"Lovesick Girls" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Blackpink | ||||
from the album The Album | ||||
Released | October 2, 2020 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:14 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) |
| |||
Producer(s) |
| |||
Blackpink singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"Lovesick Girls" on YouTube "Lovesick Girls (JP Ver.)" on YouTube |
"Lovesick Girls" is a song recorded by South Korean girl group Blackpink. It was released on October 2, 2020, through YG Entertainment and Interscope Records, as the third single from the group's debut studio album, The Album (2020). The Japanese version of the single was released through Interscope Records and Universal Music Japan on June 4, 2021. It was written by Teddy, Løren, Danny Chung, 24, R. Tee, Brian Lee, Leah Haywood, David Guetta, Jisoo and Jennie, whilst production was handled by Teddy alongside 24 and R. Tee. "Lovesick Girls" is a dance-pop and electropop song containing influences from EDM. Its lyrics explore pain associated with heartbreak.
"Lovesick Girls" received praise from music critics for its production and musical styles. Commercially, "Lovesick Girls" peaked at number two on the Billboard Global 200 and number one on the Global Excl. U.S., becoming Blackpink's first number-one on the latter chart. The song peaked at number two on the Gaon Digital Chart in South Korea, and topped charts in Malaysia and Singapore. It also peaked at number 59 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and appeared on the record charts in other 14 countries. It received platinum certifications in streaming in South Korea and Japan, and a gold certification in Australia.
Its accompanying music video, directed by Seo Hyun-seung, garnered 61.4 million views on YouTube in its first 24 hours and became the sixth biggest 24-hour debut for a music video on the platform at the time. To promote "Lovesick Girls" in South Korea, Blackpink performed the song on the music programs Show! Music Core and Inkigayo . Internationally, the group appeared and performed it on programs such as Good Morning America and Jimmy Kimmel Live! in the United States and Music Station in Japan.
Beginning on September 22, 2020, Blackpink's label YG Entertainment uploaded various teasers for each member on their respective social media accounts. [1] The song's name, "Lovesick Girls", and its release date were unveiled on September 28. [2] The announcement was accompanied by the release of a teaser poster, which featured the group members leaning on one another, with the song's logo planted on the top. [3] The official concept teaser was unveiled shortly afterwards, with YG labelling "Lovesick Girls" as the "main track" from its parent album, The Album . [4] [5] The next day, the official tracklist for the album was released via Twitter. [6]
"Lovesick Girls" was made available in conjunction with The Album on October 2, serving as the record's third single following "How You Like That" and "Ice Cream" (featuring Selena Gomez), which was released in June and August, respectively. [7] In Italy, it was released to the airplay market on October 16, 2020. [8] The Japanese version of the single was first made available through contemporary hit radio in Japan under Interscope Records and Universal Music Japan on June 4, 2021. [9] It was subsequently released for digital download and streaming on July 13, [10] in support of the release of the Japanese edition of The Album for August 3, 2021. [11]
"Lovesick Girls" was written by Løren, Danny Chung, Jisoo, Jennie, and Teddy Park, whilst composition was handled by Jennie, Park, David Guetta, 24, R. Tee, and Leah Haywood. [12] It is composed in the key of G-flat major with a tempo of 128 beats per minute. [13] Stylistically, it is a dance-pop and electropop number containing influences from EDM and punk rock, [14] [15] incorporating acoustic guitar instrumentations. [16] Kat Moon from Time wrote how "Their voices are layered over acoustic guitar to create a breezy and mellow ambience", contrasting its production to "the hard-hitting nature" of the group's 2018 and 2019 singles. [17] British Vogue highlighted the song's "dreamy electronica" production, and wrote that its soundscape felt "liberating" and "club-friendly". [18]
The lyrical content of "Lovesick Girls" explore owning independence through heartbreak, [19] with StyleCaster describing the track as "heartfelt anthem about longing for love, despite knowing how much it hurts". [20] Discussing the concept and the meaning of the song, Jisoo explained: "It's a song that sends a hopeful message revolving around girls who are constantly hurt in relationships but again set out for a new love. I think many people will be able to empathize with the song". [21] South China Morning Post 's Young Post noted its use of the idiom "set in stone" to express pain associated with breakup: "No diamond rings, that set in stone / To the left, better left alone". The phrase questions why the members would look for love despite harboring the feeling that they were "born to be alone"; it describes an outcome that they find difficult to change. [22]
