Number Nine (T-ara song)
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Number Nine
| cover = T-ara Number Nine regular.png
| alt =
| caption = Japanese single Regular edition
| type = single
| artist = T-ara
| album = Again, Gossip Girls
| language =
| released = {{start date|2013|10|10|df=yes}} (KR)
{{start date|2013|11|20|df=yes}} (JP)
| recorded = 2013
| studio =
| venue =
| length =
| label = MBK Entertainment
| writer = Shinsadong Tiger
| producer =
| chronology = T-ara Japanese
| prev_title = Target
| prev_year = 2013
| year = 2013
| next_title = Lead The Way / La'boon
| next_year = 2014
| misc = {{Extra album cover
| header = X'mas edition cover
| type = single
| cover = T-ara Number Nine X'mas.png
| border = yes
| alt =
| caption =
}}
}}
"Number Nine" is a song by South Korean girl group T-ara, from their eighth extended play Again. The song was written and composed by Shinsadong Tiger and Choi Gyu-sung. "Number Nine" was released as the lead single from the album on 10 October 2013.{{cite news |author1=Kim Ji-soo |date=24 October 2013 |title=T-ara is recharged with new attitude |work=The Korea Times |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/culture/2014/11/386_144904.html |accessdate=11 February 2015}} The song was released in Japanese with "You Gave Me Guidance" which was selected as the theme song to the film Jinx!!! starring member Hyomin.{{cite web |title=T-ARA 8th Single ジャケット写真公開！｜T-ARAオフィシャルブログpowered by Ameba |url=http://ameblo.jp/t-ara777/entry-11650464297.html |accessdate=26 October 2013 |work=T-ara Official Blog |publisher=Ameba}} The single was released on 20 November 2013, through EMI Records Japan. "Number Nine" was selected as the song of the year by KoreanWave Indonesia.{{Cite web |date=2013-12-16 |title=티아라-슈퍼주니어, 인도네시아 韓그룹 1위 '기염' |trans-title=T-ara-Super Junior, Indonesian Korean Group No. 1 'Fresh' |url=https://cm.asiae.co.kr/article/2013121619140650640 |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=www.asiae.co.kr |language=ko}}
Background and release
On 15 September, Core Contents Media revealed that T-ara will make their comeback on 10 October 2013. The song was said to have a "stronger sound", but still remain catchy. On 26 September 2013, T-ara released a 30 second teaser video, filmed in a desert. On 1 October, T-ara released another teaser for "Number Nine" on their official website. In their black-and-white teaser, they used an "upgraded mature beauty".
The music video along with the album was released on 10 October 2013, and the drama version was released on 16 October 2013.{{cite news |last1=Hong |first1=Grace Danbi |date=10 October 2013 |title=T-ara Releases 'Number 9' and 'Because I Know' MVs |work=enewsWorld |publisher=CJ E&M |url=http://mwave.interest.me/enewsworld/en/article/47823/t-ara-releases-mvs |url-status=dead |accessdate=11 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150211095916/http://mwave.interest.me/enewsworld/en/article/47823/t-ara-releases-mvs |archive-date=11 February 2015}} "Number 9" is an electro-pop dance song with sad lyrics and melody. It was choreographed by Yama & Hotchicks, who also choreographed "Bo Peep Bo Peep".The song features a gentle guitar melody, coupled with an "unexpected intense sound". It was co-composed by Sinsadong Tiger and Choi Gyu Sung. "T-ara Party Non-Stop Remix" by DJ Takao Fukushima is composed of ten songs spanning 45 minutes: "Bo Peep Bo Peep", "Yayaya", "Lovey-Dovey", "Roly-Poly", "Waeroni", "Bye Bye", "Like The First Time", "Target", "Bunny Style!" and "Deja-Vu".{{cite web |title=T-ARA 8th Single ジャケット写真公開！｜T-ARAオフィシャルブログpowered by Ameba |url=http://ameblo.jp/t-ara777/entry-11650464297.html |accessdate=26 October 2013 |work=T-ara Official Blog |publisher=Ameba}}
The single was released in four different types: two CD+DVD limited editions that come in a special paper jacket, a regular edition, and a X-mas edition that comes with a remix album and a DVD, packaged in a box with six "T-ara Santa Ver." rubber key holders. All editions of the single come with a trading card with a serial code, chosen randomly out of seven types.{{cite web |title=T-ARA 8th Single ジャケット写真公開！｜T-ARAオフィシャルブログpowered by Ameba |url=http://ameblo.jp/t-ara777/entry-11650464297.html |accessdate=26 October 2013 |work=T-ara Official Blog |publisher=Ameba}}
Promotions
The first time the song was revealed was on 6 October 2013 when performed at "Hallyu Dream Concert". T-ara had their first televised performance of "Number Nine" on Mnet's M! Countdown on 10 October. This was followed by additional performances on music programs including Music Bank, Show! Music Core and Inkigayo
Reception
= Commercial performance =
