Genie:us

{{Infobox album

| name = Genie:us

| type = EP

| artist = Pentagon

| cover = Pentagon_genie_us.jpg

| alt = Pentagon

| released = {{Start date|2019|03|27}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| genre = K-pop

| length = {{Duration|m=22|s=47}}

| language = Korean

| label = {{hlist|Cube Entertainment|Kakao M}}

| producer = * Hui

Han Yo-Han
Minit
Yuto
Kino
Wooseok
NATHAN
Mospick
The Proof
HOHO
Jinho
Hongseok
Shinwon
Yeo One
Yan An

| prev_title = Thumbs Up!

| prev_year = 2018

| next_title = Sum(me:r)

| next_year = 2019

| misc = {{Singles

| name = Genie:us

| type = EP

| single1 = Sha La La

| single1date = March 27, 2019

}}

{{External music video|type=EP|{{YouTube|ALz4b6x0A70|"신토불이(SHA LA LA)"}}}}

}}

Genie:us is the eighth Korean-language mini album from South Korean boy band Pentagon. It was released on March 27, 2019 by Cube Entertainment. The album consists of six tracks, with "Sha La La" serving as the album's title track. This is the first Korean-language EP the band has released as a nine-member group, with original member E’Dawn departing the group in late 2018, as well as the first album not to involve E'Dawn in any capacity.{{efn|E'Dawn wrote and produced several tracks in Thumbs Up, despite not promoting the album.}}{{Cite web|last=Park|first=Bo-ram|date=2019-03-27|title=Boy band Pentagon releases 8th EP 'Genie:us' after reshaping into nine-member team|url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20190327010100315|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-12-19|website=Yonhap News Agency|language=en}} Member Kino did not participate in stage promotions for "Sha La La" due to an ankle injury he suffered in January.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2019-03-27|title=[SC현장] "이던 탈퇴·키노 빈자리 자신있다"…펜타곤, '신토불이' 불타는 패기의 컴백(종합)|url=https://www.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2019/03/27/2019032702655.html|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-12-26|website=Chosun Ilbo|language=ko}} Starting on April 16, 2019, the group promoted the song "Spring Snow" for a week, for which Kino was able to participate in.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2019-04-16|title=펜타곤, 후속곡 '봄눈'으로 활동 이어간다...발목 부상 키노도 합류 - 싱글리스트|url=http://www.slist.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=77247|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-01-09|website=Single List|language=ko}}

Name

The album name is a portmanteau of the words "genie", from the story of Aladdin, and "us" to create "genius". The title of the project has the connotation that "all people have talents that make them genius in their own field".{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2019-03-27|title=Pentagon Album - Genie:us|url=http://www.cubeent.co.kr/pentagonalbum/4183470|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-12-19|website=Cube Entertainment|language=ko}}

{{blockquote|The title of the album has dual meanings. First, it aims to give the confidence that we all can be a genius. The other reflects our wish to become a genie from a magic lamp.|source=Leader Hui on the album's title.|author=|title=}}

