Plot Twist (TWS song) explained

Plot Twist
Type:Single
Artist:TWS
Ep:Sparkling Blue
Language:Korean
Released:January 22, 2024
Genre:
Label:Pledis
Length:2:32
Composer:
  • Wasurenai
  • Jeon Jin
  • Ohway!
  • Nmore
  • Heon Seo
  • BuildingOwner
  • Glenn
  • T-SK
  • SAEKI youthK
Lyricist:
  • Wasurenai
  • Brother Su
  • Jeon Jin
  • BuildingOwner
  • Glenn
Prev Title:Oh Mymy: 7s
Prev Year:2024
Next Title:Hey! Hey!
Next Year:2024

"Plot Twist" is a song by South Korean boy group TWS. It was released on January 22, 2024, through Pledis Entertainment, as the second single and the lead track of the group's debut EP Sparkling Blue. The song peaked at number two on the Circle Digital Chart.

Background and release

After premiering the pre-release single "Oh Mymy: 7s" and its music video on January 2, 2024,[1] several teasers and activities, including a highlight medley,[2] a product endorsement deal with Lotte Chilsung's Milkis,[3] and cover features on Japanese magazines Ray and ViVi,[4] were revealed to promote and build anticipation for TWS' first EP. With the release of Sparkling Blue and its lead single "Plot Twist" on January 22, TWS became the first boy group to debut under Pledis Entertainment in nine years, following the launch of Seventeen in 2015.[5]

On the same day of its release, TWS performed "Plot Twist", together with the tracks "Oh Mymy: 7s", "Unplugged Boy", and "BFF", for the first time on the group's global debut program TWS: Debut Show on Mnet.[6] The show was simultaneously broadcast on the Mnet, M2, and Hybe Labels channels on YouTube.[6]

Composition

In an effort to define the group's musical identity, TWS planned to showcase their own unique genre, which they have defined to be "boyhood pop".[5] Characterized by a "refreshing vibe" and its combined use of drum, guitar, and synth sounds, "Plot Twist" has been noted to embody the "thrill of a first encounter",[5] in reference to the meaning of the song's Korean title 첫 만남은 계획대로 되지 않아, which translates to "first encounters don't go as planned".[7]

Music video

The official music video was simultaneously released with "Plot Twist" on January 22, 2024. It depicted scenes of the TWS members experiencing feelings of excitement and nervousness as they navigate through their first day of school.[8] [9] On January 30, a performance video of the song was released.[8]

Critical reception

Jeff Benjamin ranked "Plot Twist" at number three on Billboard mid-year list of 2024's 20 best K-Pop songs, praising the single for its "unexpected but dynamic turns within the production" and lauding it as "a sonic adventure" that "hook[s] listeners from the first note to the anthemic chant that closes the track".[10] Writing for Osen, Kyung Jimin commented that the song gave "a pleasant feeling", summarizing it as "a story of overcoming the vagueness encountered in the excitement of a first encounter, with anticipation for the bright days ahead together".[11]

Commercial performance

In South Korea, "Plot Twist" peaked at number two on the Circle Digital Chart for the week of March 3–9, 2024.[12] Having performed consistently well on domestic music services such as Melon, Bugs, and Spotify, the song was recognized for its success and easy-listening nature, eliciting commentary on the general difficulty of boy groups climbing major South Korean music charts due to their preference for more intense genres.[5]

Accolades

Program ! width="120" scope="col"
Date
InkigayoMarch 24, 2024[13]
Music BankFebruary 23, 2024[14]
Show ChampionFebruary 14, 2024[15]
February 21, 2024[16]
The ShowFebruary 20, 2024[17]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2024)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Global 200 (Billboard)[18] 123
Japan Streaming (Billboard Japan)[19] 89
South Korea (Circle)2

