Not Friends

"Not Friends"
"Not Friends"
Promotional single by Loona
Language	Korean
Released	September 3, 2021
Genre	Pop; acoustic rock; hip hop;
Length	3:15
Label	Big Ocean ENM [ko]; Kakao;
Lyricists	Kim Lip; Michelle Buzz; Myah Marie; Ryan S. Jhun; Tido; Youha;
Producer	Ryan S. Jhun
Special edition cover
	The special edition contains three new remixes of the song
Music video
	"Not Friends" on YouTube

"Not Friends" is a song by the South Korean girl group Loona.^[a] It was released as the second song from Ryan Jhun's "Maxis By Ryan Jhun" project.^[2]^[3] Kim Lip is credited as a songwriter on the song making her the first Loona member to co-write a song for the group. The song peaked at number seven on the US World Digital Songs becoming the group's eighth top ten hit and also appeared on the Gaon Download Chart. On October 27 three new versions of the song were released along with the song's instrumental.

Background

Jhun and Loona first announced the collaboration in August 2021, alongside several teaser images of the four members. The first teaser poster released featured the four members in pink set image. 'Keep Music Alive' was sprawled in bold letters across the teaser with the lyrics for the song revealed at the bottom. The cover for the single with a pink and green gun with the group's name on it was released on August 30. A 'project spoiler' where the behind-the-scenes of the group members at the recording was shared by Jhun the next day. A teaser for the music video was released a day before the song's release.^[4]

"Not Friends" is the second installment of the "MAXIS By Ryan Jhun" project, a collaboration between Jhun, Big Ocean ENM [ko], and Kakao Entertainment which started in August with the single "Maniac" featuring NCT's Doyoung and Haechan.^[5]

Composition

"Not Friends" mixes and meshes aspects of pop, acoustic rock, and hip hop. Lyrically, the song boldly expresses the wish to break down the barrier between friendship and romance.

Music video

In the action-packed music video, the Loona members go up against each other in a fight to the end. JinSoul and HeeJin silently hunt one another down with sniper rifles, while Kim Lip and Yves take down hordes of armed fighters in their attempts to face-off in hand-to-hand combat.

Track listing

Digital single^[6]

"Not Friends" (Alawin remix) – 4:31
"Not Friends" (Tido remix) – 3:31
"Not Friends" (Orbit remix) – 3:28
"Not Friends" (Original mix) – 3:15
"Not Friends" (instrumental) – 3:15

Charts

Weekly chart performance for "Not Friends"
Chart (2021)	Peak position
US World Digital Songs (Billboard)^[7]	7

Notes

^ Only members Heejin, Kim Lip, Jinsoul, and Yves take part in the song, although Loona as a group is credited on the song.

Release history

Release date and format for "Not Friends"
Region	Date	Format	Version	Label
Various	September 3, 2021	Digital download streaming	Original	Big Ocean ENM Kakao Entertainment
	October 27, 2021	CD	Original
		CD Digital download streaming	Alawn remix
			Tido remix
			Orbit remix

References

^ "LOONA and Ryan Jhun's collab track 'Not Friends' achieves THIS record on iTunes charts". Pink Villa. September 7, 2021. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
^ Yeo, Gladys (September 3, 2021). "LOONA square up in the action-packed MV for 'Not Friends'". NME. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
^ "LOONA Bak Bintang Film Laga Dalam MV 'Not Friends'". K-pop Charts. September 3, 2021. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
^ "LOONA joins hands with famous producer Ryan Jhun for his MAXIS project". Pink Villa. September 2, 2021. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
^ "LOONA lança o videoclipe de seu novo single 'Not Friends'". Lorena. September 6, 2021. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
^ "Not Friends Special Edition". Spotify. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
^ "Loona, TXT, STAYC, BTS And Monsta X's I.M: Hits Making Moves On The World Songs Chart". Forbes. September 14, 2021. Retrieved September 15, 2021.

[2] Only members Heejin, Kim Lip, Jinsoul, and Yves take part in the song, although Loona as a group is credited on the song.

[1] "LOONA and Ryan Jhun's collab track 'Not Friends' achieves THIS record on iTunes charts". Pink Villa. September 7, 2021. Retrieved September 7, 2021.

[3] Yeo, Gladys (September 3, 2021). "LOONA square up in the action-packed MV for 'Not Friends'". NME. Retrieved September 3, 2021.

[4] "LOONA Bak Bintang Film Laga Dalam MV 'Not Friends'". K-pop Charts. September 3, 2021. Retrieved September 3, 2021.

[5] "LOONA joins hands with famous producer Ryan Jhun for his MAXIS project". Pink Villa. September 2, 2021. Retrieved September 3, 2021.

[6] "LOONA lança o videoclipe de seu novo single 'Not Friends'". Lorena. September 6, 2021. Retrieved September 7, 2021.

[Standard-7] "Not Friends Special Edition". Spotify. Retrieved October 30, 2021.

[8] "Loona, TXT, STAYC, BTS And Monsta X's I.M: Hits Making Moves On The World Songs Chart". Forbes. September 14, 2021. Retrieved September 15, 2021.

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