Talk About S
Talk About S | ||||
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EP by Gain | ||||
Released |
October 5, 2012 (see release history) | |||
Recorded | 2012 | |||
Genre | K-pop, dance, electronic | |||
Length | 18:57 | |||
Language | Korean | |||
Label | LOEN Entertainment | |||
Producer | Jo Yeong-cheol, Lee Min-soo | |||
Gain chronology | ||||
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Singles from Talk About S | ||||
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Talk About S (stylized as Talk about S.) is the second solo extended play (EP) by South Korean singer and actress Gain. It was released on October 5, 2012, and distributed by LOEN Entertainment. The album is a contrast to her solo debut EP due to its delightful and brighter sound, "more varied palette" yet still intacts "the pervasive seductiveness" which was first introduced in Step 2/4 (2010). As executive producer, Jo Yeong-Cheol and Lee Min-soo enlisted collaborators such as KZ and Yoon Jong-shin to create the EP, featuring a total of five tracks.
Upon its release, the album debuted at number one on the Gaon Weekly Albums Chart, making it the singer's first one to do so. With a total sales of about 10,000 copies, it remains her most successful and best-selling album to date, surpassing her previous EP Step 2/4.
Two singles were released from the EP, with its lead track ultimately became a hit, achieving an "all-kill" status upon release, and also becoming her most successful solo single to date. An unreleased track from the album, "Nostalgia", was available as a digital single on November 30, 2012.
Background
After the release of Brown Eyed Girls' digital single "The Original", it was announced that Gain would be releasing her second mini-album in October 2012, titled Talk About S. According to Gain during an interview with Nylon in February 2013, "S" could be referred to sex, sexual or even secret, therefore "S" is a combination of those interpretations as it is "the start point for so many other words". It was also revealed during the interview that she would go "further" in this mini-album as the album was prepared with an R-19 rating due to its sexy concept which received mixed reactions from netizens.[1]
Composition
Talk About S takes influence from dance-pop and electropop, while it also interpolates other genres, such as jazz in "The Gaze" (Hangul: 시선; RR: Siseon), which features singer-songwriter Yoon Jong-shin, whom is also a co-producer of the song. Aside from the executive producer Jo Yeong-cheol, frequent lyricist Kim Eana and producer Lee Min-soo, the album also features productions from Jeong Seok-won, Postino, KZ and Junjaman, whom had previously remixed Brown Eyed Girls' single "My Style". Lyrically, the album focuses on themes such as love, sex, and relationship.
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"Tinkerbell"
![]() A 26-second sample of the song's chorus, with electric guitar elements. The song was described as "an invitation to a midnight tryst" while featuring heavy synthesized elements. "The Gaze"
![]() A 22-second sample of the chorus of "The Gaze". The song is the only duet in Talk About S. |
Problems playing these files? See media help. |
The album opens with "Tinkerbell" (Hangul: 팅커벨; RR: Tingkeobel), an IDM track features a "damaged, half-deleted" Latin guitar while running through synthesized wobbly Low-frequency oscillation chords with many "violent jump cuts", blowing riffs and a four-bar break. The lyrics, using characters such as Tinkerbell and Peter Pan as metaphors, describes "a coy invite to a midnight tryst".[2] It also featured Gain's breathy, airy vocal style which was requested by the producer.[3] The second track "Tiredness" (Hangul: 그녀를 만나; RR: Geunyeoreul Manna; also translated as "Meet Her" in Korean) is a dance-pop with R&B influences with a melodic piano, keyboard and background riffs during the chorus.
The third and also lead track, "Bloom" (Hangul: 피어나; RR: Pieona) is described as a "delightful Madonna throwback" with a funky riff, while talking about a girl became a real woman through love.[2] It was also compared to IU's "Good Day" due to having the same composing team.[3] The fourth track on the album "The Gaze" which features Gain's breathy voice, is the album's only collaboration with a jazzy influence and laid-back feelings, described as "the lethargic, tender bedroom moment",[4] while the last track "Catch Me If You Can" is an upbeat dance-pop song with bright synths and horns.
