''Ready to Be'' is the twelfth

extended play An extended play record, usually referred to as an EP, is a musical recording that contains more tracks than a single but fewer than an album or LP record.

by South Korean girl group Twice. It was released on March 10, 2023, through JYP Entertainment and

Republic Records Republic Records is a New York City–based American record label owned by Universal Music Group (UMG). It was founded by Avery Lipman and Monte Lipman as an independent label in 1995, and was acquired by UMG in 2000. Republic was initially an ...

. It consists of seven tracks, including the group's second English single " Moonlight Sunrise" and lead single " Set Me Free". The album sound draws mostly from

pop Pop or POP may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Music * Pop music, a musical genre Artists * POP, a Japanese idol group now known as Gang Parade * Pop!, a UK pop group * Pop! featuring Angie Hart, an Australian band Albums * ''Pop'' (G ...

and retro production, with its songs incorporating eclectic styles ranging from

disco Disco is a genre of dance music and a subculture that emerged in the 1970s from the United States' urban nightlife scene. Its sound is typified by four-on-the-floor beats, syncopated basslines, string sections, brass and horns, electric pia ...

and pop-rock to

Miami bass Miami bass (booty music or booty bass) is a subgenre of hip hop music that became popular in the 1980s and 1990s. The use of drums from the Roland TR-808, sustained kick drum, heavy bass, raised dance tempos, and frequently sexually explicit l ...

and

balearic beat Balearic beat, also known as Balearic house, Balearic, Ibiza house or Ibizan chillout, is an eclectic blend of DJ-led dance music that emerged in the mid-1980s. It later became the name of a more specific style of electronic dance music that wa ...

s. Lyrically, the album discusses themes of maturity, confidence,

love Love encompasses a range of strong and positive emotional and mental states, from the most sublime virtue or good habit, the deepest Interpersonal relationship, interpersonal affection, to the simplest pleasure. An example of this range of ...

, and heartbreak. The album was met with generally favorable reviews from critics, who praised the sophisticated retro, pop production and the EP's mature themes. Commercially, it debuted at number one on the

Circle Album Chart The Circle Album Chart, previously known as the Gaon Album Chart, is a record chart ranking the 100 most popular albums, extended plays and single albums in South Korea based on their pure sales. It is a part of the Circle Chart, previously know ...

with over one million physical copies in its first week. In the United States, the album debuted at number two on the ''Billboard'' 200 with 145,500 pure physical sales, making Twice the first female K-pop act to have three top-three albums and four top-ten albums in the country. The album sold 18,000 vinyl copies, achieving the highest first week vinyl sales in the United States for any all-female group since 1991. It also reached the top ten in Japan, Germany, Portugal, Poland, Hungary and Croatia.

Background

After the group's contract was renewed with JYP Entertainment in July 2022, they released '' Between 1&2'' in August of the same year, which served as a celebration of Twice's eighth year as a group. It received generally positive reviews from contemporary critics and was their first album to sell one million copies. In December 2022, it was announced on the group's SNS that they would release an English single and a mini album in January and March 2023. The announcement was accompanied by a poster with the date and the phrase "Twice Our Youth", which led internet users to assume that the phrase would be the title of their new album. In January 2023, Twice released "Moonlight Sunrise", their second English single after " The Feels. In the following month, they confirmed the title of the mini album, ''Ready to Be'', and its lead single, "Set Me Free".

Composition

''Ready to Be'' is twenty minutes long and consists of seven songs. It is a primarily a

record that heavily incorporates retro sounds. It features genres such as

, pop-rock,

blues Blues is a music genre and musical form which originated in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s. Blues incorporated spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts, chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads from the Afr ...

, R&B, and

dance-pop Dance-pop is a popular music subgenre that originated in the late 1970s to early 1980s. It is generally uptempo music intended for nightclubs with the intention of being danceable but also suitable for contemporary hit radio. Developing from a ...

