"Solo" is the debut solo single by South Korean singer and Blackpink member Jennie, released on November 12, 2018 through YG and Interscope. The song was written by Teddy Park and produced by him alongside 24. It has been described as an dance and hip hop track, whose lyrics talk about her independence after a break-up. An accompanying music video for the song was directed by Han Sa-min and uploaded onto Blackpink's YouTube channel simultaneously with the single's release. The video was filmed in the United Kingdom and depicts Jennie's transformation from an innocent to a strong independent woman. The video has accumulated more than 500 million views on the platform. In South Korea, the song debuted and peaked at number one on the Gaon Digital Chart. Moreover, the song attained international success, becoming her first chart-topper on Billboard'sWorld Digital Songs chart. "Solo" debuted in the charts of several countries, including Canada, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Scotland, Singapore and the United Kingdom. The song has been certified double platinum by the Korea Music Content Association for 2,5 million downloads and 100 million streams.
Background and composition
Jennie's solo debut was announced by YG Entertainment on October 27, 2018 through a promotional poster on various social media accounts. A 23 second teaser video was uploaded one day later onto Blackpink's official YouTube channel. The clip shows Jennie lying on a bed and repeatedly mentioning her name. The second teaser was uploaded one week later, showing her performing in various clothes in a photo studio. The third and last teaser was uploaded four days prior to the singles release, showing her with different outfits in various locations. The single was ultimately released digitally on November 12. It was written by Park Hong-jun and produced by him alongside 24. Tamar Herman described the song as an "anthemic dance track rife with EDM synths and beat drops, boisterous, hip-hop-slanting percussion, and squealing whistle effects."
Promotion
For promotion, Jennie performed "Solo" on several occasions. The single was first performed by Jennie during Blackpink's concert in Seoul's Olympic Gymnastics Arena on November 10 and 11, 2018. She performed "Solo" four times in November and December at SBS' Inkigayo and won three times. In the same month, "Solo" was performed at the SBS Gayo Daejeon, alongside "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du". Furthermore, "Solo" was performed during Blackpink's debut Coachella stage on April 12, 2019. A physical version of the single was released on November 18, 2018, featuring the song and it's 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. An accompanying music video for the song was directed by Han Sa-min and shot in the United Kingdom. It features Jennie on her own as she transforms from an "innocent and delicate" woman in a luxurious manor, to a charismatic woman growing into her independent nature, reveling in being "Solo" through a variety of dance scenes, showing off sleek choreography and ending things off in a powerful way amid a crowd of female dancers.
Commercial performance
"Solo" debuted at number one on the Gaon Digital Chart on 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. The CD release of the single charted at no. two of the Gaon Album Chart, selling a total of 68,000 copies as of May 2020. The song was certified platinum by the Korea Music Content Association for 100 Million streams on June 6, 2019 and for 2,5 Million paid digital downloads on March 12, 2020. The song reached number in Malaysia and Singapore respectively. In the United States, "Solo" debuted atop Billboard's World Digital Song Sales chart on December 1, 2018. It spent 25 weeks in said chart. The song has sold 10,000 digital copies in the US as of December 2018.
Credits and personnel
Credits are adapted from Spotify and Dextor Lab: ;Personnel
