I Never Die

''I Never Die'' is the first studio album by South Korean girl group (G)I-dle, released by Cube Entertainment on March 14, 2022. It contains eight tracks, including the lead single "Tomboy", and marked the group's first release as a quintet following the departure of member Soojin in August 2021.

Background and release

In January 2021, the group released their fourth extended play ''I Burn'', which detailed the various emotions experienced during the process of finding happiness after separation. It received generally positive reviews from contemporary critics. It debuted at number three on the Gaon Album Chart, becoming the group's fifth top ten album in the country, and scored their best opening-week sales, selling 115,500 copies. The EP also marked as their final release as a sextet before Soojin's hiatus and subsequent departure from the group in August 2021.

In an interview with ''E-Daily'', Miyeon revealed that (G)I-dle might be promoting as a group "sooner than fans expect" and that they "will show you lots of new and cool sides of ourselves this year". On February 17, 2022 Cube Entertainment stated that the group was preparing to release new music in March. On February 24, 2022, the label announced that (G)I-dle would be releasing their first studio album, titled ''I Never Die'', on March 14. On February 25, a black-and-white comeback trailer was released. On February 28, the track listing was revealed, with "Tomboy" announced as the lead single, followed by a lyric poster on March 1. Concept photos were released on March 2, 3 and 4. An audio snippet was published on March 7, with music video teasers on March 11 and 12. ''I Never Die'' was released worldwide on March 14, 2022 through Cube Entertainment, in conjunction with a music video for "Tomboy".

Composition

Music and lyrics

The standard edition of ''I Never Die'' is twenty-four minutes long, consisting of eight tracks. The CD adds an explicit version of "Tomboy". The majority of the album, including the lead single, was co-written and produced by member Soyeon. Yuqi participated in the creation of "Liar" and "Polaroid", while Minnie contributed to "Already" and "Escape". ''I Never Die'' is primarily a pop record with influences of alternative rock, rock, R&B, and hip hop. The album focuses on speaking out against prejudices and exuding self-confidence. It is divided into three concepts: "RiSKY", "a very close noir concept"; "CHiLL", a "relaxed and cool revenge squad concept"; and "SPOiLED", which "expresses a protagonist who you can’t hate even though it’s arbit".

Songs

The opening track "Tomboy" is a grimy, empowering alternative rock, rock and pop-punk song about independence and breaking the "perfect girlfriend" stereotype. The track is set to reverberating guitar riffs and drum beats with lyrics such as "I'm not a doll", and "Just me I-DLE". "Never Stop Me" is a rock-leaning song with 2000s emo-teen influences that expresses the feelings of a breakup. In the third track "Villain Dies", the group "proudly embrace their darker side". It is a dark electro-pop song that also combines hip hop and rock with "ominous" violin. "Already" is a soft R&B and pop acknowledgement song that just "because there's been healing, tdoesn’t mean hatthe scars have disappeared altogether". The fifth track "Polaroid" is a mesmerizing and nostalgic R&B song with a heartwarming message about (G)I-dle's desire to live in the moment and capture their youth in their memories like they would capture something in a polaroid photo. "Escape" was made for "those who become tired of everything and feel like giving up, as this will provide warm consolation and care". "Liar" is a classic rock song with electric guitar. It presents the "spirited act" of the group standing up for themselves and realizing that it is better to let a bad thing go. The "bombastic" and "proud" closing track "My Bag" is a climactic song where all members show off their rapping prowess against a hip-hop instrumental.

Promotion

On February 24, 2022, Cube Entertainment announced on their social media accounts that the group would be releasing their first studio album titled ''I Never Die'' on March 14. Preorders for the album began the same day. On February 28, the group revealed the album's track listing, with "Tomboy" as the lead single of the album. On March 8, 2022, (G)I-dle released a one-minute-long video for the track "My Bag", where they are accompanied by a team of backup dancers in the middle of an empty road, racing in flashy white sports cars. ''I Never Die'' was released on March 14, 2022, to retail stores, digital music and streaming platforms, as well as on the band's website. Prior to the album's release, on March 14, 2022, the group held an online showcase event to introduce the album, communicate with their fans and perform songs from ''I Never Die''.

The group performed "Tomboy" on Mnet's ''M Countdown'' on March 17, KBS's ''Music Bank'' on March 18, MBC's ''Show! Music Core'' on March 19, and SBS's ''Inkigayo'' on March 20.

Accolades

Track listing

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from album liner notes.

Musicians

* (G)I-dle – vocals
** Soyeon – background vocals , lyrics , composition , arrangement ,
** Minnie – composition , arrangement , background vocal
** Yuqi – composition , arrangement , background vocal
* Pop Time – composition , arrangement
* Jenci – composition , arrangement , background vocal , keyboard
* Kako – composition , arrangement , background vocal
* The Proof – composition , arrangement , drum , synthesizer
* Houdini – composition , arrangement , background vocal , guitar , bass , drum programming , keyboard
* Boytoy (Blatinum) – lyrics , composition , arrangement , bass
* PLZ (Blatinum) – lyrics , composition , arrangement
* BreadBeat – lyrics , composition , arrangement , piano , synthesizer
* Siixk Jun – lyrics , composition , arrangement , piano
* Kim Myong-kyu – composition , arrangement , guitar , bass
* Nathan – composition , keyboard
* Flip_00 – arrangement , drum
* Jeon Jae-hee – background vocal
* Lee So-hyun – background vocal
* Perrie – background vocal
* Kim Ho-hyun – guitar
* EOMT – guitar
* Kim Myung-gyu – guitar
* Lim Hyunqi – acoustic guitar
* Lee Ji-ho – electric guitar
* Park Ji-young – keyboard
* Kim So-hoon – keyboard
* Oh Song-ji – keyboard
* Kim Mi-geum – keyboard
* Choi In-seong – bass
* Yang Chae-ni – piano
* Kim Seung-nam – drum
* Baek Min-sung – drum

Technical

* Yang Young-eun – recording
* Choi Ye-ji – recording
* Shin Jae-bin – recording , mixing
* Jung Eun-kyung – digital editing
* Kang Seon-young – mix engineering
* Koo Jong-pil – mixing
* Anchor – mixing
* Kim Dae-sung – mixing
* Kwon Nam-woo – mastering
* Yoo Eun-jin – assistant mastering

Locations
* Ingrid Studio – recording , digital editing
* Cube Studio – recording , mixing
* Klang Studio – mixing
* Prismfilter Mix Lab – mixing
* Tone Studio Seoul – mixing
* 821 Sound mastering – mastering , assistant mastering

Charts

Weekly charts

Monthly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications and sales

Release history

References

External links

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2022 debut albums
(G)I-dle albums
Cube Entertainment albums
Pop albums by South Korean artists
Albums produced by Jeon So-yeon
Albums produced by Minnie (singer)
Albums produced by Song Yuqi