Pink Funky Explained

Pink Funky
Type:ep
Artist:Mamamoo
Cover:Pink Funky EP cover.jpeg
Genre:
Length:20:16
Language:Korean
Label:RBW
Producer:Kim Do-hoon
Prev Title:Piano Man
Prev Year:2014
Next Title:Melting
Next Year:2016

Pink Funky is the third extended play by South Korean girl group Mamamoo. It was released by RBW on June 19, 2015 and distributed by CJ E&M Music. It contains six songs, including the singles "Ahh Oop!" (a collaboration with Esna) and "Um Oh Ah Yeh". The album was the group's most successful to date, debuting at number six on the Gaon Album Chart and selling more than 13,000 units. Musically, the album is a mix of genres including R&B, hip hop, and funk.

Release and promotion

On April 2, 2015, Mamamoo released a surprise collaboration single with Esna, titled "Ahh Oop!". It was promoted on music shows for two weeks, starting with M! Countdown that same day.[1] The retro style music video for "Ahh Oop!" was produced and directed by Digipedi.[1] [2]

On June 11, Mamamoo announced the upcoming release of Pink Funky and lead single "Um Oh Ah Yeh".[3] The full track list was revealed on June 17, and the album was released two days later.[4] One reason the album was released in June was so the group could participate in university campus festivals in September, where girl groups are often invited to perform.[5] In the music video for "Um Oh Ah Yeh", three of the members dress up as men, wearing wigs, beards, and prosthetic makeup.[6] Park Bo-ram makes a cameo appearance as the girl who tells Solar that Moonbyul is actually a woman.[6]

On June 14, Mamamoo held guerilla concerts in Daehangno and Hongdae, where they performed "Um Oh Ah Yeah" for the first time.[7] The group held a comeback showcase for the album at Ilchi Art Hall in Cheongdam-dong, Seoul on June 18.[8] [9] The album was then promoted for six weeks on various music shows, ending with Inkigayo on July 26.[10]

Composition

The album was produced by RBW's CEO Kim Do-hoon. "Um Oh Ah Yeh" was written by Kim and three of the Mamamoo members—Solar, Moonbyul, and Hwasa. It is a "funky" R&B dance song with elements of 1990s synthpop. Lyrically, the song is about a girl who is in love with a man who is actually another girl. "Freakin Shoes" is a trap and hip hop song written by Hwasa, with music co-composed by Kim and Seo Jae-woo.[4] "A Little Bit" is a pop ballad and "Self Camera" is a medium tempo R&B song.[11] "No No No", written by Seo Yong-bae and Park Woo-sang, has a 1960s funk rhythm.[12] "Ahh Oop!" was described as a funky dance song with a retro rhythm and blues guitar riff. It was written by Esna, and the lyrics tell men to stop using cliché pick-up lines and treat women with respect.[13] [1] The digital album released in South Korea includes an a cappella version of "Um Oh Ah Yeh", as well as instrumentals for "Um Oh Ah Yeh" and "A Little Bit".

Reception

The album entered the Gaon Album Chart at number six, and charted at number seven on the Billboard World Albums Chart.[14] [15] It was the 19th best selling album in South Korea during the month of June, selling 3,822 physical copies.[16] As of May 2016, it has sold more than 13,000 units.[17] [18] "Um Oh Ah Yeh" entered the Gaon Digital Chart at number 22 and peaked at number three the following week, becoming Mamamoo's then-highest charting single.[19] [20] [21] "Ahh Oop!" entered the Gaon Digital Chart at number 76 and peaked at 67 the following week.[22] [23]

The release of Pink Funky solidified Mamamoo's reputation as a girl group who can sing well, and their popularity rose with the success of "Um Oh Ah Yeh".[12] This was partly due to the music video, which went viral on Facebook and "sent shockwaves through the K-pop scene", according to Yonhap's Chung Joo-won.[10] [24] Scott Interrante, writing for PopMatters, said the album "features a more polished mainstream sound while retaining the focus of [Mamamoo's] powerful vocals".[6]

Charts

Chart (2015)Peak
position
South Korean Albums (Gaon)6
US World Albums (Billboard)[25] 7