The song was subject to positive reviews from critics. Ranking it the second best track of the album, Billboard 's Jason Lipshutz opined that the song demonstrated the ambition of Blackpink "as they tackle well-worn subject matter with a fresh aesthetic." [23] Callie Ahlgrim from Insider called "Lovesick Girls" a "EDM-flavored sequel" to Ariana Grande's smash hit "7 Rings", [24] while Tim Chan from Rolling Stone wrote how it "turns a familiar lament about being alone into an anthemic dance track that’s just begging for a lightstick and clubs to reopen". [25] BuzzFeed praised the song as a "pop masterpiece", [26] whereas Hannah Zwick from Consequence of Sound regarded it as the highlight track of The Album. [27] Kat Moon from Time agreed, lauding "Lovesick Girls" as the "true gem" of the record and commended its blend of Blackpink's characteristic "heavy electronic production" with a more "stripped back" musical arrangement. [17] Raul Stanciu from Sputnikmusic wrote that the song "is probably the closest Blackpink have steered towards the lovely disco grooves of 'As If It's Your Last'", which he deemed as one of the group's best singles. [28]
Jo Ji-hyeon of IZM ranked "Lovesick Girls" amongst the best records released in South Korea during 2020, writing that it aptly blends the vibrant charm of 2000s American teen pop with Blackpink’s distinctive style. She felt that the song's synthesizer riffs and tightly woven electronic sound, which embodied the essence of K-pop, generated a source of "thrilling pleasure". [29] Dazed ranked it the 14th best K-pop song of 2020, praising its composition and highlighted how Jisoo and Rosé's "vocal rawness" brought depth to its production. [30] CNN Philippines felt that although the group may have had released similar singles before, they had never "bared their souls like in 'Lovesick Girls'", and remarked that it is "sure to become the powerful anthem that it is in many years to come." [31]
"Lovesick Girls" achieved the top spot on various South Korean weekly music programs, such as Inkigayo , Music Bank and Show! Music Core due to its success on digital platforms. The song won six music show awards, including three consecutive wins that led to receiving the "triple crown" award on Inkigayo. It also received three Melon Popularity Awards on October 12, 2020, and January 11 and 18, 2021. [32]
The song received a nomination for Best Overseas Music Video at the 2020 Asian Pop Music Awards. [33] It won Artist of the Year – Digital Music (October) at the Gaon Chart Music Awards, [34] Best Global Hit at the MTV MIAW Awards Brazil, [35] and was named one of the Top Ten International Gold Songs at the RTHK International Pop Poll Awards. [36]
Program | Date | Ref. |
---|---|---|
Inkigayo | October 11, 2020 | [37] |
October 18, 2020 | [38] | |
October 25, 2020 | [39] | |
Show Champion | October 14, 2020 | [40] |
M Countdown | October 15, 2020 | [41] |
Music Bank | October 16, 2020 | [42] |
"Lovesick Girls" debuted at number two on the Billboard Global 200 and at number one on the Global Excl. U.S., becoming Blackpink's first chart-topper on the latter. It debuted with 114 million streams and 17,000 downloads sold outside the United States. [43] The song remained in the top ten for its second week on the Global Excl. U.S., dropping down to number five. [44] In total, the song spent 14 weeks on the Global 200 and 25 weeks on the Global Excl. U.S. [45] In the United States, "Lovesick Girls" debuted at number 59 on the Billboard Hot 100, number nine on the Billboard Digital Song Sales chart, and number 46 on the Billboard Streaming Songs chart in the week of October 17, 2020. [46] [47] [48] During the same week, the song debuted atop the US Billboard World Digital Songs chart, giving Blackpink their seventh career chart-topper following "How You Like That". [49]
In South Korea, the song debuted at number 28 on the Gaon Digital Chart on the week ending October 3, 2020, with less than two days of tracking. [50] It rose to number two and peaked the following week; Blackpink's second track to reach the top two, following "Kill This Love" in 2019. [51] The single was the third best-performing song of October, peaking at number three on the Gaon Monthly Chart. [52] Elsewhere, the song debuted at number one on the national RIM chart and RIAS chart of Malaysia and Singapore, respectively. [53] [54] In Europe, "Lovesick Girls" charted at number 76 in the Czech Republic, 38 in Hungary, 39 in Ireland, 23 in Portugal, 37 in Scotland and 78 in Slovakia. It peaked at number 40 on the UK Singles Chart in the United Kingdom, [55] as well as at number 27 in Australia and 35 in New Zealand. [56] [57] It received a gold certification from the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) in 2023, [58] as well as platinum streaming certifications from the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) and Korea Music Content Association (KMCA) for surpassing 100 million streams. [59] [60]