Monthly charts

Chart (2024)! scope="col"
Position
South Korea (Circle)[20] 2

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Chin. Carmen. Pledis Entertainment introduces new boyband TWS with 'OH MYMY : 7S'. January 3, 2024. NME. January 22, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240122125855/https://www.nme.com/news/music/pledis-entertainment-new-boyband-tws-oh-mymy-7s-3565009. live.
  2. Web site: Kang . Ga-hee . '플레디스 신인' TWS, 데뷔 앨범 'Sparkling Blue' 하라메 공개. Pledis’ rookie group TWS releases a highlight medley of their debut album "Sparkling Blue" . . . ko . August 15, 2024 . August 15, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240815183159/https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/112/0003675944 . live.
  3. Web site: Lee . Min-ji . '세븐틴 동생그룹' TWS, 데뷔 전 탄산음료 광고 모델 발탁 . 'Seventeen's younger brother group' TWS, selected as carbonated beverage advertisement model before debut . Newsen . ko . January 19, 2024 . August 15, 2024 . August 15, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240815184450/https://www.newsen.com/news_view.php?uid=202401190716382410&search=title&searchstring=TWS . live.
  4. Web site: Kyung . Ji-min. TWS, 데뷔도 전에 日 잡지 표지 장식..역대급 행보. Before their debut, TWS graces the cover of Japanese magazines… an unprecedented move . Osen . . ko . January 19, 2024 . August 15, 2024 . August 15, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240815184122/https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/109/0005001883 . live.
  5. News: Dong. Sun-hwa. From TWS to RIIZE, rookie boy bands beckon casual listeners. February 18, 2024. August 15, 2024. The Korea Times. August 15, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240815181731/https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/art/2024/08/398_369007.html. live.
  6. Web site: Park . Soo-in . '세븐틴 동생 그룹' TWS(투어스), 엠넷 글로벌 데뷔쇼서 4곡 무대 최초공개 . 'Seventeen's younger brother group' TWS to perform 4 songs for the first time on Mnet's global debut show . Newsen . . ko . January 17, 2024 . August 15, 2024 . August 15, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240815195601/https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/609/0000813956 . live.
  7. Web site: Abad . Paolo . TWS are ready to embrace all the plot twists and surprises of idol life; get to know the new PLEDIS Entertainment boy group . Bandwagon Asia . January 26, 2024. August 15, 2024 . May 24, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240524015008/https://www.bandwagon.asia/articles/tws-debut-interview-shinyu-dohoon-youngjae-hanjin-jihoon-kyungmin-photos-sparkling-blue-plot-twist-pledis-entertainment-hybe-seventeen-january-2024. live.
  8. Web site: Kyung . Jimin . TWS, '첫 만남은 계획대로 되지 않아' 퍼포먼스 MV 공개..'청량+파워풀' . TWS releases the performance MV for "First Meetings Don’t Go as Planned"... 'refreshing and powerful'. Osen . ko . January 30, 2024 . August 15, 2024 . August 15, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240815201331/https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/109/0005007997 . live.
  9. Web site: Yeo . Gladys . Pledis Entertainment's new boyband TWS make debut with 'Plot Twist' . . January 22, 2024 . August 16, 2024 . January 27, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240127173624/https://www.nme.com/news/music/tws-pledis-debut-plot-twist-single-release-3574760 . live.
  10. Benjamin . Jeff . The 20 Best K-Pop Songs of 2024 (So Far): Critic's Picks . . July 5, 2024 . August 16, 2024 . July 6, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240706022045/https://www.billboard.com/lists/best-k-pop-songs-2024-so-far/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social . live.
  11. Web site: Kyung . Jimin . TWS, 데뷔 동시에 앨범 차트 1위 직행..발매 당일 20만 장 판매고 . TWS, debuted and went straight to #1 on the album charts.. 200,000 copies sold on the day of release . Osen . . ko . January 23, 2024 . August 15, 2024 . August 15, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240815203254/https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/109/0005003918 . live.
  12. Web site: Digital Chart – Week 10 of 2024. Circle Chart. ko. March 3–9, 2024. March 14, 2024.
  13. News: ko:투어스, 데뷔 앨범 판매량 40만 장 돌파...인기 '롱런' 청신호. TWS, debut album sales exceed 400,000 copies...Green light for 'long-run' popularity. https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/469/0000792167. Naver. Hankook Ilbo. ko. March 25, 2024. August 17, 2024. August 17, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240817193614/https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/469/0000792167. live.
  14. News: ko:'대세 신인' TWS, 데뷔 한 달 만에 '뮤직뱅크' 1위…타이틀곡 '첫 만남은 계획대로 되지 않아', 인기 돌풍. 'Trendy rookie' TWS, 1st place on 'Music Bank' just one month after debut... Title song 'Plot Twist', popular sensation. https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/076/0004113453. Naver. Sports Chosun. ko. Lee. Jeong-hyeok. February 24, 2024. August 17, 2024. August 17, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240817185717/https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/076/0004113453. live.
  15. News: ko:'괴물신인' 투어스, 데뷔 23일만 음방 1위. 'Monster Rookie' TWS, first place on music show 23 days after debut. https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=437&aid=0000379743. Naver. JTBC News. ko. Kim. Sun-woo. February 15, 2024. February 15, 2024. February 15, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240215065003/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=437&aid=0000379743. live.
  16. News: ko:TWS, ‘첫 만남은 계획대로 되지 않아’ 음악방송 3관왕. TWS, "Plot Twist" wins 3 music show awards. https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/144/0000945031. Naver. Sports Kyunghyang. ko. Son. Bong-sok. February 23, 2024. August 17, 2024. August 17, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240817184803/https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/144/0000945031. live.
  17. News: ko:투어스, 음방 2관왕 ‘더쇼’ 삼켰다. TWS Music Show Double Crown Winner 'The Show'. https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/144/0000944566. Naver. Sports Kyunghyang. ko. Ahn. Byeong-gil. February 21, 2024. August 17, 2024. August 17, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240817193002/https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/144/0000944566. live.
  18. Billboard Global 200: Week of March 16, 2024. Billboard. August 15, 2024.
  19. Web site: Billboard Japan Streaming Songs – Week of February 7, 2024. Billboard Japan. ja. August 16, 2024.
  20. Web site: Digital Chart – March 2023 . August 15, 2024 . . ko.