Jisoo ME (era) "Flower"
Blackpink Jisoo Flower Era: A Blossoming Star in 'ME'
BLACKPINK's Jisoo has made her highly anticipated solo debut with the single album "ME," released on March 31, 2023, through YG Entertainment and Interscope Records. As the final member of BLACKPINK to embark on a solo career, Jisoo joins her bandmates Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa in showcasing her individual talents.
"ME" features two tracks: the lead single "꽃 (FLOWER)" and "All Eyes on Me". The album blends pop and trap elements with dance, synth-pop, traditional Korean instruments, and Caribbean production. Jisoo took an active role in the creative process, working alongside long-time collaborators 24 and R. Tee as the creative director.
The lead single "Flower" sets the tone for Jisoo's solo journey, with lyrics that explore themes of overcoming a relationship and personal growth. The song's opening lines immediately establish Jisoo's new artistic direction, as she declares, "This is also a side of me".
Jisoo's debut has already achieved significant commercial success. The physical album debuted at number one on the Circle Album Chart, selling over 1.03 million copies in less than two days and becoming the best-selling album by a female soloist in the chart's history. This remarkable achievement has earned "ME" a million certification from the Korea Music Content Association (KMCA) in May 2023.
"Me"
Artist
Jisoo
B-side
"All Eyes On Me"
Released
March 31, 2023
August 1, 2023 (LP)[1]
Format(s)
CD, KiT, vinyl, download, streaming
Recorded
2022-2023
Genre
Dance
Length
5:36 (digital)
11:12 (physical)
Label(s)
YG Entertainment
Distributor(s)
YG PLUS
Writer(s)
Vince, Kush, VVN, Teddy (track 1)
Teddy, Vince (track 2)
Composer(s)
24, VVN, Kush (track 1)
Teddy, R.Tee, 24, VVN (track 2)
Arranger(s)
24 (track 1)
24, R.Tee (track 2)
Track list
"Flower (꽃)" - 2:53
"All Eyes On Me" - 2:43
"Flower (꽃) (Inst.)" - 2:53 (CD Only)
"All Eyes On Me (Inst.)" - 2:43 (CD Only)
The Making of 'ME': Jisoo's Creative Process
Concept development
Jisoo approached her solo debut with a clear vision, aiming to showcase a new and diverse side of herself while maintaining her originality. She participated in the overall production of the album, from music to concept, styling, and music videos. The title "ME" reflects Jisoo's desire to express her authentic self, created after considerable introspection.
Collaborators and producers
The album was a collaborative effort, with Jisoo working alongside long-time BLACKPINK collaborators. Creative Director Teddy Park played a significant role in shaping the project. The lead single "Flower" was crafted by a team of talented producers and songwriters, contributing to its commercial success and chart-topping performance.
Personal touches in the album
Jisoo's involvement extended beyond the music, as she directly participated in the design aspects to enhance the album's value. She utilized bold red and black-and-white colors with floral accents in her social media posts and clothing during the promotion of "ME". This attention to detail helped create a cohesive visual identity for her solo debut.
Visual Storytelling in 'Flower' Music Video
Symbolism and Imagery
The music video for "Flower" presents a cinematic journey through different chapters of Jisoo's alter ego. It begins with Jisoo surrounded by vases of pink flowers in her hotel room, symbolizing the aftermath of a breakup. As the video progresses, Jisoo embraces her vulnerability, symbolically blooming into a red flower. The floral imagery throughout the video represents themes of heartbreak and independence, showcasing Jisoo's growth and maturity.
Fashion and Styling
Jisoo's fashion choices in the video highlight her status as a fashion icon. She models an array of beautiful dresses, including a lace dress from New Arrivals and a flower-print Fernand gown from Lee Y. The video features nine designer outfits from brands such as Dior, Versace, and Korean designer Lee Y, showcasing Jisoo's evolving style. Her beauty looks pay homage to 1940s pin waves, bringing the glamour of old-school Hollywood to the video.
Cinematography and Direction
The video was filmed entirely in the United States, featuring luxurious locations such as the Millennium Biltmore Hotel and Universal Studios. The cinematography captures Jisoo's journey through different chapters in a cinematic style reminiscent of a movie. The video's direction emphasizes Jisoo's transformation, culminating in a powerful scene where she removes a rosette choker, signifying her complete control over her lifes.
Jisoo's Vocal Evolution: From BLACKPINK to Solo Artist
Showcasing vocal range
Jisoo's vocal range has been a topic of discussion among fans and critics alike. Her voice spans from C#3 to Eb5, with the potential to reach F6, suggesting a mezzo-soprano range. This range allows her to tackle various musical styles and contribute significantly to BLACKPINK's sound. In her solo debut, Jisoo has had the opportunity to showcase her full vocal capabilities, exploring registers that were previously underutilized in the group's songs.
Emotional delivery
One of Jisoo's strengths lies in her ability to convey emotion through her voice. In "Flower," she successfully brings out the despair required by the track, departing from her usual cheery persona. Fans have noted that Jisoo sings with palpable emotion, making her performances particularly impactful. This emotional depth is evident in her solo work, where she has more freedom to express herself vocally.
Unique vocal color
Jisoo possesses a distinctive vocal color that sets her apart in the K-pop industry. Her voice is often described as deep, husky, and soothing. This unique timbre has been compared to that of a cocktail singer, giving her performances an "old soul" quality. In BLACKPINK, Jisoo's voice often serves as a smooth transition between different parts of a song, particularly in pre-choruses. Her solo debut has allowed her to fully embrace and showcase this unique vocal color, particularly in slower, more emotional tracks that complement her natural tone.
