"Spicy" is a song recorded by South Korean girl group Aespa for their third extended play My World. It was released as the EP's lead single by SM Entertainment on May 8, 2023.
Background and release
On February 16, 2023, Lee Sung-soo released a 30-minute video stating: "Lee Soo-man was the reason why Aespa's music has been delayed" and that the group was supposed to release new music on February 20. Moreover, he added that Soo-man wanted to start "injecting environmentalist motifs of tree-planting and sustainability into songs" which were eventually later scrapped as they "did not fit the world of Aespa" and made the group "upset".[1] On March 16, SM Entertainment announced that Aespa would be releasing a record in early May.[2] On April 17, it was announced that the group's third extended play titled My World, and containing six tracks, would be released on May 8.[3] On April 24, the track listing was released via their official website with "Spicy" announced as the lead single.[4][5] On May 6, the music video teaser was released.[6] The song was released alongside the EP and its music video on May 8.[7] On September 15, a remix version by Nitepunk was released.[8]
Composition
"Spicy" was written by Bang Hye-hyun (JamFactory), composed and arranged by Ludvig Evers (Moonshine), and Jonatan Gusmark (Moonshine), with Emily Yeonseo Kim, and Moa "Cazzi Opeia" Carlebecker participating in the composition, and Jinbyjin participating in the arrangement.[9] It was described as an "experimental" dance, pop, and synth-pop song characterized by "intense synth-bass sound [and] dynamic beat rhythm".[10][11][12] "Spicy" was composed in the key of B minor, with a tempo of 115 beats per minute.[13]
Music video
The music video directed by 725 of SL8 Visual Lab was released alongside the song by SM Entertainment on May 8.[14][7] The music video portrays Aespa "as a group of popular high school students" with scenes that switches between "Aespa getting ready to throw a wild party in their lavish mansion" and "Aespa taking the opportunity to explore the city when the clock strikes midnight when the time stops".[15]
Commercial performance
"Spicy" debuted at number six on South Korea's Circle Digital Chart in the chart issue dated May 7–13, 2023;[16] on its component charts, the song debuted at number three on the Circle Download Chart,[17] number eight on the Circle Streaming Chart,[18] and number 33 on the Circle BGM Chart.[19] It ascended to number two on the Circle Digital Chart,[20] and number three on the Circle Streaming Chart,[21] in the chart issue dated May 21–27, 2023. In Japan, the song debuted at number 71 on the Billboard JapanHot 100 in the chart issue dated May 17, 2023;[22] on its component charts, the song debuted at number 70 on the Top Download Songs,[23] and number 82 on the Top Streaming Songs.[24] It ascended to number 64 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100,[25] and number 56 on the Top Streaming Songs.[26] On the Oricon Streaming Chart, it debuted at number 48 in the chart issue dated May 22, 2023,[27] ascending to number 43 in the following week.[28]
In Singapore, the song debuted at number 22 on the RIAS Top Streaming Chart in the chart issue dated May 12–18, 2023.[29] It also debuted at number 17 on the RIAS Top Regional Chart in the chart issue dated May 5–11, 2023.[30] In Vietnam, the song debuted at number 27 on the Billboard VietnamHot 100 in the chart issue dated May 18, 2023.[31] In Hong Kong, the song debuted at number 24 on the BillboardHong Kong Songs in the chart issue dated May 27, 2023.[32] In Taiwan, the song debuted number 14 on the Billboard Taiwan Songs in the chart issue dated May 27, 2023.[33]
In the United States, the song debuted at number six on the BillboardWorld Digital Song Sales in the chart issue dated August 26, 2023.[34] In New Zealand, the song debuted at number 34 on the RMNZ Hot Singles in the chart issue dated May 15, 2023.[35] Globally, the song debuted at number 160 on the BillboardGlobal 200,[36] and number 77 on the BillboardGlobal Excl. U.S in the chart issue dated May 20, 2023.[37] It ascended to number 70 on the Billboard Global 200,[38] and number 42 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S in the following week.[39]
Promotion
Prior to the release of My World, on May 8, 2023, Aespa held a live event called "Aespa 'My World' Countdown Live" on YouTube, TikTok, and IdolPlus to introduce the album and its song, including "Spicy", and to communicate with their fans.[40] The group subsequently performed on four music programs in the first week: Mnet's M Countdown on May 11,[41]KBS's Music Bank on May 12,[42]MBC's Show! Music Core on May 13,[43] and SBS's Inkigayo on May 14.[44] On the second and final week of promotion, they performed four music programs: M Countdown on May 18,[45]Music Bank on May 19,[46]Show! Music Core on May 20,[47] and Inkigayo on May 21,[48] where they won the first place for all appearances.
Track listing
Digital download / streaming – Original
"Spicy" – 3:17
Digital download / streaming – Remixes
"Spicy" (Nitepunk remix) – 3:10
Accolades
Grammy included "Spicy" in their list of the 15 K-Pop Songs That Took 2023 By Storm.[49]
^Oh, Yoon-joo (March 16, 2023). "SM "에스파, 5월 컴백 목표로 준비 중" [공식입장]" [SM "Aespa, preparing for a comeback in May" [Official Position]] (in Korean). My Daily. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2023 – via Naver.
^Yoon, Sang-geun (April 17, 2023). "에스파가 돌아온다! 5월 8일 'My World' 컴백 확정[공식]" [Aespa is back! May 8th 'My World' comeback confirmed [Official]] (in Korean). MT Star News. Archived from the original on April 24, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2023 – via Naver.
