In my last article, I said I wasn’t sure which article I was writing first. This or my fave fromis_9 songs since, in case you missed it, my girls have agreed not to renew with Pledis/HYBE. And they’re releasing a final single under the label(s) on December 23rd. LOOSSEMBLE has also made the same decision with their label, but it sounds like they still plan to be a thing, just under a different label, but nothing’s official yet. Please keep flover, C.Loo, and Orbits in your prayers at this time.
And I’ve been meaning to talk about my fave fromis_9 songs anyway on here. But the same day I was working on writing (STAYC and Spotify Wrapped), was also the same day that rosie dropped. And around “two years”, the third song on the album, I knew which article took priority.
A few days ago, my mom and I were talking about how important vetting companies are and doing research like looking at reviews on them. And I brought up how people don’t leave “okay” reviews on Google reviews.
People act on extreme emotions for these things. If they had a great experience, they’ll set aside the time to share that with people. On the opposite end, if you had a dog doo-doo experience, today you got time cuz, and you’re going to write out that review, however long it takes. And I was having one of those extreme emotions while listening to this album. Today I got time cuz.
For those who haven’t been closely following this era, here’s a quick timeline of Rosé’s 2024 in regard to her solo. June 2024, Rosé signs with THEBLACKLABEL, September 2024, she signs with Atlantic Records.
October 1st we start getting teasers for the main title “toxic til the end” and everyone’s hyped about a Rosé full album release. About two and a half weeks later, the first teaser single “APT” featuring Bruno Mars drops and the crowd goes wild.
Atlantic/THEBLACKLABEL let “APT” mania ride out for about a month, she’s breaking records, there are promotions like them performing at MAMA together, different album versions with merch is available on her website, then around Thanksgiving (November 22nd) “number one girl” drops. Then about two more weeks later, we got the album, rosie.
Just about everyone in the Kpop space, and other spaces like Twitter and TikTok, know “APT”. For the most part. Even the most Kpop adverse person knows BLACKPINK. However, I noticed that even though I didn’t listen to “number one girl” right away, I didn’t see much talk about it other than the initial promotion from places like Pop Base, Soompi, etc. That was not a good sign.
Of course, the Rosé fansites are promoting it like crazy. But they don’t really count. I think the jarring change in sound from “APT” wasn’t the move. Not the vibe people wanted after a bop like “APT”. And I don’t think “number one girl” is a bad song, per say. I think the choice of releasing it like it’s single material was a mistake for the long term success and legacy of rosie.
“number one girl” is our album opener, and I purposely didn’t listen to it until I had my first full listen of rosie. I’ve talked about this before on here, but I like to go into an album, movie, tv series, most media really, as blind as possible. I want it to be a surprise. Something that I experience all at once.
“number one girl” is a ballad (boring ballad ifykyk). Where Rosé is singing about her ex (a recurring theme throughout the album, which contrary to some comments I saw on Reddit, I think is fine). But it’s a slow song, almost a cappella and going from upbeat “APT” to this… Girl…
Ideally, I think “drinks or coffee” (criminally short song) or “gameboy” should have been the follow-up to “APT”. They still have enough tempo to have you grooving, and they show a different sound and side of Rosé. Then drop “toxic till the end”. If we were that set on it as a single. I personally wouldn’t have chosen it as the single at all. But I’m not a music executive at Atlantic Records or THEBLACKLABEL.
I get that most of the album sounds like “number one girl” and “toxic to till the end”. But this was not the way to showcase that to a mainstream audience, lmao. It feels like bait and switch. Like if you wanted music for “everyone” y’all should have just made more pop songs like “APT” and called it a day.
Another thing I talk about a lot on ATK is the importance of sound direction with solo music and what makes a good or bad solo. I know I talked about this recently in the Yuta article. But I’ve also broken down my favorite types of member solos when they’re coming from a group a few times. But I’ll do it again here, since I can’t pinpoint one specific article to link as an example off the top of my head. But it goes like this:
1.) Music that sounds like what the rest of the group’s music normally sounds like.
Example, Nayeon with “Pop“. It sounds similar to what TWICE as a full group would make, but make it solo. Safe bet, but not a bad route to make. If well executed (and the member is well loved) it’ll do numbers.
