Letter to Myself (song)
{{Use American English|date=October 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Letter to Myself
| artist = Taeyeon
| EP = Letter to Myself
| type = single
| released = {{Start date|2024|11|18}}
| language = Korean
| genre = Pop rock
| length = 3:04
| label =
| composer =
- Dino Medanhodzic
- Johanna Jansson
- Rena Lovelis
- Nia Lovelis
- Casey Moreta
| lyricist = Ha Yoo-na (153/Joombas)
| chronology = Taeyeon
| prev_title = Heaven
| prev_year = 2024
| next_title =
| next_year =
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|wqN1vLPX-no|"Letter to Myself"}}}}
}}
"Letter to Myself" is a song recorded by South Korean singer Taeyeon for her sixth extended play of the same name. It was released as the EP's lead single by SM Entertainment on November 18, 2024.
Background and release
On October 27, 2024, SM Entertainment announced that Taeyeon would be releasing her sixth extended play titled Letter to Myself with the lead single of the same name on November 18.{{Cite web|script-title=ko:태연, 'Letter to Myself'로 컴백..11월 18일 발매|trans-title=Taeyeon, comeback with 'Letter to Myself'...released on November 18th|url=https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/112/0003728061|via=Naver|publisher=Herald Pop|language=ko|last=Kim|first=Na-yul|date=October 28, 2024|access-date=October 28, 2024}} The music video teasers were released on November 14 and 15.{{Cite AV media|title=TAEYEON 태연 'Letter to Myself' MV Teaser #1|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYdONlYy9s0|publisher=SM Entertainment|language=ko|date=November 14, 2024|access-date=November 16, 2024}}{{Cite AV media|title=TAEYEON 태연 'Letter to Myself' MV Teaser #2|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyrQcjs0J4E|publisher=SM Entertainment|language=ko|date=November 15, 2024|access-date=November 16, 2024}} The song was released alongside the extended play and its music video on November 18.{{Cite web|script-title=ko:1년 만에 돌아왔다...태연 "몸과 마음으로 즐겨 주셨으면"[일문일답]|trans-title=Returned after a year...Taeyeon "I hope you enjoy it with your body and mind" [Q&A]|url=https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/445/0000258664|via=Naver|publisher=MHN Sports|language=ko|last1=Kim|first1=Jong-hyun|last2=Kim|first2=Hyun-sook|date=November 18, 2024|access-date=November 18, 2024}}
During the live event for Letter to Myself on November 18, the singer revealed that there were "split opinions" regarding the choice of the title track for her EP. While everyone in her company advocated for "Disaster", she was the only one who insisted on selecting "Letter to Myself".{{Cite web|title=[Replay] TAEYEON 태연 'Letter To Myself' Countdown Live|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvIahYWKLhU&t=1807s&ab_channel=TAEYEONOfficial|publisher=TAEYEON Official on YouTube|date=November 22, 2024|access-date=November 28, 2024|archive-date=November 28, 2024|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/mvIahYWKLhU|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|script-title=ko:태연, 나를 잊지 말아요 [뉴트랙 쿨리뷰]|trans-title=Taeyeon, Don't Forget Me [New Track Cool Review]|url=https://www.ize.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=64267|website=IZE|language=ko|author=Han Su-jin|date=November 19, 2024|access-date=November 28, 2024|archive-date=November 28, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241128061936/https://www.ize.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=64267|url-status=live|quote=회사가 타이틀로 밀었던 ‘Disaster(디재스터)’도 그냥 흘려듣기 아쉬운 곡이다.|trans-quote='Disaster', which the company promoted as the title song, is also a song that is regrettable to just listen to.}}{{Cite web|title=All the thoughts I had while listening to Taeyeon's 'Letter to Myself'|url=https://vogue.sg/taeyeon-letter-to-myself-review/|website=Vogue Singapore|author=Jesslyn Lye|date=November 20, 2024|access-date=November 28, 2024|archive-date=November 28, 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20241128054015/https://vogue.sg/taeyeon-letter-to-myself-review/|url-status=live|quote=She has shared how ‘Disaster’ was initially a contender for the title track, but its place now as the song to close out the album indeed feels like a far more fitting one. }}
