We Like Explained

We Like
Type:single
Artist:Pristin
Album:Schxxl Out
Recorded:2017
Label:Pledis
Prev Title:Black Widow
Prev Year:2017

We Like (stylized as WE LIKE) is a song recorded by South Korean girl group Pristin for their second EP Schxxl Out (2017). It was released as the album's only single on August 23, 2017. An official music video also premiered on the same day.[1] The song was written in part by Sungyeon, a member of the group.[2]

Background and release

After the promotions for their debut mini album Hi! Pristin were wrapped up, the group started working on their next comeback, most likely to happen on the summer of 2017, as confirmed on May 22 by the girls themselves during a Facebook live stream with Idols of Asia, a Chinese entertainment website. A few months later, on August 18, the tracklist for Schxxl Out was revealed, confirming "We Like" as the album's title track.[3] On August 23, the song was released along the album and a proper music video.

Composition and lyrical interpretation

"We Like" is an energetic dance-pop song with dynamic melodies.[4] It was composed by Maja Keuc, Bumzu, Joe Michel, Park Kitae, Simon Petrén and Sungyeon. Lyrically, the song talks about a girl who has a crush on a guy and tries to win him over by highlighting the things that makes her different from the average girls.

Music video

On August 19, the first teaser for the music video of the song was released.[5] A second teaser came out two days later.[6] The full music video, which was also released on August 23, features the girls breaking into a mall and having fun. It ends with them getting caught and then arrested.[7] On August 31, they released a dance version of the music video featuring the full choreography for the song.

Promotion

"We Like" was performed for the first time during a showcase held to promote the mini album on August 23.[8] The following day, on August 24, Pristin made their first comeback stage for the song on Mnet's M Countdown.[9] The promotions continued through KBS's Music Bank on August 25,[10] MBC's Show! Music Core on August 26,[11] SBS's Inkigayo on August 27,[12] SBS MTV's The Show on August 29,[13] and MBC Music's Show Champions on August 30.[14]

On October 12, it was announced that Kyla would take a break from the group's activities due to health issues.[15] Pristin performed "We Like" without Kyla for the first time on October 14 during the Ansan Friendship Super Show, an event held to celebrate the 25 years of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Vietnam.[16]

Commercial performance

The song entered the Gaon Digital Chart at number 94 on the issue dated between August 20 and August 26, 2017,[17] selling 21,804 downloads in its first week.[18]

Controversy

On August 25, during the performance for "We Like" on Music Bank, a small portion of the lyrics was changed. The original lyrics, sung respectively by members Rena and Yuha, translate to: "I'll pick out what I want to eat, but I'll also take care of the bill. You don't see this often, you'll be more attracted to someone like me.", which stirred criticism for suggesting that it's uncommon to see women paying their own bills. While Rena's verse was kept the same, Yuha's was completely changed as seen in the translation: "After all, I'm the type to be straightforward about what I like and don't like." Their company Pledis Entertainment didn't issue any statements regarding the lyric change, which remained through the rest of the promotions. The dance version of the music video also features the new lyrics, which were re-recorded on studio by Yuha.

Charts

Weekly charts

Release history

RegionDateFormatLabelRef.
South KoreaAugust 23, 2017Digital download, streamingPledis Entertainment
Worldwide

Notes and References

  1. News: [퇴근길 신곡] 프리스틴, 업그레이드 된 파워+프리티…'We Like']. August 23, 2017. OSEN. August 23, 2017. ko. [New song released] Pristin, power+pretty upgrade, "We Like".
  2. Web site: [Mnet] WE LIKE - 프리스틴(PRISTIN)]. E&M. CJ. Mnet. ko. 2017-09-09.
  3. Web site: 프리스틴, 두 번째 미니앨범 'SCHXXL OUT' 트랙리스트 공개. post.naver.com. ko. Pristin releases tracklist for second mini album 'Schxxl Out'. 2017-09-10.
  4. Web site: [Mnet] The 2nd Mini Album SCHXXL OUT - 프리스틴(PRISTIN)]. E&M. CJ. Mnet. ko. 2017-09-09.
  5. Web site: WE LIKE (Teaser). vod.melon.com. ko. 2017-09-11.
  6. Web site: WE LIKE (Teaser 2). vod.melon.com. ko. 2017-09-11.
  7. Web site: WE LIKE. vod.melon.com. ko. 2017-09-11.
  8. News: 프리스틴(PRISTIN), 상큼한 10명의 소녀들 'WE LIKE(위 라이크)' [동영상]]. mk.co.kr. 2017-09-11. ko. The 10 fresh girls of Pristin perform 'We Like'.
  9. Web site: [Mnet] 최초공개 파워프리티! 프리스틴의 We Like 무대 M COUNTDOWN]. E&M. CJ. Mnet. ko. 2017-09-11.
  10. News: '뮤직뱅크' 프리스틴, 걸크러시로 돌아왔다 '위 라이크'. 2017-08-25. 2017-09-11. ko. 'Music Bank': Pristin comes back with girl crush song 'We Like'.
  11. News: '프리스틴'이 컴백 하루만에 가사를 바꾼 이유 (영상). 2017-08-26. 디스패치 뉴스는 팩트다!. 2017-09-11. ko-KR. Why 'Pristin' changed the lyrics on their comeback day.
  12. News: '인기가요' 워너원 2주연속 1위 '11관왕' 대기록..선미 컴백(종합). 2017-09-11. No1.축구전문 콘텐츠 기업 스포탈코리아. 2017-09-11. 'Inkigayo': Wanna One is number 1 for two consecutive weeks.
  13. News: '더쇼' 워너원 1위, 12관왕 싹쓸이…선미·빅스LR 컴백 [종합]]. 미주중앙일보. 2017-09-11. 'The Show': Wanna One wins number 1, totalizing 12 wins... Plus Sunmi and VIXX LR come back.
  14. News: '쇼! 챔피언' 워너원, 순위프로그램 13관왕 달성 후 워너블에게?. 2017-08-30. 2017-09-11. ko. 'Show! Champion': After winning, Wanna One gathers 13 ranking program achievements.
  15. News: 플레디스 "프리스틴 카일라, 건강 문제로 활동 중단...회복 후 복귀 예정"(공식). 2017-10-13. ko. Pledis: "Pristin's Kyla to take a break due to health problems ... Expected to return after recovery".
  16. News: 안산시 개최 'KBS 한국·베트남 수교 25주년 음악회' 성료 - 중부뉴스통신. 2017-10-17. ko. KBS holds concert for the '25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Vietnam' at Ansan City.
  17. Web site: 국내 대표 음악 차트 가온차트!. gaonchart.co.kr. 2017-08-31.
  18. Web site: 국내 대표 음악 차트 가온차트!. gaonchart.co.kr. 2017-08-31.