Talk About S

Last updated

Talk About S
Talk about S.jpg
EP by
Gain
ReleasedOctober 5, 2012
Recorded2012
Genre
Length18:57
Language Korean
Label LOEN Entertainment
Producer
Gain chronology
Step 2/4
(2010)		Talk About S
(2012)		Romantic Spring
(2013)
Singles from Talk About S
  1. "Bloom"
    Released: October 5, 2012
  2. "Nostalgia"
    Released: November 30, 2012
Gnome-mime-sound-openclipart.svg
"Tinkerbell"
A 26-second sample of the song's chorus, with electric guitar elements. The song was described as "an invitation to a midnight tryst" while featuring heavy synthesized elements.
"The Gaze"
A 22-second sample of the chorus of "The Gaze". The song is the only duet in Talk About S.
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Musically, Talk About S incorporates hugely elements from dance-pop and electronic, while it also interpolates other genres, such as jazz and R&B. Aside from the executive producer Jo Yeong-cheol, frequent lyricist Kim Eana and producer Lee Min-soo, the album also features productions from Jeong Seok-won, Postino, KZ, Yoon Jong-shin, and Junjaman, who had previously remixed Brown Eyed Girls' single "My Style". Lyrically, the album focuses on themes such as love, sex, and relationship.

The extended play opens with "Tinkerbell" (Korean : 팅커벨; RR : Tingkeobel), described as an IDM-pop track with "damaged, half-deleted" Latin guitar while running through synthesized wobbly low-frequency oscillation chords with many "violent jump cuts", blowing riffs and a four-bar break. The lyrics, using characters such as Tinkerbell and Peter Pan as metaphors, describes "a coy invite to a midnight tryst". It also featured Gain's breathy, airy vocal style which was requested by the producer. [4] The second track "Tiredness" is a dance-pop with R&B influences with a melodic piano, keyboard and background riffs during the chorus, while its third track "Bloom" is described as a "delightful Madonna throwback" with a funky riff, while talking about a girl became a real woman through love. It was proceeded by "The Gaze", a "jazzy and laid-back " track, described as "the lethargic, tender bedroom moment". The song features the vocal from its co-composer Yoon, who would later become Gain's fellow labelmate following her movement to Mystic's subsidiary label APOP in July 2014. Meanwhile, the last track "Catch Me If You Can" is an uptempo dance-pop song with bright synths and horns. [5]

Singles and promotion

Following the extended play's tracklist announcement, "Bloom" was announced as the lead single for Talk About S. It was released in conjunction to its parental EP on October 5, 2012 to great commercial success, peaking at number two on both the Gaon Digital Chart and Billboard Korea K-Pop Hot 100. To promote the extended play, Gain made her first comeback stage on Music Bank (KBS) on October 5, 2012, the album's release date, followed by performances on Show! Music Core (MBC) and The Music Trend (SBS), performing the title track while the opening track "Tinkerbell" was performed only on the first and the third show. She then went on to appear in many television programs to promote the album, such as Strong Heart (SBS), Good Day Hope Concert, and You Hee-yeol's Sketchbook (KBS). The promotion was wrapped up by her performances at 2012 Mnet Asian Music Awards (as part of the "Lady Mamalady" section with Sistar and Hyuna) and the 2nd Gaon Chart K-Pop Awards.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
IZM Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [6]
Pitchfork Media (positive) [4]

Jakob Dorof from Pitchfork Media called the extended play "excellent", further praising Gain for using her solo career "to test the limits of both Korea's mainstream music and morals". He also picked "Tinkerbell" as part of the "20 Essential K-Pop Songs" list. [4] Writer Hwang Sun-eob from IZM also praised the release, citing it as a "fair" showcase of Gain's musical flexibility, further growing away from the comparison to singer-songwriter IU.

Chart performance

Talk about S achieved commercial success upon its release. It was Gain's second top-two entry on the Gaon Album Chart, being held off the top spot by TVXQ's sixth studio album Catch Me for the week of October 13, 2020, further tying with her debut release as the highest charting entry on the chart. [7] The extended play eventually finished as the ninth best-selling release of October 2012 on the monthly Gaon Album Chart issue, having sold a total of 9,855 copies. [8]

Track listing

CD/Digital download [9]
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Tinkerbell" (팅커벨; Tingkeobel) Kim Eana Jeong Seok-won 3:15
2."Tiredness" (그녀를 만나; Geunyeoreul Manna)Kim EanaKZ3:32
3."Bloom" (피어나; Pieona)Kim Eana Lee Min-soo 3:48
4."The Gaze" (시선; Siseon, featuring Yoon Jong-shin) Yoon Jong-shin Yoon Jong-shin, Postino4:49
5."Catch Me If You Can"D'DayJunjaman, KZ3:33
Total length:18:57

Charts

Chart (2012)Peak
position
South Korean (Gaon Album Chart) [10] 2

Awards and nominations

Annual music awards

YearAwardCategoryRecipientResult
20122nd Gaon Chart K-Pop Awards Song of the Year – October "Bloom"Won
14th Mnet Asian Music Awards Artist of the Year Gain Nominated
Best Female Artist Nominated
Best Music Video "Bloom"Nominated
Style in Music Gain Won
22nd Seoul Music Awards Bonsang (Main Prize)"Bloom"Nominated
Popularity Award Gain Nominated
201310th Korean Music Awards Best Pop Song"Bloom"Nominated

Music program awards

SongProgramDate
"Bloom" M! Countdown (Mnet)October 18, 2012

Release history

RegionDateFormatLabel
South Korea October 5, 2012CD, digital download LOEN Entertainment
Worldwide [9] Digital download

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References

  1. ↑ "Ga-in signs contract with Loen Entertainment". www.yahoo.com. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  2. ↑ "Gain(가인) _ TinkerBell(팅커벨) (Teaser) - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  3. ↑ "Gain(가인) _ Bloom(피어나) (Teaser) - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 "Pitchfork: 20 Essential K-Pop Songs". February 2013. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Talk About S." www.melon.com (in Korean). Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  6. ↑ "'Talk About S'". IZM. Retrieved October 17, 2012.
  7. ↑ "2012년 42주차 Album Chart". gaonchart.co.kr. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  8. ↑ "2012년 10월 Album Chart". gaonchart.co.kr. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  9. 1 2 "iTunes – Music – Talk About S by Gain". iTunes Store. October 5, 2012. Retrieved September 23, 2013.
  10. ↑ "South Korean Gaon Chart: Album – The 41st Week of 2010". Gaon Chart . Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
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