Another track "Nostalgia" (Hangul: 노스텔지아; RR: Nosteljia), a cover of Yozoh's song which features Eric Mun of Shinhwa, the same rapper of the original track, is an acoustic pop song with a mellow melody which is reminiscent of K-pop during its previous decades.
Singles
"Bloom"
"Bloom" was announced as the lead single for Talk About S after the album's track listing announcement. Written by Kim Eana and produced by Lee Min-soo, "Bloom" received positive reacts after its release. Its accompanied 6-minute long music video was released on October 5, 2012, featuring Gain performing a pole dancing.[5] Upon its release, the song achieved an "all-kill" status on many real-time music charts and became her first number-one on the Gaon Monthly Singles Chart. The song is Gain's best-selling single to date with almost two million digital copies, and also her co-highest charting single on the now-defunct Billboard Korea K-Pop Hot 100, peaking at number two (the other one being her next pre-release single "Fxxk U").
"Nostalgia"
A previously unreleased track, "Nostalgia" was released digitally as a thank-you gift to her fans on November 30, 2012, accompanied by a short music video, using the outtakes while filming the music video for "Bloom".[6] Upon release, "Nostalgia" debuted and peaked at number fourteen on Billboard Korea K-Pop Hot 100.
Promotion
To promote the album, various teasers were premiered online as a countdown prior to the actual release of Talk About S, also revealed the track listing of the album. The first teaser for "Tinkerbell" was released on September 25, 2012,[7] followed by "Catch Me If You Can" on September 26,[8] "Tiredness" on September 27,[9] "The Gaze" on September 28[10] and finally "Bloom" on October 4,[11] one day before the premiere of its full version.[5]
Gain made her first comeback stage on Music Bank (KBS) on October 5, 2012, the album's release date, followed by performances on Show! Music Core (MBC) and The Music Trend (SBS), performing the title track while the opening track "Tinkerbell" was performed only on the first and the third show. She then went on to appear in many television programs in order to promote the album, such as Strong Heart (SBS) and You Hee-yeol's Sketchbook (KBS).
On November 21, she performed both "Bloom" and "Tinkerbell", as well as "Tiredness" for the first time on Good Day Hope Concert. She then performed "The Gaze" for the first time on You Hee-yeol's Sketchbook with Yoon Jong-shin, which was notable for including the pole dancing during the album promotion and the tango routine as a reminiscence of her debut album, and also for a small incident during the performance when she caused the piano man to get a nose bleed.[12]
The promotion was wrapped up by her performances at 2012 Mnet Asian Music Awards (as part of the "Lady Mamalady" section with Sistar and Hyuna) and the 2nd Gaon Chart K-Pop Awards.
Critical reception
Professional ratings | |
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Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
Allkpop | (mixed)[13] |
Officially KMusic | (favorable)[14] |
SeoulBeats | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Hello K-Pop | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Pitchfork Media | (positive)[2] |
Upon its release, Talk About S received generally positive reviews from music critics. Jakob Dorof from Pitchfork Media called it "excellent" while praising Gain for using her solo career "to test the limits of both Korea’s mainstream music and morals". He also picked "Tinkerbell" as one of 20 songs on the essential list.[17] Jung Bae from Hello K-Pop, while describing the album as "stronger", stating that it doesn't "come close to matching the brilliance" of her debut EP. He described the album's title track as "irresistibly charming" and "genuine", while praising the performance of both Gain and Yoon Jong-shin on "The Gaze" and the "frenetic rhythm" of "Tinkerbell".[4] Samantha Her & Alona from KMusic stated that despite the album "does not live up to the fans’ expectations", it was "good enough to be kept", while praising both "Bloom" and "The Gaze" as stand-out tracks [14]
Allkpop gave a more mixed review on the album, stating that the album "falls flat" of its expectation, however choosing "The Gaze" as the album's stand-out pick and also praising her vocal ability.[13] On a somewhat more positive review of Seoulbeats, the EP "seems lacking in terms of cohesiveness", adding that it was "a lot more processing and vocal alteration", picking "Bloom" as the least favourite song of the writer.[15]
Track listing
※ Bolded tracks identify singles from the album.
