Genie:us

Genie:us is the eighth Korean-language mini album from South Korean boy band Pentagon. It was released on March 27, 2019 by Cube Entertainment.[1] The album consists of six tracks, with "Sha La La" serving as the album's title track. This is the first Korean-language EP the band has released as a nine-member group, with original member E’Dawn departing the group in late 2018.[2] Member Kino did not participate in stage promotions for "Sha La La" due to an ankle injury he suffered in January.[3] Starting on April 16, 2019, the group promoted the song "Spring Snow" for a week, for which Kino was able to participate in.[4]

Genie:us
EP by
Pentagon
ReleasedMarch 27, 2019 (2019-03-27)
GenreK-pop
Length22:47
LanguageKorean
Label
Producer
Pentagon chronology
Thumbs Up!
(2018)		 Genie:us
(2019)		 Sum(me:r)
(2019)
Singles from Genie:us
  1. "Sha La La"
    Released: March 27, 2019
Music video
"신토불이(SHA LA LA)" on YouTube

Name

The album name is a portmanteau of the words "genie", from the story of Aladdin, and "us" to create "genius". The title of the project has the connotation that "all people have talents that make them genius in their own field".[5]

The title of the album has dual meanings. First, it aims to give the confidence that we all can be a genius. The other reflects our wish to become a genie from a magic lamp.

— Leader Hui on the album's title.[2]

Background and release

On March 15, 2019, Pentagon announced the title and release date of their eighth Korean-language mini album.[1] The lead single "Sha La La" was teased in videos on March 18 and 19, although the title was unknown at the time.[6][7] A time schedule of the comeback was released on March 19.[8] The track list was released on March 20,[9] and their concert "2019 Pentagon Concert - PRISM", to be held on April 27 and 28 in Seoul, was announced on the same day.[10] Concept images were released on March 21 and 22.[11][12] The audio teaser for the mini-album was released on March 25,[13] and the music video teaser for "Sha La La" was released the next day.[14] The music video was released on March 27 alongside the album.[15] On the same day, a media showcase was held to commemorate the release of the mini-album at Blue Square iMarket Hall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul.[16]

Musicality

The group continues their image as a self-producing idol group, as each song on the album was produced by the members and all members are credited as writers and producers.[5] The songs on the album are filled with messages aimed to excite, comfort, encourage, and give hope to the listeners.

When we staged our first album during a (local) music competition show, we almost broke the floor. We made a crack on the stage because we were so full of energy and ambition... We want to bring back the vigor, passion and confidence with this latest music. That's the whole point of this album.

— Hui on the album's meaning.[2]

Songs

"Sha La La" is a future house track with elements of hip hop and rock.[15] The Korean title (신토불이) is an abbreviation of the phrase "신나는 토요일 불타는 이밤", which translates to "let’s light up this Saturday night".[17] The song contains witty lyrics and dynamic dance sounds that aim to ease stress. Billboard highlighted the track's "vibrant soundscape that puts the emphasis on Pentagon’s multi-faceted vocal delivery".[15] Leader Hui said, "You might have moments of stress and feelings of suffocation on your way from work and in school. I wrote the song to resolve them".[2]

"Lost Paradise (Hip Hop Unit)" is a dark hip hop track sung by Hui, Yuto, Kino, and Wooseok, all of whom wrote and composed the song. The members tell their past selves that they are too young to be worried about failure. The tracks spreads the hopeful message that, regardless of one's struggles, a paradise exists within one's self.[5] "Till... (Ballad Unit)" is a ballad sung by Jinho, Hongseok, Shinwon, Yeo One, and Yanan. The piano sounds at the beginning and the full band towards the end enhance the song's theme of perseverance.[5] "Alien" is a witty hip hop track wherein Pentagon expresses their wishes to become a group with a unique, alien-like personality.[5] "Spring Snow" is happy, exciting alternative rock song about the group's experience during the Spring of 2018.[4] In the final track, "Round 1", the members playfully diss each other with inside jokes. Every member of Pentagon had a hand in writing and producing the song.[5]

Track listing
Genie:us[18][19]
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."Sha La La" (신토불이)
  • Han Yo-han
  • Minit
3:15
2."Lost Paradise (Hip Hop Unit)"
  • Hui
  • Yuto
  • Kino
  • Wooseok
  • NATHAN
NATHAN3:43
3."Till... (Ballad Unit)" (그 순간 그때까지)Hui
  • Hui
  • MosPick
MosPick4:34
4."Alien" (에일리언)
  • Hui
  • Shinwon
  • Yuto
  • Wooseok
  • Hui
  • The Proof
The Proof3:20
5."Spring Snow" (봄눈)
  • Kino
  • Yuto
  • Wooseok
  • Kino
  • NATHAN
  • HOHO
  • NATHAN
  • HOHO
4:01
6."Round 1" (Bonus Track)
  • Jinho
  • Hui
  • Hongseok
  • Shinwon
  • Yeo One
  • Yanan
  • Yuto
  • Kino
  • Wooseok
  • MosPick
MosPick3:54
Total length:22:47