, with heavy influences from

house A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air condi ...

dream-pop Dream pop (also typeset as dreampop) is a subgenre of alternative rock and neo-psychedelia that emphasizes atmosphere and sonic texture as much as pop melody. Common characteristics include breathy vocals, dense productions, and effects such as ...

latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

, and

s. Lyrically, the album revolves around the themes of maturity, confidence, love, and heartbreak. Member Dahyun wrote the lyrics for "Blame It on Me" and "Crazy Stupid Love". A variety of songwriters and producers also participated, including

Melanie Fontana Melanie Joy Fontana (born October 3, 1986)Joyce Cohen''New York Times'', December 26, 2004. is an American singer, composer and songwriter signed to Universal Music Group. Early life Fontana was born in Newington, Connecticut. She moved to New Y ...

LDN Noise LDN Noise (pronounced ''London Noise'') is a British songwriting and record production duo based in London, England. Consisting of songwriter Greg Bonnick and DJ Hayden Chapman, the duo has worked with artists such as Nathan Sykes, Nick Jonas ...

Tayla Parx Taylor is a unisex given name mainly in use in English-speaking countries, including England and Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The name Taylor also has been well used for characters on American and now some Australi ...

, Lindgren, Lostboy, Earattack, and Lee Woo-min "Collapsedone".

Songs

The opening track "Set Me Free" is a

track characterized by a

groovy ''Groovy'' (or, less commonly, ''groovie'' or ''groovey'') is a slang colloquialism popular during the 1950s, '60s and '70s. It is roughly synonymous with words such as "excellent", "fashionable", or "amazing", depending on context. History The ...

bass line, a "common yet powerful sound", and liberating lyrics. The lyrics revolve around the protagonists finding the courage to confess their love to a crush, with lines such as "I've been hiding how I feel for you forever" and "Now that it's off my chest there's room for you and me". The second track is pre-release single "Moonlight Sunrise", an upbeat

, R&B, and

song. The track incorporates a

synth-pop Synth-pop (short for synthesizer pop; also called techno-pop; ) is a subgenre of new wave music that first became prominent in the late 1970s and features the synthesizer as the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s ...

arrangement with

influences, a dreamy melody, and lyrics that "explore the urgency of love." "Got the Thrills" is a

Balearic beat Balearic beat, also known as Balearic house, Balearic, Ibiza house or Ibizan chillout, is an eclectic blend of DJ-led dance music that emerged in the mid-1980s. It later became the name of a more specific style of electronic dance music that wa ...

-influenced

song. Some critics noted that "Got the Thrills" could be considered a sequel to " Talk That Talk" due to its similar

synths A synthesizer (also spelled synthesiser) is an electronic musical instrument that generates audio signals. Synthesizers typically create sounds by generating waveforms through methods including subtractive synthesis, additive synthesis and f ...

and chord progression. "Got the Thrills" is followed by a

rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...

and

-inspired track, "Blame It on Me," whose lyrics were written by Twice member Dahyun. It is characterized by a "loud strum" of

electric guitar An electric guitar is a guitar that requires external amplification in order to be heard at typical performance volumes, unlike a standard acoustic guitar (however combinations of the two - a semi-acoustic guitar and an electric acoustic gui ...

, and a consistent chord progression throughout the track. Its lyrics talk about one-sided obsession with "a subtle touch of

lust Lust is a psychological force producing intense desire for something, or circumstance while already having a significant amount of the desired object. Lust can take any form such as the lust for sexuality (see libido), money, or power. It can ...

." Some critics described the song as an "ode to unrequited love and the consequences of not being reciprocated." The fifth song, "Wallflower," is a

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

-influenced track. Lyrically, it is about "confidently suggesting an intimate night and sharing a dance with one another." Dahyun also wrote the lyrics for the closing track, "Crazy Stupid Love." It is a pop-rock song describing a break-up and the "raging emotions of not wanting to deal with trivial lies and the toxicity that love can carry."

