Square Up Explained

Square Up
Type:ep
Artist:Blackpink
Cover:Black Pink - Square Up artwork.png
Caption:Digital and Pink version cover.
Genre:
Length:14:03
Label:
Producer:
Prev Title:Blackpink
Prev Year:2017
Next Title:Blackpink in Your Area
Next Year:2018

Square Up is the first Korean extended play (second overall) by South Korean girl group Blackpink. It was released on June 15, 2018 by YG Entertainment.[3] The EP is available in two physical versions and contains four tracks, with "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" released as the lead single. The song peaked at number one in South Korea for three weeks and became the highest-charting song by a female K-pop act in the United States and United Kingdom at the time. The track "Forever Young" was later promoted on Korean music programs and peaked at number two in South Korea.

Upon its release, Square Up debuted atop the Gaon Album Chart and went on to sell almost 179,000 copies in its first fifteen days of availability in South Korea.[4] The EP also debuted at number 40 on the US Billboard 200, becoming Blackpink's highest selling album in a Western market as well as the highest-charting album by a female K-pop group. It was certified platinum by the Korea Music Content Association (KMCA) in March 2019 for selling 250,000 units, and was later certified double platinum in March 2023 for selling 500,000 units.

Background and release

On April 24, 2018, YG Entertainment founder Yang Hyun-suk stated that by the end of 2018, Blackpink would release new music.[5] On May 17, he confirmed that the group would make a comeback in June.[6] An official news report revealed that the mini album would be released on June 15.[7]

On June 1, the album's moving poster was unveiled,[8] followed by the full track list on June 5[9] and an individual moving poster of the members, teasing the audio of "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" and "Forever Young".[10] [11] [12] [13] Subsequently, from June 12 to 14, the album's teaser posters were released.[14] [15] [16]

On June 14, a teaser of the music video for "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" was released on both Blackpink's official YouTube channel and the group's official V Live channel.[17] [18] On June 15, the mini album was released, alongside the music video for "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du".

Composition

Songs

The opening track "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" is a "fierce" hip-hop and pop rap song with bubblegum pop sound and trap beat.[19] It combines instrumentations of oriental percussion rhythms and whistling on top of the bassline.[20] Lyrically, the song is an anthem about the group's success and self-confidence, based around the hook of "Hit you with that ddu-du ddu-du du".[21] The second track "Forever Young" is a mid-tempo "beachy", moombahton-based dance track with "lasering" house beats and reggaeton swing. The lyrics talk about how they celebrate making the most of your youth, while saying "Blackpink is the revolution".[21] [2] [22] The third track "Really" is a "chill" hip-pop and R&B song about pleading with a lover to show him how much they care.[22] [21] The closing track "See U Later" is a "cutting breakup" dance-pop song that mixes pop and hip-hop with a "trap-laden" chorus, "reminiscent" guitar sound and the distortion 808 bass.[21]

Promotion

On the afternoon of June 15, Blackpink held a press conference for the release of "Square Up" at M-CUBE, Sinsa-dong, Seoul.[23] On the same day, one hour prior to the mini album's release a countdown special live was broadcast on Naver's V LIVE broadcasting site featuring Blackpink discussing the new music. It garnered over 850,000 viewers.[24] On June 16, "Blackpink Area", a Square Up concept pop-up store was made public to the fans, at the same location where Blackpink House was filmed, for 9 days.[25] On June 23, the group appeared as guests on JTBC's Idol Room to promote the EP, making their debut on the show.[26]

Blackpink held their comeback stage on MBC's Show! Music Core on June 16[27] and on SBS's Inkigayo on June 17[28] featuring performances of both the lead single "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" and the second single "Forever Young", and further continued promoting on various music programs in Korea. On July 14, the group finished promotions for "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" and started promoting "Forever Young" as the second single from the EP[29] and wrapped up their seven week long promotion on August 5 after performing on Inkigayo.[30]