Background and release

On March 15, 2019, Pentagon announced the title and release date of their eighth Korean-language mini album.{{Cite web|last=Jeon|first=Hyo-jin|date=2019-03-15|title=펜타곤, 27일 컴백…'Genie:us' 아트워크 티저 공개 [공식]|url=https://sports.donga.com/ent/3/02/20190315/94559142/1|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-12-18|website=Sports Donga|language=ko}} The lead single "Sha La La" was teased in videos on March 18 and 19, although the title was unknown at the time.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=Mar 17, 2019|title=#PENTAGON 8TH MINI ALBUM [Genie:us] TITLE TRACK SPOILER 01|url=https://twitter.com/CUBE_PTG/status/1107295641602908160|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-12-18|website=Twitter|publisher=CUBE_PTG}}{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=Mar 18, 2019|title=#PENTAGON 8TH MINI ALBUM [Genie:us] TITLE TRACK SPOILER 02|url=https://twitter.com/CUBE_PTG/status/1107839225888567299|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-12-18|website=Twitter|publisher=CUBE_PTG}} A time schedule of the comeback was released on March 19.{{Cite web|last=Jeong|first=Ga-young|date=2019-03-19|title=펜타곤, 본격 컴백 카운트다운…미니 8집 "Genie:us" 스케줄러 공개|url=http://www.sportsworldi.com/newsView/20190319514922|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-12-18|website=Sports World|language=ko}} The track list was released on March 20,{{Cite web|last=An|first=Ha-na|date=2019-03-20|title=펜타곤, 후이 자작곡 '신토불이'로 컴백..흥행 이어간다|url=https://mksports.co.kr/view/2019/168248/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-12-18|website=Maeil Business Newspaper|language=ko}} and their concert "2019 Pentagon Concert - PRISM", to be held on April 27 and 28 in Seoul, was announced on the same day.{{Cite web|last=Jang|first=Jin-ri|date=2019-03-20|title=펜타곤, 4월 단독 콘서트 'PRISM' 개최...1년 만의 공연 [공식입장]|url=https://www.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2019/03/20/2019032002036.html|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-12-18|website=Chosun Ilbo|language=ko}} Concept images were released on March 21 and 22.{{Cite web|last=Park|first=Dong-seon|date=2019-03-21|title=펜타곤, 새 앨범 'Genie:us' 콘셉트 이미지 공개|url=https://www.etnews.com/20190321000281?SNS=00002|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-12-19|website=ETNews|language=ko}}{{Cite web|last=Seon|first=Mi-kyung|date=18 July 2020|title="일상 탈피"..펜타곤, 새 앨범 콘셉트 이미지 공개[Oh!쎈 컷]|url=https://www.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2019/03/22/2019032200548.html|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-12-19|website=Chosun Ilbo|language=ko}} The audio teaser for the mini-album was released on March 25,{{Cite web|last=Ji|first=Min-kyung|date=2019-03-25|title=펜타곤, 새 앨범 'Genie:us' 오디오 티저 공개...믿고 듣는 후이 자작곡|url=https://www.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2019/03/25/2019032500430.html|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-12-19|website=Chosun Ilbo|language=ko}} and the music video teaser for "Sha La La" was released the next day.{{Cite web|last=Hwang|first=Hye-jin|date=2019-03-26|title='컴백 D-1' 펜타곤, 타이틀곡 '신토불이' 뮤직비디오 티저 공개 '강렬'|url=https://newsen.com/news_view.php?uid=201903260811460410&r=1|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-12-19|website=Newsen|language=Korean}} The music video was released on March 27 alongside the album.{{Cite magazine|last=Herman|first=Tamar|date=2019-03-27|title=Pentagon Drops Vibrant New Single 'Sha La La': Watch|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/8504339/pentagon-sha-la-la-video|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-12-19|magazine=Billboard|language=en}} On the same day, a media showcase was held to commemorate the release of the mini-album at Blue Square iMarket Hall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul.{{Cite web|last=Park|first=Dong-seon|date=2019-03-27|title=[스테이지리뷰] 펜타곤, '역주행 청개구리, 패기 더해 신토불이 외치다' (Genie:us 쇼케현장 종합)|url=https://www.etnews.com/20190327000386?SNS=00002|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-12-19|website=ETNews|language=ko}}

Musicality

The group continues their image as a self-producing idol group, as each song on the album was produced by the members and all members are credited as writers and producers. The songs on the album are filled with messages aimed to excite, comfort, encourage, and give hope to the listeners.

{{blockquote|When we staged our first album during a (local) music competition show, we almost broke the floor. We made a crack on the stage because we were so full of energy and ambition... We want to bring back the vigor, passion and confidence with this latest music. That's the whole point of this album.|source=Hui on the album's meaning.|author=|title=}}

= Songs =

"Sha La La" is a future house track with elements of hip hop and rock. The Korean title (신토불이) is an abbreviation of the phrase "신나는 토요일 불타는 이밤", which translates to "let’s light up this Saturday night". The song contains witty lyrics and dynamic dance sounds that aim to ease stress. Billboard highlighted the track's "vibrant soundscape that puts the emphasis on Pentagon’s multi-faceted vocal delivery". Leader Hui said, "You might have moments of stress and feelings of suffocation on your way from work and in school. I wrote the song to resolve them".

"Lost Paradise (Hip Hop Unit)" is a dark hip hop track sung by Hui, Yuto, Kino, and Wooseok, all of whom wrote and composed the song. The members tell their past selves that they are too young to be worried about failure. The tracks spreads the hopeful message that, regardless of one's struggles, a paradise exists within one's self. "Till... (Ballad Unit)" is a ballad sung by Jinho, Hongseok, Shinwon, Yeo One, and Yan An. The piano sounds at the beginning and the full band towards the end enhance the song's theme of perseverance. "Alien" is a witty hip hop track wherein Pentagon expresses their wishes to become a group with a unique, alien-like personality. "Spring Snow" is happy, exciting alternative rock song about the group's experience during the spring of 2018. In the final track, "Round 1", the members playfully diss each other with inside jokes. Every member of Pentagon had a hand in writing and producing the song.

