Why TWICE's "Cheer Up" Became K-pop's Biggest Success Story

TWICE's "Cheer Up" remarkably transformed from a catchy K-pop song into a cultural phenomenon that dominated South Korean music in 2016. Topping the Gaon Digital Chart and becoming the best-performing single of the year, the song accumulated an impressive 1,839,566 digital sales and over 111 million streams in 2016 alone. By 2018, these numbers had grown to 2,737,015 digital downloads and 160 million streams.

The music video for "Cheer Up" similarly shattered expectations, initially gaining 400,000 views in just thirty minutes and reaching one million views in less than a day. Subsequently, it amassed over 50 million YouTube views by June 21, 2016, becoming one of the fastest K-pop group videos to achieve this milestone. "Shy shy shy," a memorable line from the song, became an instant viral sensation, while the distinctive "twice cheer up outfits" featured in the visually creative music video influenced K-pop fashion trends. Furthermore, the group dominated music show charts with multiple certified perfect all-kills, cementing "Cheer Up" as one of the most significant twice kpop songs ever released.

The release that changed everything

April 25, 2016 marked a pivotal moment in K-pop history when JYP Entertainment released "Cheer Up," the lead single from TWICE's second EP that would soon catapult the rookie group to unprecedented stardom.

TWICE's rise before 'Cheer Up'

After their formation in 2015 through a reality program, TWICE quickly gathered a massive following with their debut single "Like OOH-AHH". Although their debut track was successful, it didn't immediately achieve the chart dominance JYP Entertainment had hoped for, with reviews being somewhat mixed. Nevertheless, the group's popularity began accelerating unexpectedly in early 2016 following a controversy involving member Tzuyu's nationality. This incident actually triggered an upward momentum for "Like OOH-AHH," pushing it back up the charts months after its release and causing their debut music video to become the most-watched K-pop debut video ever on YouTube with over 55 million views.

How 'Cheer Up' fit into the Page Two EP

"Cheer Up" served as the standout track on TWICE's second extended play, Page Two, which contained seven songs in total. The EP showcased various genres including dance-pop and hip hop, with "Cheer Up" produced by the same team who crafted their debut hit—South Korean producing duo Black Eyed Pilseung. JYP Entertainment announced that this comeback would "show an even more lively side of TWICE". On April 5, 2016, the group released their first teaser image featuring members in cheerleading outfits, setting the stage for their highly anticipated return.

Initial fan and media expectations

Given their growing popularity, expectations for TWICE's comeback were exceptionally high. The media particularly noted the friendly competition with other groups like Lovelyz and Seventeen, who had comebacks scheduled around the same time. Notably, there was heightened attention on the rivalry with Lovelyz, another girl group with a similar number of members who made their comeback on the exact same day. The first music video teaser for "Cheer Up" immediately ranked first in real-time Korean search engines upon release, demonstrating the immense anticipation. Additionally, the group held a media showcase at Yes 24 Live Hall in Seoul on release day, broadcasting it live via Naver's V Live to accommodate their rapidly expanding fanbase.

Inside the sound: What made 'Cheer Up' unique

Beyond its commercial success, the musical composition of "Cheer Up" broke new ground in K-pop through its innovative approach to sound and structure. The song's unique elements created a distinct identity that helped establish TWICE's signature style.

Genre fusion: Dance-pop, hip hop, and tropical house

"Cheer Up" stands out in the K-pop landscape as a masterclass in genre-blending. Described by music critics as "color pop," the track seamlessly fuses dance-pop with elements of hip hop, tropical house, and drum and bass. This eclectic mixture created a sonic palette unlike typical girl group releases of that era. Tamar Herman of Billboard noted that the song "solidifies TWICE's unique style" through its unexpected mix of beats and genres. Indeed, the production forgoes traditional musical cohesion "for the sake of eccentricity," resulting in a distinctive sound that helped define TWICE's musical identity.

Lyrical themes and the 'shy shy shy' moment

Lyrically, "Cheer Up" revolves around playful teasing and strategic romantic frustration. The song advises girls not to give their hearts away too easily, suggesting that making someone work harder for affection increases attraction. The iconic hook "Cheer up baby" encourages confidence while maintaining an air of mystery in romantic pursuits.

However, the song's most memorable moment came from Sana's delivery of the line "shy shy shy" (pronounced "sha sha sha"), which instantly became a viral sensation. Interestingly, this line was originally intended for member Dahyun. The phrase's unexpected popularity transformed it into a cultural meme imitated by numerous celebrities across South Korea.