Release and promotion

Release

On February 3, 2023, Twice officially revealed the album's title and cover, and announced its release date of March 10, 2023. The group revealed the official tracklist on February 17. On March 4, a pop-up experience was held in Los Angeles in support of the album's release, with Twice personally selling merchandise to fans. On March 6 and 7, the group released two teasers for the music video.

Promotion

To promote the album, Twice performed "Set Me Free" on ''

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon ''The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon'' is an American late-night talk show hosted by Jimmy Fallon that airs on NBC. The show premiered on February 17, 2014, and is produced by Broadway Video and Universal Television. It is the seventh incar ...

'' on March 9, and "Moonlight Sunrise" on ''

The Kelly Clarkson Show ''The Kelly Clarkson Show'' is an American daytime television variety talk show hosted by American singer Kelly Clarkson. It is produced and distributed by NBCUniversal Syndication Studios and features Clarkson interviewing celebrities and segm ...

'' on March 14. On the album's release date, the

Empire State Building The Empire State Building is a 102-story Art Deco skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. The building was designed by Shreve, Lamb & Harmon and built from 1930 to 1931. Its name is derived from "Empire State", the nickname of the st ...

was lit up in Twice's official colors in collaboration with non-profit organization Musicians On Call, celebrating the "healing power of music". In April, the group embarked on their fifth world tour in support of the album.

Critical reception

Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...

''s Tim Chan gave the album a positive review, stating that Twice "blows up the tired stereotypes and smashes through barriers with a seven-song set that’s as brash and compelling as anything in the pop music landscape today". Rhian Daly of ''

NME ''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming, and culture website and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a 'rock inkie', the NME would become a magazine that ended up as a f ...

'' gave the album a rating of four out of five stars, noting that it further refines Twice's sophisticated and retro-inspired sound, despite some "awkward junctures". Lai Frances, writing for ''

Uproxx ''Uproxx'' (stylized in all caps) is an entertainment and popular culture news website. It was founded in 2008 by Jarret Myer and Brian Brater, and acquired by Woven Digital (later renamed Uproxx Media Group) in 2014. The site's target audience ...

'', praised the group's "newfound image of bringing sophisticated pop with mature themes."

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

's Neil Z. Yeung concluded his review by saying ''Ready to Be'' keeps "the energy and euphoria at a peak" and "is another serving of addictive pop moments from the confident and stylish nine-piece". Han Seong-hyun from ''

IZM ''IZM'' () is a South Korean online magazine that publishes pop music Pop music is a genre of popular music that originated in its modern form during the mid-1950s in the United States and the United Kingdom. The terms ''popular music'' and ...

'' wrote that "while the impressions left by 'Set Me Free' and 'Moonlight Sunrise' are somewhat flat, the rest of the tracks that follow succeed in immediately engaging and immersing the ear". Han nevertheless felt that while ''Ready to Be'' "may not be the best", it is "the best result that a 7-year-old group can show." In June, ''Time'' included the album on their list of the best albums of 2023 so far, calling it a "confident comeback," praising its clever and earworm production, writing "twice blow up the tired

stereotype In social psychology, a stereotype is a generalized belief about a particular category of people. It is an expectation that people might have about every person of a particular group. The type of expectation can vary; it can be, for example ...

s and smashes 'sic''through barriers with a seven-song set that’s as brash and compelling as anything in the pop music landscape today. ''Ready to Be'' is a confident comeback from one of K-pop’s most exciting groups, chock full of high-octane bangers and clever earworms that command your attention from the very first note." ''

'' included the EP on a similar list, complimenting its production, versatility, as well as the group's live performances. '' Paste'' ranked it the 8th best K-pop album of the year, who called it "more sophisticated and mature than ever before with assertive claims of control and defiance made throughout the lyrics". Kim Do-heon of ''Zenerate'' ranked the album at number 13 for their list of The 15 Best K-pop Albums of 2023.

