Q is is the fourth extended play by the South Korean boy band NU'EST. The album was released on February 17, 2016 and was distributed by LOEN Entertainment.
| Q is | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| EP by | ||||
| Released | February 17, 2016 | |||
| Genre | K-pop | |||
| Length | 17:40 | |||
| Label | Pledis Entertainment | |||
| NU'EST chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Q is | ||||
| ||||
Background and release
editQ is is NU'EST's first Korean release in 1.5 years after the group put their Korean activities on hold to promote in Japan.[1] The album was released on February 17, 2016 along with the music video for the title track, "Overcome." A dance version of the music video was released on February 22, 2016.[2]
Composition
editThe concept of Q is focuses on a narrative about a queen and a knight who wants to protect her. During the album's comeback showcase, JR explained that the queen represents the group's fans,[3] known as "Love." In addition, Baekho revealed that the first letter of each song spelled out the word "Love", while the second "s" in "One Kis2" was intentionally spelled with the number "2" to form a heart.[4]
The title track, "Overcome", is described as an addictive melody with lyrics describing the knight's desire to protect the girl he loves by singing a magic spell to make her forget about pain.[5] Joshua Minsoo Kim from Billboard describes the song as beginning as a "sultry ballad" resembling "Promise" before abruptly shifting into a pre-chorus resembling "My Boo" and then a "dramatic chorus complete with post-dubstep wobbles", comparing the change of pace in the song to "an arduous journey to reassure their lover."[6]
Reception
editQ is peaked at #5 on the Gaon Music Chart.[7] Initially, the album only sold 8,988 copies upon release,[8] but after NU'EST's appearance on Produce 101 Season 2 in 2017, the album re-entered the charts and sold an additional 18,544 copies.[9]
Q is peaked at #11 on the US Billboard World Albums Chart.[10] In Japan, it peaked at #1 on Tower Records' daily ranking.[11]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Lost & Found" (나의 천국 lit. My Heaven[4]) |
| 3:08 | |
| 2. | "Overcome" (여왕의 기사 lit. The Queen's Knight) |
|
| 3:13 |
| 3. | "VVith" (사실 말야 lit. In Fact[4]) |
|
| 3:06 |
| 4. | "Emotion" (티격태격 lit. Bickering[4]) |
|
| 4:00 |
| 5. | "One Kis2" |
|
| 4:13 |
| Total length: | 17:40 | |||
Charts
edit| Chart (2016) | Peak
position |
|---|---|
| South Korea Gaon Music Chart[7] | 5 |
| US Billboard World Albums Chart[10] | 11 |
References
edit- ^ "NU'EST、新曲「女王の騎士」MVを公開"少年から男へ成長した姿"". Osen (in Japanese). KStyle. February 18, 2016. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
- ^ Kim, Ha-jin (February 22, 2016). "NU'EST、新曲「女王の騎士」ダンスバージョンのミュージックビデオを公開". TenAsia (in Japanese). Translated by Choi, Yoon-jeong. KStyle. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
- ^ [Showcase] NU'EST(뉴이스트) _ OVERCOME(여왕의 기사) & In Fact(사실 말야) [(Showcase) NU'EST: Overcome & In Fact]. South Korea: 1theK. February 21, 2016. Event occurs at 3:00-3:20. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
JR: The fourth album is about a queen and a knight who wants to protect her. For us NU'EST, our queen is our precious fans. We made this song since we want to protect and think about our fans forever.
- ^ a b c d [Showcase] NU'EST(뉴이스트) _ OVERCOME(여왕의 기사) & In Fact(사실 말야) [(Showcase) NU'EST: Overcome & In Fact]. South Korea: 1theK. February 21, 2016. Event occurs at 3:20-3:47. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
Baekho: Our first track is "My Heaven" ["Lost & Found"], which is the "L" of "love." The second track is "Overcome", which is the "O" of "love." The third track is "In Fact" ["VVith"], which is the "V" of "love." And the fourth track is "Bickering" ["Emotion"], which is the "E" of "love." On the last track, we added "S" and "2" to make a heart shape, so the album spells out "LOVE", and a heart.
- ^ "【PHOTO】NU'EST、4thミニアルバム発売記念ショーケースを開催"一層成熟した姿"". TV Report (in Japanese). KStyle. February 18, 2016. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
- ^ "The 100 Greatest K-Pop Songs of the 2010s: Staff List". Billboard. November 25, 2019. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
- ^ a b "Q Is – 2016년 08주차 Album Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association.
- ^ "Gaon Download March 2016 Chart". Gaon Chart. Retrieved June 23, 2017.
- ^ 2017년 09월 Album Chart [September 2017 Album Chart]. Gaon Chart (in Korean). Retrieved October 13, 2017.
- ^ a b "Nu'est Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
- ^ Kim, Ha-jin (February 22, 2016). "NU'EST、タワーレコードデイリーランキングで上位に…人気を証明" [NU'EST tops Tower Records' daily ranking... a sign of popularity]. TenAsia (in Japanese). Translated by Choi, Yoonj-jeong. KStyle. Retrieved December 29, 2019.