SQUARE ONE is the debut digital single album by South Korean girl group BLACKPINK. It was released on August 8, 2016, with "WHISTLE" and "BOOMBAYAH" serving as the title tracks.
In order to promote Square One, BLACKPINK held their debut stage performing "Whistle" and "Boombayah" on SBS's Inkigayo on August 14, 2016. A week later on August 21, the group win their first music program trophy for "Whistle" on Inkigayo, becoming the fastest girl group to achieve this feat.
Composition[]
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'BLACKPINK' is a new girl group created through rigorous training at YG. They have been honing their skills through long practice periods and collaborations with YG artists, and have been recognized for their skills. Their debut album [SQUARE ONE], which is their first time standing independently in front of the public, was produced by YG's top producer 'TEDDY' for two years to maximize the quality of the album, and it appeals with a unique sound and charm that differentiates it from existing girl groups. [SQUARE ONE], which contains both YG's signature BLACK sensibility and the new PINK charm, will be a signal to announce the start of a new girl group that has been shrouded in mystery.
The introduction features a unique synth sound and impressive rhythmic rapping, and is an EDM song (crossover) that combines dancehall and electronic house, which are currently sweeping the US Billboard. The energetic and powerful chorus drop part changes the key of the song, giving a twist and filling it with strong drum beats and unique synth sounds. The boombayah hook that shouts oppa is catchy and makes it even more exciting. The lyrics express my confident and charismatic self and my desire to forget everything and dance with you today.
The beginning of the whistle is based on the production using 808 drums and bass, and the melody line that seems to be spit out with a whistle theme, and the water drop effect that tickles your ears stand out. It is an addictive hip-hop song where you can enjoy rap that seems to play with the beat and appealing singing at the same time. The whistle hook of the chorus is so catchy that you will keep humming it after listening to it once, and it contains lyrics that earnestly express the desire to confirm that love, saying that among all the men who look at me, there is only one true love, you.
For achievements specific to the title tracks, click here and here.
Square One gained 118,573,385 streams in 2020 on Spotify.
It has has surpassed 550 million streams on Spotify. It's the first debut project by a K-Pop act to do so.
It won New Artist of the Year at the 31st Golden Disc Awards, 2016 Melon Music Awards, 26th Seoul Music Awards, 1st Asia Artist Awards, and 6th Gaon Chart Music Awards.
The songs were a commercial success. "WHISTLE" topped the Gaon Digital Chart and "BOOMBAYAH" topped the US World Digital Songs, both in the first week of sales.
Images[]
To see the image gallery for SQUARE ONE, click here.
Videos[]
To see the video gallery for SQUARE ONE, click here.
Trivia[]
It is the fourth most streamed album by a K-Pop female act on Spotify (447.3M).
It is the third most streamed K-Pop girl group album with over 3 billion total global streams.
Reviews[]
Billboard K-Town's Jeff Benjamin said they "embrace the hip-hop sensibilities and club-ready sounds with which their seniors gained an international following", referring to their labelmates Psy, Big Bang and 2NE1. He said, "Boombayah" has "booming, exotic beats" while "Whistle" brings together impassioned crooning and their youthful hip-hop delivery with minimal drum 'n' bass and an undeniable whistle hook" Rolling Stone's Brittany Spanos in "10 New Artists You Need to Know: September 2016" said they sound like a "perfect marriage" of K-pop and A-town (Atlanta) trap. She said they would appeal to fans of CL, 2NE1, Ariana Grande and Fifth Harmony, qualifying the last group's harder sounds. She said, "All low-end boom and high-end tweets, the infectious "Whistle" feels like perfect pop update of the similarly chirpy Ying Yang Twins classic "Whistle While You Twurk.
Entertainment Weekly's Joey Nolfi in "8 hot under-the-radar singles from emerging artists you need to hear now" said the song (Whistle) "quickly turns up the heat, layering irresistible finger snaps, a saccharine bridge, electric guitar riffs, mammoth bass, and, of course, cow bell-accompanied whistles ... it wouldn’t sound entirely out of place occupying a lofty position on American charts.
한국어Hellevator • Double Knot • Mixtape : Gone Days • Mixtape : On Track • ALL IN (Korean ver.) • Mixtape : OH • Mixtape : Time Out 日本語CASE 143 (Japanese ver.) EnglishStep Out of Clé • TOP (English ver.)
Collaborations
Going Dumb (with Stray Kids) • Going Dumb (with Stray Kids) (Mike Williams Remix) • All My Life (Stray Kids Remix) • Like Magic • Lose My Breath (feat. Charlie Puth)
Remixes
Lose My Breath (Remixes) • Chk Chk Boom (Remixes)
OSTs
Extraordinary You OST Part 7 • TOP • POP OUT BOY! OST Part 1 • WHY? • SLASH • NIGHT (Korean ver.) • Come Play
Stray Kids • Finding Stray Kids • Finding Stray Kids : God Edition • Kingdom: Legendary War • KINGDOM WEEK : NO+ • Finding Stray Kids : Get Edition • Stray Kids Tokyo Mission Tour
Web shows
Stray Cuts • SPOT KIDS • The 9th • SKZ-TALKER • SKZ's HONEY-TIPS • Two Kids Room • SKZ&SKZ • SKZ-TALKER GO! • CHOISKZ • One Kid's Room • SKZ VLOG • Two Kids Room+1 • Two Kids Song • ♥ Kids Room • SKZ-PRACTICE ROOM • SKZ CODE • Mysterious KITCHEN • All-Night SKZ • ASMR : 8.01 STAY FM • "Kingdom: Legendary War" BEHIND • SKZ SONG CAMP • 2 Kids Room • SKZ Variety Games • RACHA LOG • SKZ LOG • 2 Kids Show • SONG by • One Kid's Room 2024
Live broadcasts
SKZ-LIFE • Chan's Room • Lee Know's Play Room • Arirang • Spilling Dwaekki • Hyunnie Binnie • Hyunjin's Practice Room • Hyunjin's Counseling Center • Ret-D • BboBboz • 9.15 Lix FM • Puppy & Kitty School • Seungmin's Small But Certain Happiness • It's I.N And Seungmin Again • The Maknae's Private Life
EVENTS
Showcases
UNVEIL "Op. 01 : I am NOT" • UNVEIL "Op. 02 : I am WHO" • UNVEIL "Op. 03 : I am YOU" • UNVEIL THE MIROH • Japan Showcase 2019 "Hi-STAY" • ONLINE UNVEIL : GO LIVE • ONLINE UNVEIL : IN LIFE • Seoul Special (UNVEIL 11) • Seoul Special (UNVEIL 13)
Concerts/Tours
UNVEIL TOUR "I am..." • World Tour "District 9 : Unlock" • Unlock : GO LIVE IN LIFE • 2nd World Tour "MANIAC" • 5-STAR Dome Tour 2023 • World Tour "dominATE"
Fanmeetings
1st #LoveSTAY "SKZ-X" • STAYing Home Meeting • 2nd #LoveSTAY "SKZ'S CHOCOLATE FACTORY" • 3rd FANMEETING "PILOT : FOR ★★★★★" • 4th FANMEETING "SKZ'S MAGIC SCHOOL" • Fan Connecting 2024 "SKZ TOY WORLD"