On August 17, it was announced that similar to "Blackpink Area", another pop-up store at BOK Gallery, Takeshita Street in Harajuku, Japan will be made public from August 22–26.[31]

Critical reception

Square Up received generally favorable reviews from critics. Chase McMullen, writing for The 405, praised the album's "readymade hooks and airtight, bursting sonics" and its ability to go "from confrontational to blissfully ecstatic at the drop of a hat", proving Blackpink's mettle in the global K-pop boom. Billboard listed Square Up at number 20 in their list of the best K-pop albums of 2018, describing it as "a testament to their dedication to rambunctious, hip-hop infused dance music" that "[exuded] confidence, sass and an overpowering sense of chic."[32] Refinery29 placed Square Up at number 8 at their best K-pop albums of 2018, saying that it "shimmers with signature Blackpink cheekiness and effortless swagger, momentarily satiating the fans who are waiting for more."[33]

Commercial performance

In South Korea, the mini album debuted at number one on Gaon Albums Chart,[35] while “Ddu-Du Ddu-Du” debuted at number 3 on the Gaon Digital Chart and at number one on the Gaon Download Chart on the chart issue dated June 10–16, 2018 with 31,072,049 digital points.[36] [37] In its second week, "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" peaked at number one on Digital, Download, Streaming, and Mobile Charts on Gaon with 85,411,467 digital points.[38] [39] [40] [41]

The mini album debuted on the top spot of Japan's Oricon Weekly Digital Albums chart with 3,915 downloads.[42] [43] The lead single "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" debuted as the highest-charting Hot 100 hit ever by an all-female K-pop act, opening at number 55 with 12.4 million US streams and 7,000 downloads sold in the tracking week ending June 21, 2018, according to Nielsen Music, also entering on the US Streaming Songs tally at number 39, where Blackpink became the first K-pop girl group to chart a title. The single also sat atop Billboard World Digital Songs, making it the group's fourth number one song on the chart. Square Up also brought the group their first entry on the US Billboard 200, debuting at number 40 with 14,000 album-equivalent units. The mini album also topped the Billboard World Albums chart.[44]

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for Square Up
Chart (2018)Peak
position
Australia<-- Not the albums chart; EPs of five tracks and under chart on the singles chart in Australia --> (ARIA)[45] 61
French Albums (SNEP)[46] 125
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[47] 11
Japan Hot Albums (Billboard)[48] 8
Japan (Oricon Digital Albums Chart)[49] 11
South Korean Albums (Gaon)[50] 1

Monthly charts

Chart (2018)! scope="col"
Peak
position
South Korean Albums (Gaon)[51] 2

Year-end charts

2018 year-end chart performance for Square Up
Chart (2018)Position
South Korean Albums (Gaon)[52] 21
US World Albums (Billboard)[53] 12