CD/Digital download[18] | ||||||||||
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No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length | ||||||
1. | "Tinkerbell" (팅커벨; Tingkeobel) | Kim Eana | Jeong Seok-won | 3:15 | ||||||
2. | "Tiredness" (그녀를 만나; Geunyeoreul Manna) | Kim Eana | KZ | 3:32 | ||||||
3. | "Bloom" (피어나; Pieona) | Kim Eana | Lee Min-soo | 3:48 | ||||||
4. | "The Gaze" (시선; Siseon, featuring Yoon Jong-shin) | Yoon Jong-shin | Yoon Jong-shin, Postino | 4:49 | ||||||
5. | "Catch Me If You Can" | D'Day | Junjaman, KZ | 3:33 | ||||||
Total length: |
18:57 |
- Notes
- The title of track 2 literally means "Meet Her".
Digital download only[19] | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length | ||||||
1. | "Nostalgia" (노스텔지아; Nosteljia, featuring Eric Mun of Shinhwa) | Bang Seung-chul | Kim Do-hyun | 4:24 | ||||||
2. | "Nostalgia (Instrumental)" | Kim Do-hyun | 4:24 | |||||||
Total length: |
8:48 |
Chart performance
Album charts
Chart (2012) | Peak position |
Sales |
---|---|---|
South Korean Gaon Weekly Albums Chart[20] | 1 |
|
South Korean Monthly Albums Chart[22] | 9 | |
South Korean Year-End Albums Chart | — |
Single charts
Bloom
Chart (2012) | Peak position |
Sales |
---|---|---|
South Korean Gaon Weekly Singles Chart[23] | 2 |
|
South Korean Gaon Monthly Singles Chart[25] | 1 | |
South Korean Gaon Year-End Singles Chart[26] | 42 | |
US Billboard K-Pop Hot 100[27] | 2 |
Nostalgia
Chart (2012) | Peak position |
Sales |
---|---|---|
South Korean Gaon Weekly Singles Chart[28] | 13 |
|
South Korean Gaon Monthly Singles Chart[30] | 24 | |
South Korean Gaon Year-End Singles Chart | — | |
US Billboard K-Pop Hot 100[31] | 14 |
Other charted songs
Title | Peak chart position | Sales | |
---|---|---|---|
KOR Gaon |
KOR Billboard | ||
"Tinkerbell" | 30 | 22 |
|
"Tiredness" | 33 | 24 |
|
"The Gaze" | 65 | 56 |
|
"Catch Me If You Can" | 89 | 80 |
|
Awards and nominations
Annual music awards
Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2012 | 2nd Gaon Chart K-Pop Awards | Song of the Year – October | "Bloom" | Won |
14th Mnet Asian Music Awards | Best Female Artist | Gain | Nominated | |
Best Music Video | "Bloom" | Nominated | ||
Style in Music | Gain | Won |
Music program awards
Song | Program | Date |
---|---|---|
"Bloom" | M! Countdown (Mnet) | October 18, 2012[36] |
Release history
Region | Date | Format | Label |
---|---|---|---|
South Korea | October 5, 2012 | CD, digital download | LOEN Entertainment |
Worldwide[18] | Digital download |
Footnotes
- ↑ This is an estimated figure. Sales since the 11th week of 2013 are unavailable.
References
- ↑ "R19+ Photos & Interview Together With Ga In". Retrieved March 17, 2015.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Pitchfork: 20 Essential K-Pop Songs". Retrieved March 17, 2015.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 http://www.allkpop.com/article/2012/10/ga-in-reveals-story-behind-talk-about-s
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 http://www.hellokpop.com/news/quick-reviews-navi-glen-check-and-ga-in/
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 1theK (October 5, 2012). "Gain(가인) _ Bloom(피어나) MV" (YOUTUBE).
