet following the departure of member Soojin in August 2021, and the fifth release in the 'I' series, following I Burn (2021). Members Soyeon, Minnie, and Yuqi served as the album's primary producers and songwriters.
"My Bag" is a song by South Korean girl group (G)I-dle for their first studio album, I Never Die released on March 14, 2022, as the eight-track on the album. Written by Soyeon and co-produced by Nathan, the song's musical style focuses on the rap by all members of (G)I-dle as Soyeon commented the song "[is] something that only (G)I-dle can do". A part of the song interpolates elements from their previous singles "Latata," "Hann," "Senorita," "Dumdi Dumdi," and "Hwaa".
I Love is the fifth Korean extended play by South Korean girl group (G)I-dle. It was released digitally on October 17, 2022, and physically on October 18, 2022, by Cube Entertainment. It consists of three physical versions: Born, Act, and X-file. The EP contains six tracks, including the lead single "Nxde". The EP discusses various kinds of love and emotions of a person who is looking for real love – ultimately loving themselves. The tracks in the EP are listed in reverse as it narrates the process of love, starting with track 6 of someone experiencing love for the first time to track 1 of loving themselves. The EP took the form of vintage Hollywood-inspired concept.
"Dark (X-File)" is a song recorded by South Korean girl group (G)I-dle for their fifth extended play I Love as the sixth track. The song was released on October 17, 2022, by Cube Entertainment. It was written by leader Soyeon and produced by member Yuqi and Siixk Jun. The song is about the essential feelings from being in love.