Why..
Why.. is the first extended play (EP) by the South Korean boy band BoyNextDoor, released on September 4, 2023, through KOZ Entertainment, three months following the release of the group's debut single album Who! (2023). The EP consists of six tracks, including the three singles from Who!, and the lead single "But Sometimes (뭣 갈아)".
| Why.. | ||||
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 Digital cover | ||||
| EP by | ||||
| Released | September 4, 2023 | |||
| Length | 16:45 | |||
| Language | Korean | |||
| Label |
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| BoyNextDoor chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Why.. | ||||
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Why.. is the first extended play (EP) by the South Korean boy band BoyNextDoor, released on September 4, 2023, through KOZ Entertainment, three months following the release of the group's debut single album Who! (2023). The EP consists of six tracks, including the three singles from Who!, and the lead single "But Sometimes (뭣 갈아)".
Background
[edit]BoyNextDoor debuted in May 2023 with the release of their debut single album Who!, which was preceded by the release of music videos for the singles "But I Like You", "One and Only" and "Serenade".[1] Upon debut, the songs for both Who! and Why.. have been completed.[2] The physical CDs of the single album contained a 13-second long hidden track which hinted at the group's next release.[3] KOZ Entertainment announced on July 13, 2023, that the group would be releasing new music in September.[4][5]
Music and lyrics
[edit]"The three songs that were previously unveiled depict the boys in first love, while the new tracks capture the emotions they feel after a break-up"
Why.. has a runtime of 16 minutes and 45 seconds and consists of six tracks. Members Jaehyun, Taesan, and Woonhak, and the label's founder, Zico, participated in writing the songs for the EP.[7]
The songs written for the EP explore the themes of "experiencing a breakup for the first time", serving as the culmination of the three tracks from the group's previous release Who!, which were collectively described as being about the "fresh excitement of boys who fell in love with their first love".[8] In a showcase for the EP ahead of its release, Riwoo explained "We prepared both albums together and we treat them as one [big] album".[9] The songs written for the EP features frank lyrics; Woonhak stated in an interview with The Korea Herald that they "used the daily language and gestures of the members in the lyrics", aiming to have the songs to "sound like talking to a friend".[10]
Songs
[edit]The EP reprises "But I Like You", "One and Only", and "Serenade", as its first three tracks. The fifth track, "But Sometimes", serves as the EP's lead single. Member Taesan described the track as a "breakup song that directly expresses the complex feelings about the first love that ended in vain". Leader Jaehyun added that the track "conveys the complex emotions of your first love that ultimately didn't work out", aiming to capture the "raw emotion" that arises from such situation.[2] The closing track "ABCDLove" discusses the themes surrounding feelings from love to separation and afterwards.[11]
Release and promotion
[edit]Why.. was released on September 4, 2023. The release of the EP was accompanied by the television special BoyNextDoor 2Night, which aired on Mnet and M2.[12]
Marketing
[edit]On August 8, 2023, the group released a teaser image depicting a carousel ride in black and white to announce Why.., the group's first extended play.[13][14] The announcement of the EP was accompanied by the release of a promotion schedule patterned after the ending credits of a movie.[15] Teaser films for the EP were released on August 14.[16] The teasers depict the members' "emotional changes in the start and end of a relationship".[17] The track list of the EP was revealed on August 17. Concept photos depicting the members were released on August 20.[18] A "track spoiler" previewing snippets of the EP's tracks was released online on August 27.[19]
Music videos
[edit]A music video for the lead single, "But Sometimes", was released in conjunction with the album's release. The video depicts the members being unable to "maturely accept the breakup they experience for the first time". The music video sees the neighborhood in the music video for "Serenade" burn to ruin, with the members sinking in water.[20]
Commercial performance
[edit]On August 12, 2023, YG Plus, a distributor of the extended play, reported that the pre-orders for the EP exceeded 300,000 pre-orders within three days.[21][22]
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Arrangement | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "But I Like You" (돌아버리겠다) |
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| 2:17 |
| 2. | "One and Only" |
|
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| 2:48 |
| 3. | "Serenade" |
|
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| 3:03 |
| 4. | "Crying" |
|
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| 3:03 |
| 5. | "But Sometimes" (뭣 갈아) |
|
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| 2:55 |
| 6. | "ABCDLove" |
|
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| 2:37 |
| Total length: | 16:45 | ||||
Charts
[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
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Monthly charts[edit]
Year-end charts[edit]
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Certifications
[edit]| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| South Korea (KMCA)[38] | 2× Platinum | 500,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
Release history
[edit]| Region | Date | Format | Version | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | September 4, 2023 |
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[39] | |
| Letter | [40] |
References
[edit]- ^ Choi, Ji-won (May 30, 2023). "Produced by Zico, Boynextdoor debuts under Hybe". The Korea Herald. Archived from the original on July 24, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
- ^ a b Pyo, Kyung-min (September 5, 2023). "BOYNEXTDOOR explores complexities of young love in new album "Why.."". koreatimes. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
- ^ Jeon Hyo-jin (August 8, 2023). 보이넥스트도어, 9월4일 컴백...그을린 하트 아트워크 [BoyNextDoor, comeback on September 4th... scorched heart artwork]. Sports Donga (in Korean). Retrieved August 8, 2023.
- ^ Kim Ha-young (July 13, 2023). '하이브' 보이넥스트도어, 9월 컴백 확정 ['Hybe' BoyNextDoor confirms comeback in September]. Sports Kyunghyang (in Korean). Retrieved August 2, 2023.
- ^ Hong Hye-min (July 13, 2023). '하이브 신인' 보이넥스트도어, 9월 컴백 대전 합류 ['Hybe Rookie' BoyNextDoor joins the comeback war in September]. Hankook Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved August 2, 2023.
