"Solo"is the debut solo single by South Korean singer and rapperJennie.It was released throughYG EntertainmentandInterscopeon November 12, 2018. The song was written byTeddyand composed by him alongside 24. Sonically, "Solo" is adance,pop,andhip hopsong withEDMelements. Its lyrical content revolves around themes of independence following a break-up.

"Solo"
Digital edition cover
SinglebyJennie
Language
  • Korean
  • English
ReleasedNovember 12, 2018(2018-11-12)
StudioThe Black LabelStudio (Seoul)
Genre
Length2:50
Label
Composer(s)
Lyricist(s)Teddy
Jenniesingles chronology
"Solo"
(2018)
"You & Me"
(2023)
Physical edition cover
Music video
"Solo"onYouTube

"Solo" was a commercial success in South Korea, peaking atop theGaon Digital Chartand theBillboardK-pop Hot 100for two weeks. Internationally, it made Jennie the first lead female K-pop soloist to top theBillboardWorld Digital Songschart in the United States, and debuted on the charts of several other countries, including Canada, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Scotland, Singapore and the United Kingdom. It has received three platinum certifications from theKorea Music Content Association(KMCA) for surpassing 2.5 million digital units, 250,000 physical units, and 100 million streams, as well as a gold certification from theRecording Industry Association of Japan(RIAJ).

An accompanyingmusic videofor the song was directed by Han Sa-min and uploaded to Blackpink'sYouTubechannel simultaneously with the single's release. The video was filmed in the United Kingdom and depicts Jennie's transformation from an innocent to strong independent woman. In 2024, it became the first music video by a female K-pop soloist to reach one billion views on the platform. Jennie promoted "Solo" with performances on the South Koreanmusic programsInkigayoandShow! Music Core,as well as Blackpink'sIn Your Area World Tour.The song won several accolades, including Best Digital Song at the34th Golden Disc Awards.

Recording and composition

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In a press conference held on November 12, 2018, Jennie talked about the song's creation, stating, "When I'm at Teddy's studio, he'll make a song and I'll just record the guide for it. It wasn't that he was working on a solo track for me. He just said, 'I have something new, let's try it.' So I recorded the song he had, and it happened to be a great fit".[1]She also described the meaning behind the song as "When you're dating someone, you tend to present what the other person wants rather than your true self. I wanted to express that feeling. Rather than the heart wound coming from a breakup, I wanted to express myself more freely".[2]While Jennie is not credited as a songwriter, she created the concept behind the song. She told theHollywood Reporter,"So, I've input a lot of my ideas into the concept, the style and everything. So, I've had a strong connection from the beginning, I guess."[3]Jennie explained how "Solo" was written byTeddyand composed by him alongside 24. The song is composed in thekeyof E-flat minor in a tempo 95 beats per minute and runs for 2:50.[4]It has been described as adance,popandhip hopsong, withEDMelements.[5][6]SBS'Kang Kyung-yoon noted that the lyrics follow two themes; a weak introverted girl and an "independent yet strong woman.[6]

Commercial performance

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"Solo" debuted at number one on theGaon Digital Charton the week ending November 17. Overall, the song stayed in the top ten of the chart for 13 consecutive weeks and spent 33 weeks in the top 100 of the chart. It furthermore topped the component Download and Streaming chart.[7]The CD release of the single charted at number two of theGaon Album Chart,selling more than 45,000 copies in two months, making it the 100th best-selling album of 2018.[8]Eventually "Solo" became the 86th and 35th best-performing song of 2018 and 2019 respectively in South Korea. The song was certified platinum by the Korea Music Content Association (KMCA) both for surpassing 100 million streams on June 6, 2019, and for 2.5 million paid digital downloads on March 12, 2020.[9][10]On July 11, 2024, the CD release was certified platinum by the KMCA for surpassing 250,000 copies sold.[11]The song entered theBillboardK-pop Hot 100on the chart issue dated November 24 at number one.[12]The following week it dropped to number ten, but reached the top again the following week.[13][14]It spent 25 weeks on the chart.[15]The song further reached number one in Singapore and Malaysia.[16][17]In Japan, "Solo" debuted and peaked at number 22 on theBillboardJapan Hot 100in the week ending November 26.[18]

In the United States, "Solo" debuted at number three onBillboard'sWorld Digital Song Saleschart and achieved 4.5 million streams with only four days of tracking after its release. The following week ending November 22, it earned 5.3 million streams (up 17%) for its first full tracking week. The song rose to number one on the World Digital Song Sales chart with 4,000 downloads sold, bringing its total tally to 9,000 downloads since release. With this, Jennie became the first solo female K-pop act as a lead artist and the second overall to top the chart, afterCLwith her feature onPsy's "Daddy"(2015). Jennie was the sixth Korean solo act to hit number one, after Psy, CL,G-Dragon,Taeyang,andJ-Hope.[19]According toNielsen Music,the track sold 10,000 downloads in the U.S. as of November 29 and garnered more than 5 million streams since its release.[20]In total, it spent 25 weeks charting on the World Digital Song Sales chart.[21]"Solo" also reached the single charts in Canada and Scotland, while reaching the New Zealand Hot Singles chart.[22][23][24]In the United Kingdom, it entered the UK download component chart at number 72 and earned 154,000 UK chart units as of October 2024, the third-most for any Blackpink member's solo single after her own "One of the Girls"(2023) andLisa's "Money"(2021).[25][26]The song surpassed Psy's "Gangnam Style"as the most streamed song by a Korean solo artist onSpotifyin October 2020, and became the first song by a Korean solo artist to reach 300 million streams in June 2021.[27]It surpassed 500 million streams on the platform in June 2023, making Jennie the first Korean soloist to reach the milestone in history.[28]