On September 30, the group released a 16-second teaser of the song and music video on their official YouTube channel. [61] The accompanying music video was released in conjunction with The Album on October 2. [62] Blackpink broke their own personal record by surpassing 10 million views for the music video in less than 52 minutes (the group's previous record, "Ice Cream", surpassed 10 million views in 2 hours and 55 minutes). [63] It surpassed 50 million views in only 18 hours after its release. [64] It garnered 61.4 million views in its first 24 hours, making it the sixth most-viewed YouTube video in 24 hours for a music video at the time. [65] In August 2023, the video surpassed 700 million views. [66] The behind the scenes video was uploaded a day after the music video on October 3, [67] while the dance practice video was uploaded five days later. [68] The dance practice video features the members performing the song's choreography in a "rustic looking" dance studio. [69]
The official music video opens with Jennie, Lisa, Jisoo and Rosé sitting in a pink Oldsmobile. They appear in a field before flashbacking to the members getting into a heated argument in a wrecked, graffiti-covered car on an urban street, whilst singing, "We are the lovesick girls / But we were born to be alone / Yeah, we were born to be alone / But why we still looking for love." Lovesickness strikes them in many different ways, such as through moody walks in a day-glo field, guitar-smashing outbursts, choreographed late-night street dances, smashing car headlights with a sledgehammer, breathless midnight sprints through the city, angsty therapy sessions, a trip to a paintball range, and a food fight in a bodega. [70]
Following the release of the music video for "Lovesick Girls", the Korean Health and Medical Workers Union raised concerns about member Jennie's nurse outfit which was featured in her solo scene. The union released a statement stating that YG Entertainment "sexually objectified the image of a nurse" in the video, and that "the costume perpetuated hyper-sexualized stereotypes about the profession". [71] In response, YG Entertainment reuploaded the music video on October 7 with the controversial scene deleted. [72]
Blackpink promoted the song on several music programs in South Korea, including Show! Music Core and Inkigayo . [73] In the United States, Blackpink performed the song on Good Morning America and Jimmy Kimmel Live! in October. [74] In Indonesia, the group performed the song at the Waktu Indonesia Belanja, an event held by e-commerce platform Tokopedia on November 25. [75] Upon the release of the Japanese version of "Lovesick Girls", Blackpink appeared on the music program Music Station in Tokyo on August 20, 2021. [76] It was included in the setlist for the group's second world tour, the Born Pink World Tour, spanning 66 shows from October 2022 to September 2023. [77] It was also performed during the group's headlining sets at Coachella in California and BST Hyde Park in London in 2023. [78] [79]
Pentagon performed a cover of "Lovesick Girls" on it's Live in November 2020, renaming it "Lovesick Boys". [80] A year later, Tri.be covered the song on the same program. [81] In March 2021, Seoho and Leedo from Oneus performed a cover of the song, which was uploaded to 1theK Originals's YouTube channel. [82] On television, the song appeared as part of the original soundtrack of the Mexican film Anónima , which was released through Netflix in December 2021. [83] It was featured in The Simpsons episode "From Beer to Paternity" in November 2022, where the characters Homer, Duffman, and Lisa Simpson sing along to the song on a road trip. [84]
Credits adapted from Tidal and Melon. [12]
Weekly charts
| Monthly charts
Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [58] | Gold | 35,000‡ |
Streaming | ||
Japan (RIAJ) [59] | Platinum | 100,000,000† |
South Korea (KMCA) [60] | Platinum | 100,000,000† |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Region | Date | Version | Format | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Various | October 2, 2020 | Korean |
| [2] | |
Italy | October 16, 2020 | Contemporary hit radio | [8] | ||
Japan | June 4, 2021 | Japanese |
| [9] | |
Various | July 13, 2021 |
| [10] |
Blackpink is a South Korean girl group formed by YG Entertainment and consisting of members Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa. Cited as the "biggest girl group in the world", they are considered the most successful Korean girl group internationally and a leading force in the Korean Wave. They are stylistically associated with the "girl crush" concept in K-pop—exploring themes of self-confidence and female empowerment.