Track listing

{{Track listing

| all_writing =

| extra_column = Arrangement

| headline = Genie:us{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2019-03-27|title=Genie:us - 펜타곤|url=https://music.naver.com/album/index.nhn?albumId=2963500|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-10-30|website=Naver Music|language=ko}}{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2019-03-27|title=Genie:Us - EP by PENTAGON|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/genie-us-ep/1457813574|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-10-30|website=Apple Music|language=en-us}}

| title1 = Sha La La

| note1 = 신토불이

| lyrics1 = {{hlist|Hui|Wooseok}}

| music1 = {{hlist|Hui|Han Yo-Han|Minit}}

| extra1 = {{hlist|Han Yo-han|Minit}}

| length1 = 3:15

| title2 = Lost Paradise (Hip Hop Unit)

| lyrics2 = {{hlist|Hui|Yuto|Kino|Wooseok}}

| music2 = {{hlist|Hui|Yuto|Kino|Wooseok|NATHAN}}

| extra2 = NATHAN

| length2 = 3:43

| title3 = Till... (Ballad Unit)

| note3 = 그 순간 그때까지

| lyrics3 = Hui

| music3 = {{hlist|Hui|MosPick}}

| extra3 = MosPick

| length3 = 4:34

| title4 = Alien

| note4 = 에일리언

| lyrics4 = {{hlist|Hui|Shinwon|Yuto|Wooseok}}

| music4 = {{hlist|Hui|The Proof}}

| extra4 = The Proof

| length4 = 3:20

| title5 = Spring Snow

| note5 = 봄눈

| lyrics5 = {{hlist|Kino|Yuto|Wooseok}}

| music5 = {{hlist|Kino|NATHAN|HOHO}}

| extra5 = {{hlist|NATHAN|HOHO}}

| length5 = 4:01

| title6 = Round 1

| note6 = Bonus Track

| lyrics6 = {{hlist|Jinho|Hui|Hongseok|Shinwon|Yeo One|Yan An|Yuto|Kino|Wooseok}}

| music6 = {{hlist|Jinho|Hui|Hongseok|Shinwon|Yeo One|Yan An|Yuto|Kino|Wooseok|MosPick}}

| extra6 = MosPick

| length6 = 3:54

| total_length = 22:47

}}

Accolades

class="sortable wikitable"

|+Year-end lists

!Critic/Publication

!List

!Rank

!Work

!Ref.

align="center" |Refinery29

| align="center" |The Best K-Pop Songs Of 2019

| align="center" |22

| align="center" |"Sha La La"

|{{Cite web|last=Morin|first=Natalie|date=2019-12-19|title=The Best K-Pop Songs Of 2019|url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2019/12/8836113/best-k-pop-songs-2019|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-12-19|website=Refinery29|language=en}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+Awards

!Year

!Organization

!Category

!Result

!Ref.

rowspan="2" |2019

| rowspan="2" |Seoul Music Awards

|Popular Award

|{{nom}}

| rowspan="2" |{{Cite web |title=29th Seoul Music Awards |url=https://seoulmusicawards.com/vote.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209061606/https://seoulmusicawards.com/vote.html#vote-category |archive-date=2019-12-09 |access-date=2022-03-01 |website=Seoul Music Awards}}

K-Wave Award

|{{nom}}

Charts

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col"\| Chart (2019) ! scope="col"\| Peak position
scope="row"\| South Korean Albums (Gaon){{cite web\|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=13&hitYear=2019&termGbn=week\|title=Gaon Album Chart – Week 13, 2019\|website=Gaon Chart\|language=ko\|accessdate=April 4, 2019}} \| 5
scope="row"\| US World Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine\|last=\|first=\|date=April 6, 2019\|title=World Albums Chart - Week of April 6, 2019\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/world-albums/2019-04-05\|archive-url=\|archive-date=\|access-date=2020-12-18\|magazine=Billboard}} \|15

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

scope="col"| Chart (2019)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

scope="row"| South Korean Albums (Gaon){{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=13&hitYear=2019&termGbn=week|title=Gaon Album Chart – Week 13, 2019|website=Gaon Chart|language=ko|accessdate=April 4, 2019}}

| 5

scope="row"| US World Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine|last=|first=|date=April 6, 2019|title=World Albums Chart - Week of April 6, 2019|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/world-albums/2019-04-05|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-12-18|magazine=Billboard}}

|15

Certifications and sales

{{Certification Table Entry|region=South Korea|nocert=yes|salesamount=40,160|salesref={{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=2019&hitYear=2019&termGbn=year|title=2019 First-Half Year Album Chart (see #56)|website=Gaon Music Chart|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190712070546/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=2019&hitYear=2019&termGbn=year|archive-date=July 12, 2019|language=ko|accessdate=July 12, 2019}}}}

References

Category:2019 EPs

Category:Cube Entertainment EPs

Category:Pentagon (South Korean band) EPs

Category:Kakao M EPs

Category:Albums produced by Hui (singer)

Category:Albums produced by Wooseok

Category:Albums produced by Kino (singer)

Category:Albums produced by Yuto