Release and promotion

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Jennie performing "Solo" during theIn Your Area World Tourin Los Angeles, 2019

On October 18, 2018, YG announced that allBlackpinkmembers were preparing solo releases, with Jennie to release a song in November 2018.[29]On October 27, YG released a promotional poster on various social media accounts.[30]A 23-second teaser video was uploaded one day later ontoBlackpink's official YouTube channel. The clip shows Jennie lying on a bed and repeatedly mentioning her name.[31]The second teaser was uploaded one week later, showing her performing in various clothes in a photo studio.[32][33]The third and last teaser was uploaded four days prior to the single's release, showing her with different outfits in various locations.[34]

"Solo" was released fordigital downloadandstreamingon November 12, 2018, through YG and Interscope. A physical version of the single was released on November 18, 2018, featuring the song and its instrumental. Alongside the CD, a 72-page photobook, a double-sided poster, a random photocard and a lyrics postcard were released in a special version.[35]Because her first appearance as a solo artist on SBS'Inkigayoand MBCShow! Music Corewas postponed as broadcasters had cancelled all the performances scheduled for that week, YG Entertainment uploaded choreography videos for the song on YouTube for fans.[36]Its dance was choreographed by Kiel Tutin, Kyle Hanagami, and Shackkings.[37]YG Entertainment then aired theJennie – 'Solo' Diaryseries on YouTube, sharing glimpses of her work throughout the promotion period of the single.[38]

Jennie performed "Solo" on several occasions. The single was first performed by Jennie during Blackpink's concert inSeoul'sOlympic Gymnastics Arenaon November 10 and 11, 2018.[39][32]She performed "Solo" four times in November and December atSBS'Inkigayoand won three times.[40]In the same month, "Solo" was performed at theSBS Gayo Daejeon,alongside "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du".Furthermore," Solo "was performed during Blackpink's debutCoachellastage on April 12, 2019.[41]A live version of "Solo" which was recorded on December 24, 2018, was included on Blackpink's first live albumBlackpink Arena Tour 2018 "Special Final In Kyocera Dome Osaka",which was released on March 22, 2019, throughYGEX.[42]On July 2, 2023, Jennie performed "Solo" during Blackpink's set as the headlining act ofBST Hyde ParkinLondon.[43]

Remix version

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On January 31, 2021, Jennie performed a remix version of "Solo" during Blackpink's livestream concert,The Show.[44]The remix version included a new rap verse written by Jennie and an extended tropical dance break.[45]The remix version of the song was released on June 1, 2021, as part of the live albumBlackpink 2021 'The Show' Live.[46]

Music video

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An accompanying music video for the song was directed by Han Sa-min and shot in theUnited Kingdom.[5][47]Within five hours of its release onYouTube,the video surpassed four million views.[48]It achieved 100 million views in only 23 days, the shortest time period ever for any solo female K-pop singer.[49]"Solo" surpassed 300 million views in just six months, becoming the first music video by a Korean female soloist to reach the milestone.[50]On February 29, 2024, the music video surpassed one billion views on YouTube.[48]With this, Jennie became the first female solo K-pop artist in history to have a music video reach one billion views, and only the second-ever solo K-pop artist to do so afterPsy,whose "Gangnam Style"crossed the threshold in 2012.[51]

Accolades

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Awards for "Solo"
Year Organization Award Result Ref.
2019 Gaon Chart Music Awards Artist of the Year – Digital Music (November) Won [52]
Mnet Asian Music Awards Best Dance Performance Solo Nominated [53]
Song of the Year Nominated
2020 Golden Disc Awards Best Digital Song (Bonsang) Won [54]
Song of the Year (Daesang) Nominated
Music program awards
Program Date Ref.
Inkigayo November 25, 2018 [40]
December 2, 2018
December 16, 2018

Track listing

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Digital download and streaming
  • 1. "Solo" – 2:49
CD single
  • 1. "Solo" – 2:50
  • 2. "Solo" (instrumental) – 2:50

Credits and personnel

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Credits adapted from CDliner notes.[55]

Recording

Personnel

Charts

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Certifications and sales

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Certifications and sales for "Solo"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[69] 3× Platinum 120,000
South Korea (KMCA)[70] Platinum 2,500,000*
South Korea (KMCA)[11]
Physical album
Platinum 250,000^
United Kingdom 154,000[26]
Streaming
Japan (RIAJ)[71] Gold 50,000,000
South Korea (KMCA)[72] Platinum 100,000,000

*Sales figures based on certification alone.
^Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Release formats for "Solo"
Region Date Version Format Label Ref.
Various November 12, 2018 Original [73]
November 18, 2018
  • Original
  • instrumental
CD single [35]

See also

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References

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