Weki Meki 'Lock End LOL' Review: Picky Picky

Weki Meki's second and final single album "Lock End LOL" made a significant impact when it debuted at number 6 on the Gaon Album Chart in May 2019. Released on May 14, 2019, by Fantagio Music and distributed by Interpark, this K-pop collection quickly captured fans' attention with its catchy title track "Picky Picky".

The stylized "LOCK END LOL" album performed impressively on the charts, placing at number 24 for the month of May with 12,373 physical copies sold. Additionally, the album had sold 20,051 copies by July 2019, demonstrating the group's solid fan base. Before its release, Fantagio built anticipation with a "coming soon" poster announced on April 29, 2019. Furthermore, Weki Meki members held a live album showcase event on the release date, where they performed "Crush" along with a medley of their previous title tracks.

This album represents an important chapter in Weki Meki's discography, earning a respectable 3.24/5.00 rating from 318 ratings on Rate Your Music and ranking #665 for 2019. Later, the group released a repackaged version titled "Week End LOL" featuring the lead single "Tiki-Taka (99%)" on August 8. What made this album special, and how does it fit into the group's musical journey? Let's explore the tracks, performances, and impact of "Lock End LOL."

Release Timeline and Album Versions

The rollout of Weki Meki's second single album followed a carefully planned timeline, beginning with Fantagio's announcement of the release schedule on April 30, 2019. Initially released under the stylized name "LOCK END LOL," the album's name carried a symbolic meaning: "LOCK, LOL, liberates those who are locked," reflecting the group's teen crush concept.

Digital and Physical Release Dates

Fantagio Music orchestrated a staggered release strategy for the album. The digital version dropped first on May 14, 2019, becoming available across multiple music platforms including MelOn and iTunes. Though most sources indicate the physical album followed on May 15, some documentation suggests it may have been released as late as May 17. This strategic approach allowed Weki Meki to maximize media coverage and maintain fan engagement throughout the release week.

LOCK vs LOL Album Versions

On May 2, 2019, Fantagio revealed that "LOCK END LOL" would be available in two distinct physical versions: LOCK and LOL. Both versions contained identical tracklists but featured different packaging aesthetics and collectibles. Each version included:

One CD with three tracks
An 80-page photo book
Two selfie photocards
A logo sticker

These versions represented Weki Meki's growing popularity, as they had previously recorded the highest single album sales among new girl groups at that time. The dual versions provided collectors with unique photoshoots and concepts while maintaining the album's core musical identity.

Reissue as Week End LOL

Approximately three months after the original release, Fantagio announced on August 4, 2019, that Weki Meki would make a comeback with a repackaged album. This announcement was followed by pre-orders opening on August 5, revealing the new title track "Tiki-Taka (99%)". The repackage, titled "Week End LOL," was strategically released digitally on August 8, 2019 – coinciding with the group's second debut anniversary as a special gift to fans.

Unlike the original release, the physical version of "Week End LOL" arrived nearly a week later on August 14, 2019, alongside the music video. The repackaged album expanded from a three-track single to a four-track EP. Despite being released late in their career trajectory, "Week End LOL" performed admirably, debuting at number 7 on the Gaon Album Chart for the week ending August 17. Combined with the original "LOCK END LOL" sales, the album sold over 29,000 copies, demonstrating Weki Meki's enduring appeal despite approaching their eventual disbandment.

Tracklist Breakdown: Picky Picky and More

"LOCK END LOL" features a concise yet diverse tracklist, with each song showcasing different facets of Weki Meki's musical identity. The three-track album spans just 10:50 in total length but delivers a memorable listening experience that highlights the group's versatility.

Track 1: Picky Picky – Title Track Analysis

"Picky Picky," penned by Chakun and composed by a team including LEONALION, Karl Powell Jr., and G.Bliz, serves as the album's standout lead single. The track's electro-pop foundation drives the entire song, drawing comparisons to a toned-down version of Dreamcatcher's drum and bass track "Sleepwalking." What makes "Picky Picky" instantly recognizable is its distorted opening line: "like it, don't like it, love it, don't want it, Weki Meki, I'm so picky" – a hook that embeds itself firmly in listeners' minds.

Critics praised "Picky Picky" as Weki Meki's strongest title effort to date, noting how the playful energy matched the brash musical underpinnings. The chorus, with its repetitive "I'm so picky picky picky" refrain, became particularly memorable, yet reviewers appreciated that the song offered more than just catchy hooks through its melodic lead-ins and dynamic structure.

Track 2: Whatever U Want – B-Side Highlights

The second track, "Whatever U Want" (Korean title: 너 하고 싶은 거 다 해), stands out notably for featuring lyrics co-written by Weki Meki's own Choi Yoojung alongside Chakun. At 3:57, it's the longest song on the album, allowing for more musical development. The track was composed by a team including Albin Nordqvist, Malin Johansson, and Brad.K, with Nordqvist handling arrangement duties.

Track 3: Petal Fortune – Ballad and Composition

Completing the album is "Petal Fortune" (Korean title: 좋아한다 안 한다 or "꽃잎점"), a softer ballad that showcases the group's vocal abilities. Written by CHUNGYOON and Moon Kim, the song uses flower imagery as a metaphor for blossoming romance, with lyrics like "When you take off all the petals" and "In the fragrance of flowers." The emotional composition explores themes of uncertainty and hope in love, contrasting nicely with the more assertive tone of the album's other tracks.

The repackaged "Week End LOL" version added "Tiki-Taka (99%)" as the opening track while maintaining all three original songs, expanding the total runtime to 13:49.

