Ready or Not (Momoland song)

"Ready or Not" is a song recorded by South Korean girl group Momoland. It was released on November 17, 2020 by MLD Entertainment and distributed by Sony Music as the group's single from their third single album of the same name. The track was written by Psy and White99, with JeL credited as the producer.

"Ready or Not"
Single by Momoland
from the album Ready or Not
LanguageKorean
B-side"Merry Go Round"
ReleasedNovember 17, 2020 (2020-11-17)
Recorded2020
Genre
Length3:20
Label
Songwriter(s)
Lyricist(s)
  • Alexander Karlsson
  • Alexej Viktorovitch
  • Louise Lindberg
Producer(s)JeL
Momoland singles chronology
"Starry Night"
(2020)
"Ready or Not"
(2020)
"Yummy Yummy Love"
(2022)
Music video
"Ready or Not" on YouTube

The accompanying music video for the song was uploaded onto MLD Entertainment's YouTube channel simultaneously with the single's release. To promote the single, the group performed on several South Korean music show programs, such as M Countdown and Inkigayo. Commercially, "Ready or Not" peaked at number eighty-one on South Korea's Gaon Download Chart and at number twenty-five on the Gaon Album Chart.

Composition edit

 
Psy lyricist of "Ready or Not" (pictured in 2012).

"Ready or Not" is a dance teen pop song. Cara Emmeline Garcia of GMA Network stated the song "shows the members' charms and confidence with its saxophone hook and upbeat."[1] South Korean singer Psy served as a lyricist on the song along with White99.[2] The composition of the song was made by Alexander Karlsson, Alexej Viktorovitch and Louise Lindberg.[3] The song was produced by JeL.[4]

Background and release edit

Momoland released their sixth extended play Starry Night with its lead single of the same title in June 2020.[5] Following the release of "Starry Night", MLD Entertainment announced on October 19 2020 that the group would be making their comeback in their fourth anniversary in November 2020.[6]

Prior to the release of "Ready or Not", teasers featuring photos of Momoland from the single album's photoshoot, and clips from the music video were released online in November 2020.[7] The song was officially released on November 17, 2020 by MLD Entertainment and distributed by Sony Music as the group's third single album.[8] The instrumental of "Ready or Not" was included in the single album as the third track.[9] The dance practice video was uploaded on December 3, 2020.[10]

"Merry Go Round", a new mid-tempo R&B track was also added in the single album, as the second track.[11] It was composed and written by Bull$EyE, Ondine, Jindog and Kim Do Da Ri and produced by Bull$EyE and Jindog.[12] A music video for the song was released on December 8, 2020.[13]

Critical reception edit

Seoul Beats stated the song "marks the beginning of a newer and mature Momoland."[14] Kristie Chan of The Kraze Magazine complimented the rapping of Nancy and JooE, by making the song "more catchy."[15]

Commercial performance edit

In South Korea, "Ready or Not" debuted and peaked in the Gaon Download Chart at number eighty-one on the week of November 21, 2020.[16] While the single album entered at number twenty-five in the Gaon Album Chart.[17] It was the eighty-first best-selling album for the month November of 2020 with 3,524 sales sold.[18]

Music videos edit

 
A scene in the music video where Momoland's Jane appears in a pastel-colored room.

The music video for "Ready or Not" was uploaded to MLD Entertainment's official YouTube channel on November 17, 2020, in conjunction with the release of the single.[19] The video features bright and pastel colors. Kristie Chan of The Kraze Magazine stated the theme of the video, outfits and the set are reminiscent of 1980's pop.[15] Seoul Beats described the video as "simple" and "it forgoes a fun narrative and offbeat concept in an attempt to step away from the group's quirkier image."[14]

A "performance" version of the music video was published on November 24, 2020.[20]

Live performances edit

Momoland promoted "Ready or Not" by performing on several music programs in South Korea including Inkigayo, M Countdown, Music Bank, The Show, Show Champion, Show! Music Core and Simply K-Pop. In December 2020, Momoland performed the song on the 2020 KBS Gayo Daechukje and 2020 SBS Gayo Daejeon.[21]

