"Solo"
Digital edition cover
Single by Jennie
Language
  • Korean
  • English
ReleasedNovember 12, 2018 (2018-11-12)
Recorded2018
StudioThe Black Label (Seoul)
Genre
Length2:49
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Teddy
  • 24
Jennie singles chronology
"Solo"
(2018) 		"You & Me"
(2023)
Physical edition cover
Music video
"Solo" on YouTube

"Solo" (stylized in all caps) is the debut solo single by South Korean singer and rapper Jennie, a member of South Korean girl group Blackpink. Released on November 12, 2018, through YG and Interscope, the song was written and produced by Teddy and 24. Musically, "Solo" is a dance, pop, and hip hop song with EDM elements. Its lyrical content revolves around the theme of independence after a break-up.

"Solo" was a commercial success in South Korea, peaking atop the Gaon Digital Chart and the Billboard K-pop Hot 100 for two weeks. Internationally, it made Jennie the first lead female K-pop soloist to top the Billboard World Digital Songs chart in the United States, and debuted on the charts of several other countries, including Canada, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Scotland, Singapore and the United Kingdom. It has received two platinum certifications from the Korea Music Content Association (KMCA): for selling over 2.5 million digital units, and for surpassing 100 million streams.

An accompanying music video for the song was directed by Han Sa-min and uploaded to Blackpink's YouTube channel simultaneously with the single's release. The video was filmed in the United Kingdom and depicts Jennie's transformation from an innocent to strong independent woman. It has since become the first music video by a female K-pop soloist to reach 1 billion views on the platform.

Recording and composition

"Solo"
A 20-second sample of "Solo", which incorporates EDM synths and beat drops, energetic hip hop inspired instrumentations with high-pitched whistle effects over "mellow and soaring" vocals.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

In a press conference held on November 12, 2018, Jennie talked about the song's creation, stating, "When I'm at Teddy's studio, he'll make a song and I'll just record the guide for it. It wasn't that he was working on a solo track for me. He just said, 'I have something new, let's try it.' So I recorded the song he had, and it happened to be a great fit".[1] She also described the meaning behind the song as "When you’re dating someone, you tend to present what the other person wants rather than your true self. I wanted to express that feeling. Rather than the heart wound coming from a breakup, I wanted to express myself more freely".[2] While Jennie is not credited as a songwriter, she created the concept behind the song. She told the Hollywood Reporter, "So, I've input a lot of my ideas into the concept, the style and everything. So, I've had a strong connection from the beginning, I guess."[3] Jennie explained how "Solo" was written by Teddy and produced by him alongside 24. The song is composed in the key of E-flat minor in a tempo 95 beats per minute and runs for 2:49.[4] It has been described as a dance, pop and hip hop song, with EDM elements.[5][6] SBS' Kang Kyung-yoon noted that the lyrics follow two themes; a weak introverted girl and an "independent yet strong woman.[6]

Commercial performance

"Solo" debuted at number one on the Gaon Digital Chart on the week ending November 17. Overall, the song stayed in the top ten of the chart for 13 consecutive weeks and spent 33 weeks in the top 100 of the chart. It furthermore topped the component Download and Streaming chart.[7] The CD release of the single charted at no. two of the Gaon Album Chart, selling more than 45,000 copies in two months, making it the 100th best-selling album of 2018.[8] As of December 2023, it sold more than 200,000 copies.[9][10] Eventually "Solo" became the 86th and 35th best-performing song of 2018 and 2019 respectively in South Korea. The song was certified platinum by the Korea Music Content Association (KMCA) both for surpassing 100 million streams on June 6, 2019, and for 2.5 million paid digital downloads on March 12, 2020.[11][12] The song entered the Billboard K-pop Hot 100 on the chart issue dated November 24 at number one.[13] The following week it dropped to no. ten, but reached the top again the following week.[14][15] It spent 25 weeks on the chart.[16] The song further reached number one in Singapore and Malaysia.[17][18] In Japan, "Solo" debuted and peaked at number 22 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 in the week ending November 26.[19]

