I Say Mamamoo: The Best (stylized in all caps[1]), sometimes referred to as The Best, is the first compilation album by South Korean girl group Mamamoo. It was released on September 15, 2021 by RBW.[2] The album features 23 tracks, including remixes and re-recorded versions of some of the group's biggest hits. It includes two original tracks, "Mumumumuch" and "Happier Than Ever," with the former being released as the lead and only official single from the album alongside the release of the album itself.
| I Say Mamamoo: The Best | ||||
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| Compilation album by | ||||
| Released | September 15, 2021 | |||
| Genre | K-pop | |||
| Label | RBW | |||
| Mamamoo chronology | ||||
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| Singles from I Say Mamamoo: The Best | ||||
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Background and release
editFollowing the release of their eleventh EP WAW in June 2021 and their online concert of the same name in August, reports emerged that Mamamoo were preparing a greatest hits album to be released in September. The album, which would mark the first group release after member Wheein declined to renew her contract with record label RBW, was to celebrate seven years as a group.[3] In early September, the group confirmed the album's title, cover, and release date through their social media.[4][5] I Say Mamamoo: The Best was released in full on September 15, 2021.[6] The Japanese version of the album was released on March 23, 2022.
Promotion
editPrior to the album's release, Mamamoo performed the two new original songs, "Mumumumuch" and "Happier Than Ever," during their August 2021 online concert, alongside several of the 2021 remix versions included on the album. Compared to their other albums, The Best received minimal promotions and the group opted to not perform on South Korean music programs, as the album was considered a gift to fans rather than an official comeback.[7]
Single
edit"Mumumumuch" was released as the album's lead and only single on September 15, 2021, coinciding with the release of the album itself. The song is a "dance-pop track with a rhythmical bass line that describes just how much they love someone and how having those feelings makes them shine as well." It also "expresses love for their fans and was included in the compilation album as a special gift."[8] In the music video, released on September 15, the four members of Mamamoo "spend quality time together in a lavish hotel suite, where they have drinks, cakes and more" and "perform at a resort, overlooking vibrant purple hills," as per NME.[9]
Critical reception
editPuah Ziwei of NME described the compilation as a rarity for K-pop groups but maintained that Mamamoo executed the album's concept well, saying that it "largely lives up to the group's legacy." He dubbed the rock version of their 2019 single "Gogobebe" a stand-out track, though he stated that the two new tracks felt "par for the course for K-pop in the 2020s" and "might be viewed in a slightly more positive light" had they been released as standalone singles.[10] On the review aggregator Album of the Year, I Say Mamamoo: The Best holds a user score of 64.[11]
Commercial performance
editI Say Mamamoo: The Best recorded 6,981 sales on its first day of release, a figure much smaller than the group's previous 2021 release WAW, which recorded nearly 40,000 first-day sales. Due to the success of the album on digital platforms, fans of the group blamed the group's label, RBW, for not being able to print enough copies of the album to keep up with demand, leading to it quickly selling out on various retailers, though the company made no statement on the matter.[12] The album went on to debut at number eight on the Gaon Album Chart for the 38th issued week of 2021, making it their 14th top-ten album.[13][14] On the monthly album chart for September 2021, the album placed at number 25, selling 29,996 physical copies; it dropped one place to number 26 for the month of October, with 29,159 copies sold for a total of 59,155 copies.[15][16] As of December 2022, the album has generated more than 37 million streams on music streaming platform Spotify and more than four million streams on YouTube Music.[17][18]
The album's lead single "Mumumumuch" debuted and peaked at number 102 on the Gaon Digital Chart and number eight on the Gaon Download Chart, with each of the 23 tracks from The Best entering the Download Chart as well.[19][20]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Mumumumuch" (하늘 땅 바다만큼) |
|
|
| 3:29 |
| 2. | "Happier Than Ever" (분명 우린 그땐 좋았었어) |
|
|
| 3:48 |
| 3. | "Paint Me (Orchestral Version)" (칠해줘) |
|
|
| 3:24 |
| 4. | "Starry Night (Orchestral Version)" (별이 빛나는 밤) |
|
| Lee Hoo-sang | 3:34 |
| 5. | "Gogobebe (Rock Version)" (고고베베) |
|
| Jin Min-ho | 3:40 |
| 6. | "Egotistic (Blistering Sun Version)" (너나 해) |
|
|
| 3:31 |
