Yuq1 Explained

Yuq1
Type:EP
Artist:Song Yuqi
Cover:Song Yuqi - Yuq1.png
Caption:Digital cover
Genre:
Length:19:19
Label:
Prev Title:Grey Track
Prev Year:2023
Chronology:Yuqi

Yuq1 is the debut extended play (EP) by Chinese singer-songwriter Song Yuqi. The EP was released on April 23, 2024, and was promoted with its two singles, "Could It Be" and "Freak".

Background

After releasing her digital single album A Page in 2021,[1] Song announced her new album Yuq1 on April 2, 2024.[2] Although Song had previously pursued solo music, Yuq1 was declared to be the official beginning of her solo career, making Song the third member of South Korean girl group (G)I-dle to debut as a soloist.[3] After her participation in composition and lyrics for (G)I-dle's songs, the EP also marked Song's first time composing her own album.[4]

Promotion and release

Revealing a preview for Yuq1, Cube Entertainment posted a concept trailer on YouTube, showing Song playing a guitar while reminiscing about her past before investigating the sudden whispers and screams around her.[5] To promote the EP, "Could It Be" was rolled out as a pre-release single on April 5, 2024.[6] Yuq1 was released on April 23, 2024. Its lead single "Freak" was released alongside an accompanying music video on the same day.

The following month, Shinsegae Centum City, in collaboration with IPX (formerly Line Friends), opened a pop-up store that featured a themed photo zone, as well as a variety of clothes and merchandise, to commemorate the release of the mini-album.[7]

Title and artwork

The EP's title, which used Song's given name, aimed to capture the essence of who Song Yuqi is as a solo artist; the inclusion of the number 1 to replace the letter I visually expressed her confidence in both the album and her future career.[8] [9] Design-wise, a red rabbit was featured on the EP's concept photos, cover art, and tracklist as a "main character", which Song stated to represent herself, explaining: "I was born in the year of the Rabbit, and my favorite color is red!"

Commercial performance

Yuq1 accumulated more than 500,000 units in pre-order sales. The mini-album then sold a total of 550,170 copies during the first week of its release, breaking the record of the highest first-week sales made by a K-pop female solo artist's debut EP.[10] In South Korea, it debuted at number two on the Circle Album Chart for the week of April 21 to 27, 2024.

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2024)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[11] 42
South Korean Albums (Circle)[12] 2

Monthly charts

Chart (2024)! scope="col"
Position
South Korean Albums (Circle)[13] 7

Notes and References

  1. Web site: (여자)아이들 우기의 성장 이야기 'A page'..트랙 리스트 공개 "작사작곡 참여". (G)I-DLE Yuqi's growth story 'A page'...track list revealed "Participation in writing lyrics". Lee. Seung-hoon. Osen. The Chosun Ilbo. May 10, 2021. May 31, 2024.
  2. Web site: (G)I-DLE member Yuqi to begin solo career with debut album . Yoon. So-yeon. Korea JoongAng Daily. April 2, 2024. May 31, 2024. April 30, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240430091314/https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2024-04-02/entertainment/kpop/GIDLE-member-Yuqi-to-begin-solo-career-with-debut-album/2016374. live.
  3. Web site: (G)I-DLE’s Yuqi is haunted by horror movie characters in ‘Freak’ music video. Carmen. Chin. NME. April 23, 2024. May 31, 2024. April 24, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240424101536/https://www.nme.com/news/music/gi-dle-yuqi-korea-solo-debut-2-3607971. live.
  4. Web site: (G)I-DLE’s YUQI Is "A Certified Freak," Just Like Everyone Else. Sayson. Sofia. Grammy Awards. April 24, 2024. May 31, 2024. April 29, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240429225216/https://www.grammy.com/news/gidle-yuqi-solo-debut-interview-yuq1-videos. live.
  5. Web site: (여자)아이들 우기, 솔로 미니 1집 ‘YUQ1’ 트레일러 공개! 콘셉추얼한 연출 ‘시선 집중’. (G)I-DLE Yuqi, trailer for 1st solo mini album 'YUQ1' released! Conceptual directing ‘Focus on attention’. KBS World. April 9, 2024. May 31, 2024. May 31, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240531203314/https://world.kbs.co.kr/service/contents_view.htm?lang=k&menu_cate=enternews&id=&board_seq=450471&page=. live.
  6. Web site: (여자)아이들 우기, 오늘(5일) 선공개곡 'Could It Be' 발매. (G)I-DLE's Yuqi releases pre-release song 'Could It Be' today (5th). Jang. Woo-young. Osen. Chosun Biz. April 5, 2024. May 31, 2024. May 31, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240531171514/https://biz.chosun.com/entertainment/enter_general/2024/04/05/VMUWH5WO5FS3KITAENJ2GFKFLM/. live.
  7. Web site: [게시판] 신세계 센텀시티에 우기 솔로앨범 기념 팝업 스토어]. [Bulletin Board] Pop-up store commemorating Yuqi’s solo album in Shinsegae Centum City. Yonhap News. May 17, 2024. June 1, 2024. June 1, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240601154730/https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20240517090400051. live.
  8. Web site: (여자)아이들 우기, 'FREAK'지만 우기 그 자체…1인 7색 '보컬리스트' [퇴근길 신곡]]. (G)I-DLE's Yuqi, 'FREAK' is Yuqi herself... 7 colors per person ‘Vocalist’ [New song on the way home from work]. Jang. Woo-young. Osen. The Chosun Ilbo. April 23, 2024. June 1, 2024. April 23, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240423154836/https://www.chosun.com/entertainments/music/2024/04/23/SJUWKKHH7J2ECCSS4ZKNIYFXUE/. live.
  9. Web site: (여자)아이들 우기 그 자체…첫 솔로 'YUQ1'에 쏠리는 기대. (G)I-DLE Yuqi herself... Expectations are focused on the first solo ‘YUQ1’. Ha. Na-young. Chosun Biz. April 23, 2024. June 1, 2024. June 1, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240601161102/https://biz.chosun.com/entertainment/enter_general/2024/04/23/5VPA4GDZTKYQC6NVUICXIFW5EY/. live.
  10. Web site: (G)I-DLE member Yuqi's debut EP breaks record, tops international iTunes charts . Kim. Ju-yeon. Korea JoongAng Daily. April 29, 2024. May 31, 2024. May 1, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240501051712/https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2024-04-29/entertainment/kpop/GIDLE-member-Yuqis-debut-EP-breaks-record-tops-international-iTunes-charts/2036063. live.
  11. Web site: Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2024-05-13 . ja . May 31, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240510005937/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/w/2024-05-13/p/5/ . May 10, 2024.
  12. Web site: Album Chart: 2024 Week 17. Circle Chart. ko. May 31, 2024. May 2, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240502062302/https://circlechart.kr/page_chart/album.circle?nationGbn=T&targetTime=17&hitYear=2024&termGbn=week&yearTime=3. live.
  13. Web site: Circle Album Chart – April 2024. Circle Chart. ko. May 31, 2024.

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