Cultural Impact: Jisoo's Influence on K-pop and Beyond
Breaking records
Jisoo's solo debut album "ME" has made a significant impact on the K-pop industry, setting new records for female solo artists. On its release day, March 31, 2023, the album sold an impressive 876,249 copies, establishing a new record for the highest first-day sales by any female solo artist in Hanteo Chart history. This achievement placed Jisoo as the female artist with the second-highest first-day sales in Hanteo history, surpassed only by her own group BLACKPINK's latest album "BORN PINK".
Within just one day, "ME" broke the record for the highest first-week sales of any album by a female soloist in Hanteo history, surpassing the previous record held by Lisa's "LALISA". The album's success continued, reaching a total sales figure of 1.17 million copies.
Global recognition
Jisoo's influence extends beyond album sales. Her title track "Flower" topped iTunes' Worldwide Song Chart in 57 regions worldwide. Her impact in the fashion industry is equally notable, as she serves as a global brand ambassador for Dior. In February, Jisoo became the first Asian woman to grace the cover of Vogue France, causing the website to crash due to overwhelming traffic.
The fashion magazine WWD reported that during Paris Fashion Week, Dior generated the highest Media Impact Value (MIV), with 23% attributed to Jisoo's influence. A single Instagram post by Jisoo during this event garnered approximately 8.36 million likes and an MIV of $1.8 million.
Inspiration for aspiring artists
Jisoo's success serves as an inspiration for aspiring K-pop artists. Despite being considered "jobless" compared to her bandmates in terms of solo promotions, Jisoo has maintained a strong presence in the industry. She consistently ranks high on Brand Reputation Indexes and trends on social media platforms without active self-promotion.
Her ability to captivate audiences extends to various markets. In South Korea, Jisoo was ranked as the 10th most popular K-pop idol in 2018 and 17th in 2019 in annual surveys conducted by Gallup Korea. She was also ranked as the sixth most popular female K-pop idol in a survey of soldiers doing mandatory military service in South Korea.
Jisoo's influence in the beauty industry is also noteworthy. She was included in the top ten ranking of celebrities and influencers leading the world of cosmetics for the first five months of 2020, outperforming global stars like Rihanna and Kylie Jenner in average engagement per post.
jisoo's looks in '꽃 flower' 🥀
JISOO - ‘꽃(FLOWER)’ M/V
JISOO - 꽃 (FLOWER) (Romanized) Lyrics
[Intro]
Eh-eh, eh, eh
Eh-eh, eh, eh
[Verse 1]
A-B-C, Do-Re-Mi
Mankeum chakaetdeon na
Geu nunbichi ssak byeonhaetji
Eojjeomyeon i ttohan nanikka
[Refrain]
Nan paran nabicheoreom naraga
Japji mothan geon da ne moksinikka
Hwaljjak kkotpiwotdeon sigando ije modu
Naegen lie, lie, lie
[Pre-Chorus]
Bulge tabeoryeojin neowa na
Nan gwaenchana neon gwaenchaneulkka
Gureum han jeom eopsi yeppeun nal
[Chorus]
Kkochyanggiman namgigo gatdanda
Kkochyanggiman namgigo gatdanda
[Verse 2]
You and me, michil deusi
Tteugeowotjiman
Cheochamhage jitbalpyeojin
Nae hanappunin lilac
See upcoming pop shows
Get tickets for your favorite artists
[Refrain]
Nan hayan kkonnipcheoreom naraga
Japji aneun geoseun neonikka
Sallangsallang buneun barame ikkeullyeo
Bomeun ojiman urin bye, bye, bye
[Pre-Chorus]
Bulge tabeoryeojin neowa na
Nan gwaenchana neon gwaenchaneulkka
Gureum han jeom eopsi yeppeun nal
[Chorus]
Kkochyanggiman namgigo gatdanda
Kkochyanggiman namgigo gatdanda
[Bridge]
Ijen annyeong, goodbye
Dwineun jeoldae an bwa
Miryeoniran ireumui ipsae hana
Bombie neoegeseo tteoreojyeo
[Outro]
Kkochyanggiman nama
Hey-ey, hey
Hey, hey-ey-hey
Hey, hey-ey-hey
Kkochyanggiman namgigo gatdanda
Conclusion
Jisoo's solo debut with "ME" has made a significant impact on the K-pop industry, showcasing her growth as an artist and her ability to captivate audiences beyond her role in BLACKPINK. The album's success is evident in its record-breaking pre-orders, which surpassed 1.31 million copies. This achievement solidifies Jisoo's position as a formidable solo artist in her own right.
The creation of "ME" was a thoughtful process, with Jisoo stating that "many meetings and a lot of thought" went into her first record. Her dedication to the project is reflected in the album's quality and reception. As the last member of BLACKPINK to make her solo debut, following Jennie in 2018 and Rosé and Lisa in 2021 , Jisoo has successfully carved out her own unique space in the industry.
Jisoo's solo venture comes at a time when BLACKPINK's influence in the music world is at its peak. The group recently became the most-streamed female band on Spotify, with an impressive 8,880,030,049 individual streams. This achievement underscores the global appeal of BLACKPINK and sets a strong foundation for Jisoo's solo career.
As Jisoo continues to explore her individual style and artistic vision, fans and critics alike are eager to see what she'll bring to the table next. Her solo debut has not only showcased her vocal talents but also her growth as a performer and potential songwriter. With "ME," Jisoo has taken a significant step in solidifying her place in the ever-evolving K-pop landscape.
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