Yuq1 is the debut extended play (EP) by Chinese singer-songwriter Yuqi. The EP was released on April 23, 2024, and was promoted with its two singles, "Could It Be" and "Freak".
| Yuq1 | ||||
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 Digital cover | ||||
| EP by | ||||
| Released | April 23, 2024 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 19:19 | |||
| Language |
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| Label | ||||
| Yuqi chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Yuq1 | ||||
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Background
editAfter releasing her digital single album A Page in 2021,[1] Yuqi announced her new album Yuq1 on April 2, 2024.[2] Although Yuqi had previously pursued solo music, Yuq1 was declared to be the official beginning of her solo career, making her the third member of South Korean girl group (G)I-dle to debut as a soloist.[2][3] After her participation in composition and lyrics for (G)I-dle's songs, the EP also marked Yuqi's first time composing her own album.[4]
Promotion and release
editRevealing a preview for Yuq1, Cube Entertainment posted a concept trailer on YouTube, showing Yuqi 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.[2] Its lead single "Freak" was released alongside an accompanying music video on the same day.[3]
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
editThe EP's title, which is based on her name, aimed to capture the essence of who 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 Yuqi stated to represent herself, explaining: "I was born in the year of the Rabbit, and my favorite color is red!"[4]
Commercial performance
editYuq1 accumulated more than 500,000 units in pre-order sales.[4] 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.[11]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Arrangement | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Freak" |
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| 2:51 |
| 2. | "My Way" |
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| 2:48 |
| 3. | "Drink It Up" (featuring pH-1) |
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| 3:16 |
| 4. | "Red Rover" |
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| 2:03 |
| 5. | "On Clap" (featuring Lexie Liu) |
|
| Siixk Jun | 1:58 |
| 6. | "Everytime" (featuring Minnie) |
|
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| 3:11 |
| 7. | "Could It Be" |
|
| 3:09 | |
| Total length: | 19:19 | ||||
Charts
editWeekly charts
edit| Chart (2024) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[12] | 145 |
| Japanese Albums (Oricon)[13] | 42 |
| Portuguese Albums (AFP)[14] | 108 |
| South Korean Albums (Circle)[11] | 2 |
Monthly charts
edit| Chart (2024) | Position |
|---|---|
| South Korean Albums (Circle)[15] | 7 |
Certifications
edit| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| South Korea (KMCA)[16] | 2× Platinum | 500,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
Reference
edit- ^ Lee, Seung-hoon (May 10, 2021). "(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"]. Osen. Retrieved May 31, 2024 – via The Chosun Ilbo.
- ^ a b c Yoon, So-yeon (April 2, 2024). "(G)I-DLE member Yuqi to begin solo career with debut album". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on April 30, 2024. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
- ^ a b Chin, Carmen (April 23, 2024). "(G)I-DLE's Yuqi is haunted by horror movie characters in 'Freak' music video". NME. Archived from the original on April 24, 2024. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
- ^ a b c Sayson, Sofia (April 24, 2024). "(G)I-DLE's YUQI Is "A Certified Freak," Just Like Everyone Else". Grammy Awards. Archived from the original on April 29, 2024. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
- ^ "(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. Archived from the original on May 31, 2024. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
- ^ Jang, Woo-young (April 5, 2024). "(여자)아이들 우기, 오늘(5일) 선공개곡 'Could It Be' 발매" [(G)I-DLE's Yuqi releases pre-release song 'Could It Be' today (5th)]. Osen. Archived from the original on May 31, 2024. Retrieved May 31, 2024 – via Chosun Biz.
- ^ "[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. Archived from the original on June 1, 2024. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
- ^ Jang, Woo-young (April 23, 2024). "(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]]. Osen. Archived from the original on April 23, 2024. Retrieved June 1, 2024 – via The Chosun Ilbo.
- ^ Ha, Na-young (April 23, 2024). "(여자)아이들 우기 그 자체…첫 솔로 'YUQ1'에 쏠리는 기대" [(G)I-DLE Yuqi herself... Expectations are focused on the first solo ‘YUQ1’]. Chosun Biz. Archived from the original on June 1, 2024. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
- ^ Kim, Ju-yeon (April 29, 2024). "(G)I-DLE member Yuqi's debut EP breaks record, tops international iTunes charts". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on May 1, 2024. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
- ^ a b "Album Chart: 2024 Week 17". Circle Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 2, 2024. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Yuqi – Yuq1" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
- ^ "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2024-05-13" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on May 10, 2024. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
- ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – Yuqi – Yuq1". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
- ^ "Circle Album Chart – April 2024". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved May 31, 2024.
- ^ "South Korean album certifications – Yuqi – Yuq1" (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association (KMCA). Retrieved June 7, 2024.