Or
2.) Music that sounds so drastically different from what the group’s music normally sounds like.
Example, Yuta with “Off The Mask“. It’s so jarringly different from what NCT 127 makes musically. Risky, niche, but if well executed, will make a huge impact on listeners and bring in new fans. Can be successful among all fans of the group member or at the very least if the member isn’t super popular, they cultivate a niche but loyal fandom.
Rosé solo unfortunately goes neither of these routes. And ultimately feels lukewarm.
I can’t help but to think about what one of my favorite Animation YouTuber’s said years ago in the middle of one of his reviews. To paraphrase, “You can be good, you can be bad, but don’t be boring.” And rosie is boring. Not because it’s full of “my ex” content. I think that’s a great starting point for the story being shared throughout the album. We want a theme, a concept to build the album on.
I mean, Ariana Grande has built a career on fans (like me) anticipating a new love interest because we know if she’s in love, or fell out of it, we’re getting fed with bangers. She goes in (expect for with Eternal Sunshine. I feel like she held back a bit on that. But there was still some bite sprinkled in). I guess Swifties have a similar feeling too when Taylor drops an album and there’s a breakup or a new romance involved. But it’s how you display that vulnerability that brings in interest and fans. People want something to relate to in an interesting way.
When I was reading comments on Reddit about “toxic till the end”, I was seeing a recurring theme of complaints. It boiled down to it not being unique. They compared it to Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, and for the old heads, Avril Lavigne.
But in a watered down versions of their work comparison. Now, I don’t really see Taylor Swift at all. Just because a girl has a guitar and writes ballads, that doesn’t make her Taylor Swift. I think of the Nicki Minaj’s second verse in “Ganja Burn” where she’s lists off people in the HipHop industry like herself, and she’s like, “You made one dope beat, now you Kanye? You got a n**** named JAY, now you ‘Yoncé? You got about three stacks, now you André? You put a part in your fade, yeah, you Nas, bae” like it doesn’t work like that. Which she agrees to because Nicki then follows up with, “you gotta have real skill, gotta work for that”.
Not that Rosé doesn’t have real skill. She (or rather the labels) just didn’t execute it in the best way on this album, imo. Comparisons aren’t bad. It’s a shortcut for our brains to understand something and explain it to someone else in a relatable way. But what made people so interested in “APT” was Rosé leaning into her Korean heritage. People love the blend of Western Pop music fused with Korean culture in such a unique way.
We don’t have anyone Korean in the West that’s like a Beyoncé, or Shakira level. Pick any white woman, Britney, Madonna, Kylie Minogue, lol we have tons of examples. But literally the only other Korean pop girlie in the Hollywood music space that’s mainstream is her group mate, Jennie. And if you say “Wait what about AleXa?”, you’re a real one, because no one gives that her girl flowers like they should. And you’re not wrong, but like, respectfully, people aren’t checking for her like that unfortunately. I still bump “Villian“.
I would have rather they promoted “APT” as a one-off bonus track, rather than market it like that was the general sound of the album. I think they shot themselves in the foot there a bit with trying to cast too wide of a net. When you appeal to everyone, you make something for no one.
I don’t know who this album is for. Because Gen Z and Alpha already have Olivia and they love what she’s doing. And for Millennials like me, we grew up with Avril and Haley Willliams of Paramore (and countless other women in Pop Rock) and of course Taylor is one of us as well. So like… What’s the unique selling point (we have one, Korean Kiwi), and why aren’t we leaning into that (big on this)?
That was also the vibe I was getting in the Reddit comments under “toxic till the end”. There were also some who weren’t picking up on both Rosé and guy from the failed Gossip Girl reboot were both toxic in the relationship. I thought it was obvious, but idk, it was lost on some.
So since we’re talking about the lead single, “toxic till the end”, let’s go a bit further into it. The set for the music video is gorgeous. I love the Saltburn-esque aesthetic going on. I love that it’s a mini movie with a full circle plot. But this song isn’t anything I want to come back to like “APT” and it doesn’t feel memoriable. I can hear in my mind Rosé’s emotions while she’s singing “number one girl” like she was really going through it. I can’t recall one line from “toxic till the end”. It’s just safe. Safe in that it doesn’t feel impactful in a good or bad way, it’s just middling.