^Lee, Jung-hyeok (May 7, 2023). "에스파 'Spicy', MV 티저 공개...하이틴 감성+'이상현상' 세계관 스토리 더한 독보적 콘셉트!" [Aespa 'Spicy', MV teaser released...A unique concept with high-teen sensibility + 'ideal phenomenon' worldview story!] (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Archived from the original on May 7, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2023 – via Naver.
^ abMoon, Su-ji (May 8, 2023). "[영상]에스파, 발랄 하이틴 감성으로 변신...신곡 'Spicy' MV 티저 공개" [[Video] Aespa transforms into a youthful teen sensibility...New song 'Spicy' MV teaser released] (in Korean). iNews24. Archived from the original on May 8, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2023 – via Naver.
^Lee, Seon-myung (September 15, 2023). "에스파 히트곡 '스파이시' 새 리믹스 버전 발매" [A new remix version of Aespa's hit song 'Spicy' released] (in Korean). Sports Kyunghyang. Archived from the original on October 12, 2023. Retrieved October 12, 2023 – via Naver.
^"My World" (in Korean). Dreamus. SM Entertainment. May 8, 2023. Archived from the original on May 2, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2023 – via Melon.
^Lee, Seung-hoon (May 7, 2023). "에스파, 이상현상 세계관에 하이틴 감성..'Spicy' MV 티저 오픈" [Aespa, high-teen sensibility in the world of abnormal phenomena..'Spicy' MV teaser open] (in Korean). MT Star News. Archived from the original on May 7, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2023 – via Naver.
^"週間 ストリーミングランキング – 2023年05月22日付" [Weekly Streaming Ranking – May 22, 2023]. Oricon (in Japanese). May 22, 2023. Archived from the original on May 18, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
^ ab"週間 ストリーミングランキング – 2023年05月29日付" [Weekly Streaming Ranking – May 29, 2023]. Oricon (in Japanese). May 29, 2023. Archived from the original on May 27, 2023. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
^Lee, Kyung-ho (May 5, 2023). "에스파, 'MY WORLD'에 담은 독보적 감성+팬사랑" [Aespa, unrivaled sensibility + fan love in 'MY WORLD'] (in Korean). MT Star News. Archived from the original on May 7, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2023 – via Naver.
^Yoo, Soo-yeon (May 11, 2023). "르세라핌, '엠카' 첫 1위 트로피 차지...에스파·이무진 컴백 [종합]" [Le Sserafim won the first trophy on 'M Countdown'...Aespa·Lee Moo-jin comeback [Comprehensive]] (in Korean). Osen. Archived from the original on May 11, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2023 – via Naver.
^Lee, Bit-na-ri (May 12, 2023). "'뮤직뱅크' 르세라핌, 세븐틴 제치고 1위 "피어나 고마워요" [★밤TView]" ['Music Bank' Le Sserafim' beat Seventeen to win first place "Thank you for blooming" [Night TView]] (in Korean). MT Star News. Archived from the original on May 18, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023 – via Naver.
^Jeong, Hye-yeon (May 13, 2023). "'음악중심' 에스파, 'Spicy'→'Salty & Sweet'..치명적인 단짠 매력" ['Music Core' aespa, 'Spicy'→'Salty & Sweet'..deadly sweet and salty charm] (in Korean). Herald Pop. Archived from the original on May 18, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023 – via Naver.
^Lee, Ha-na (May 14, 2023). "'인기가요' 르세라핌 1위 "우리는 한 팀"..에스파·원어스 컴백[종합]" ['Inkigayo' Le Sserafim won 1st place "We are one team"..Aespa·Oneus comeback [Comprehensive]] (in Korean). Newsen. Archived from the original on May 18, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023 – via Naver.
^ abJang, In-young (May 18, 2023). "에스파, 르세라핌 제치고 1위...미주 데뷔·(여자)아이들 컴백 (엠카)[종합]" [Aespa beat Le Sserafim to take first place...Mijoo debut·(G)I-dle comeback (M Countdown)[Comprehensive]] (in Korean). X-port News. Archived from the original on May 18, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023 – via Naver.
^ abKim, Na-yeon (May 19, 2023). "'뮤직뱅크' 에스파, 르세라핌 꺾고 1위..고추 먹고 '앵콜'" ['Music Bank' Aespa beat Le Sserafim to win first place..Eat red pepper and do an 'encore'] (in Korean). MT Star News. Archived from the original on October 12, 2023. Retrieved May 19, 2023 – via Naver.
^ abOh, Yoon-ju (May 20, 2023). "'음중' 에스파, 르세라핌·아이브 꺾고 1위 "연속 1등은 처음" 감격 [종합]" ['Music Core' Aespa beat Le Sserafim and Ive to win first place, thrilled "for the first time in a row" [Comprehensive]] (in Korean). My Daily. Archived from the original on May 20, 2023. Retrieved May 20, 2023 – via Naver.
^ abYoo, Soo-yeon (May 21, 2023). "'인기가요' 에스파, 막방서 1위 등극→음악방송 4관왕...(여자)아이들 컴백 [종합]" ['Inkigayo' aespa, 1st place in the last broadcast → 4 gold medals on music broadcasts...(G)I-dle Comeback [Comprehensive]] (in Korean). Osen. Archived from the original on May 21, 2023. Retrieved May 21, 2023 – via Naver.
^Lee, Da-gyeom (January 10, 2024). NCT 드림, ‘2023 써클차트’ 디지털 앨범상...올해의 가수상은 20팀(종합) [NCT Dream won the '2023 Circle Chart' Digital Album Award... Singer of the Year Award goes to 20 teams (Comprehensive)] (in Korean). Maeil Gyeongje. Retrieved January 10, 2024 – via Naver.