Certifications and sales

|}

Release history

Release dates and formats for Square Up
RegionDateFormatLabel(s)Ref.
VariousJune 15, 2018<-- Do not add "Worldwide". This cannot be sourced because music platforms such as iTunes, Spotify, etc. are not available in EVERY country -->[55]
South KoreaJune 20, 2018CD[56]
JapanJune 22, 2018[57]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Review: K-pop favorites BLACKPINK aim for global domination with SQUARE UP. September 3, 2018. June 28, 2018. The 405. Chase McMullen. September 3, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180903151120/https://www.thefourohfive.com/music/review/review-global-k-pop-favorites-blackpink-go-for-global-domination-with-square-up-152. live.
  2. Web site: '1년 만의 컴백' 블랙핑크, 더 강렬한 음악과 퍼포먼스로 돌아오다(종합) ("A comeback in one year," Blackpink comes back with even stronger music and performances). korean. Naver Entertainment. June 15, 2018. June 15, 2018. March 22, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210322102237/https://entertain.naver.com/now/read?oid=215&aid=0000648786. live.
  3. BlackPink Release 'Square Up' EP Fronted by Sharp-Shooting 'Ddu-Du Ddu-Du' Music Video. Billboard. Herman. Tamar. June 15, 2018. April 12, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190412044026/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/8461197/blackpink-square-up-ep-ddu-du-ddu-du-video. live.
  4. Web site: Gaon chart . July 14, 2018 . November 11, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171111015149/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&termGbn=month . live .
  5. Web site: 이번엔 진짜 컴백..YG 양현석이 스포일러한 블랙핑크 6월 컴백(This time a real comeback.. YG Yang Hyun Suk spoiler Blackpink June comeback). korean. Daily Sports. April 24, 2018. June 5, 2018. March 22, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210322102238/https://api.piclick.kr/common/css/v1/piclick-ad.css. live.
  6. Web site: YG 양현석 "블랙핑크, 컴백초읽기..연말까지 접수할 것"(YG Yang Hyun-seok "Blackpink, Comeback Countdown.. should be accepted until the end of the year"). korean. Osen. May 17, 2018. June 5, 2018. March 22, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210322102303/https://compass.adop.cc/assets/js/adop/adopJ.js?v=14. live.
  7. Web site: YG 양현석 "블랙핑크, 6월 15일 첫 미니앨범 발표..공백 길었다"(YG Yang Hyun Suk "Blackpink, June 15, the first mini album release). korean. Osen. May 25, 2018. June 5, 2018.
  8. Web site: ＢＬＡＣＫＰＩＮＫ 初のミニアルバムを１５日リリース(Releasing BLACKPINK's first mini album on 15th). japanese. Yonhap News. June 1, 2018. June 5, 2018.
  9. Web site: 블랙핑크, 전곡 '테디 프로듀싱' 컴백…트랙리스트 공개(Blackpink, the whole song 'Teddy Producing' comeback... Track list public). korean. Osen. June 5, 2018 . June 5, 2018.
  10. Web site: BLACKPINK - 'SQUARE UP' ROSÉ MOVING POSTER. BlackPink YouTube. June 6, 2018.
  11. Web site: BLACKPINK - 'SQUARE UP' JISOO MOVING POSTER. BlackPink YouTube. June 7, 2018. June 9, 2018. March 22, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210322102909/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDA2sD9JFc4. live.
  12. Web site: BLACKPINK - 'SQUARE UP' JENNIE MOVING POSTER. BlackPink YouTube. June 8, 2018. June 9, 2018. June 8, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180608005303/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfS5IxIYw50&gl=US&hl=en. live.
  13. Web site: BLACKPINK - 'SQUARE UP' LISA MOVING POSTER. BlackPink YouTube. June 9, 2018. June 9, 2018. June 9, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180609000203/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flPqsVWTnT0&gl=US&hl=en. live.
  14. Web site: BLACKPINK - 'SQUARE UP' TEASER POSTER. YG Life. June 12, 2018. June 14, 2018. March 22, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210322102640/https://yg-life.com/archives/105168?lang=ko. live.
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  16. Web site: BLACKPINK - 1st MINI ALBUM 'SQUARE UP' D-DAY POSTER. YG Life. June 14, 2018. March 22, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210322102712/https://yg-life.com/archives/105438?lang=ko. live.
