"Breakthrough"
Standard single cover
Single by Twice
from the album &Twice
LanguageJapanese
B-side"Fancy (Japanese ver.)"
ReleasedJuly 24, 2019 (2019-07-24)
Genre
Length3:38
LabelWarner Music Japan
Songwriter(s)
  • Yu Shimoji
  • Jan Baars
  • Ronnie Icon
  • Rajan Muse
Twice singles chronology
"Happy Happy"
(2019) 		"Breakthrough"
(2019) 		"Feel Special"
(2019)
Twice Japanese singles chronology
"Happy Happy"
(2019) 		"Breakthrough"
(2019) 		"Fake & True"
(2019)
Music video
"Breakthrough" on YouTube

"Breakthrough" is a song recorded by South Korean girl group Twice. It is the group's fifth Japanese maxi single, featuring three other tracks. The song was pre-released digitally on June 12, 2019, and the CD single was later released on July 24 by Warner Music Japan.

Background and release

On April 6, 2019, Twice announced the release of their fourth and fifth Japanese singles, titled "Happy Happy" and "Breakthrough".[2][3] On June 12, "Breakthrough" was pre-released as a digital single on various online music portals and the full music video was also released online on the same day.[4][5][1] The single physically released on July 24, along with the news that Twice would appear in a commercial for cosmetic brand Aube, featuring "Breakthrough" as the commercial song.[6][7][8] To commemorate the release of both new singles, the variety program Twice in Hawaii was aired on AbemaTV on July 19–21. Twice members fulfilled requests from fans, who had been recruited in advance on SNS, on location in Hawaii.[9][10][11]

Composition

"Breakthrough" was composed by Jan Baars, Rajan Muse, and Ronnie Icon, with lyrics written by Yu Shimoji.[12] Tamar Herman, writing for Billboard, said the song is "meant to evoke the feelings of a cool summer night" and "offers up a dramatic, brassier electro-pop sound that puts the nonet's silky smooth vocals front and center".[1]

Music video

The music video for the song was directed by Naive Creative Production and was released on June 11, 2019, on YouTube.[13] The music video begins with the same split-colored set as "Happy Happy" and features neon signs with the titles of both singles. "Breakthrough" features darker tones (in contrast to the brighter-toned "Happy Happy"), and the group is seen dancing at night in "sensual black outfits" and "imposing white power suits".[1] By May 2021, the video had received over 100 million views on YouTube, earning Twice a record for having "the most music videos with more than 100 million views on YouTube among girl groups in the world".[14]

Promotion

On July 5, 2019, Twice performed "Breakthrough" for the first time on a 2-hour special episode of Music Station. It was also performed during the Japanese leg of Twicelights World Tour, which began on October 23 in Sapporo.[15][16] On September 28, they performed "Breakthrough" on NHK Shibuya Note Presents Twice Request Live, a spin-off project of the music program Shibuya Note.[17]

Commercial performance

The CD single debuted at number 2 on the daily ranking of Oricon Singles Chart with 128,525 units sold on its release day.[18] It also ranked number 2 on the weekly Oricon Singles Chart with 229,326 copies sold.[19] It topped the Billboard Japan Hot 100 with 288,502 copies sold, 3,451 downloads, and 2,213,588 streams recorded from July 22–28, 2019.[20]

Track listing

Digital download EP[21]
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."Breakthrough"Yu Shimoji
  • Jan Baars
  • Rajan Muse
  • Ronnie Icon
Jan Baars3:37
2."Fancy" (Japanese version)Eri Osanai
  • Black Eyed Pilseung
  • Jeon Gun
Rado3:36
3."Breakthrough" (taalthechoi Remix)Yu Shimoji
  • Jan Baars
  • Rajan Muse
  • Ronnie Icon
Versachoi3:22
4."Breakthrough" (Instrumental) 
  • Jan Baars
  • Rajan Muse
  • Ronnie Icon
Jan Baars3:37
Total length:13:32
First press limited edition A DVD
No.TitleLength
1."Breakthrough" (Music video) 
2."Breakthrough" (Music video making movie) 
First press limited edition B DVD
No.TitleLength
1."Breakthrough" (Music video Lip sync ver.) 
2."Jacket Shooting Making Movie" 

Korean version

The Korean version of "Breakthrough" was released on September 23, 2019, as the seventh track of Twice's eighth extended play (EP) Feel Special as a special gift for fans. The Korean lyrics were written by Olivia Choi.[22][23]

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for "Breakthrough"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ)[29] Platinum 250,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release history and formats for "Breakthrough"
Region Date Version Format Label Ref.
Various July 24, 2019 Japanese Digital download, streaming JYP Entertainment,

Warner Music Japan

[21]
Japan CD Single
Various September 23, 2019 Korean Digital download, streaming JYP Entertainment

Notes

  1. ^ Peak chart position of "Breakthrough (Korean ver.)" on Billboard Korea K-Pop 100.
  2. ^ Peak chart position of "Breakthrough (Korean ver.)" on World Digital Song Sales Chart