"Whistle" is a song recorded by South Korean girl group Blackpink for their debut single album, Square One (2016). The song was released through YG Entertainment on August 8, 2016, simultaneously with Square One's second single "Boombayah". An acoustic version of the song was also included on the group's second single album, Square Two (2016). The song was written and produced by YG Entertainment collaborators Teddy, Bekuh Boom, and Future Bounce, with additional lyrics penned by labelmate B.I of iKon. Musically, it consists of a minimal drum and bass beat and integrates a variety of instrumentations, including whistles and a heartbeat—alluding to the title.
"As If It's Your Last" is a song recorded by South Korean girl group Blackpink. It was released as a standalone single through YG Entertainment on June 22, 2017. The song was written by Teddy Park, Brother Su and Choice37, whilst production was handled by Future Bounce, Teddy Park and Lydia Paek. Musically, "As If It's Your Last" is a synth-pop, house, reggae and moombahton song with its lyrics revolving around finding and losing love.
Jennie Kim, known mononymously as Jennie, is a South Korean singer, rapper, and actress. Born and raised in South Korea, Jennie studied in New Zealand for five years before returning to South Korea in 2010. She debuted as a member of the South Korean girl group Blackpink, formed by YG Entertainment, in August 2016. In 2023, she made her acting debut under the stage name Jennie Ruby Jane in the HBO television series The Idol.
Square Up is the first Korean extended play by South Korean girl group Blackpink. It was released on June 15, 2018 by YG Entertainment. The EP is available in two physical versions and contains four tracks, with "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" released as the lead single. The song peaked at number one in South Korea for three weeks and became the highest-charting song by a female K-pop act in the United States and United Kingdom at the time. The track "Forever Young" was later promoted on Korean music programs and peaked at number two in South Korea.
"Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" is a song recorded by South Korean girl group Blackpink. It was released on June 15, 2018, through YG Entertainment, as the lead single for the group's first Korean extended play, Square Up. It was written by YG collaborator Teddy Park, whilst production and composition were handled by Teddy, 24, Bekuh Boom and R. Tee. The Japanese version of the single was released through YGEX on August 22, 2018, and was distributed in three physical formats. A EDM trap and pop rap song infused with bubblegum pop sounds, "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" utilizes oriental percussion rhythms and whistling while its title imitates the sound of a gunshot. Its lyrics contain messages of strength and self-assurance.
Roseanne Park, known mononymously as Rosé (Korean: 로제), is a Korean-New Zealand singer and dancer based in South Korea. Born in New Zealand and raised in Australia, Rosé signed with South Korean label YG Entertainment following a successful audition in 2012 and trained for four years before debuting as a member of the South Korean girl group Blackpink in August 2016.
Lalisa Manobal, known mononymously as Lisa (Korean: 리사), is a Thai rapper, singer, dancer, and actress. She is a member of the South Korean girl group Blackpink, which debuted under YG Entertainment in August 2016. She is set to make her acting debut in 2025 in the HBO television series The White Lotus.
"Solo" is the debut solo single by South Korean singer and rapper Jennie, a member of South Korean girl group Blackpink. Released on November 12, 2018, through YG and Interscope, the song was written and produced by Teddy and 24. Musically, "Solo" is a dance, pop, and hip hop song with EDM elements. Its lyrical content revolves around the theme of independence after a break-up.
Kill This Love is the second Korean extended play by South Korean girl group Blackpink. It was released on April 5, 2019, by YG Entertainment and was distributed through YG Plus and Interscope Records. It was their first Korean material since the release of Square Up in June 2018, and their first release with Interscope Records. The title track was released as the lead single; it peaked at number two in South Korea and became the first top-50 hit by a female K-pop act in the United States and the United Kingdom. The track "Don't Know What To Do" was later promoted on Korean music programs.
