aespa's Drama EP Review: The Million-Seller That Surprised Even Critics

Drama aespa, the fourth extended play from the South Korean girl group, has become a commercial juggernaut that few anticipated. Released by SM Entertainment on November 10, 2023, this six-track collection quickly shattered expectations by selling an astonishing 1.13 million copies in its first week alone.

Furthermore, the aespa album achieved global recognition when the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) ranked it as the twentieth best-selling album worldwide with 1.5 million units sold. The aespa drama album also topped China's QQ Music digital sales chart and earned double platinum certification, representing sales worth 27.6 million yuan. Despite this impressive commercial performance, the drama album has received mixed critical assessments, earning a 2.79 out of 5.00 rating from over 1,500 reviewers.

This contrast between the aespa drama release date marking a significant sales milestone and its varied critical reception makes it particularly fascinating to examine. The EP showcases the group's evolution through diverse genres including hip-hop, bright dance music, and acoustic pop, while continuing their narrative from previous releases. What makes this commercial powerhouse tick, and does it truly represent the next phase in aespa's "ever-evolving story"?

Drama EP by Aespa: Release Date, Tracklist, and Concept

SM Entertainment officially announced aespa's fourth mini album "Drama" on October 10, 2023, setting the stage for their highly anticipated comeback. Subsequently, the EP was released precisely one month later on November 10, 2023, following their third mini album "MY WORLD" from May of the same year.

Release Date and Label Information

The "Drama" EP marks aespa's fourth extended play under SM Entertainment's label. Prior to the official release, an introduction teaser video was shared on the announcement date, building anticipation among fans. Released alongside the music video for the title track, the EP came in multiple versions, notably the "Scene version" that highlighted the album's visual concept.

Narrative Themes and SMCU Lore

Essentially, "Drama" continues aespa's intricate SM Culture Universe (SMCU) storyline. According to official statements, this album brings "a new chapter to their SMCU lore" as the group "breaks out from the trauma caused by a series of events with Season 1's 'SYNK OUT' and 'Hallucination Quest'". This narrative follows their previous storylines where the members connected with their virtual counterparts through "SYNK" technology. Moreover, the concept explores the group "writing stories in their own way through unique music and visuals".

Tracklist Overview and Genre Variety

The standard edition of "Drama" contains six diverse tracks:

Drama - A hip-hop and dance track characterized by "an aggressive drum sound and sophisticated synth bass"
Trick or Trick - A dance song with "heavy bass" and "hypnotic charm"
Don't Blink - A "country-like" song featuring "rusty synth" that focuses on the members' vocals
Hot Air Balloon - A track with lyrics describing "a journey up into the sky with someone special"
YOLO - A pop-punk song blending "pop and metal guitar" elements
You - A heartfelt song with lyrics "full of sincerity towards fans"

The digital edition additionally includes their pre-release English single "Better Things" as a bonus track. Indeed, this collection showcases aespa's "vocal growth with a variety of genres" ranging from "charismatic hip-hop" to "sweet acoustic pop".

Production and Composition: Behind the Tracks

The drama album showcases aespa's versatility through diverse musical styles and production techniques. Each track offers distinct sonic characteristics while maintaining the group's signature sound.

Title Track 'Drama': Aggressive Beats and Girl Power

"Drama" features sophisticated production elements that highlight aespa's confident image. Written by Bang Hye-hyun of JamFactory and Ellie Suh of 153/Joombas, the track received arrangement and production treatment from No Identity. Waker of 153/Joombas, Ejae, and Charlotte Wilson contributed to the composition, creating a powerful hip-hop dance track characterized by aggressive drum sounds and sophisticated synth bass. The lyrics convey a bold message that "every story begins with Aespa", establishing their commanding presence in the K-pop landscape.

Trick or Trick: Halloween Vibes and Chant Chorus

"Trick or Trick" stands out with its spooky undertones and hypnotic elements. The heavy bass-driven dance track incorporates a Halloween theme through its production style. Lyrically, the song portrays the members as elusive figures, challenging listeners with phrases like "Now you see me, now you don't" and "So catch me if you can, boy". This playful yet mysterious concept perfectly complements the track's captivating instrumental arrangement.

Don't Blink and YOLO: Live Tour Previews Turned Studio Cuts

Interestingly, both "Don't Blink" and "YOLO" were performed during aespa's world tour before their official studio release. "Don't Blink," with its country-influenced production featuring rusty synth elements, was performed live at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Meanwhile, "YOLO" brings a refreshing pop-punk energy through its blend of pop melody and metal guitar instrumentation, showcasing the group's ability to cross genres effectively.

Hot Air Balloon and You: Lighter Tones and Vocal Showcases

"Hot Air Balloon," first introduced at aespa's debut concert "SYNK: HYPER LINE" on February 25, 2023, offers a more playful production compared to the album's earlier tracks. The song's lyrics poetically describe "a journey up into the sky with someone special". In contrast, "You" serves as an emotional counterpoint with its gentle instrumentation that emphasizes sincere lyrics dedicated to their fanbase.

