Next Level (Aespa song)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Next Level"
Aespa - Next Level.jpg
Single by Aespa
Language
  • Korean
  • English
ReleasedMay 17, 2021 (2021-05-17)
StudioSM Studio Center, Seoul, South Korea
Genre
Length3:41
Label
Composer(s)
Lyricist(s)Yoo Young-jin
Producer(s)Lee Soo-man
Aespa singles chronology
"Forever"
(2021) 		"Next Level"
(2021)
Music video
"Next Level" on YouTube

"Next Level" is a song recorded by South Korean girl group Aespa. It was released digitally on May 17, 2021, by SM Entertainment. Composed by Yoo Young-jin, Adam McInnis, Mario Marchetti, and Sophie Curtis, the track is described as a dance and hip hop song with an upbeat jazz bridge. The song is a continuation of the group's story from their debut single "Black Mamba", telling their journey into the fictional Kwangya universe to search for the aforementioned "evil".

Upon its release, "Next Level" received positive reviews from critics for its hip-hop production and the members' performance. The song is the group's first top-five hit in their native country, their second top-five entry on the Billboard World Digital Song Sales chart, and their highest peak to date on the Billboard Global 200, making Aespa only the third South Korean girl group to appear on the global chart more than once.

Background and release[]

On May 4, 2021, South Korean news outlet Ilgan Sports reported that the Aespa was in the final stages of preparation for their much-anticipated comeback.[3] The report was subsequently confirmed by SM Entertainment, adding that other details of the comeback would be disclosed at a later date.[4] On May 5, the group released a cryptic teaser to the single on social media and confirmed the comeback date to be May 17, 2021.[5] From May 7 to 10, teaser images were released for each individual group member (in order: Karina, Winter, Giselle, Ningning).[6][7][8][9] On May 15, the music video teaser was released.[10][11] On May 17, the song together with the music video was released.[12][13]

Composition[]

"Next Level" was composed by Yoo Young-jin, Adam McInnis, Mario Marchetti, and Sophie Curtis.[14] In addition, SM Entertainment's founder and producer Lee Soo-man helped the group to add a "distinctive color to the song".[15] The song remakes A$ton Wyld's song of the same name, which featured on the soundtrack of Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw.[16][17]

Musically, "Next Level" is a dance and hip hop song with a "groovy" rap and an "energetic" bass riff, showcasing Aespa's "powerful voice and variety".[18] The song's rhythm switches mid-track with an upbeat jazz-inspired composition.[2] Mariel Abanes of NME described it as a "fierce dance-pop song in a futuristic world".[4] "Next Level" was composed in the key of B minor, with a tempo of 109 beats per minute.[19] The lyrics detail the group's journey into a fictional universe, Kwangya, in search of an evil being called the "Black Mamba".[20][21]

Critical reception[]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
IZM3/5 stars[22]

Following its release, "Next Level" was met with positive reviews from music critics. Hakyung Kate Lee of ABC News recognized the song's "astonishing popularity", further explaining that the song was "powered by a unique concept of Aespa's identity and story".[23] Hugh McIntyre of Forbes noted the tune for bringing Aespa to the upper half of the ranking chart for the first time, further adding that "it helps them join a very exclusive club of some of the most successful girl groups from South Korea".[24] In an individual song review, writer Yeom Dong-gyo of IZM noted the track for its "original hip-hop sound that sticks to Karina and Giselle's sophisticated rap", further praising Winter's high-pitched part that "energizes the bridge, smoothly weaving the changing composition of the song" and rated it three stars out of five.[25]

Commercial performance[]

"Next Level" debuted at number nine on South Korea's Gaon Digital Chart with chart issue dated May 16–22, 2021, making it Aespa's first top ten single on the chart.[26][27] The song then ascended to number two in its fifth week, thus earning the group their first top-two entry, and their highest peak to date.[28] The song also debuted and peaked at number seven on the component Download Chart.[29][30] It also debuted at number 12 and later became their first chart-topping entry on the component Streaming Chart.[31][32] In addition, it debuted at number 47 on the component BGM chart.[33] The single entered the Billboard K-Pop 100 at number 33 on the chart issue dated May 29, 2021.[34] It reached number five in the following week and peaked at number three with chart issue dated June 12, 2021.[35][36] In Japan, "Next Level" debuted at number 77 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart issue dated May 26, 2021, and also debuted at number 65 on the component Download Chart.[37][38] In Singapore, the single debuted at 25 on the Streaming Chart, later peaking at number twenty-three.[39] It also debuted at 12 on the Regional Chart, and peaked at number six.[40][41]

In the United States, "Next Level" debuted and peaked at number three on the Billboard World Digital Song Sales.[42] The single went on to debut at number 97 on the Billboard Global 200 with chart issue dated May 29, 2021, up by 86 steps from their debut song "Black Mamba" and making Aespa the third South Korean girl group to reach the chart more than once after Blackpink and Itzy.[43][24][44] The song peaked at number 65 in the following week.[45] The song also debuted at number 54 on the Billboard Global Excl. US, and peaked at number 34 in the following week.[46][47]

Music video[]

Background[]

A scene in the music video, where Aespa is seen in a futuristic VFX with colorful computer graphics

On May 15, 2021, a 28-second video teaser for "Next Level" was uploaded on the official SM Town channel, with the official video being released two days later.[48] The visual was released on SM Entertainment's official YouTube channel on May 17, 2017, to coincide with the digital release of the song. The accompanying music video for the track was directed by Paranoid Paradigm.[49] Aespa revealed that SM Entertainment founder Lee Soo-man directed their performance video from choreography, composition, stage movement, camera work, outfits, and gestures.[50]

Synopsis and reception[]

The music video tells a story of venturing out to wilderness to find "Black Mamba", the antagonist that's threatening and interfering with "Synk" which is the connection between themselves and the "ae".[51][52] Following the music video's release, writer Moon Wan-sik of StarNews noted the "colorful CGs and intense performances".[53] Patti Sunio of South China Morning Post described the music video for being a "visual treat that not only showcases Aespa's bold fashion styles" further praising the group for their "versatile vocals and power choreography".[54] Divyansha Dongre of Rolling Stone India noted its "fresh and vibrant with colorful cinematography blended with futuristic VFX" music video that is elevating the appeal of the track.[2] On June 19, 2021, the music video for the track reached 100 million views on YouTube in 32 days and eight hours, which is the shortest time in which an Aespa video had accrued that many views.[55]

Credits and personnel[]

Credits adapted from Melon and Tidal.[56][57]

Studio

  • Recorded, edited, engineered for mix, and mixed at SM Booming System
  • Mastered at Sonic Korea

Personnel

  • Aespa – vocals, background vocals
  • Yoo Young-jin – Korean songwriting, composition, arrangement, music and sound supervisor, vocal director, background vocals, recording, digital editing, mixing engineer, mixing
  • Adam McInnis – composition, arrangement
  • Mario Marchetti – composition, arrangement
  • Sophie Curtis – composition
  • Kriz – background vocals
  • Cheon Hoon – mastering
  • Shin Soo-min – mastering assistant

Charts[]

Release history[]

Release dates and formats for "Next Level"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various May 17, 2021
[4]

References[]

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  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c Divyansha Dongre (May 17, 2021). "Watch aespa's Dynamic Return With 'Next Level'". Rolling Stone India. Archived from the original on May 18, 2021. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
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