After its release, "Number Nine" reached number five on the Gaon Weekly Digital Chart{{cite web |title=2013년 43주차 Digital Chart |url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=ALL&targetTime=43&hitYear=2013&termGbn=week |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150210231752/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=ALL&targetTime=43&hitYear=2013&termGbn=week |archivedate=10 February 2015 |accessdate=10 October 2013 |publisher=Gaon |language=ko}} and number 4 on Billboard's K-pop Hot 100.{{cite web |title=Korea K-Pop Hot 100 Week of November 2, 2013 |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/k-pop-hot-100/2013-11-02 |accessdate=10 February 2015 |website=Billboard}} In China, the song topped YinYueTai's both Korean and official charts. The second version video also peaked within top five on the chart.{{Cite web |title=티아라 '나 어떡해', 중국 최대 뮤비 사이트서 1위 '기염' {{!}} 방송 : 네이트 연예 |trans-title=T-ara's 'What Should I Do', ranked #1 on China's largest music video site |url=https://m.news.nate.com/view/20131205n12904?mid=e02 |access-date=21 April 2023 |website=Osen |publisher=Nate |language=ko}} In Japan, the single topped the Weekly USEN chart.{{Cite web |title=T-ARA『T-ARA「NUMBER NINE (Japanese ver.)」有線K-POPチャートで1位』 |trans-title=T-ARA's "NUMBER NINE (Japanese ver.)" tops USEN K-POP chart |url=https://ameblo.jp/t-ara777/entry-11717913043.html |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=Ameba |language=ja}}
= Critical reception =
SBS PopAsia named the song number 7 in their list of 9 best T-ara singles.{{Cite web |date=13 June 2017 |title=9 of the best T-ara singles |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/popasia/blog/2017/06/13/9-best-t-ara-singles |access-date=3 November 2022 |website=SBS PopAsia |language=en}} In 2024, NME ranked the song at No. 6 on its Best T-ARA songs to date praising the "perfect fusion of both the EDM sound that defined the era and the softer dance-pop that punctuated their earlier music".{{Cite web |last=Chin |first=Carmen |date=2024-07-29 |title=The 10 best T-ARA songs |url=https://www.nme.com/features/music-features/best-top-t-ara-songs-ranked-3778785 |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=NME |language=en-GB}} "Number Nine" was selected as the song of the year by Korean Wave Indonesia. "Number Nine" is T-ara's most viewed music video on YouTube, spanning over 100 million views on the official music video uploaded by Core Contents Media.
In popular culture
"Number Nine" has appeared in the sixth episode of KBS's 2013 drama Secret Love, where Jo Min-joo (played by Song Min-kyung) works out in the gym playing the song. In 2014, the song was played and performed by Han Tae-hee (played by Jung Da-bin) in KBS1's daily drama Melody of Love. The song was added to Pump It Up 2's playlist in 2016 and has since been one of the most played songs on the game.
Track listing
{{tracklist
| title1 = Number Nine (Japanese ver.)
| note1 =
| length1 =
| lyrics1 =
| music1 =
| title2 = Memories: You Gave Me Guidance
| note2 = 記憶～君がくれた道標(みちしるべ)～
| length2 =
| lyrics2 =
| music2 =
| total_length =
}}{{tracklist
| headline = Regular edition bonus track
| title3 = A-ha
| note3 =
| length3 =
| lyrics3 =
| music3 =
| total_length =
}}{{Track listing
| headline = Limited edition A DVD
| title1 = Memories: You Gave Me Guidance Music Video (Director version)
| note1 = 熊澤尚人監督
| title2 = Bunny Style! Live Performance (T-ara 2nd Album Premium advance)
| note2 = プレミアム先行LIVE
}}{{Track listing
| headline = Limited edition B DVD
| title1 = Kumazawa Naoto Director version Music Video (Making-of video ver.)
| note1 = メイキング映像版
| title2 = Lies (Japanese ver.) Live (T-ara 2nd Album Premium showcase Live 2013.7.13)
| note2 = コジンマル～嘘～
}}{{tracklist
| headline = X'mas edition: Disc one
| title1 = Number Nine (Japanese ver.)
| note1 =
| length1 =
| lyrics1 =
| music1 =
| title2 = Number Nine (Japanese ver.)
| note2 = Club ver.
| length2 =
| lyrics2 =
| music2 =
| title3 = Kioku: Kimi ga Kureta Michishirube
| note3 =
| length3 =
| lyrics3 =
| music3 =
| total_length =
}}{{tracklist
| headline = X'mas edition: Disc two Remix Album
| title1 = T-ara Party Non Stop Remix (DJ Takao Fukushima Remix)
| note1 =
| length1 =
| lyrics1 =
| music1 =
| total_length =
}}{{Track listing
| headline = X'mas edition: Disc three DVD
| title1 = Number Nine (Japanese ver.) Music Video
| note1 = メイキング映像版, Making-of video version
| title2 = T-ara 2nd Album Premium showcase Live Special Movie
| note2 =
}}
Charts
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center;"
! Chart (2013) ! Peak |
| scope="row" |Japan Singles (Oricon)
| 13 |
|---|
| scope="row" |Japan (Japan Hot 100)
| 62 |
| scope="row" |South Korea (Gaon)
| 5 |
| scope="row" |South Korea (K-pop Hot 100)
| 4 |
| scope="row" |US World Digital Songs (Billboard)
| 7 |
Sales
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|+Reported sales !Country !Sales |
| scope="row" |South Korea
|605,000{{Efn|Accumulated sales for Number Nine in 2013 only.}} |
|---|
| scope="row" |Japan (Oricon)
|18,000{{Efn|Accumulated sales for Number Nine in 2013 only.}} |
Awards and nomination
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ !Award ceremony !Year !Category !Recipient !Result !Ref. |
| scope="row" |KU Awards
| rowspan="2" |2013 |Song of the Year | rowspan="2" |"Number 9" |{{Won}} |
|---|
| scope="row" |ArcH K-Pop Music Awards
|Top 10 Songs |{{Won}} |
Credits and personnel
References
{{Reflist}}
{{T-ara}}