Notes and References

  1. Web site: [Video] MAMAMOO and eSNa Ask Men to Respect Women in ′Ahh! Oop!′ MV ]. Hong, Grace Danbi . enewsWorld . April 2, 2015 . June 9, 2016 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20150506111535/http://mwave.interest.me/enewsworld/en/article/90552/video-mamamoo-and-esna-ask-men-to-respect-women-in-ahh-oop-mv . May 6, 2015 . dead .
  2. Web site: [Hallyu Power] Digipedi, the duo behind some of K-pop's oddest videos ]. Jackson . Julie . . March 8, 2016 . June 9, 2016 .
  3. Web site: Mamamoo to put out 'Pink Funky' . Lim Jeong-yeo . . June 11, 2015 . June 9, 2016 .
  4. Web site: Mamamoo leaks 'Pink Funky' teaser video, track list . Lim Jeong-yeo . . June 17, 2015 . June 9, 2016 .
  5. Web site: Summer is go time for girl groups . Jin Min-ji . . July 13, 2015 . June 9, 2016 .
  6. Web site: K-Pop Round Up: June 2015 – Boy Band Battles and Girl Group Comeback Competitions . Interrante . Scott . . July 22, 2015 . June 10, 2016 .
  7. Web site: MAMAMOO Performs New Song at Guerilla Concert . Jeon Su-mi . enewsWorld . June 15, 2015 . June 9, 2016 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20160127015900/http://mwave.interest.me/enewsworld/en/article/94071/mamamoo-performs-new-song-at-guerilla-concert . January 27, 2016 . dead .
  8. Web site: MAMAMOO is Honored to be Competing with SISTAR and SNSD . Kim JiYeon . enewsWorld . June 18, 2015 . June 10, 2016 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20160320221310/http://mwave.interest.me/enewsworld/en/article/94287/mamamoo-is-honored-to-be-competing-with-sistar-and-snsd . March 20, 2016 . dead .
  9. Web site: Girl group MAMAMOO returns with 2nd EP 'Pink Funky' . Kim . Jongchan . Aju Business Daily . June 26, 2015 . June 9, 2016 .
  10. Web site: Mamamoo successfully finishes 'Um Oh Ah Yeah' music activity . Kim Yu-jin . . July 27, 2015 . June 10, 2016 .
  11. Web site: MAMAMOO Unveils The Spoiler Video of Its New Album . Ha . You-bin . BNT News . June 17, 2015 . June 9, 2016 . September 19, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160919113317/http://www.bntnews.co.uk/app/news.php?nid=22649 . dead .
  12. Web site: Mamamoo returns with funky song, sexy new look, still-powerful vocals . Doo . Rumy . . June 19, 2015 . June 9, 2016 .
  13. MAMAMOO & eSNa (AHH OOP!) . June 11, 2016 . Pops in Seoul . Pops in Seoul . . April 20, 2015 .
  14. Web site: MAMAMOO's 2nd EP 'Pink Funky' ranks 7th in Billboard World Albums chart . Kim . Jongchan . Aju Business Daily . June 26, 2015 . June 9, 2016 .
  15. Web site: 2015년 26주차 Album Chart . Gaon Music Chart . June 9, 2016 . ko .
  16. Web site: 2015년 06월 Album Chart . Gaon Music Chart . June 9, 2016 . ko .
  17. Web site: 2015년 12월 Album Chart . Gaon Music Chart . 2016-06-13 . ko .
  18. Web site: 2016년 5월 Album Chart . Gaon Music Chart . 2016-06-13 . ko .
  19. Web site: MAMAMOO wants to collaborate with Jay Z . Kim Jae-heun . . March 21, 2016 . June 11, 2016 .
  20. Web site: 2015년 26주차 Digital Chart . Gaon Music Chart . June 9, 2016 . ko .
  21. Web site: 2015년 27주차 Digital Chart . Gaon Music Chart . June 9, 2016 . ko . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150703133640/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=ALL&targetTime=27&hitYear=2015&termGbn=week . July 3, 2015 .
  22. Web site: 2015년 15주차 Digital Chart . Gaon Music Chart . June 9, 2016 . ko . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150409021749/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=ALL&targetTime=15&hitYear=2015&termGbn=week . April 9, 2015 .
  23. Web site: 2015년 16주차 Digital Chart . Gaon Music Chart . June 9, 2016 . ko .
  24. Web site: (Yonhap Feature) Season changing for K-pop girl groups . Chung Joo-won . . March 8, 2016 . June 10, 2016 .
  25. Web site: Pink Funky on US World charts (2015). Billboard. July 4, 2015. July 4, 2015. subscription .