Verse 2 is the first extended play by South Korean male duo JJ Project. It was released on July 31, 2017 under JYP Entertainment and incorporates a variety of genres like pop, hip-hop and rock. The album contains eight tracks, two out of the eight songs are only available on the physical release. The track "Tomorrow, Today" was chosen as the lead single for the promotional cycle.
Background and composition
In 2012, JB and Jinyoung originally debuted as JJ Project under JYP Entertainment with the upbeat hip-hop single "Bounce".[1] Two years later the duo returned as part of the boy group Got7.[2] Verse 2 is the duo's first album after five years.[3] The album contains eight tracks of various genres from pop and alternative rock to hip-hop, adopting lyrical but bright-toned melodies.[4][5] In addition, Jinyoung and JB added their own solo songs "The Day" and "Fade Away" as a hidden track that can only be heard on the CD.[5] Accourding to the duo, they wrote lyrics based on their anxieties going through life in their 20s.[4] The duo also held a photography exhibition to commemorate the release of the new album, which is composed of photographs they have taken, own essays, and unlisted photographs that can be viewed only at the exhibition.[4][5][6]
The lead track of the album, "Tomorrow, Today", is co-written by the duo and Park Jin-young, the founder of the label and the duo's producer. It features coming-of-age stories of the two in a more laid-back style and its lyrics are more personal and intimate than the duo's previous efforts.[4][7] The song features a gentle, percussive rhythm and harmonious melodies and its lyrics highlight the difficulty of making decisions about the future while being tied to the present.[3] The accompanying music video to the song is in line with the song's message and shows JB and Jinyoung traveling in an old car and it closes with the two reading books such as J.D. Salinger’s "The Catcher in the Rye", which is a quintessential book for rebellious youth.[7][3]
The album was a commercial success in South Korea and charted at number two of the Gaon Album Chart[8] and sold over 116,000 album copies.[9] In the United States, Verse 2 charted at number two on the Billboard World Albums chart, marking it the biggest-selling K-pop album in America for the week ending August 3, 2017.[10] According to Nielsen Music it sold 1,000 copies.[10] The album also charted at number nine on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart, which makes it only the seventh K-pop album to enter the Top 10 of Heatseekers in 2017.[10] Its title song, "Tomorrow, Today" charted at number nine on the World Digital Song Sales chart and was the week's fifth best-selling K-pop song in America. It's also a new peak for the duo on the chart, who only charted with "Bounce" back in 2012, which debuted at number fourteen.[10]
Track listing
Credits adapted from the official homepage.[11]
|
| 1. | "Coming Home" | | - Jinyoung
- Distract
- Secret Weapon
| Secret Weapon | 3:32 |
| 2. | "Tomorrow, Today" (내일, 오늘) | | - Lee Woomin "collapsedone"
- Mayu Wakisaka
| Lee Woomin "collapsedone" | 3:55 |
| 3. | "On&On" | - Defsoul (JB)
- Jinyoung
- mr.cho
| - Defsoul (JB)
- Jinyoung
- mr.cho
- Cheongdam-dong Gunwoo
| Cheongdam-dong Gunwoo | 3:34 |
| 4. | "Icarus" | | - Defsoul (JB)
- Andrew Choi
- Royal Dive
| Royal Dive | 3:44 |
| 5. | "Don't Wanna Know" | | Devine Channel | Devine Channel | 3:43 |
| 6. | "Find You" | | - Defsoul
- Andrew Choi
- Royal Dive
| Royal Dive | 4:03 |
| 7. | "The Day" (그날 (Jinyoung solo)) | - Jinyoung
- Jukjae
- Ju Daekwan (MonoTree)
| - Jukjae
- Ju Daekwan (MonoTree)
| - Jukjae
- Ju Daekwan (MonoTree)
| 3:43 |
| 8. | "Fade Away" (JB solo) | | - Defsoul
- Andrew Choi
- Royal Dive
| Royal Dive | 2:55 |
References
- ↑ Lee, Joel (July 28, 2017). "JJ Project unveils teaser before comeback". Kpop Herald. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
- ↑ "JYP, 포스트 2PM 그룹명은 '갓세븐(GOT7)'..16일 데뷔무대" [JYP, first boy group since 2PM, group name 'GOT 7' .. debut stage]. Osen. January 16, 2014. Retrieved December 30, 2014.
- 1 2 3 Herman, Tamar (July 31, 2017). "GOT7's JJ Project Returns After Five Years With Introspective 'Tomorrow, Today': Watch". Billboard. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
- 1 2 3 4 Kim, Jae-heun (August 7, 2017). "JJ Project returns to find startling success". Kpop Herald. Korea Times. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
- 1 2 3 Jeong, Seo-won (July 31, 2017). "JJ프로젝트, 오늘(31일) 5년만 컴백…전시회·쇼케이스 동시 개최" [JJ project, after 5 years comeback ... Simultaneous exhibition and showcase]. Chosun. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
- ↑ Jung, Ji-won (July 31, 2017). "[정오의 신곡] JJ프로젝트, 5년만에 돌아온 빛나는 청춘…'내일, 오늘'" [[New song] JJ project, a bright youth that came back in five years ... 'Tomorrow, today']. Chosun. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
- 1 2 Hong, Dam-young (August 1, 2017). "[Herald Interview] JJ Project returns five years later with reflective 'Verse 2'". Kpop Herald. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
- ↑ "Verse #2 (2017)". Archived from the original on August 10, 2017.
- ↑ "Gaon Album Sales, Verse #2 (see #8)". Archived from the original on September 7, 2017.
- 1 2 3 4 "JJ Project Make First Appearance on World, Heatseekers Albums Chart 5 Years After Debut". Archived from the original on September 15, 2017.
- ↑ "JJ Project's Official Homepage (see "Credit" section)". JYP Entertainment. July 31, 2017. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
- ↑ "Heatseekers Albums: Up and Coming Musicians Chart". Billboard. Nielsen Holdings. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
- ↑ "World Music: Top World Albums Chart". Billboard. Nielsen Holdings. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
- ↑ 2017년 31주차 Album Chart (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
- ↑ オリコン週間 CDアルバムランキング 2017年07月31日～2017年08月06日. Oricon Style (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on August 9, 2017. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