Chart Performance and Sales Figures

Following its May 2019 release, "LOCK END LOL" demonstrated Weki Meki's commercial appeal through consistent chart placements. The sales trajectory revealed both the group's dedicated fanbase and position within the competitive K-pop market.

Initial Gaon Chart Rankings

The single album made a strong first impression, debuting at number 6 on the Gaon Album Chart for the week ending May 18. This initial performance highlighted Weki Meki's growing popularity since their 2017 debut. Thereafter, the album experienced typical chart movement, falling to number 40 in its second week before bouncing back to number 18 in its third week. The album then settled at number 27 during its fourth week on the chart, demonstrating respectable staying power for a single album in the fast-moving K-pop market.

Monthly Sales and Longevity

"LOCK END LOL" secured the number 24 position on the monthly Gaon Album Chart for May 2019, with 12,373 physical copies sold in its first month. During June 2019, the album continued to move units, adding 3,254 copies to its total and ranking at number 56 for the month. Consequently, by July 2019, the album had accumulated 20,051 copies sold – a figure that, while not matching their debut album's 49,476 copies, still represented solid performance for Weki Meki's second single album.

Reissue Performance: Week End LOL

The repackaged "Week End LOL" version arrived on August 8, 2019, debuting at number 7 on the Gaon Album Chart for the week ending August 17. Following this strong start, the reissue placed at number 25 in its second week and number 32 in its third week. For the month of August, "Week End LOL" secured the number 26 position with 9,149 physical copies sold.

Overall, between both versions, the album's combined sales exceeded 29,000 copies, contributing significantly to Weki Meki's 2019 annual sales total of 29,200 copies. Essentially, "LOCK END LOL" and its reissue represented approximately 100% of the group's physical album sales for 2019, underscoring its importance in their discography despite being released in what would eventually be the latter part of their active years as a group.

Visuals, Promotions, and Showcase

Fantagio orchestrated an elaborate promotional campaign for "LOCK END LOL," presenting Weki Meki through multiple visual concepts that complemented the album's playful yet edgy sound.

Concept Photos: LOCK the School & LOL with WM

The promotional cycle began with two distinct concept photo sets that showcased contrasting aesthetics. The "LOCK the school" series presented the members as preppy students, establishing the scholastic theme that would run throughout the album's visual identity. Subsequently, the "LOL with WM" concept revealed a darker side of Weki Meki with edgier, plaid-dominated outfits that effectively balanced their youthful image with more mature styling. This duality in concept reinforced the album's title wordplay between "LOCK" and "LOL," visually representing the liberating message behind the release.

Music Video Teasers and Showcase Event

Fantagio maintained momentum through strategic content drops, including a fun music video teaser on May 10 that transformed the members into "mischievous students". Prior to this, on May 8, "Get Ready Weki Meki" videos heightened anticipation. Moreover, the company released unique "student records" on May 12, detailing each member's personality and behavior at school, creating a more immersive narrative around the comeback.

The promotional campaign culminated in a live album showcase event on May 14, 2019. During this showcase, Weki Meki opened with "Crush" and performed a medley of their previous title tracks. Fans experienced live performances of "Whatever U Want" for the first time at this event, with "Picky Picky" closing the showcase.

Stage Promotions and Fan Reception

Following the album release, Weki Meki commenced music show promotions on May 16 with M Countdown. Remarkably, the group promoted both "Picky Picky" and "Whatever U Want" on various music shows, demonstrating confidence in their B-side track alongside the title song. This dual-track promotion strategy allowed fans to appreciate more of the album's content through live performances, providing a fuller representation of "LOCK END LOL" beyond just the lead single.

Weki Meki’s Evolution and Member Roles

Throughout the "LOCK END LOL" era, individual Weki Meki members showcased their artistic growth beyond performing. The album represents a pivotal point in their career, highlighting increased creative involvement from various members.

Yoojung and Doyeon's Contributions

Choi Yoojung emerged as a significant creative force behind "LOCK END LOL," co-writing lyrics for the B-side track "Whatever U Want" alongside professional lyricist Chakun. This marked an important step in her artistic development beyond her established performing abilities. As one of Weki Meki's most recognizable faces due to her previous I.O.I experience, Yoojung's songwriting debut demonstrated the group's maturing approach to music creation.

Kim Doyeon, likewise having transitioned from I.O.I to Weki Meki, continued developing her presence as the group's visual center during this era. Her increased screen time in the "Picky Picky" music video highlighted her growing importance to the group's identity. Both Yoojung and Doyeon's evolving roles reflected Fantagio's strategy to leverage their pre-established popularity while nurturing their artistic growth.

Chakun and Other Lyricists

The album's lyrical foundation primarily came from Chakun, who penned both "Picky Picky" and co-wrote "Whatever U Want" with Yoojung. His work maintained consistency with Weki Meki's established playful yet assertive image. Composers including LEONALION, Karl Powell Jr., and G.Bliz created the distinctive electro-pop sound of "Picky Picky," while "Petal Fortune" benefited from CHUNGYOON and Moon Kim's softer approach.

This collaboration between established songwriters and group members represented an evolution in Weki Meki's creative process, allowing for more personalized artistic expression within their established musical framework.

LOCK END LOL in Weki Meki Discography

Within Weki Meki's discography, "LOCK END LOL" stands as a transitional release. Following their debut album "WEME" and first single album "KISS, KICKS," this project refined rather than reimagined their signature "teen crush" concept. Nevertheless, the album's sound showed subtle maturation, balancing youthful energy with more sophisticated production techniques.

Positioned chronologically between their early works and later projects like "WEEK END LOL" and "NEW RULES," this release represents a midpoint in Weki Meki's artistic journey before the group's eventual disbandment in 2024.