1÷x=1 (Undivided) explained

1÷x=1 (Undivided)
Type:ep
Artist:Wanna One
Cover:1÷x=1 (Undivided) by Wanna One.jpg
Released:June 4, 2018
Recorded:2018
Length:19:03
Language:Korean
Prev Title:0+1=1 (I Promise You)
Prev Year:2018
Next Title:1¹¹=1 (Power of Destiny)
Next Year:2018

1÷x=1 (Undivided) is the third mini-album by South Korean boy band Wanna One. It was released on June 4, 2018, by Swing Entertainment and Stone Music Entertainment.[1]

Release and promotion

1÷x=1 (Undivided) is a follow-up of the band's arithmetic-themed album series. In April, Wanna One announced that the members will split into multiple units and collaborate with different artists such as Dynamic Duo, Zico, Nell and Heize for their upcoming album.[2] On May 7, Wanna One announced the title of the new "Special" album, 1÷x=1 (Undivided) through a teaser video. It will contain the songs produced during their unit projects, which will be shown on the group's reality show Wanna One Go: X-con.[3] [4]

Units

The different units were unveiled on the first day of Wanna One Go: X-con.[5]

Unit nameProducerMembers
Lean on MeNellYoon Ji-sung, Hwang Min-hyun, Ha Sung-woon
Number 1Dynamic DuoPark Ji-hoon, Bae Jin-young, Lai Kuan-lin
The HealHeizeOng Seong-wu, Lee Dae-hwi
Triple PositionZicoKim Jae-hwan, Kang Daniel, Park Woo-jin
On June 4, the album was released, along with the music video of the lead single, "Light".[6] [7]

Wanna One filmed the live performance of "Light" and the unit songs during their Day 1 Concert in Seoul on June 1, which was broadcast live on Mnet, the channel's YouTube account and the group's Facebook account, through the group's reality show, Wanna One Go: X-con on June 4.[8] They also promoted on music shows for two weeks.[9]

Production and composition

The title of the album is inspired by arithmetical operations like the band's previous releases: 1X1=1 (To Be One), 1-1=0 (Nothing Without You), and 0+1=1 (I Promise You).[10] Every sub-unit track on the album is produced by a high-profile South Korean artist.[11] The lead single, "Light" is a UK garage-inspired electropop track containing a catchy chorus and EDM breakdown. The song features all the eleven members of the band. “Forever and a Day” is an evocative pop rock track groove ballad. The song is produced by Kim Jong Wan, the vocalist of indie rock band Nell. It features the members Yoon Ji-sung, Ha Sung-woon and Hwang Min-hyun and sonically, sounds similar to the style of its writer Kim. “11” is a groovy alternative R&B track produced by Gaeko and Choiza of Dynamic Duo. The song features Lai Kuan-lin, Park Ji-hoon, and Bae Jin-young. “Sandglass” is a breezy track produced by Heize and featuring Ong Seong-wu and Lee Dae-hwi.[11] The lyrics talk about with the theme of an hourglass that symbolizes memories that do not disappear, but are there for a limited time.[12] “Kangaroo” is a summery hip hop track produced by Block B’s Zico and contains punky rhythms and melodies. The song features members Kim Jae-hwan, Kang Daniel and Park Woo-jin.[11] [13]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2018)Peak
position
South Korean Albums (Gaon)[14] 1
US World Albums (Billboard)[15] 8

Year-end charts

Awards

YearAwardCategoryNominated workResultRef.
2018Mnet Asian Music AwardsSong of the Year"Kangaroo"[17]
Best Unit"Kangaroo" (Wanna One – Triple Position)

Notes and References

  1. Wanna One Team Up With Popular Korean Singer-Songwriters for 'Undivided' EP: Watch 'Light' Music Video. June 14, 2018. Billboard.
  2. Web site: Wanna One's new album to feature ZICO, Heize. April 16, 2018. Kpop Herald.
  3. Web site: Wanna One to release album on June 4. May 7, 2018. Kpop Herald.
  4. News: [공식입장] 워너원, 6월 4일 스페셜 앨범 '1÷χ=1' 들고 컴백 확정]. May 7, 2018. Xports News. ko.
  5. Web site: K-pop band Wanna One embarks on world tour. June 4, 2018. The Korea Times.
  6. Web site: Wanna One to release new record in continuation of its arithmetic series. June 4, 2018. Yonhap News Agency.
  7. Web site: Wanna One continues at full throttle. June 3, 2018. Kpop Herald.
  8. News: '워너원고' 측 "최종화 전 세계 생중계..6월 4일 방송". Maeil Business Newspaper. June 4, 2018. ko.
  9. News: [Oh! 뮤직] '컴백' 워너원, 재킷·MV·유닛·음방까지 '올킬 준비완료']. Osen. May 27, 2018. ko.
  10. News: Wanna One to release new record in continuation of its arithmetic series. Yonhap News Agency. June 4, 2018. April 30, 2020.
  11. News: [Album review] Something big is missing on Wanna One's new album]. Hong. Dam-young. The Korea Herald. June 7, 2018. April 30, 2020.
  12. News: 감성부터 박력까지…'워너원고-X-CON', 워너원 유닛 콘셉트 공개. From emotion to force ... 'Wanna One-X-CON', Wanna One unit concept revealed. Sports Donga. May 22, 2018. ko. April 30, 2020. Naver.
  13. News: Wanna One Team Up With Popular Korean Singer-Songwriters for 'Undivided' EP: Watch 'Light' Music Video. Herman. Tamar. The Korea Herald. June 6, 2018. April 30, 2020.
  14. Web site: Gaon Album Chart – Week 23, 2018. . ko . June 14, 2018.
  15. Wanna One Chart History (World Albums). Billboard. 2018-11-30.
  16. Web site: 2018년 Album Chart. Gaon. January 16, 2019.
  17. News: 방탄소년단부터 워너원…'2018 MAMA', 투표 시작. Hankook Ilbo. Lee. Hoyeon. November 1, 2018. November 5, 2018. ko. November 5, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181105101649/http://star.hankookilbo.com/News/Read/201811011888317417?did=na. dead.