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  18. Web site: BLACKPINK - '뚜두뚜두 (DDU-DU DDU-DU)' M/V TEASER. June 14, 2018. V Live. June 14, 2018. March 22, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210322102640/https://www.vlive.tv/video/75550. live.
  19. Web site: Blackpink Break New Record With "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du". January 23, 2019. Grammy Awards. October 13, 2022.
  20. Web site: June 16, 2018. '음악중심' 블랙핑크, 글로벌 들썩이게 한 컴백..'뚜두뚜두'. 'Music Core' Blackpink, a comeback that shook the world... 'Ddu-Du Ddu-Du'. 2022-10-13. Osen. ko. Daum.
  21. Herman. Tamar. BlackPink Release 'Square Up' EP Fronted by Sharp-Shooting 'Ddu-Du Ddu-Du' Music Video. October 13, 2022. Billboard. June 15, 2018.
  22. Daly. Rhian. BLACKPINK songs – ranked. October 13, 2022. NME. May 7, 2019.
  23. Web site: "블랙핑크, 더 세게! 더 멋있게!"…양현석 조언의 참의미("Blackpink, more hard! More cool!"... The true meaning of Yang Hyun Suk's advice). korean. Jeong. Kyoung-joon. Osen. June 15, 2018 . June 15, 2018. March 22, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210322102705/http://osen.mt.co.kr/article/G1110925336. live.
  24. Web site: "3억♥·85만 시청자"…블랙핑크, 글로벌 축하 속 화려한 컴백("300 million ♥, 85k viewers"... Blackpink, a colorful celebration in a global celebration. Osen. Jeong. Jiwon. June 15, 2018 . June 15, 2018. March 22, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210322102706/https://compass.adop.cc/assets/js/adop/adopJ.js?v=14. live.
  25. Web site: '컴백' 블랙핑크, 16일 '스퀘어 업' 콘셉트 팝업스토어 오픈('Comeback' Blackpink, 'Square Up' concept pop-up store opened on 16th). korean. Osen. June 14, 2018. June 14, 2018. March 22, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210322102709/https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.8.3/jquery.min.js. live.
  26. Web site: 블랙핑크, '아이돌룸' 완전체 출연확정..컴백 후 첫예능(Blackpink, 'Idol Room' complete cast confirmed .. After the first comeback). korean. Jeong. Kang-seo. Osen. June 15, 2018 . June 15, 2018. March 22, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210322102716/https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.8.3/jquery.min.js. live.
  27. Web site: '음악중심' 블랙핑크 컴백…'포에버 영'·'뚜두뚜두' 반전 매력(Music Core' Blackpink comeback... 'Forever Young', 'Ddu-Du Ddu-Du'). korean. Ten Asia. Noh. Kyung-min. June 16, 2018. June 18, 2018. June 19, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180619012716/http://tenasia.hankyung.com/archives/1514314. live.
  28. Web site: '인기가요' 컴백 블랙핑크, 4人4色 빈틈 없는 매력 '뚜두뚜두'('Inkigayo' comeback Blackpink, 4 people 4 colors Charming charm'). korean. The Korea Herald. Go. Myungjin. June 17, 2018. June 18, 2018. March 22, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210322102651/https://media.adpnut.com/cgi-bin/PelicanC.dll?impr?pageid=01rk&out=script. live.
  29. Web site: 블랙핑크, 일간차트 30일 연속 1위! 전무후무 대기록!. YG LIFE. July 22, 2018. March 22, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210322102739/https://yg-life.com/archives/108357?lang=ko. live.
  30. News: BLACKPINK Finalizes 7-Week Promotional Period… Set Milestone by Entering Billboard's Main Charts. YG LIFE. August 12, 2018. March 22, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210322102708/https://yg-life.com/archives/111096?lang=en. live.
  31. Web site: 「BLACKPINK POPUP STORE」開催決定！. ja. YGEX. August 19, 2018. August 17, 2018. August 19, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180819114509/https://ygex.jp/blackpink/news/detail.php?id=1064533. live.
  32. The 20 Best K-Pop Albums of 2018: Critics' Picks . . January 15, 2020 . December 17, 2018 . December 17, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181217234941/https://www.billboard.com/articles/events/year-in-music-2018/8490515/best-k-pop-albums-2018-top-20 . live .
  33. Web site: The 12 Best K-Pop Albums of 2018 . Morin . Natalie . December 20, 2018 . . December 28, 2018 . December 29, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181229031254/https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2018/12/219244/best-k-pop-albums-2018#slide-5 . live .
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  57. Physical versions on Tower Records:

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