Ringo (Itzy album)

Ringo
Limited B and digital cover
Studio album by
Itzy
ReleasedOctober 18, 2023 (2023-10-18)
Length36:09
LanguageJapanese
LabelWarner Japan
Itzy chronology
Kill My Doubt
(2023) 		Ringo
(2023) 		Born to Be
(2024)
Singles from Ringo
  1. "Voltage"
    Released: April 6, 2022
  2. "Blah Blah Blah"
    Released: October 5, 2022
  3. "Ringo"
    Released: September 27, 2023

Ringo (Japanese for 'apple') is the first Japanese-language and second overall studio album by South Korean girl group Itzy. It was released by Warner Music Japan on October 18, 2023. Led by the lead single of the same name, the album contains 11 tracks, including the singles "Voltage" and "Blah Blah Blah"; and the Japanese versions of "Sneakers", "Cheshire", and "Trust Me (Midzy)".

Background

Itzy debuted in Japan under Warner Music Japan on September 1, 2021, with the release of the compilation extended play What'z Itzy, which featured the quintet's previous singles.[1] A compilation album featuring Japanese versions of the quintet's singles, titled It'z Itzy, was released later that year, on December 22.[2] The group's first original Japanese-language song was released on April 6, 2022, with the release of the maxi single "Voltage".[3][4] A second maxi single, titled "Blah Blah Blah", followed on October 5.[5]

During the Japan leg of the Checkmate World Tour, in February 2023, Itzy revealed their plans for their first full-length Japanese studio album as part of a surprise announcement.[6] On August 7, 2023, JYP Entertainment officially announced the album, Ringo, and the titles of its eleven tracks.[7]

Music and lyrics

Ringo is composed of eleven tracks. The album opens with the lead single of the same name, which is inspired by fairy tales.[8] It carries the message of "charting one's path, instead of following the footsteps of already-written fairy tales".[9]

The album reprises the pop-rock single "Voltage" as its fifth track, and is followed by "Spice".[10] "Blah Blah Blah", a song characterized by a rhythmic rap and an "addictive" synth melody, is also reprised, as well as "Can't tie me down".[11] The album closes with the re-recorded Japanese versions of three tracks previously released by the quintet: the electro-pop track "Sneakers",[12] the dance-pop track "Cheshire",[13] and the fan-dedicated track "Trust Me (Midzy)".[14]

Release and promotion

Ringo was released on October 18, 2023.[15] The announcement of the album was accompanied by the release of teaser images, which depict the members with bright red apples.[16] The album was available in eight different physical formats, all of which contained a CD. The album had two limited edition variations, one containing a DVD and the other containing ten trading cards.[8]

The Japanese version of "Trust Me (Midzy)" and "Sugar-holic" were released ahead of the album as a promotional single on August 29, and October 11, respectively.[17][18]

Track listing

Ringo track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."Ringo"
  • Seo Yong-won
  • Yu-ki Kokubo
  • JJean
  • Scott Russell Stoddart
Stoddart3:29
2."Sugar-holic"
  • Kaz Kuwamura
  • Yhel
  • Kass
  • Ciara Muscat
  • Tim Tan
 3:03
3."Playlist"Mio Jorokuhji
 3:44
4."Style"Kentz
 3:03
5."Voltage"Mayu Wakisaka
  • Ayushy
  • Frankie Day
  • The Hub 88
  • Selah
  • Charlotte Wilson
Selah3:41
6."Spice"D&H
  • Kobee
  • Holy M
  • Kobee
  • Holy M
3:41
7."Blah Blah Blah"Mio Jorakuji
  • Sim Eunjee
  • Minyoung Lee
  • Yeul
  • Eunjee
  • Lee
  • Yeul
3:06
8."Can't Tie Me Down"Yo-Hei
  • Awry
  • Ayushy
  • The Hub 88
  • Selah
Selah3:05
9."Sneakers" (Japanese version)
  • Friday
  • Ogi
  • Jessica Pierpoint
  • Yohei
  • Pierpoint
  • Didrik Thott
  • Sebastian Thott
 3:01
10."Cheshire" (Japanese version)
  • Hwang Sumin
  • Jeong Hari
  • Wakisaka
  • Muscat
  • J.A.R.
  • JJean
  • Josefin Glenmark
  • Reinstein
  • Tan
 3:03
11."Trust Me (Midzy)" (Japanese version)
  • MosPick
  • Young Chance
  • Wakisaka
  • MosPick
  • Young Chance
MosPick3:41
Total length:36:09
Ringo Limited A bonus tracks (DVD)
No.TitleLength
1.""Ringo" Music Video Making Movie" 
2.""Ringo" Jacket Shooting Making Movie" 
3."Documentary of Itzy Japan Debut Showcase "It'z Itzy"" 

Charts

Release history

Release dates and formats for Ringo
Region Date Format Version Label Ref.
Japan October 18, 2023
Limited A Warner Japan [23]
CD Limited B
Regular
  • Yeji
  • Lia
  • Ryujin
  • Chaeryeong
  • Yuna
Various
Regular [24]
South Korea JYP [25]