References

  1. ^ a b c d Tamar, Herman (June 11, 2019). "TWICE Have a 'Happy Happy' 'Breakthrough' in Duo of New Music Videos: Watch". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 18, 2019. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
  2. ^ Lee, Ji-seok (April 7, 2019). "트와이스, 6일 나고야돔서 22만 관객 동원 '돔투어 피날레'". Naver (in Korean). Sports Seoul. Archived from the original on December 24, 2019. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  3. ^ "TWICE、初ドームツアー完遂 第二章はCM出演&2週連続リリースで幕開け". Oricon Music (in Japanese). Oricon ME inc. April 7, 2019. Archived from the original on April 9, 2019. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  4. ^ "TWICE、新曲MVを2作同時解禁 素顔満載×全編ダンスで相反する魅力全開". Oricon Music (in Japanese). Oricon ME inc. June 12, 2019. Archived from the original on October 23, 2019. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  5. ^ Kwak, Hyeon-soo (June 12, 2019). "트와이스, 일본 데뷔 2주년 기념 '이례적 앨범 프로모션'". Sports Donga (in Korean). The Dong-a Ilbo. Archived from the original on August 20, 2019. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  6. ^ "TWICE、新SG「Breakthrough」がAUBEのCMソングに。多彩なメイクバリエーションを披露". Barks (in Japanese). Japan Music Network. Archived from the original on September 26, 2019. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  7. ^ "TWICE、クールな新曲が『AUBE』CMソングに". Oricon Music (in Japanese). Oricon ME inc. Archived from the original on October 24, 2019. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  8. ^ "TWICE、メイクアップブランドCMに出演＆CMソングを担当". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  9. ^ "TWICE、『AbemaTV』特番でオールハワイロケ フランダンスや食レポに挑戦". Oricon Music (in Japanese). Oricon ME inc. Archived from the original on October 23, 2019. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  10. ^ "TWICE、AbemaTV特番で新曲のプラクティスダンス動画を最速解禁". Oricon Music (in Japanese). Oricon ME inc. Archived from the original on July 21, 2019. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  11. ^ "TWICEに会える権利が当たる！AbemaTV特番3夜連続で、ワタベウェディングとのコラボも". Natalie Music (in Japanese). Natasha,Inc. Archived from the original on July 6, 2019. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  12. ^ "TWICE(트와이스) - Breakthrough". Naver Music (in Korean). Naver Corp. Archived from the original on June 13, 2021. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  13. ^ "TWICE(트와이스) "Breakthrough" M/V". Studio Naive. August 5, 2019. Archived from the original on August 7, 2019. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  14. ^ Lee, Se-ul (May 19, 2021). "트와이스, 1억뷰 이상 MV 17개…여성 그룹 역대 최다 기록 [공식입장]" [TWICE, 17 MVs with over 100 million views... Highest record in female group history [Official position]]. Xports News (in Korean). Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  15. ^ "「Mステ2時間SP」にDAOKO×MIYAVI、キスマイ、三浦大知、E-girlsら". Natalie Music (in Japanese). Natasha,Inc. June 28, 2019. Archived from the original on June 28, 2019. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  16. ^ "DA PUMP&TWICE、『Mステ』SPダンス見どころ解説". Oricon Music (in Japanese). Oricon ME inc. July 5, 2019. Archived from the original on October 17, 2019. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  17. ^ "TWICE「シブヤノオト」スピンオフ企画出演、NHKホールでリクエストライブ". Natalie Music (in Japanese). Natasha,Inc. July 29, 2019. Archived from the original on October 24, 2019. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  18. ^ "デイリー シングルランキング – 2019年07月23日付". Oricon News (in Japanese). Oricon ME inc. Archived from the original on July 24, 2019. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  19. ^ a b "週間 シングルランキング – 2019年08月05日付". Oricon News (in Japanese). Oricon ME inc. Archived from the original on July 31, 2019. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  20. ^ "【ビルボード】TWICE「Breakthrough」がSKE48「FRUSTRATION」のシングル差を逆転し総合首位獲得 あいみょん新曲総合7位にジャンプ・アップ". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). July 31, 2019. Archived from the original on August 1, 2019. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  21. ^ a b "Breakthrough - TWICE". Apple Music (in Japanese). Apple Inc. July 24, 2019. Archived from the original on December 22, 2019. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
  22. ^ Lee, Ho-yeon (September 10, 2019). "'JYP표 시너지' 박진영, 트와이스 신곡 '필스페셜' 작사·작곡". Naver (in Korean). Hankook Ilbo. Archived from the original on October 16, 2019. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
  23. ^ Woobin (September 23, 2019). "[TEN 현장] 성숙해진 트와이스의 'Feel Special'…미나 없이 12연속 히트 도전". Naver (in Korean). Tenasia. Archived from the original on October 16, 2019. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
  24. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot 100 (2019/08/05 付け)". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on December 27, 2019. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
  25. ^ "Kpop Hot 100 (week of September 28, 2019)". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 15, 2019. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  26. ^ "World Digital Song Sales – The week of October 5, 2019". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 8, 2019. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
  27. ^ "2019 Year-End Rankings". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  28. ^ "年間 シングルランキング – 2019年度". Oricon News (in Japanese). Oricon ME Inc. Archived from the original on December 22, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  29. ^ ゴールドディスク認定 一般社団法人 日本レコード協会 (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Archived from the original on May 8, 2016. Retrieved August 8, 2019. Note: To retrieve all certifications, 1) type in TWICE in the box "アーティスト", 2) click 検索
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