- ^ Dong, Sun-hwa (August 29, 2023). "K-pop album releases in September 2023, from BTS' V to Riize". The Korea Times. Retrieved August 31, 2023 – via South China Morning Post.
- ^ Jeon, Hyo-jin (August 18, 2023). "보이넥스트도어, 타이틀곡은 '뭣 같아'...트랙리스트 공개" [BoyNextDoor, title song 'What's Like'... track list release]. Sports Donga (in Korean). Retrieved August 19, 2023.
- ^ Moon, Ye-bin (August 18, 2023). "보이넥스트도어, 타이틀곡명 '뭣 같아'...멤버 작사·작곡" [BoyNextDoor, title song 'What's the matter'...Member lyricist/composer]. newsis (in Korean). Retrieved August 19, 2023.
- ^ Cho, Yong-jun (September 4, 2023). "BoyNextDoor is back and asking 'WHY..' in latest EP". koreajoongangdaily.joins.com. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
- ^ Ji-won, Choi (September 5, 2023). "Rookie group Boynextdoor hopes to mature with fans". The Korea Herald. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
- ^ Go, In-hye (September 4, 2023). "보이넥스트도어, 성장한 옆집 소년들..."청춘의 날 것 모았죠"" [BoyNextDoor, grown-up boys next door..."I've collected all the things from youth"]. newsis (in Korean). Retrieved September 4, 2023.
- ^ Lee, Da-won (August 25, 2023). "보이넥스트도어, 전세계 문 두드린다" [BOYNEXTDOOR knocks on doors all over the world]. sports.khan.co.kr (in Korean). Retrieved August 25, 2023.
- ^ Carmen Chin (August 8, 2023). "BOYNEXTDOOR announce first comeback with 'WHY..', out next month". NME. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
- ^ Ahn, Yun-ji (August 8, 2023). "'하이브 신인' 보이넥스트도어, 9월 4일 컴백..SM 라이즈와 정면대결" ['Hybe Rookie' BoyNextDoor, comeback on September 4.. Head-to-head confrontation with SM's Riize]. Star News Korea (in Korean). Retrieved August 10, 2023.
- ^ Myung, Hee-seok (August 8, 2023). "보이넥스트도어, 9월 4일 컴백 '초고속 활동'" [BOYNEXTDOOR, September 4 comeback 'high-speed activity']. www.xportsnews.com (in Korean). Retrieved August 10, 2023.
- ^ Jeon, Hyo-jin (August 14, 2023). "보이넥스트도어, 청춘 공감 'WHY..' 트레일러 공개" [BOYNEXTDOOR unveils youth empathy 'WHY..' trailer]. Sports Donga (in Korean). Retrieved August 16, 2023.
- ^ Kim, Ye-na (August 16, 2023). "보이넥스트도어, 극단적 감정 변화..."의미? 그딴 거 없어"" [BoyNextDoor, extreme emotional changes... "meaning? nothing like that"]. www.xportsnews.com (in Korean). Retrieved August 19, 2023.
- ^ Yoon, So-yeon (August 9, 2023). "BoyNextDoor to release first EP next month". koreajoongangdaily.joins.com. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
- ^ Park, Dong-je (August 31, 2023). "보이넥스트도어, 신곡 미리듣기 100만뷰 돌파..'컴백 D-4'" [BoyNextDoor, new song preview exceeds 1 million views...'Comeback D-4']. BreakNews. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
- ^ Ji, Min-kyung (September 4, 2023). "보이넥스트도어, 신곡 '뭣 같아' MV 공개..서툰 첫사랑의 끝" [BoyNextDoor releases new song 'What Does It Look Like' MV... The end of an awkward first love]. m.osen.co.kr (in Korean). Retrieved September 4, 2023.
- ^ Ji, Min-kyung (August 12, 2023). "보이넥스트도어, 선주문량으로 '커리어 하이' 예고..3일만에 32만장" [BOYNEXTDOOR, notices 'Career High' with pre-orders... 320,000 copies in 3 days]. mosen.mt.co.kr (in Korean). Retrieved August 13, 2023.
- ^ Lee, Jae-hoon (August 12, 2023). "보이넥스트도어 미니 1집, 선주문량 전작 판매량 넘겨...예판 3일 만에" [BOYNEXTDOOR's 1st mini album, pre-order volume surpasses sales of previous works...in 3 days preorder]. newsis (in Korean). Retrieved August 13, 2023.
- ^ "Top Albums (Week 37, 2023)". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
- ^ "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2023-09-18" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
- ^ "Oricon Top 50 Combined Albums: 2023-09-18" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
- ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Albums – Week of September 13, 2023". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved September 13, 2023.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart on 15/9/2023 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
- ^ "Circle Album Chart – Week 36, 2023". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved September 14, 2023.
- ^ "Official Albums Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
- ^ "Official Physical Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
- ^ "Billboard 200: Week of September 23, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
- ^ "World Albums: Week of September 23, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
- ^ "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2023-09" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on October 11, 2023. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
- ^ "Circle Album Chart – September 2023". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved October 12, 2023.
- ^ 年間 アルバムランキング 2023年度 [Annual Album Ranking 2023] (in Japanese). Oricon. p. 9. Archived from the original on December 19, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
- ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Albums Year-End 2023". Billboard Japan. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
- ^ "Album Chart 2023". Circle Chart. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
- ^ "South Korean album certifications – BoyNextDoor – Why" (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association (KMCA). Retrieved April 11, 2024.
- ^ "1st EP 'WHY..' (Random)". Weverse Shop - All things for Fans. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
- ^ "1st EP 'WHY..' (LETTER ver.) (Random)". Weverse Shop - All things for Fans. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
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