The role of Black Eyed Pilseung in shaping the sound

Production duo Black Eyed Pilseung—comprised of Rado (Song Joo-young) and Choi Kyu-sung—played a crucial role in crafting TWICE's signature sound. After successfully producing the group's debut single "Like Ooh-Ahh," they returned to create "Cheer Up" with English lyrics written by Sam Lewis. Their expertise in crafting catchy, genre-blending tracks stemmed from impressive individual credentials: Rado had worked on hits for 4Minute and Apink, while Choi contributed to T-ara's "Roly-Poly" and HyunA's "Bubble Pop".

The duo's production approach for "Cheer Up" specifically highlighted each member's unique vocal color rather than blending them into a homogeneous sound. This technique helped establish individual identities within the group, consequently strengthening TWICE's overall appeal.

From charts to trophies: The song’s massive success

The commercial impact of "Cheer Up" was immediate and extraordinary, rapidly establishing TWICE as a dominant force in the K-pop industry. The song's unprecedented success across charts, sales figures, and award ceremonies cemented the group's status as the leading girl group of their generation.

Gaon and Billboard chart performance

"Cheer Up" debuted at number 3 on the Gaon Digital Chart before swiftly ascending to the top position, where it remained for an astonishing four consecutive weeks. This remarkable feat helped secure TWICE's first-ever Perfect All-Kill on Korean music charts. The track ultimately became the best-performing single of 2016 in South Korea, according to Gaon's year-end chart. On Billboard's World Digital Songs Sales chart, the single peaked at an impressive number 3, marking their highest position on the chart at that time.

Digital sales and streaming milestones

The numbers behind "Cheer Up" were staggering by any measure. Throughout 2016 alone, the song accumulated 1,839,566 digital sales and over 111 million streams. By 2018, these figures had grown substantially to 2,737,015 digital downloads and more than 160 million streams. In terms of YouTube performance, the music video gained 400,000 views within just thirty minutes of release and reached one million views in less than a day. By June 21, 2016—less than two months after release—it had amassed over 50 million views, making it one of the fastest K-pop group videos to achieve this milestone.

Music show wins and award recognitions

"Cheer Up" dominated South Korean music shows, securing an impressive 16 music show wins across programs like M Countdown, Music Bank, Inkigayo, and Show Champion. This unprecedented streak included multiple triple crowns (winning three consecutive times on the same show). The track's excellence was further validated at major award ceremonies, where it won Song of the Year at both the 2016 Mnet Asian Music Awards and the 2016 Melon Music Awards—the two most prestigious music awards in South Korea. Additionally, it received the Digital Bonsang at the 31st Golden Disc Awards and Digital Song of the Year at the 6th Gaon Chart Music Awards, effectively sweeping all major song awards that season.

Visual storytelling and viral moments

The visual components of "Cheer Up" proved just as compelling as its catchy melody, offering a creative dimension that amplified the song's already impressive appeal.

The movie character concept in the music video

Directed by Kim Young-jo and Yoo Seung-woo of production team Naive, the music video showcased each TWICE member portraying distinct characters from famous films and TV shows. This brilliant concept helped viewers identify individual members more easily during the group's rookie period. Nayeon appeared as a character from the Scream film series, Mina portrayed Itsuki Fujii from Love Letter, and Tzuyu embodied Holly Golightly from Breakfast at Tiffany's. Throughout the video, other members represented iconic characters: Sana as Sailor Moon, Jeongyeon as Faye from Chungking Express, Momo as an action heroine reminiscent of Tomb Raider, Jihyo as a cheerleader from Bring It On, Chaeyoung as a Western cowgirl, and Dahyun as gisaeng Hwang Jini.

Behind the choreography and iconic moves

The choreography, crafted by JYP Entertainment choreographers Park Nam-yong and Yun Hee-so, featured several memorable elements. Most significantly, the "shy shy shy" dance move evolved throughout promotions. The original version seen in practice videos differed from later performances, as the choreography was modified after Sana's line went viral.

How 'shy shy shy' became a meme

Sana's delivery of "shy shy shy" (pronounced "sha sha sha") became an instant cultural sensation. Interestingly, this line was originally assigned to Dahyun. The phrase triggered a craze in Korea, with men particularly drawn to its aegyo quality. It dominated Korean search trends, gaming streams, and chat logs, inspiring countless parodies and imitations from celebrities.

Impact of 'Twice cheer up outfits' on K-pop fashion

The fashion in "Cheer Up" helped define TWICE's signature style. Their aesthetic emphasized bright, colorful clothes that matched their "bright and healthy" vibe. The group regularly incorporated chokers, glasses, hats, and gym clothes into their wardrobe. Moreover, their '90s-inspired schoolgirl look featuring cut-off shorts, cropped velvet tank tops, plaid dresses with combat boots, and shoulder-baring pieces became immensely influential in K-pop fashion.