Connection (Onew EP)
{{use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Connection
| type = EP
| artist = Onew
| cover = Onew - Connection.png
| alt =
| caption = Digital cover
| released = January 6, 2025
| recorded =
| studio = InGrid (Seoul)
| genre = K-pop
| length = 17:09
| language = Korean
| label = Griffin
| producer =
- Onew
- Ditch David
| prev_title = Flow
| prev_year = 2024
| next_title =
| next_year =
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Connection
| type = EP
| single1 = Yay
| single1date = December 12, 2024
| single2 = Winner
| single2date = January 6, 2025
}}
}}
Connection is the fourth Korean-language and fifth overall extended play (EP) by South Korean singer Onew. It was released on January 6, 2025, by Griffin Entertainment. The EP was preceded by the first single, "Yay", on December 12, and supported by the lead single, "Winner", released simultaneously with the EP.
Background and release
In September 2024, Onew released Flow, his first project since departing SM Entertainment in early 2024.{{Cite web |last=Yoo |first=Hong |date=2024-07-11 |title=Onew of Shinee to release solo EP in September |url=https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20240711050633 |access-date=2024-12-15 |website=The Korea Herald |language=en}} Following its release, he held a series of concerts in South Korea and Japan that October and November.{{Cite web |last=You-mee |first=Hwang |date=2024-08-23 |title=[Today’s K-pop] SHINee’s Onew to hold solo concert in Korea, Japan |url=https://news.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20240823050534 |access-date=2024-12-15 |website=The Korea Herald |language=en}} News of a followup to Flow first came three months after its release, when a single, "Yay", was announced on December 9. The announcement stated that the song was to be a pre-release single for an upcoming EP to be released in January 2025, but no specific date or title were given.{{Cite web |date=2024-12-09 |title=온유, 12일 싱글 ‘만세’ 발매…미니 4집 수록곡 선공개 |trans-title=Onew to release single 'Yay' on the 12th… Pre-release of tracks from 4th mini album |url=https://www.donga.com/news/Entertainment/article/all/20241209/130598864/1 |access-date=2024-12-15 |website=The Dong-a Ilbo |language=ko}} "Yay", along with its accompanying music video, were released on December 12.{{Cite web |last=Jeon |first=Hyo-jin |date=2024-12-12 |title=온유, 오늘(12일) ‘만세’ 선공개…미니 4집 발매 예열 |trans-title=Onew, pre-release of 'Yay' today (12th)... Warm-up for the release of 4th mini album |url=https://sports.donga.com/article/all/20241212/130625421/1 |access-date=2024-12-15 |website=The Dong-a Ilbo |language=ko}}
On December 14, Onew held a fan meeting entitled O! New Day at KBS Arena, which was sold out.{{Cite web |last=Ahn |first=Byung-gil |date=2024-12-14 |title=온유, 오늘 팬들과 생일 파티 |trans-title=Onew, birthday party with fans today |url=https://sports.khan.co.kr/article/202412141100003?pt=nv |access-date=2024-12-15 |website=Kyunghyang Shinmun |language=ko}} The next day, the EP's title, Connection, was officially announced, along with its release date, January 6, 2025.{{Cite web |last=Yoon |first=So-yeon |date=2024-12-16 |title=Onew to release fourth EP 'Connection' on Jan. 6 |url=https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2024-12-16/entertainment/kpop/Onew-to-release-new-album-Connection-on-Jan-6/2201408 |access-date=2024-12-17 |website=Korea JoongAng Daily |language=en}}
Promotion
Promotional material for the EP, including the lead single's music video, was filmed on-location in Prague, Czech Republic.{{cite web | title=온유, 1월 6일 미니 4집 컴백..체코 프라하 올 로케 촬영 | website=OSEN | trans-title=Onew, 4th mini album comeback on January 6th.. filming all on location in Prague, Czech Republic | first=Ji-min | last=Kyung | date=2024-12-16 |url=https://www.osen.co.kr/article/G1112474299 | language=ko | access-date=2024-12-17}} Onew promoted Connection with his third concert tour, Onew the Live: Connection. The tour commenced in Yokohama, Japan, on February 15, 2025, and concluded in Los Angeles on May 9, 2025.{{Cite web |last=Gyum |first=Ida |date=2024-12-16 |title=샤이니 온유, 1월 6일 컴백...미니 4집 ‘커넥션’ 발매 |trans-title=SHINee Onew, comeback on January 6th... 4th mini album 'Connection' released |url=https://www.mk.co.kr/news/musics/11195365 |access-date=2024-12-17 |website=Maeil Business Newspaper |language=ko}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/shinee-onew-2025-the-live-connection-tour-dates-venues-3827360|title=SHINee's Onew adds US dates to 2025 'The Live: Connection' world tour|website=NME|last=Yeo|first=Gladys|date=February 27, 2025|archive-date=February 27, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250227145144/https://www.nme.com/news/music/shinee-onew-2025-the-live-connection-tour-dates-venues-3827360|url-status=live}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = Connection track listing
| extra_column = Arrangement
| title_width = 30%
| lyrics_width = 20%
| music_width = 30%
| extra_width = 20%
| title1 = Winner
| lyrics1 = {{hlist|Seo Ji-eum|Onew}}
| music1 = {{hlist|Josh McClelland|Gabriel Brandes|Jayble|Ditch David}}
| extra1 = {{hlist|Jayble|David}}
| length1 = 3:03
| title2 = Promise You
| lyrics2 = {{hlist|Onew|Hyun Ji-won}}
| music2 = {{hlist|Davey Nate|Chkmate|Blkcube|David}}
| extra2 = {{hlist|Chkmate|Blkcube|David}}
| length2 = 2:40
| title3 = Boy
| note3 = {{korean|소년|rr=Sonyeon}}
| lyrics3 = {{hlist|Onew|Hyun}}
| music3 = {{hlist|David|Robin}}
| extra3 = David
| length3 = 2:40
| title4 = Gradation
| note4 = {{korean|번져|labels=no|rr=Beonjyeo}}
| lyrics4 = {{hlist|Danke|Onew}}
| music4 = {{hlist|David|Hahm}}
| extra4 = {{hlist|David|Hahm}}
| length4 = 2:56
| title5 = Conversation
| lyrics5 = {{hlist|Shin Sa-kang|Onew}}
| music5 = {{hlist|McClelland|Robbie McDade|Pete Hammerton}}
| extra5 = Hammerton
| length5 = 2:57
| title6 = Yay
| note6 = {{korean|만세|labels=no|rr=Manse}}
| lyrics6 = {{hlist|Onew|Lee Seu-ran}}
| music6 = {{hlist|Ben Samama|David|Zenon}}
| extra6 = {{hlist|Samama|David}}
| length6 = 2:52
| total_length = 17:09
}}
Charts
{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
{{col-2}}
=Monthly charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Monthly chart performance for Connection ! scope="col"| Chart (2025) ! scope="col"| Position |
| scope="row"| Japanese Albums (Oricon){{cite web |title=Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2025-02 |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/m/2025-02/p/2/ |publisher=Oricon |access-date=March 13, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250312171612/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/m/2025-02/p/2/ |archive-date=March 12, 2025|language=ja}}
| 20 |
|---|
| scope="row"| South Korean Albums (Circle){{cite web|url=https://circlechart.kr/page_chart/album.circle?nationGbn=T&targetTime=01&hitYear=2025&termGbn=month&yearTime=3|title=Circle Album Chart – January 2025|website=Circle Chart|language=ko|access-date=February 6, 2025}}
| 8 |
{{col-end}}