"Kill This Love" is a song recorded by South Korean girl group Blackpink. It was released on April 4, 2019, through YG Entertainment and Interscope Records, as the lead single for the group's second Korean extended play of the same name. The Japanese version of the single was released through Universal Music Japan on October 16, 2019. It was written by Teddy and Bekuh Boom and produced by them alongside R. Tee and 24. The single has been described as an electropop song, whose lyrics talk about the girls' decision to end a toxic relationship.
Kim Ji-soo, known mononymously as Jisoo, is a South Korean singer and actress. She is a member of the South Korean girl group Blackpink, formed by YG Entertainment, in August 2016. Outside of her music career, she made her acting debut with a cameo role in the 2015 series The Producers and played her first leading role in the JTBC series Snowdrop (2021–22).
"Forever Young" is a song recorded by South Korean girl group Blackpink. It serves as the second track from the group's first Korean extended play Square Up, released on June 15, 2018. It was written and produced by Teddy and Future Bounce, and originally recorded in 2015. A Japanese version of the song was included in the group's first Japanese compilation album, Blackpink in Your Area (2018).
The Album is the debut studio album by South Korean girl group Blackpink. It was released on October 2, 2020 by YG Entertainment and Interscope. It is the group's first full-length work since their debut in 2016. For the album, Blackpink recorded over ten new songs and worked with a variety of producers, including Teddy, Tommy Brown, R. Tee, Steven Franks, and 24. Eight songs made the final tracklist, including two collaborations: "Ice Cream" with Selena Gomez, and "Bet You Wanna", featuring Cardi B. The album explores the themes of love and the complexities of growing up. Musically, The Album utilizes pop, R&B, hip hop, EDM, and trap elements.
"How You Like That" is a song recorded by South Korean girl group Blackpink. It was released on June 26, 2020, through YG Entertainment, YG Plus and Interscope Records, as the first pre-release single from the group's debut studio album, The Album (2020). The Japanese version of the single was released through Interscope Records and Universal Music Japan on July 27, 2021. An EDM, hip hop, trap, club and pop song, it was co-written by Danny Chung, R. Tee, 24, and Teddy, while the latter produced the song.
"Pretty Savage" is a song recorded by South Korean girl group Blackpink from their debut Korean studio album The Album. It was released on October 2, 2020, through YG and Interscope. The track was written by Teddy, Danny Chung, Løren and Vince, with production being handled by Teddy alongside 24, R. Tee and Bekuh Boom. Lyrically, the song deals with the group not caring about the opinion of others. The song was performed with "Lovesick Girls" on several music programs in South Korea including Show! Music Core and Inkigayo and also at The Late Late Show With James Corden as a preview performance for their headlining livestream concert, The Show.
The Show, officially titled YG Palm Stage ― 2021 Blackpink: The Show, was the first online concert by South Korean girl group Blackpink in support of their debut Korean studio album, The Album.
Born Pink is the second studio album by South Korean girl group Blackpink. It was released on September 16, 2022, through YG Entertainment and Interscope. It marked the group's first full-length record since The Album in 2020. Production of the album was handled by various producers including Teddy Sinclair, Willy Sinclair, Bekuh Boom, R. Tee, Kush and Teddy Park. Blackpink conceived Born Pink as "the essence" of the group, taking inspiration from hip-hop sound throughout the album and combining various genres.
"Pink Venom" is a song recorded by South Korean girl group Blackpink. It was released through YG Entertainment and Interscope Records on August 19, 2022, as the pre-release single from the group's second studio album, Born Pink (2022). It is a hip-hop, pop rap, dance and EDM song that incorporates Korean traditional instruments, 90s hip-hop and electropop musical styles. The track was composed by Teddy, 24, R. Tee, and Ido, with its lyrics penned by Teddy and Danny Chung.
"Shut Down" is a song recorded by South Korean girl group Blackpink. It was released on September 16, 2022, through YG Entertainment and Interscope Records, as the second single of the group's second studio album, Born Pink (2022). It is primarily a hip hop song driven by looped classical violin, trap beats, strings, and bass sounds. It was written by its producer 24, alongside Teddy, Danny Chung, and Vince.