Lead singles, title tracks, whatever you want to call them are big deals to me. That’s your opportunity to say so much. And if you don’t play your cards right, it’s like screaming into the void. Lead singles can make or break careers. It’s difficult to get that attention back with a follow-up song after you lose momentum for a lackluster lead single.
“3am” is the second song on the album and it’s not bad. Again, I like the emotion in Rosé’s voice on this one. But this song order on this album is dog water. “APT” should have been the opener. Start the album off with a bang when you know you mostly have slow songs on it. Don’t trick the listener into thinking if you stay until “APT”, which is the halfway point, btw, that you’ll be rewarded for your patience.
“two years”, “stay a little longer”, “not the same”, “call it the end”, and “too bad for us” all have the same tempo and are similar sound wise to “number one girl”. So great for y’all who enjoy that track.
Let’s talk about my fave songs from the album more. As I’ve alluded to, this is my favorite song on the album. If there’s one thing about this album is Rosé’s voice is wonderful. The harmony thing going on in “drinks or coffee” is addicting.
It’s such a chill yet bubbly song. It’s simple in lyrics but I think that what makes it work so well. It isn’t overly complicated. The instrumentals are present but they don’t overwhelm the system or drown Rosé’s voice out. There’s a satisying bounce to the beat that’s so slick and smooth. I’m in love.
Second favorite track. We could have had it all *shakes head sadly*. “gameboy” is so good. Also midtempo like “drinks or coffee”, the way Rosé sings certain words flows so smoothly. You can’t help but to sway along.
Especially on her delivery of “yeah you’ll always be a game (pause) boy”. *punches the air* I geniuely don’t understand why this wasn’t released after “APT”. Was there concern on being able to use the name gameboy in marketing materials? Nintendo is pretty protective of their IP. I’ll give them that. But let the marketing department deal with that. And legal.
Anyway, if we replaced like 3 of the slow songs I mentioned eariler with songs like “gameboy” and “drinks or coffee” I think this album would be more than just the “APT” album.
Just reordering this album could do wonders for it. I’d format it like this:
APT
drinks or coffee
stay a little longer (to slow things down further)
too bad for us
not the same
gameboy (pick things up a bit)
3am
two years (slow things down a bit again)
too bad for us
dance all night (speed up slightly before the permanant downtempo tracks)
call it the end
number one girl
I know in the age of streaming (some) people don’t listen to albums in song order, but if you don’t atleast try to make it cohesive, people aren’t going to stream anything from the album. In that case, you should pick any song off the album and it slaps. That’s a good album. I should be album to walk away from it, put it on shuffle, whatever and not have to pause or skip.
Now, I still don’t think this album has much for my taste outside of the run for “drinks or coffee” (God I wish we got more songs like this on here I’m obessed), “APT” and “gameboy”. Absolutely wild to put the mid to uptempo tracks all lumped together like that, smh.
I don’t think we needed both “call it the end” and ” too bad for us” on the album at all. That could have be pushed to the next album or a special release. Like a deluxe album. But I would have liked more Pop tracks because that’s what this album’s promotion feels like it should be.
I just don’t feel this album is going to bring new people into Rosé or BLACKPINK. And I don’t think it’s really for BLINKS either. This feels more like something for Rosé biased fans who already liked her slower songs like “Gone” or “On The Ground”. If you loved those, this album I think is right up your alley.
A full album with like 9 out of 12 songs being Pop would have worked better as a debut album in the West, then for the sophmore change it up with an all Indie album except for like 2-3 songs max would have been a better move. Because if we were showcasing an album that showed multiple sides of Rosé’s music, this wasn’t it.
So I don’t understand this half ass being kinda Indie, kinda Pop thing going on with rosie. Other than the 3 songs I mentioned, I won’t be revisiting this album. But I will continue to check out Rosé’s music as she continues to release stuff.
So what are y’alls thoughts on rosie? Do you like it? If so, what are your favorite tracks? I got an email about a deluxe digital version only with “vampirehollie” being an additional track. I’m curious about what that’ll sound like, but I don’t want to spend any more money on this album, lmao. Next up is fromis_9. Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter, Instagram, Threads, & BlueSky.
Take care!
Ash💫