Bonus Track 'Better Things': English Single with Summer Vibes

Released on August 18, 2023, as aespa's first original English single through SM Entertainment and Warner Records, "Better Things" rounds out the digital edition of the album. The up-tempo minimalistic dance track features rhythmic percussion that "goes well with summer" alongside the group's rich vocal performances. As Giselle explained, the song represents a departure from their typical sound, offering "a tropical twist" and "brighter feel" compared to their usual "dark, purply vibes".

Sales and Chart Performance of the Drama Album

The commercial success of "Drama" EP has solidified aespa's position as one of K-pop's leading acts. Their fourth mini album has achieved remarkable milestones across global markets since its November 2023 release.

First Week Sales: Over 1 Million Units

The drama aespa EP demonstrated extraordinary commercial power immediately after its release. According to Hanteo Chart, the album sold an impressive 1,130,379 copies during its first week (November 10-16, 2023). This accomplishment made aespa the first female artist in Hanteo history to achieve million-seller status with three different albums. Previously, both "Girls" and "MY WORLD" had surpassed the million mark in first-week sales. The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) ultimately ranked "Drama" as the twentieth best-selling album worldwide for 2023, with total sales reaching 1.5 million units.

Billboard, Oricon, and Circle Chart Rankings

On South Korea's Circle Album Chart, the drama album debuted at number three for the week of November 19-25, 2023. In the United States, "Drama" entered the Billboard 200 at number 33, marking aespa's fourth album to chart after "Savage," "Girls," and "MY WORLD". This achievement made them the fastest K-pop girl group to land four top 40 albums on the Billboard 200, occurring just three years after their debut. Additionally, the EP secured number 2 on Billboard's World Albums chart.

In Japan, the aespa album reached number 5 on Billboard Japan's Hot Albums chart. On Oricon charts, it debuted at number 11 on the Albums Chart and number 10 on the Combined Albums Chart.

Certifications in South Korea and China

The aespa drama album received significant certifications, certainly earning "million" certification from the Korea Music Content Association (KMCA). Throughout China, the EP dominated digital platforms, reaching number one on both QQ Music and KuGou Music digital album sales charts. Furthermore, "Drama" earned double platinum certification from QQ Music after surpassing 2 million yuan (approximately $27.6 million) in sales.

Global Reach: UK, France, Australia, and More

The drama album's international performance was equally impressive. In the United Kingdom, it reached number 10 on the UK Album Downloads Chart, number 33 on UK Albums Sales, and number 45 on UK Physical Albums. Throughout Europe, the EP charted at number 30 in France, number 19 in Hungary, and number 28 in Poland.

In Australia, "Drama" peaked at number 4 on the ARIA Top 20 Hitseekers Albums Chart. Other notable appearances included number 43 on the Scottish Albums Chart and number 79 on Spain's PROMUSICAE Top 100 Albums Chart, confirming the group's expansive global appeal.

Critical and Fan Reception: Mixed but Memorable

Unlike the drama album's immense commercial success, critical reception has been notably divided among professionals and fans alike. The EP showcases aespa's creative range albeit with mixed results that sparked passionate discourse across music platforms.

Professional Reviews: Clash and Rolling Stone

Abbie Aitken from Clash awarded the album a respectable 7/10, describing it as "a welcomed expansion to the Aespa universe" that "highlights their versatile musicality". Nonetheless, she noted that the "narrative got slightly muddled" as the album progressed, though the "overall energy, especially from [the lead single]" left listeners "felt rousing [while] eager for more". This sentiment contrasted with NME's previous praise for "MY WORLD," which received a four-star review acknowledging how the group "could dominate other cosmoses too".

Fan Reactions: Standout vs Filler Tracks

Fan reactions revealed sharp divisions regarding favorite tracks. On Musicboard, one reviewer praised "Trick or Trick and Hot Air Balloon" as "fantastic tracks," yet expressed surprise these didn't "get that much love". Conversely, another fan declared "Hot Air Balloon" had taken "ICU's crown as the WORST aespa song". The title track "Drama" consistently received the most positive feedback, with one YouTube reviewer describing it as "spectacular" with "unbelievable" high notes. "Better Things" and "Trick or Trick" generally garnered favorable mentions, though "YOLO" was frequently criticized as "boring, and lyrically cringey".

Cohesion and Genre Shifts: A Divisive Element

The album's varied soundscape became its most controversial aspect. As one fan noted, "The album doesn't feel like a cohesive experience", with another describing it as "a mishmash of songs". Several reviewers pointed out that "Drama starts strong and then I don't really care for the rest of it". One detailed criticism explained that "the album starts out with a quite dark and sassy theme, but then that gets completely dropped by track 4". Henceforth, this dramatic shift between the album's first and second halves became a defining characteristic in discussions about the EP's artistic merit.