SQUARE ONE

SQUARE ONE Images • Videos

SQUARE ONE
Information
Type	Single album
Released	Aug. 8, 2016
Format	Download, streaming
Genre	Hip-hop, dance
Length	7:31
Credits
Artist	BLACKPINK
Label	YG Entertainment
Distributor	YG PLUS
Release Chronology
Next ►	SQUARE TWO

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. 

Background

On August 5 and 6, YG Entertainment announced their debut release revealing the two title tracks.

The album was promoted on music shows with the title tracks "WHISTLE" from August 14 to September 11, and "BOOMBAYAH" from August 14 to August 28.

Composition

“ '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. ― Official Introduction

Tracklist

1. 휘파람/WHISTLE ^{Title track}
2. 붐바야/ BOOMBAYAH ^{Title track}

Achievements

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.
• 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.

Images

To see the image gallery for SQUARE ONE, click here.

Videos

To see the video gallery for SQUARE ONE, click here.

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.

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