In the United States, "Solo" debuted at number three on Billboard's World Digital Song Sales chart and achieved 4.5 million streams with only four days of tracking after its release. The following week ending November 22, it earned 5.3 million streams (up 17%) for its first full tracking week. The song rose to number one on the World Digital Song Sales chart with 4,000 downloads sold, bringing its total tally to 9,000 downloads since release. With this, Jennie became the first solo female K-pop act as a lead artist and the second overall to top the chart, after CL with her feature on Psy's "Daddy" (2015). Jennie was the sixth Korean solo act to hit number one, after Psy, CL, G-Dragon, Taeyang, and J-Hope.[20] According to Nielsen Music, the track sold 10,000 downloads in the U.S. as of November 29 and garnered more than 5 million streams since its release.[21] In total, it spent 25 weeks charting on the World Digital Song Sales chart.[22] "Solo" also reached the single charts in Canada and Scotland, while reaching the UK download component and New Zealand Hot Singles charts.[23][24][25][26] In October 2020, the song surpassed Psy's "Gangnam Style" as the most streamed song by a Korean solo artist on Spotify. It surpassed 300 million streams in June 2021, becoming the first song by a Korean solo artist to reach the mark in history.[27]

Release and promotion

Jennie performing "Solo" during the In Your Area World Tour in Los Angeles, 2019

On October 18, 2018, YG announced that all Blackpink members were preparing solo releases, with Jennie to release a song in November 2018.[28] On October 27, YG released a promotional poster on various social media accounts.[29] A 23-second teaser video was uploaded one day later onto Blackpink's official YouTube channel. The clip shows Jennie lying on a bed and repeatedly mentioning her name.[30] The second teaser was uploaded one week later, showing her performing in various clothes in a photo studio.[31][32] The third and last teaser was uploaded four days prior to the singles release, showing her with different outfits in various locations.[33]

"Solo" was released for digital download and streaming on November 12, 2018, through YG and Interscope. A physical version of the single was released on November 18, 2018, featuring the song and its instrumental. Alongside the CD, a 72-page photobook, a double-sided poster, a random photocard and a lyrics postcard were released in a special version.[34] Because her first appearance as a solo artist on SBS' Inkigayo and MBC Show! Music Core was postponed as broadcasters had cancelled all the performances scheduled for that week, YG Entertainment uploaded choreography videos for the song on YouTube for fans.[35] Its dance was choreographed by Kiel Tutin, Kyle Hanagami, and Shackkings.[36] YG Entertainment then aired the Jennie – 'Solo' Diary series on YouTube, sharing glimpses of her work throughout the promotion period of the single.[37]

Jennie performed "Solo" on several occasions. The single was first performed by Jennie during Blackpink's concert in Seoul's Olympic Gymnastics Arena on November 10 and 11, 2018.[38][31] She performed "Solo" four times in November and December at SBS' Inkigayo and won three times.[39] In the same month, "Solo" was performed at the SBS Gayo Daejeon, alongside "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du". Furthermore, "Solo" was performed during Blackpink's debut Coachella stage on April 12, 2019.[40] A live version of "Solo" which was recorded on December 24, 2018, was included on Blackpink's first live album Blackpink Arena Tour 2018 "Special Final In Kyocera Dome Osaka", which was released on March 22, 2019, through YGEX.[41] On July 2, 2023, Jennie performed "Solo" during Blackpink's set as the headlining act of BST Hyde Park in London.[42]

Remix version

On January 31, 2021, Jennie performed a remix version of "Solo" during Blackpink's livestream concert, The Show.[43] The remix version included a new rap verse written by Jennie and an extended tropical dance break.[44] The remix version of the song was released on June 1, 2021, as part of the live album Blackpink 2021 'The Show' Live.[45]

Music video

An accompanying music video for the song was directed by Han Sa-min and shot in the United Kingdom.[5][46] In July 2020, the music video surpassed 500 million views on YouTube. With the feat, Jennie became the first female Korean soloist to have a 500 million-view music video ever. In February 2024, the music video surpassed 1 billion views, making it the first video by a female Korean soloist to reach the mark.[47]

Accolades

Awards for "Solo"
Year Organization Award Result Ref.
2019 Gaon Chart Music Awards Artist of the Year – Digital Music (November) Won [48]
Mnet Asian Music Awards Best Dance Performance Solo Nominated [49]
Song of the Year Nominated
2020 Golden Disc Awards Best Digital Song (Bonsang) Won [50]
Song of the Year (Daesang) Nominated
Music program awards
Program Date Ref.
Inkigayo November 25, 2018 [39]
December 2, 2018
December 16, 2018

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Melon.[51]

Music video

Track listing

Digital download and streaming
CD single

Charts

Certifications and sales

Certifications and sales for "Solo"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
South Korea (KMCA)[65] Platinum 2,500,000*
South Korea
Physical album 		— 217,299[10]
United States — 10,000[66]
Streaming
South Korea (KMCA)[67] Platinum 100,000,000†

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
† Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release formats for "Solo"
Region Date Version Format Label Ref.
Various November 12, 2018 Original
[68]
November 18, 2018
  • Original
  • Instrumental
 CD [34]

See also

References

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