- ↑ 1theK (November 29, 2012). "Gain(가인) _ Nostalgia(노스텔지아) (Feat. Eric) MV" (YOUTUBE).
- ↑ 1theK (September 25, 2012). "Gain(가인) _ TinkerBell(팅커벨) (Teaser)" (YOUTUBE).
- ↑ 1theK (September 26, 2012). "Gain(가인) _ Catch me if you can (Teaser)" (YOUTUBE).
- ↑ 1theK (September 27, 2012). "Gain(가인) _ Tiredness(그녀를 만나) (Teaser)" (YOUTUBE).
- ↑ 1theK (September 28, 2012). "Gain(가인) _ The Gaze(시선) (Teaser)" (YOUTUBE).
- ↑ 1theK (October 4, 2012). "Gain(가인) _ Bloom(피어나) (Teaser)" (YOUTUBE).
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0e9HDhS7Mo
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 "[Review] Ga In 'Talk About S'". Allkpop. Retrieved October 17, 2012.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Samantha Her & Alona (November 20, 2012). "Kmusic Review: Ga In’s 2nd Solo Mini Album "Talk About S"". Retrieved November 28, 2013.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 "Ga In has some secrets to tell". October 6, 2012. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
- ↑ Jung Bae (October 14, 2012). "Quick Reviews: Navi, Glen Check, and Ga-in". Retrieved November 28, 2013.
- ↑ http://pitchfork.com/features/starter/9475-20-essential-k-pop-songs/1/
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 "iTunes - Music - Talk About S by Gain". iTunes Store. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
- ↑ "iTunes - Music - 노스텔지아 (Nostalgia) - Single by Ga In". iTunes Store. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
- ↑ "South Korean Gaon Chart: Album – The 41st Week of 2010". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
- ↑ Sales references for Talk About S:
- "South Korean Gaon Chart: Album – October 2012". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. 8 November 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
- ↑ "South Korean Gaon Chart: Album – October 2012". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
- ↑ "South Korean Gaon Chart: Singles – The 42nd Week of 2012". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
- ↑ Sales references for "Bloom":
- "South Korean Gaon Chart: Online download (Domestic) – September 30, 2012 to October 6, 2012". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. 11 October 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
- "South Korean Gaon Chart: Online download (Domestic) – October 7, 2012 to October 13, 2012". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. 18 October 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
- "South Korean Gaon Chart: Online download (Domestic) – October 14, 2012 to October 20, 2012". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. 25 October 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
- "South Korean Gaon Chart: Online download (Domestic) – October 21, 2012 to October 27, 2012". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. 1 November 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
- "South Korean Gaon Chart: Online download (Domestic) – October 28, 2012 to November 3, 2012". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. 8 November 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
- "South Korean Gaon Chart: Online download (Domestic) – November 4, 2012 to November 10, 2012". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. 15 November 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
- "South Korean Gaon Chart: Online download (Domestic) – November 11, 2012 to November 17, 2012". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. 22 November 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
- "South Korean Gaon Chart: Online download (Domestic) – November 18, 2012 to November 24, 2012". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. 29 November 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
- "South Korean Gaon Chart: Online download (Domestic) – November 25, 2012 to December 1, 2012". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. 6 December 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
- "South Korean Gaon Chart: Online download (Domestic) – December 2, 2012 to December 8, 2012". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. 13 December 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
- "South Korean Gaon Chart: Online download (Domestic) – December 9, 2012 to December 15, 2012". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. 20 December 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
- "South Korean Gaon Chart: Online download (Domestic) – December 16, 2012 to December 22, 2012". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. 27 December 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
- "South Korean Gaon Chart: Online download (Domestic) – December 23, 2012 to December 29, 2012". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. 3 January 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
- "South Korean Gaon Chart: Online download (Domestic) – December 30, 2012 to January 5, 2013". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. 10 January 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
- "South Korean Gaon Chart: Online download (Domestic) – January 6, 2013 to January 12, 2013". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. 17 January 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
- "South Korean Gaon Chart: Online download (Domestic) – January 13, 2013 to January 19, 2013". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. 24 January 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