Track listing edit

Digital download / streaming[22]
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."Ready or Not"
  • Alexander Karlsson
  • Alexej Viktorovitch
  • Louise Lindberg
JeL[3]3:20
Ready or Not - single album[9]
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."Ready or Not"
  • Psy
  • White99
  • Alexander Karlsson
  • Alexej Viktorovitch
  • Louise Lindberg
JeL3:20
2."Merry Go Round"
  • Bull$EyE
  • Ondine
  • Jindog
  • Kim Do Da Ri
  • Bull$EyE
  • Ondine
  • Jindog
  • Kim Do Da Ri
  • Bull$EyE
  • Jindog
[12]
3:17
3."Ready or Not" (instrumental) 
  • Alexander Karlsson
  • Alexej Viktorovitch
  • Louise Lindberg
JeL[23]3:20
Total length:6:57

Charts edit

Chart performance for "Ready or Not"
Chart (2020) Peak
position
South Korea (Gaon Album Chart)[17] 25
South Korea (Gaon BGM Chart)[24] 81
South Korea (Gaon Download Chart)[16] 81

Credits and personnel edit

Credits adapted from Melon.[3]

  • Momoland – vocals
  • Alexander Karlsson – composer
  • JeL – arrangement
  • Louise Lindberg – composer
  • Psy – lyricist
  • Alexej Viktorovitch – composer
  • White99 – lyricist

Release history edit

Release dates and formats for "Ready or Not"
Region Date Format Label
South Korea November 17, 2020
[8]
Various
  • Digital download
  • streaming

References edit

  1. ^ Garcia, Cara Emmeline (November 17, 2020). "MOMOLAND makes a colorful comeback with 'Ready or Not'". Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  2. ^ "MOMOLAND To Release New Music With Lyrics By PSY". October 19, 2020. Archived from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c "Melon Momoland Ready or Not". Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  4. ^ "MOMOLAND - Ready or Not - Ekko Music Rights". Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  5. ^ Garcia, Cara Emmeline (June 11, 2020). "MOMOLAND captivate hearts in 'Starry Night' special video". Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  6. ^ "모모랜드, 싸이 손잡고 11월 중순 컴백..히트 예감[공식]". October 19, 2020. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  7. ^ "Watch: MOMOLAND Gets Dolled Up For Fun "Ready Or Not" Comeback MV". October 19, 2020. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
  8. ^ a b "Ready Or Not - Single by MOMOLAND on Apple Music". Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  9. ^ a b "Ready or Not by momoland by Tidal". November 17, 2020. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  10. ^ "MOMOLAND(모모랜드) - "Ready or Not" Dance Practice". Retrieved March 19, 2021 – via YouTube.
  11. ^ "Momoland gears for global superstardom with sparkly new single 'Ready Or Not'". November 19, 2020. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
  12. ^ a b "Melon Momoland Merry Go Round". Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  13. ^ "Special Video 모모랜드(MOMOLAND) "Merry Go Round"". Retrieved March 19, 2021 – via YouTube.
  14. ^ a b "Momoland Switch It Up Whether You're "Ready or Not"". November 20, 2020. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  15. ^ a b Chan, Kristie (November 20, 2020). "MOMOLAND Ask if You Are "Ready Or Not" in Newest Single". Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  16. ^ a b "gaon chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). November 15–21, 2020. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  17. ^ a b "Ready or Not". Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  18. ^ 2020년 11월 Album Chart [November 2020 Album Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  19. ^ Dewi, Chintya (November 27, 2020). "MOMOLAND Comeback With Their 3rd Single Album "Ready or Not"!". Retrieved March 17, 2021.
  20. ^ "모모랜드(MOMOLAND) "Ready Or Not" Performance Video". YouTube. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  21. ^ "Verneksr, Minal Manohar". December 26, 2020. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  22. ^ "Ready Or Not / MOMOLAND (모모랜드) - genie". Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  23. ^ "Melon Momoland Ready or Not (Inst.)". Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  24. ^ "gaon bgm chart". Retrieved April 9, 2021.