Bird is a debut solo single album by South Korean singer Namjoo. The single was released on September 7, 2020, by Play M. It is composed by Soyeon and Yummy Tone, and choreographed by Lia Kim of the 1Million Dance Studio, located in Seoul. The song is a trap genre song with an appropriate addition of oriental elements with autobiographical message that she will not hesitate to fly over everything she loves and dream.
| Bird | |
|---|---|
 Digital and streaming cover | |
| Single album by | |
| Released | September 7, 2020 |
| Studio |
|
| Genre | |
| Language | Korean |
| Label | Play M |
| Producer |
|
| Singles from Bird | |
| |
After 9 years of debut, Namjoo is the third member of Apink to debut solo, after Eunji and Hayoung.
Background and release edit
On August 18, Play M agency announced that Apink's Namjoo would be making her solo debut with single "Bird" on September 7. With this, Namjoo made her solo debut in 9 years as the third runner among Apink members following Eunji and Hayoung.[1] Namjoo revealed the concept of the album is based on the message phrase that says 'birds break out of their eggs' from the book Damien by Hermann Hesse. It contains the message that she wants to be born as a strong woman. Soyeon who suggested the title 'Bird' after hearing her concept.[2]
As multiple Korean media outlets said that Namjoo's showed a depicting appearance of overcoming adversity and being reborn as a peacock. With this album, Namjoo showed a shift from Apink style of music and styling such as dark smokey make-up, intense red dress,[3] short and sharp-cut hair,[4] and black and white nail art, saying, "The difference between A Pink Kim Nam-joo and solo singer Kim Nam-joo is the color. If pure white is Apink Kim Nam-joo, black will be able to see the strong and confident solo singer Kim Nam-joo."[2] On September 5, Namjoo went on V Live and talked about how her collaboration with Soyeon came. She revealed that she watched Queendom, and was amazed with Soyeon's producing skills and thought "I want to try working with her."
I was infront of the vending machine in Music Bank. I was just coming out of the bathroom and (G)I-dle's Soyeon was there. I get really shy so I thought, "Should I go up to her? Should I try talking to her?" But I thought it would be best if I talked about this myself, so I went up to Soyeon and asked "Do you produce for other artist as well? I would like to try working with you." And she accepted without hesitation.
Namjoo explained why she didn't include the tracks for her album because she wanted to focus only on one song. "The fans are sad, but I hope they don't feel sorry for me because I chose it."[2]
Packaging edit
The album preview was revealed for pre-order from August 31, a week exactly from the official release. The package is hard case and consists of a photo book, a CD, eight photo cards, six postcards and three posters.[6]
Music and composition edit
Bird contains the autobiographical message of Namjoo that she will fly without hesitation for everything she loves and dreams. The debut single was co-written and co-produced by (G)I-dle's Soyeon with Yummy Tone. It is a trap genre song with an appropriate addition of oriental elements, with addictive sound and bold lyrics.[7]
Commercial performance edit
Single edit
"Bird" entered major music charts such as Melon, Genie, Bugs, Soribada right after the release of her first single album Bird at 6 pm.[8]
Track listing edit
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Arrangement | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Bird" | Soyeon |
|
| |
| 2. | "Bird" (Inst.) |
|
|
Credits and personnel edit
Credits are adapted from Melon.[9]
- Namjoo – primary vocals
- Soyeon of (G)I-dle – producing, songwriting, arranger,
- Big Sancho (Yummy Tone) – producing, arranger, keyboard
- Kim Young-hyun – guitar
- Jeon Jae-hee – background vocal
- Kim Min-hee (821 Sound) – recording
- Kwon Yoo-jin (doobdoob Studio) – recording
- Jang Woo-young (doobdoob Studio) – recording
- Jeon Jeon (Cube Studio) – digital editor
- Jongpil Gu (KLANG STUDIO) – mixing
- Kang Sun-young – mixing engineer
- Kwon Nam-woo (821 Sound mastering) – mastering
Promotions edit
The first promotional teaser poster for the single was released on August 24.[7] On August 28, the track information image of the first single album Bird was released. In the image, the phrase "I'm gonna be free like a bird" symbolizes the whole concept of the album.[10] Starting from August 29 to September 1, the agency PlayM released three concept teasers; Restrained, Resist and Reborn.[3] The following day, a 17-second pre-performance video which was choreographed by Lia Kim was released.[11]
On September 7, Namjoo held a global fan showcase broadcast live online at 8 pm KST through Naver V Live before the song's digital release, hosted by Apink's leader Park Cho-rong.[8]
Music video edit
Prior to its release, the song was accompanied by a 35-second music video teaser released midnight KST on September 4, 2020.[12]
On September 7, "Bird" was released along with its music video. Choreography for the song was created by Lia Kim, who was formerly Namjoo's teacher at a dance academy and now a chief choreographer of the 1Million Dance Studio.[2]
Charts edit
Album edit
|
Song edit
|
Certifications and sales edit
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| South Korea | — | 9,061[14] |
References edit
- ^ Jeong Hee-yeon (August 18, 2020). 에이핑크 김남주, 9월 7일 솔로 데뷔…(여자)아이들 소연 지원사격 [공식] [Apink Kim Nam-joo, debuted on September 7th...(G)I-dle Soyeon Support Shooting [Official]]. The Dong-a Ilbo.