- "South Korean Gaon Chart: Online download (Domestic) – January 20, 2013 to January 26, 2013". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. 31 January 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
- "South Korean Gaon Chart: Online download (Domestic) – January 27, 2013 to February 2, 2013". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. 7 February 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
- "South Korean Gaon Chart: Online download (Domestic) – February 3, 2013 to February 9, 2013". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. 14 February 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
- "South Korean Gaon Chart: Online download (Domestic) – February 10, 2013 to February 16, 2013". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. 21 February 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
- "South Korean Gaon Chart: Online download (Domestic) – February 17, 2013 to February 23, 2013". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. 28 February 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
- "South Korean Gaon Chart: Online download (Domestic) – February 24, 2013 to March 2, 2013". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. 7 March 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
- ↑ "South Korean Gaon Chart: Overall singles – October 2012". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
- ↑ "South Korean Gaon Chart: Overall singles – 2012". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
- ↑ "Korea K-Pop Hot 100, Week of 20 October, 2012". Billboard. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
- ↑ "South Korean Gaon Chart: Singles – The 50th Week of 2012". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
- ↑ Sales references for "Nostalgia":
- "South Korean Gaon Chart: Online download (Domestic) – November 25, 2012 to December 1, 2012". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. 6 December 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
- "South Korean Gaon Chart: Online download (Domestic) – December 2, 2012 to December 8, 2012". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. 13 December 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
- "South Korean Gaon Chart: Online download (Domestic) – December 9, 2012 to December 15, 2012". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. 20 December 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
- "South Korean Gaon Chart: Online download (Domestic) – December 16, 2012 to December 22, 2012". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. 27 December 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
- "South Korean Gaon Chart: Online download (Domestic) – December 23, 2012 to December 29, 2012". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. 3 January 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
- "South Korean Gaon Chart: Online download (Domestic) – December 30, 2012 to January 5, 2013". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. 10 January 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
- "South Korean Gaon Chart: Online download (Domestic) – January 6, 2013 to January 12, 2013". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. 17 January 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
- "South Korean Gaon Chart: Online download (Domestic) – January 13, 2013 to January 19, 2013". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. 24 January 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
- ↑ "South Korean Gaon Chart: Overall singles – December 2012". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
- ↑ "Korea K-Pop Hot 100, Week of 15 December, 2012". Billboard. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
- ↑ Sales references for "Tinkerbell":
- "South Korean Gaon Chart: Online download (Domestic) – September 30, 2012 to October 6, 2012". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. 11 October 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
- "South Korean Gaon Chart: Online download (Domestic) – October 7, 2012 to October 13, 2012". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. 18 October 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
- "South Korean Gaon Chart: Online download (Domestic) – October 14, 2012 to October 20, 2012". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. 25 October 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
- "South Korean Gaon Chart: Online download (Domestic) – October 21, 2012 to October 27, 2012". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. 1 November 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
- "South Korean Gaon Chart: Online download (Domestic) – October 28, 2012 to November 3, 2012". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. 8 November 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
- ↑ Sales references for "Meet Her":
- "South Korean Gaon Chart: Online download (Domestic) – October 2012". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
- ↑ Sales references for "The Gaze":
- "South Korean Gaon Chart: Online download (Domestic) – October 2012". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
- ↑ Sales references for "Catch Me If You Can":
- "South Korean Gaon Chart: Online download (Domestic) – October 2012". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
- ↑ "Gain Wins First Place on Mnet "M! Countdown" with "Bloom"". KpopStarz. 18 October 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2015.