Oh My Girl (EP) explained

Oh My Girl
Type:ep
Artist:Oh My Girl
Cover:Oh My Girl EP cover.jpeg
Border:yes
Alt:The album cover artwork is a black-and-white photograph of the members sitting on a bench with their backs to the camera.
Genre:K-pop
Language:Korean
Label:WM Entertainment
Next Title:Closer
Next Year:2015

Oh My Girl is the debut extended play (EP) by South Korean girl group Oh My Girl. It was released by WM Entertainment on April 20, 2015 and distributed by LOEN Entertainment. The album was produced by Lee Won-min, CEO of WM Entertainment, with music produced by 72 and Moon Jeong-gyu. The album contains four songs, including the single "Cupid", which was released in conjunction with the album.

Oh My Girl promoted the album with a series of televised live performances on South Korea's music shows. "Cupid" was favorably reviewed by several music critics, ranking in the top 10 of the K-pop year-end lists of PopMatters and Idolator. The song was also named as one of the best rookie releases of 2015.

Release and promotion

WM Entertainment introduced their new eight-member girl group through their official website on March 26, 2015.[1] On April 7, the agency confirmed the album's release date and said final preparations were being made.[2] Oh My Girl's debut EP (also called a mini album) was released on April 20, 2015, in both CD and digital formats.[3] The accompanying music video for "Cupid", produced by Zanybros, was released the same day.[4]

Oh My Girl's debut showcase was held on April 20 at AX Korea in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, where they performed songs from the album for the first time.[5] The group then promoted the album with performances of "Cupid" on various music shows, starting with SBS MTV's The Show on April 21.[6] They concluded promotions for the album on June 21, with a performance of "Curious" on Inkigayo.[7] [8]

Composition

The album was produced by WM Entertainment's CEO Lee Won-min, with music produced by Choi Jae-hyuk (under the pen name 72) and Moon Jeong-gyu of the Key Artist Agency, a music publishing and production company based in Los Angeles.[9] Three of the four songs (all but "Cupid") have lyrics written by 72 and music by songwriters associated with the agency.

The intro song, "Oh My Girl!", has a rock rhythm and piano melody, and is composed by American songwriter Sean Alexander. "Cupid" is a dance song with a drumline beat and percussion, disco guitars and synths, and multiple key changes. It was produced by Hyuk Shin and Jordan Kyle at Joombas Music Factory, with lyrics by Kim Eana.[10] Explaining the meaning of "Cupid", member Binnie said, "It's a song expressing the hearts of cute girls who ask Cupid for help to have the person they like".[10]

"Hot Summer Nights" is composed by Alexander, Swedish songwriter and guitarist Andreas Öberg, and American musician Rinat Arinos (originally from Israel). The song is about walking on the beach with the person you love; group member JinE said it "reminds you of a good summer memory". "Curious" is a pop ballad with whistling and guitar, composed by Öberg, Alexander, and Alejandra Ocampo. In the lyrics, a young girl in love for the first time plays "he loves me... he loves me not" with a flower.[11] [10]

Reception

"Cupid" received favorable reviews from several music critics. Scott Interrante, writing for PopMatters, described the song as "the perfect distillation of everything K-pop should be: it is saccharine almost to the point of nauseating yet also unusual and unpredictable". He also said Oh My Girl had the strongest debut of the year to date.[12] At the end of the year, Interrante ranked "Cupid" ninth on his list of "The Best K-Pop of 2015", saying the song "captures the electric feeling of being young and in love".[13]

Jacques Peterson, writing for Idolator, described the song as "simultaneously hypnotic and jarring" and called it the "surprise rookie gem of the year". It was number seven on "The 25 Best K-Pop Songs of 2015" list.[14] Jeff Benjamin, writing for Fuse, said it was one of the best rookie releases of 2015 and the "bubblegum cheerleader chants" were unique.[15] Peterson and Benjamin both compared the song to Gwen Stefani's "Hollaback Girl".[16]

Personnel

Credits adapted from EP liner notes.

Locations

Personnel

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: [Video] WM Entertainment′s New 8-Member Girl Group Unveils Teaser Video ]. Hwang Hye-jin . enewsWorld . March 26, 2015 . May 15, 2016 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20160603042733/http://mwave.interest.me/enewsworld/en/article/90089/video-wm-entertainments-new-8-member-girl-group-unveils-teaser-video . June 3, 2016 . dead .
  2. Web site: B1A4′s Little Sister Group, Oh My Girl to Debut April 20 . Lee Soo-ah . enewsWorld . April 7, 2015 . May 15, 2016 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303182807/http://mwave.interest.me/enewsworld/en/article/90730/b1a4s-little-sister-group-oh-my-girl-to-debut-april-20 . March 3, 2016 . dead .
  3. Web site: OH MY GIRL Will Release Its Title Song 'Cupid' Today . Ha . You-bin . BNT News . April 20, 2015 . May 12, 2016 .
  4. Web site: [Director′s CommentaryVideo] Oh My Girl Aims for Your Heart in ′Cupid′ MV ]. Hong, Grace Danbi . enewsWorld . April 20, 2015 . May 12, 2016 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20160602055254/http://mwave.interest.me/enewsworld/en/article/91413/directors-commentaryvideo-oh-my-girl-aims-for-your-heart-in-cupid-mv . June 2, 2016 . dead .
  5. Web site: Girl group Oh My Girl makes debut . Kim . Jongchan . Aju Business Daily . April 21, 2015 . May 12, 2016 .
  6. Web site: 오마이걸, 아이돌 홍수 속 모두의 '마이 걸'이 될 수 있을까(종합) . Lee Eun-ho . TenAsia . April 20, 2015 . May 12, 2016 . . ko .
  7. Web site: '인기가요' 오마이걸, 스쿨룩으로 완성한 상큼발랄 소녀감성 '궁금한걸요' . Kim Joon-hee . StarN News . June 21, 2015 . May 14, 2016 . ko .
  8. Web site: OH MY GIRL To Wrap Up Its Activities . Ahn . Woorim . BNT News . June 23, 2015 . May 14, 2016 .
  9. Oh My Girl . . 2015 . CD . WM Entertainment.
  10. Web site: Oh My Girl Shares that B1A4 Emphasized Team Work . Hwang Hye-jin . enewsWorld . April 20, 2015 . May 12, 2016 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20160602062210/http://mwave.interest.me/enewsworld/en/article/91425/oh-my-girl-shares-that-b1a4-emphasized-team-work . June 2, 2016 . dead .
  11. Web site: Oh My Girl (EP) . May 12, 2016 . . ko .
  12. Web site: K-Pop Roundup April 2015: Boy Band Legends and Girl Band Up-and-Comers . Interrante, Scott . PopMatters . May 11, 2015 . May 12, 2016 .
  13. Web site: The Best K-Pop of 2015 . Interrante, Scott . PopMatters . December 18, 2015 . May 12, 2016 .
  14. Web site: The 25 Best K-Pop Songs of 2015 . Peterson, Jacques . . December 29, 2015 . May 12, 2016 .
  15. Web site: K-Pop's 2015 Rookies: Who's Working It, & Who Needs Work . Benjamin, Jeff . Fuse . December 22, 2015 . April 27, 2016 .
  16. The 20 Best K-Pop Songs of 2015 . Jeff . Benjamin . Jessica . Oak . Billboard . December 30, 2015 . April 27, 2016 .
  17. Web site: 2015년 18주차 Album Chart. Gaon Chart. May 12, 2016.