Accolades
Year-end lists
Critic/Publication List Rank Work Ref.
Refinery29 The Best K-Pop Songs Of 2019 22 "Sha La La" [17]

Charts
Chart (2019) Peak
position
South Korean Albums (Gaon)[20] 5
US World Albums (Billboard)[21] 15

Certifications and sales
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
South Korea — 40,160[22]

References
  1. Jeon, Hyo-jin (2019-03-15). "펜타곤, 27일 컴백…'Genie:us' 아트워크 티저 공개 [공식]". Sports Donga (in Korean). Retrieved 2020-12-18.
  2. Park, Bo-ram (2019-03-27). "Boy band Pentagon releases 8th EP 'Genie:us' after reshaping into nine-member team". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 2020-12-19.
  3. "[SC현장] "이던 탈퇴·키노 빈자리 자신있다"…펜타곤, '신토불이' 불타는 패기의 컴백(종합)". Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). 2019-03-27. Retrieved 2020-12-26.
  4. "펜타곤, 후속곡 '봄눈'으로 활동 이어간다...발목 부상 키노도 합류 - 싱글리스트". Single List (in Korean). 2019-04-16. Retrieved 2021-01-09.
  5. "Pentagon Album - Genie:us". Cube Entertainment (in Korean). 2019-03-27. Retrieved 2020-12-19.
  6. "#PENTAGON 8TH MINI ALBUM [Genie:us] TITLE TRACK SPOILER 01". Twitter. CUBE_PTG. Mar 17, 2019. Retrieved 2020-12-18.
  7. "#PENTAGON 8TH MINI ALBUM [Genie:us] TITLE TRACK SPOILER 02". Twitter. CUBE_PTG. Mar 18, 2019. Retrieved 2020-12-18.
  8. Jeong, Ga-young (2019-03-19). "펜타곤, 본격 컴백 카운트다운…미니 8집 "Genie:us" 스케줄러 공개". Sports World (in Korean). Retrieved 2020-12-18.
  9. An, Ha-na (2019-03-20). "펜타곤, 후이 자작곡 '신토불이'로 컴백..흥행 이어간다". Maeil Business Newspaper (in Korean). Retrieved 2020-12-18.
  10. Jang, Jin-ri (2019-03-20). "펜타곤, 4월 단독 콘서트 'PRISM' 개최...1년 만의 공연 [공식입장]". Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 2020-12-18.
  11. Park, Dong-seon (2019-03-21). "펜타곤, 새 앨범 'Genie:us' 콘셉트 이미지 공개". ETNews (in Korean). Retrieved 2020-12-19.
  12. Seon, Mi-kyung. ""일상 탈피"..펜타곤, 새 앨범 콘셉트 이미지 공개[Oh!쎈 컷]". Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 2020-12-19.
  13. Ji, Min-kyung (2019-03-25). "펜타곤, 새 앨범 'Genie:us' 오디오 티저 공개...믿고 듣는 후이 자작곡". Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 2020-12-19.
  14. Hwang, Hye-jin (2019-03-26). "'컴백 D-1' 펜타곤, 타이틀곡 '신토불이' 뮤직비디오 티저 공개 '강렬'". Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved 2020-12-19.
  15. Herman, Tamar (2019-03-27). "Pentagon Drops Vibrant New Single 'Sha La La': Watch". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-12-19.
  16. Park, Dong-seon (2019-03-27). "[스테이지리뷰] 펜타곤, '역주행 청개구리, 패기 더해 신토불이 외치다' (Genie:us 쇼케현장 종합)". ETNews (in Korean). Retrieved 2020-12-19.
  17. Morin, Natalie (2019-12-19). "The Best K-Pop Songs Of 2019". Refinery29. Retrieved 2020-12-19.
  18. "Genie:us - 펜타곤". Naver Music (in Korean). 2019-03-27. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  19. "Genie:Us - EP by PENTAGON". Apple Music. 2019-03-27. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  20. "Gaon Album Chart – Week 13, 2019". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  21. "World Albums Chart - Week of April 6, 2019". Billboard. April 6, 2019. Retrieved 2020-12-18.
  22. "2019 First-Half Year Album Chart (see #56)". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 12, 2019. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
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