Composition
"Letter to Myself" was written by Ha Yoo-na from 153/Joombas, and composed and arranged by Dino Medanhodzic alongside Johanna Jansson, Rena Lovelis, Nia Lovelis, and Casey Moreta.{{Cite AV media notes|title=Letter to Myself|publisher=SM Entertainment; Kakao Entertainment|location=South Korea|at=Credits|type=photobook|last=Taeyeon|year=2024}} It was described as a pop rock song featuring "melodic guitar rhythm" with lyrics narrating "an honest letter conveying [Taeyeon's] present self to her past self with the awkward but solid words of comfort that was buried in her heart".{{Cite web|script-title=ko:'컴백' 태연, 'Letter to Myself'로 들려줄 폭발적 보컬|trans-title='Comeback' Taeyeon, explosive vocals with 'Letter to Myself'|url=https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/382/0001161320|via=Naver|publisher=Sports Donga|language=ko|last=Jeon|first=Hyo-jin|date=November 6, 2024|access-date=November 8, 2024}}
Promotion
Prior to the release of Letter to Myself, on November 18, 2024, Taeyeon held a live event called "Taeyeon 'Letter to Myself' Countdown Live" on YouTube and TikTok, aimed at introducing the extended play and its songs, including "Letter to Myself", and connecting with her fanbase.{{Cite web|script-title=ko:'컴백' 태연, 카운트다운 라이브 11월 18일 진행..글로벌 팬 만난다|trans-title=Taeyeon's 'Comeback', Countdown Live will be held on November 18th..meet global fans|url=https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/112/0003730642|via=Naver|publisher=Herald Pop|language=ko|last=Park|first=Seo-hyun|date=November 11, 2024|access-date=November 16, 2024}} On November 21, a live performance clip for "Letter to Myself" was released on her YouTube channel.{{Cite web|script-title=ko:이래서 태연, 태연 하는구나…독보적 가창력 'Letter To Myself' 라이브|trans-title=So that's why Taeyeon, Taeyeon... Unique singing ability 'Letter To Myself' live|url=https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/311/0001798618|via=Naver|publisher=Xports News|language=ko|author=Jo Hye-jin|date=November 22, 2024|access-date=December 2, 2024|archive-date=November 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241123003501/https://m.entertain.naver.com/article/311/0001798618|url-status=live}} On December 24, she appeared on KBS2's Lee Mujin Service and performed "Letter to Myself" along with other songs.{{Cite web|script-title=ko:'SM 전설의 연습생' 태연 "월말평가 1등, 놓친 적 없어" ('리무진서비스')|trans-title=SM Legendary Trainee" Taeyeon, "First place in monthly evaluation, I never missed it" ("Lee Mujin Service")|url=https://www.osen.co.kr/article/G1112478380|via=Naver|publisher=Osen|language=ko|author=Choi Ji-yeon|date=December 24, 2024|access-date=December 25, 2024|archive-date=December 25, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241225080736/https://www.osen.co.kr/article/G1112478380|url-status=live}}
Commercial performance
"Letter to Myself" debuted at number 22 on South Korea's Circle Digital Chart in the chart issue dated November 17–23, 2024;{{cite web|url=https://circlechart.kr/page_chart/onoff.circle?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=ALL&targetTime=47&hitYear=2024&termGbn=week&yearTime=3|title=Digital Chart – Week 47 of 2024|website=Circle Chart|language=ko|date=November 17–23, 2024|access-date=November 28, 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20241128144814/https://circlechart.kr/page_chart/onoff.circle?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=ALL&targetTime=47&hitYear=2024&termGbn=week&yearTime=3|archive-date=November 28, 2024|url-status=live}} on its component charts, the song debuted at number four on the Circle Download Chart,{{Cite web|title=Circle Download Chart – Week 47 of 2024|url=https://circlechart.kr/page_chart/onoff.circle?