Commercial performance

On March 8, it was reported that pre-order sales of ''Ready to Be'' had surpassed 1.7 million copies, breaking the group's previous album pre-order record. The album debuted at number two on the United States' ''Billboard'' 200 with 153,000 album-equivalent units, including 145,500 pure album sales. It marks Twice's fourth US top-10 album and their highest-charting album in the US to date, as well as their biggest week by units sold. The album became the group's fourth best-selling album with over 286,000 pure physical units sold. With this Twice became the first female K-pop act to have three top-three albums and four top-ten albums in the country. The vinyl version sold 18,000 copies, achieving the highest first week vinyl sales in the United States for any all-female group since 1991.

Track listing

Personnel

Credits adapted from

Melon A melon is any of various plants of the family Cucurbitaceae with sweet, edible, and fleshy fruit. The word "melon" can refer to either the plant or specifically to the fruit. Botanically, a melon is a kind of berry, specifically a "pepo". The ...

and album liner notes. Musicians * Twice – vocals ** Dahyun – lyricist (tracks 4 and 6) * Nicole Neely –

strings String or strings may refer to: *String (structure), a long flexible structure made from threads twisted together, which is used to tie, bind, or hang other objects Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Strings'' (1991 film), a Canadian anim ...

(tracks 1, 7) * Earattack – bass, drum programming, keyboard,

producer Producer or producers may refer to: Occupations *Producer (agriculture), a farm operator *A stakeholder of economic production *Film producer, supervises the making of films **Executive producer, contributes to a film's budget and usually does not ...

(track 2) *

– producer (track 6) * Lee Won-jong (이원종) – guitar, producer, keyboard,

synthesizer A synthesizer (also spelled synthesiser) is an electronic musical instrument that generates audio signals. Synthesizers typically create sounds by generating waveforms through methods including subtractive synthesis, additive synthesis and ...

(track 4) * Lee Woo-hyun (이우현) – bass, drum programming, keyboard, producer (track 2) * Lee Woo-min "Collapsedone" – electric guitar, keyboards, producer (track 3) * Lenno Linjama – producer (track 6) * Lindgren – producer (tracks 1, 7) * Lostboy – producer (track 5) *

– background vocals (tracks 1, 7) * Mrch – background vocals (track 3) * Peter Rycroft – all instruments (track 5) * Shorelle – background vocals (track 6) * Sophia Pae – background vocals (tracks 2, 4–5, 7) * Sound Kim – background vocals (track 6) * Young Chance – background vocals (track 6) Technical * Curtis Douglas – mixing (tracks 1, 7) * Earattack – vocal directing (tracks 2, 5), recording (track 5) * Friday (Galactika) – vocal directing (track 1) * Gu Hye-jin (구혜진) – recording (tracks 1–2, 4–5, 7) * Haneul Lee (이하늘) – immersive mixing * Im Chan-mi (임찬미) – recording (tracks 1–3, 6–7) * Jung-hoon Choi (최정훈) – immersive mixing * Jvde (Galactika) – vocal directing (track 1) * Kang Sun-young (강선영) –

digital editing Digital media is any media (communication), communication media that operate in conjunction with various encoded machine-readable data formats. Digital media can be created, viewed, distributed, modified, listened to, and preserved on a digital ...

(track 6) * Kwon Nam-woo (권남우) – mastering * Lee Kyung-won (이경원) – digital editing (tracks 1–2, 5, 7) * Lee Tae-seop (이태섭) – mixing (tracks 2, 4–6) * Lee Won-jong (이원종) – digital editing, vocal directing (track 4) * Lee Woo-min "Collapsedone" – computer programming (track 3) * Nicole Neely – sessions (track 1) * Park Nam-joon (박남준) – digital editing, mixing (track 3) * Shin Bong-won (신봉원) – mixing (track 3) * Sophia Pae – vocal directing (track 7) * Young Chance – digital editing, vocal directing (track 6)

Charts

Weekly charts

Monthly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications and sales

Release history

References

External links

* * {{authority control 2023 EPs Twice (group) EPs JYP Entertainment EPs Republic Records EPs Pop albums by South Korean artists