- ^ a b c d Jung Yu- jin (September 7, 2020). "강인한 여자 콘셉트, 이른바 '강녀'"…에이핑크 아닌 솔로 김남주로 날갯짓[종합] ["The concept of a strong woman, so-called 'strong girl'"... Not A Pink Solo Kim Nam-joo, flapping wings [Comprehensive]]. SpoTvNews.
- ^ a b Kim Ji-hye (September 1, 2020). '솔로 변신' 에이핑크 김남주, 티저 이미지+콘셉트 필름 공개..압도적 아우라 ['Solo Transformation' Apink Kim Nam-joo, teaser image + concept film released... overwhelming aura]. HeraldPop.
- ^ Park Yoon-jin (September 7, 2020). 에이핑크 김남주, 솔로 데뷔…"이런 단발머리는 처음" [Apink Kim Nam-joo, solo debut... "This is my first time with short hair like this"]. MyDaily.
- ^ "💜 Queen Nam Joo Gives Spoiler🐼". V Live. September 5, 2020.
- ^ "APINK_2011 on Twitter: "[#김남주] Kim Nam Joo 1st Single Album [Bird] Album Preview 💿 Album Pre-Order 2020.08.31 14:00 Open #Apink #남주 #Namjoo #Bird"". Twitter. August 31, 2020. Archived from the original on August 31, 2020. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
- ^ a b Hwang Ji-young (August 24, 2020). 에이핑크 김남주, 날개뼈 노출로 알린 컴백. Daily Sports.
- ^ a b Jeon A-Ram (September 8, 2020). '초고속 컴백' (여자)아이들의 눈길 끄는 목표 둘 [Apink's Kim Nam-joo's first single album'Bird' is the music chart... 'Unbeatable solo transformation' worked]. XSportsNews.
- ^ "[싱글] Bird 김남주". Melon (in Korean). September 7, 2020.
- ^ Park Seo-yeon (August 28, 2020). 에이핑크 김남주, 솔로곡 '버드(Bird)' 트랙정보 공개..(여자)아이들 소연과 협업(공식) [Apink Kim Nam-joo reveals track information for solo song 'Bird'..(G)I-dle Soyeon and collaboration (official)]. HeraldPop.
- ^ Choi Hee-jae (September 3, 2020). 에이핑크 김남주, 솔로 데뷔곡 'Bird' 프리뷰 공개...리아킴 안무 참여 [Apink's Kim Nam-joo, solo debut song 'Bird' preview released...Lea Kim participated in choreography]. XSportsNews.
- ^ Jung Ji-won (September 4, 2020). '솔로데뷔' 김남주, '버드' MV 티저 속 매혹적 변신…'퀸남주' 예고 ['Solo Debut' Kim Nam-joo, a fascinating transformation in the 'Bird' MV teaser... 'Queen Namjoo' notice]. JoyNews24.
- ^ "2020년 37주차 Album Chart - Bird". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved October 19, 2020.
- ^ a b "2020년 09월 Album Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved October 19, 2020.
- ^ "2020년 37주차 Download Chart". September 6–12, 2020. Retrieved October 19, 2020.