Bird (single album) explained

Bird
Type:Single album
Artist:Namjoo
Cover:File:Namjoo - BIRD.jpg
Caption:Digital and streaming cover
Language:Korean
Label:Play M

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.

After 9 years of debut, Namjoo is the third member of Apink to debut solo, after Eunji and Hayoung.

Background and release

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."

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

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.[5]

Music and composition

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.

Commercial performance

Single

"Bird" entered major music charts such as Melon, Genie, Bugs, Soribada right after the release of her first single album Bird at 6 pm.[6]

Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from Melon.[7]

Promotions

The first promotional teaser poster for the single was released on August 24.[8] 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.[9] 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.[10]

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.[6]

Music video

Prior to its release, the song was accompanied by a 35-second music video teaser released midnight KST on September 4, 2020.[11]

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

Song

Notes and References

  1. Web site: https://sports.donga.com/article/all/20200818/102528188/1. ko: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. Jeong Hee-yeon. August 18, 2020.
  2. Web site: http://www.spotvnews.co.kr/?mod=news&act=articleView&idxno=378430. ko:"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. Jung Yu- jin. September 7, 2020.
  3. Web site: http://pop.heraldcorp.com/view.php?ud=202009011009463318939_1. ko:'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. Kim Ji-hye. September 1, 2020.
  4. Web site: http://www.mydaily.co.kr/new_yk/html/read.php?newsid=202009071647424342&ext=na. ko:에이핑크 김남주, 솔로 데뷔…"이런 단발머리는 처음". Apink Kim Nam-joo, solo debut... "This is my first time with short hair like this". MyDaily. Park Yoon-jin. September 7, 2020.
  5. Web site: 2020-08-31. 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"]. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200831030045/https://twitter.com/Apink_2011/status/1300267063114518530 . August 31, 2020 . 2020-09-02. Twitter. en.
  6. Web site: http://www.xportsnews.com/?ac=article_view&entry_id=1322140. ko:'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. Jeon A-Ram. September 8, 2020.
  7. Web site: [싱글] Bird 김남주]. Melon. ko. September 7, 2020.
  8. Web site: http://isplus.live.joins.com/news/article/article.asp?total_id=23855331. ko:에이핑크 김남주, 날개뼈 노출로 알린 컴백. Daily Sports. Hwang Ji-young. August 24, 2020.
  9. Web site: http://pop.heraldcorp.com/view.php?ud=202008281421251127684_1. ko: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. Park Seo-yeon. August 28, 2020.
  10. Web site: http://www.xportsnews.com/?ac=article_view&entry_id=1320481. ko: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. Choi Hee-jae. September 3, 2020.
  11. Web site: http://www.joynews24.com/view/1296492. ko:'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. Jung Ji-won. September 4, 2020.
  12. Web site: 2020년 37주차 Album Chart - Bird. Gaon Music Chart. ko. October 19, 2020.
  13. Web site: 2020년 09월 Album Chart. Gaon Music Chart. ko. October 19, 2020.
  14. Web site: 2020년 37주차 Download Chart. September 6–12, 2020. October 19, 2020.