References

  1. ^ Yonhap (September 1, 2021). "K-pop girl group ITZY debuts in Japan". The Korea Herald. Archived from the original on August 11, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  2. ^ "Itzy、日本デビューアルバム「It'z Itzy」12月22日にリリース決定！「WANNABE -Japanese ver.-」MV公開も...情報が一挙解禁" [ITZY to release Japanese debut album "IT'z ITZY" on December 22nd! "WANNABE -Japanese ver.-" MV released... Information lifted at once]. Kstyle (in Japanese). November 1, 2021. Archived from the original on November 1, 2021. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  3. ^ Lee, Jae-lim (February 24, 2022). "Girl group ITZY to drop Japanese EP 'Voltage' on April 6". koreajoongangdaily.joins.com. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  4. ^ Bodegon, Kara (April 6, 2022). "ITZY's Japanese debut single album VOLTAGE is here – listen". ITZY's Japanese debut single album VOLTAGE is here – listen| Bandwagon | Music media championing and spotlighting music in Asia. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  5. ^ Raeburn, Brandon (August 22, 2022). "ITZY to release second Japanese single album 'Blah Blah Blah' this October". ITZY to release second Japanese single album 'Blah Blah Blah' this October| Bandwagon | Music media championing and spotlighting music in Asia. Archived from the original on September 28, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  6. ^ Cho, Yong-jun (February 27, 2023). "ITZY to release full-length Japanese album in second half of 2023". koreajoongangdaily.joins.com. Archived from the original on May 28, 2023. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  7. ^ You-mee, Hwang (August 9, 2023). "[Today's K-pop] Itzy to roll out 1st LP in Japan". The Korea Herald. Archived from the original on August 14, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  8. ^ a b "ITZY、初の日本 1st Album『RINGO』10月発売！オリジナル新曲にFC限定ソロ盤も" [ITZY to release first Japanese 1st album "RINGO" in October! Original new song and FC limited solo version]. RBB TODAY (in Japanese). August 7, 2023. Archived from the original on August 10, 2023. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  9. ^ Yoon, So-yeon (August 9, 2023). "ITZY to release first Japanese full-length album 'Ringo' in October". koreajoongangdaily.joins.com. Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  10. ^ Yoon, Sang-geun (April 7, 2022). "ITZY 일본 싱글 'Voltage' 오리콘 일간 싱글 차트 '2위'" [ITZY Japanese single 'Voltage' Oricon daily single chart '2nd place']. Star News (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 23, 2022. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  11. ^ Kwa, Hyeonsu (August 24, 2022). "ITZY, 10월 5일 일본 싱글 2집 'Blah Blah Blah' 발매" [ITZY releases their 2nd Japanese single 'Blah Blah Blah' on October 5th]. YTN (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 20, 2022. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  12. ^ Dongre, Divyansha (July 15, 2022). "Itzy Embrace Their Queenship in the Latest Music Video for 'Sneakers'". Rolling Stone India. Archived from the original on July 15, 2022. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  13. ^ Jung, Hyeon-tae (November 29, 2022). "있지, 타이틀곡 'Cheshire' MV 티저 추가 오픈..내일(30일) 컴백" [Itzy, an additional MV teaser for the title song 'Cheshire' is open..Comeback tomorrow (30th)] (in Korean). Herald Pop. Archived from the original on December 3, 2022. Retrieved August 10, 2023 – via Naver.
  14. ^ Benjamin, Jeff. "ITZY Drop Fan-Dedicated Song 'Trust Me (MIDZY)' Ahead Of Upcoming April Album". Forbes. Archived from the original on August 11, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  15. ^ "ORICON NEWS：ITZY、初の日本アルバム『RINGO』10・18発売 ジャケ写8種＆収録内容一挙公開" [ITZY Releases First Japanese Album "RINGO" 10/18 Releases 8 Types of Cover Photos & Recorded Contents]. Oricon News (in Japanese). August 7, 2023. Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  16. ^ "있지(ITZY), 日 데뷔 1년10개월 만에 첫 정규...'링고'" [ITZY, first regular album after 1 year and 10 months of debut in Japan...'Ringo']. newsis (in Korean). August 9, 2023. Archived from the original on August 11, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  17. ^ "ITZY 「Trust Me (MIDZY) -Japanese ver.-」". Recochoku (in Japanese). Warner Music Japan. August 29, 2023. Archived from the original on September 1, 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  18. ^ "ITZY、日本1stアルバムよりチルエモな新曲「Sugar-holic」PV公開". Bezzy (in Japanese). October 11, 2023. Archived from the original on December 30, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  19. ^ "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2023-10-30" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  20. ^ "Oricon Top 50 Combined Albums: 2023-10-30" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on October 27, 2023. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
  21. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Albums – Week of October 25, 2023". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on October 26, 2023. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  22. ^ "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2023-10" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on November 8, 2023. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  23. ^ "ITZY OFFICIAL SITE". ITZY OFFICIAL SITE (in Japanese). Archived from the original on August 7, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  24. ^ "ITZYの「RINGO」" (in Japanese). Apple Music (JP). October 17, 2023. Archived from the original on October 24, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  25. ^ "[정규] RINGO – ITZY (있지)" (in Korean). Melon. October 18, 2023. Archived from the original on October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 18, 2023.