| 7. | "You're the Best 2021" (넌 is 뭔들) |
|
|
| 4:30 |
| 8. | "I Miss You 2021" |
| Kim Do-hoon |
| 4:24 |
| 9. | "HeeHeeHaHeHo Part.2" (히히하헤호) |
| Kim Do-hoon | 3:54 | |
| 10. | "Words Don't Come Easy 2021" (우리끼리) |
|
|
| 3:55 |
| 11. | "Piano Man 2021" |
|
|
| 3:48 |
| 12. | "Ahh Oop 2021" |
| eSNa | Choi Yong-chan | 3:23 |
| 13. | "Decalcomanie 2021" (데칼코마니) |
|
|
| 4:13 |
| 14. | "Aya (Traditional Version)" |
|
|
| 3:29 |
| 15. | "Hip (Remix Version)" |
|
|
| 4:30 |
| 16. | "A Little Bit 2021" (따끔) |
|
| Kim Chang-reok | 3:50 |
| 17. | "Wind Flower (Dramatic Version)" |
|
|
| 4:34 |
| 18. | "Um Oh Ah Yeh 2021" (음오아예) |
| Kim Do-hoon |
| 4:20 |
| 19. | "Don't Be Happy 2021" (행복하지마) |
| eSNa | Kim Do-hoon | 2:57 |
| 20. | "Peppermint Chocolate (MMM Version)" (썸남썸녀) |
|
| Lee Sang-ho | 3:31 |
| 21. | "Destiny (Extended Version)" (우린 결국 다시 만날 운명이었지) |
|
|
| 4:40 |
| 22. | "Mr. Ambiguous 2021" (Mr.애매모호) |
| Kim Do-hoon |
| 3:48 |
| 23. | "Yes I Am (Funk Boost Version)" (나로 말할 것 같으면) |
| Kim Do-hoon |
| 3:48 |
| Total length: | 1:28:51 | ||||
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Décalcomanie" (Japanese Version) | 3:38 |
| 2. | "You Don't Know Me" | 3:44 |
| 3. | "Wind Flower" (Japanese version) | 3:55 |
| 4. | "Sleep Talk" | 3:08 |
| 5. | "Starry Night" (Japanese version) | 3:33 |
| 6. | "Egotistic" (Japanese version) | 3:18 |
| 7. | "Gogobebe" (Japanese version) | 3:17 |
| 8. | "Nada Sousou" (涙そうそう) | 4:16 |
| 9. | "Hip" (Japanese version) | 3:16 |
| 10. | "Shampoo" | 3:18 |
| 11. | "Aya" (Japanese version) | 3:33 |
| 12. | "Dingga" (Japanese version) | 3:01 |
| 13. | "Just Believe in Love" | 2:48 |
| 14. | "Where We Are Now" (Japanese version) | 3:47 |
| 15. | "Mumumumuch" (Japanese version) | 3:31 |
| 16. | "Strange Day" | 3:18 |
| 17. | "Smile" | 3:04 |
| Total length: | 58:31 | |
Charts
edit
Weekly chartsedit
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Monthly chartsedit
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Release history
edit| Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | September 15, 2021 | [25] |
References
edit- ^ "I SAY MAMAMOO: THE BEST by Mamamoo". Apple Music. September 15, 2021.
- ^ "MAMAMOO คัมแบ็คปล่อยอัลบั้มรวมเพลงฮิตพร้อม MV 'mumumumuch' (มีคลิป)" [MAMAMOO releases compilation album of hit songs with MV 'mumumumuch' (with clip)]. TrueID (in Thai). September 15, 2021.
- ^ Agency (August 29, 2021). "Mamamoo to put together best-of album, reports say". TheStar.
- ^ "Mamamoo confirm September comeback, 'I Say Mamamoo: The Best'". Bandwagon Asia. September 2, 2021. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
- ^ "[#마마무] I SAY MAMAMOO : THE BEST 2021.09.15 6PM RELEASE". Twitter. September 2, 2021. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
- ^ M, Val (September 15, 2021). "Mamamoo 'I Say Mamamoo: The Best': How to listen, tracks and all you need to know". Meawww.
- ^ Maadan, Khushboo (September 16, 2021). "MAMAMOO talks about debut anniversary, working on 'I SAY MAMAMOO: THE BEST' and more". PinkVille. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
- ^ Hong, C. (September 15, 2021). "Watch: MAMAMOO Says They Love You So "mumumumuch" In Playful And Wholesome New MV". Soompi. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
- ^ Suacillo, Angela Patricia (September 15, 2021). "MAMAMOO throw a hotel party in music video for 'mumumumuch'". NME. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
- ^ Ziwei, Puah (September 22, 2021). "Mamamoo play it way too safe on fluffy, retro single "mumumumuch"". NME. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
- ^ "MAMAMOO – I Say Mamamoo : The Best - Reviews". Album of the Year.
- ^ Marian Belmis, Victoria (September 17, 2021). "Did RBW Do MAMAMOO Dirty? MAMAMOO's Latest Album Sells Fewer Than 7,000 Copies". Korea Portal. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
- ^ "2021년 38주차 Album Chart". Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
- ^ McIntyre, Hugh (September 23, 2021). "Ateez, Wonho, Mamamoo, NCT 127 And BTS: The Bestselling Albums In Korea". Forbes. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
- ^ "2021년 09월 Album Chart". Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
- ^ "2021년 10월 Album Chart". Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
- ^ "I SAY MAMAMOO : THE BEST by MAMAMOO". Spotify.
- ^ "I SAY MAMAMOO : THE BEST". YouTube Music.
- ^ "2021년 38주차 Digital Chart". Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
- ^ "2021년 38주차 Download Chart". Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
- ^ "I Say Mamamoo: The Best". Oricon. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
- ^ "I Say Mamamoo: The Best". Billboard. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
- ^ "38th Week of 2021 Album Chart". Retrieved January 3, 2022.
- ^ "September 2021 Album Chart". Retrieved January 3, 2022.
- ^ "I SAY MAMAMOO : THE BEST by MAMAMOO". Apple Music. September 15, 2021. Retrieved January 4, 2022.