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=S1020&targetTime=47&hitYear=2024&termGbn=week&yearTime=3|website=Circle Chart|language=ko|date=November 17–23, 2024|access-date=November 28, 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20241128225956/https://circlechart.kr/page_chart/onoff.circle?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=S1020&targetTime=47&hitYear=2024&termGbn=week&yearTime=3|archive-date=November 28, 2024|url-status=live}} number 43 on the Circle Streaming Chart,{{Cite web|title=Circle Streaming Chart – Week 47 of 2024|url=https://circlechart.kr/page_chart/onoff.circle?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=S1040&targetTime=47&hitYear=2024&termGbn=week&yearTime=3|website=Circle Chart|language=ko|date=November 17–23, 2024|access-date=November 28, 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20241128230305/https://circlechart.kr/page_chart/onoff.circle?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=S1040&targetTime=47&hitYear=2024&termGbn=week&yearTime=3|archive-date=November 28, 2024|url-status=live}} and number 19 on the Circle BGM Chart.{{Cite web|title=Circle BGM Chart – Week 47 of 2024|url=https://circlechart.kr/page_chart/onoff.circle?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=S1060&targetTime=47&hitYear=2024&termGbn=week&yearTime=3|website=Circle Chart|language=ko|date=November 17–23, 2024|access-date=November 28, 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20241128230626/https://circlechart.kr/page_chart/onoff.circle?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=S1060&targetTime=47&hitYear=2024&termGbn=week&yearTime=3|archive-date=November 28, 2024|url-status=live}}
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from Letter to Myself liner notes.{{cite AV media notes |title=Letter to Myself |last=Taeyeon |year=2024 |at=Credits |type=photobook |location=South Korea |publisher=SM Entertainment, Kakao Entertainment}}
Studio
- SM Yellow Tail Studio – recording
- SM Wavelet Studio – recording
- SM Droplet Studio – recording
- SM Aube Studio – recording
- MonoTree Studio – Pro Tools operating
- SM Starlight Studio – digital editing
- SM Concert Hall Studio – mixing
- The Mastering Palace – mastering
Personnel
- SM Entertainment – executive producer
- Taeyeon – vocals, background vocals
- Ha Yoo-na (153/Joombas) – lyrics
- Dino Medanhodzic – composition, arrangement
- Johanna Jansson – composition
- Rena Lovelis – composition
- Nia Lovelis – composition
- Casey Moreta – composition
- Lee Joo-hyung – vocal directing, Pro Tools operating
- Emily Yeonseo Kim – background vocals
- Noh Min-ji – recording
- Kang Eun-ji – recording
- Kim Joo-hyun – recording
- Kim Hyo-joon – recording
- Jeong Yoo-ra – digital editing
- Nam Koong-jin – mixing
- Dave Kutch – mastering
Charts
{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Weekly chart performance for "Letter to Myself" ! scope="col" | Chart (2024) ! scope="col" | Peak |
| scope="row" | South Korea (Circle)
| 22 |
|---|
| scope="row" | Taiwan (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/taeyeon/chart-history/i44/|title=Taeyeon Chart History (Taiwan Songs)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 3, 2024}}
| 22 |
{{col-2}}
=Monthly charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Monthly chart performance for "Letter to Myself" ! scope="col"| Chart (2024) ! scope="col"| Position |
| scope="row"| South Korea (Circle){{cite web|url=https://circlechart.kr/page_chart/onoff.circle?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=ALL&targetTime=12&hitYear=2024&termGbn=month&yearTime=3|title=Digital Chart – December 2024|website=Circle Chart|language=ko|access-date=January 9, 2025}}
| 68 |
|---|
{{col-end}}
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ Release history for "Letter to Myself" ! scope="col" | Region ! scope="col" | Date ! scope="col" | Format ! scope="col" | Label |
| scope="row" | Various
| November 18, 2024 | {{Hlist|Digital download|streaming}} |
|---|