Phenomenon (Monsta X album) explained

Phenomenon
Type:	studio
Artist:	Monsta X
Cover:	Phenomenon by Monsta X album cover.jpg
Alt:	Album cover of Phenomenon
Released:	August 21, 2019
Genre:	J-pop
Length:	30:42
Language:	Japanese
Label:	Universal Music Japan
Prev Title:	Take.2 We Are Here
Prev Year:	2019
Next Year:	2019

Phenomenon is the second Japanese-language studio album of the South Korean boy group Monsta X. It was released and distributed by Universal Music Japan on August 21, 2019. It is also the last Japanese album to feature Wonho, who left the group in October 2019.

Background and release

The album was announced on June 18, 2019 as a surprise announcement, following a live performance. The album contains nine main tracks, with special tracks varying by versions. The album included two previously released Japanese versions of the Korean title tracks "Alligator" and "Shoot Out".^[1]

The title track "X-Phenomenon" was pre-released on July 15, 2019 ahead of the album's full release. A music video was simultaneously released for the song.^[2]

Like their previous Japanese album, the album was released in three versions for the physical release; the regular version, and limited editions A and B. The regular version has the special track "Thriller", and limited editions A and B have the special tracks "Champagne" and "Polaroid", respectively.

In August and September 2019, following the release of the album, Monsta X held a Japanese tour.

Critical reception

Chris Gillett of SCMP wrote that Phenomenon, with the exception of the Japanese versions of "Alligator" and "Shoot Out", presented "a different sound from their previous album Take.2 We Are Here", with "a less of the EDM focused style" and "a more aggressive tone".^[3]

Commercial performance

"Livin' It Up" and the Japanese versions of "Alligator" and "Shoot Out" were all certified gold singles by RIAJ.^{[4] [5]}

The album sold more than 56,000 copies in Japan,^[6] and debuted at number two on both Oricon Albums Chart and Billboard Japan Hot Albums chart.

Charts

Album

Weekly charts

Chart (2019)! scope="col"

Peak position
Japan Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)^[7]	2
Japanese Albums (Oricon)^[8]	2

Songs

Weekly charts

Chart (2018)! scope="col"

Peak position
Japan Hot 100 (Billboard Japan)^[9]	3
Japanese Singles (Oricon)^[10]	3

Chart (2019)! scope="col"

Peak position
Japan Hot 100 (Billboard Japan)	2
Japanese Singles (Oricon)	2

Chart (2019)! scope="col"

Peak position
Japan Hot 100 (Billboard Japan)	2
Japanese Singles (Oricon)	2

Certification and sales

Region	Work	Certification	Certified units/Sales
Album
Japan	Phenomenon	—	56,244^[11]
Songs
Japan (RIAJ)^[12]	"Livin' It Up"	Gold	126,895 ^[13]	--100,333 (1st week) + 4,227 (2nd week) + 22,335 (4th week)-->Cumulative sales for Livin' It Up: Web site: Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales Chart for September 24, 2018 (see #3). Billboard Japan . Japanese . 2018-09-25. Web site: Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales Chart for October 1, 2018 (see #21) . Billboard Japan . Japanese . 2018-10-02. Web site: Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales Chart for October 15, 2018 (see #5). Billboard Japan . Japanese . 2018-10-16.
	"Shoot Out" (Japanese version)	Gold	158,089 ^[14]	--153,498 (1st week) + 4,591 (2nd week)-->Cumulative sales for Shoot Out: Web site: Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales Chart for April 8, 2019 (see #2) . Billboard Japan . Japanese . 2019-04-09. Web site: Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales Chart for April 15, 2019 (see #13) . Billboard Japan . Japanese . 2019-04-16.
	"Alligator" (Japanese version)	Gold	170,292 ^[15]

Notes and References

1. Web site: ja:MONSTA X「スッキリ」生出演が話題…日本2ndアルバム「Phenomenon」8月21日発売をサプライズ発表！. https://news.kstyle.com/article.ksn?articleNo=2119632. 2019-06-18. 2020-08-08. Kstyle. ja.
2. Web site: ja:MONSTA X、日本2ndアルバムの収録曲「X-Phenomenon」MV公開！メンバーの様々な表情は必見. https://news.kstyle.com/article.ksn?articleNo=2121427. 2019-07-15. 2020-08-08. Kstyle. ja.
3. Web site: Monsta-X's 'Phenomenon' album review: K-pop idols go from strength to strength with latest Japanese release. 2020-08-08. SCMP. Gillett. Chris. 2019-08-28. en.
4. Web site: ja:MONSTA X『Phenomenon』ダイジェスト映像公開、アルバムの内容が明らかに. https://news.dwango.jp/music/40128-1908. 2019-08-12. 2020-08-08. Dwango JP News. ja.
5. Web site: Kim. Na-kyung. 2019-07-14. ko:몬스타엑스, 日 싱글 'Alligator'로 4연속 골드디스크. https://www.hankyung.com/entertainment/article/201907143425I. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210209075627/https://www.hankyung.com/entertainment/article/201907143425I. 2021-02-09. 2020-08-19. Korea Economic Daily. ko.
6. Web site: ja:Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales: 2019/08/28 公開. http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=top_albums&year=2019&month=09&day=02. 2020-08-08. Billboard Japan. ja.
7. Web site: http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot_albums&year=2019&month=09&day=2. ja:Billboard Japan Hot Albums: 2019/08/28 公開. Billboard Japan. ja. 2020-08-08.
8. Web site: https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/w/2019-09-02/. ja:週間 アルバムランキング - 2019年09月02日付. Oricon News. Oricon. 2020-08-08. ja.
9. Web site: Monsta X Chart History: Billboard Japan Hot 100. Billboard. 2021-03-10.
10. Web site: https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/651454/rank/single/. ja:Monsta Xのシングル売上ランキング. Monsta X single sales ranking. Oricon News. Oricon. 2021-03-10. ja.
11. Web site: Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales Chart for September 2, 2019 (see #2). Billboard Japan. 2019-09-03.
12. Certifications:
    • Web site: ja:月次認定作品 認定年月：2018年 9月 - Livin' It Up. http://www.riaj.or.jp/f/data/cert/gd.html. RIAJ. Japanese. 2018-10-10.
    • Web site: ja:月次認定作品 認定年月：2019年 3月 - Shoot Out. http://www.riaj.or.jp/f/data/cert/gd.html. RIAJ. Japanese. 2019-04-10.
    • Web site: ja:月次認定作品 認定年月：2019年 6月 - Alligator. http://www.riaj.or.jp/f/data/cert/gd.html. RIAJ. Japanese. 2019-07-10.
13. <
14. <
15. Web site: Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales Chart for June 24, 2019 (see #2) . Billboard Japan . Japanese . 2019-06-19.