Q is
{{distinguish|Ron Watkins}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Q is
| type = EP
| artist = NU'EST
| cover = Q is NU'EST EP.jpg
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|2016|2|17}}
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = K-pop
| length = 17:40
| label = Pledis Entertainment
| producer =
| prev_title = Bridge the World
| prev_year = 2015
| next_title = Canvas
| next_year = 2016
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Q is
| type = EP
| single1 = Overcome
| single1date = February 17, 2016
}}
}}
Q is is the fourth extended play by the South Korean boy band NU'EST. The album was released on February 17, 2016 and was distributed by LOEN Entertainment.
Background and release
Q is is NU'EST's first Korean release in 1.5 years after the group put their Korean activities on hold to promote in Japan.{{cite news | url=http://news.kstyle.com/article.ksn?articleNo=2039053 | title=NU'EST、新曲「女王の騎士」MVを公開"少年から男へ成長した姿" | language=ja | work=Osen | publisher=KStyle | date=2016-02-18 | access-date=2019-12-29}} The album was released on February 17, 2016 along with the music video for the title track, "Overcome." A dance version of the music video was released on February 22, 2016.{{cite news | first=Ha-jin | last=Kim | translator-first=Yoon-jeong | translator-last=Choi | url=http://news.kstyle.com/article.ksn?articleNo=2039342 | title=NU'EST、新曲「女王の騎士」ダンスバージョンのミュージックビデオを公開 | language=ja | work=TenAsia | publisher=KStyle | date=2016-02-22 | access-date=2019-12-29}}
Composition
The concept of Q is focuses on a narrative about a queen and a knight who wants to protect her. During the album's comeback showcase, JR explained that the queen represents the group's fans,{{cite AV media |date=2016-02-21 |title=[Showcase] NU'EST(뉴이스트) _ OVERCOME(여왕의 기사) & In Fact(사실 말야) | trans-title=(Showcase) NU'EST: Overcome & In Fact | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtBIWTpu1Sg |access-date=2019-12-29 |time=3:00-3:20 | location=South Korea | publisher=1theK |quote=JR: The fourth album is about a queen and a knight who wants to protect her. For us NU'EST, our queen is our precious fans. We made this song since we want to protect and think about our fans forever.}} known as "Love." In addition, Baekho revealed that the first letter of each song spelled out the word "Love", while the second "s" in "One Kis2" was intentionally spelled with the number "2" to form a heart.{{cite AV media |date=2016-02-21 |title=[Showcase] NU'EST(뉴이스트) _ OVERCOME(여왕의 기사) & In Fact(사실 말야) | trans-title=(Showcase) NU'EST: Overcome & In Fact | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtBIWTpu1Sg |access-date=2019-12-29 |time=3:20-3:47 | location=South Korea | publisher=1theK |quote=Baekho: Our first track is "My Heaven" ["Lost & Found"], which is the "L" of "love." The second track is "Overcome", which is the "O" of "love." The third track is "In Fact" ["VVith"], which is the "V" of "love." And the fourth track is "Bickering" ["Emotion"], which is the "E" of "love." On the last track, we added "S" and "2" to make a heart shape, so the album spells out "LOVE", and a heart.}}
The title track, "Overcome", is described as an addictive melody with lyrics describing the knight's desire to protect the girl he loves by singing a magic spell to make her forget about pain.{{cite news | url=http://news.kstyle.com/article.ksn?articleNo=2039117 | title=【PHOTO】NU'EST、4thミニアルバム発売記念ショーケースを開催"一層成熟した姿" | language=ja | work=TV Report | publisher=KStyle | date=2016-02-18 | access-date=2019-12-29}} Joshua Minsoo Kim from Billboard describes the song as beginning as a "sultry ballad" resembling "Promise" before abruptly shifting into a pre-chorus resembling "My Boo" and then a "dramatic chorus complete with post-dubstep wobbles", comparing the change of pace in the song to "an arduous journey to reassure their lover."{{cite magazine | url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/list/8544710/best-k-pop-songs-2010s-top-100 | title=The 100 Greatest K-Pop Songs of the 2010s: Staff List | magazine=Billboard | date=2019-11-25 | access-date=2019-12-29}}
Reception
Q is peaked at #5 on the Gaon Music Chart.{{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=08&hitYear=2016&termGbn=week |title=Q Is – 2016년 08주차 Album Chart|work=Gaon Music Chart|publisher=Korea Music Content Industry Association |language=ko}} Initially, the album only sold 8,988 copies upon release,{{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=03&hitYear=2016&termGbn=month|title=Gaon Download March 2016 Chart|work=Gaon Chart|access-date=2017-06-23}} but after NU'EST's appearance on Produce 101 Season 2 in 2017, the album re-entered the charts and sold an additional 18,544 copies.{{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&termGbn=month|script-title=ko:2017년 09월 Album Chart|trans-title=September 2017 Album Chart|website=Gaon Chart|language=ko|access-date=2017-10-13}}
Q is peaked at #11 on the US Billboard World Albums Chart. In Japan, it peaked at #1 on Tower Records' daily ranking.{{cite news | first=Ha-jin | last=Kim | translator-first=Yoonj-jeong | translator-last=Choi | url=http://news.kstyle.com/article.ksn?articleNo=2039370 | title=NU'EST、タワーレコードデイリーランキングで上位に…人気を証明 | trans-title=NU'EST tops Tower Records' daily ranking... a sign of popularity | language=ja | work=TenAsia | publisher=KStyle | date=2016-02-22 | access-date=2019-12-29}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline =
| all_writing =
| extra_column=Arrangement
| total_length=17:40
|title1=Lost & Found
|music1={{hlist|Bumzu|Park Gi-tae|Lee Ki-young|Baekho}}
|extra1=
|note1={{lang|ko|나의 천국}} {{literal translation}} My Heaven
|length1=3:08
|title2=Overcome
|lyrics2={{hlist|Bumzu|JR|Maxx Song|Kim Eun-su|Mafly|Denis Seo}}
|music2={{hlist|Bumzu|Maxx Song}}
|extra2=
|note2={{lang|ko|여왕의 기사}} {{literal translation}} The Queen's Knight
|length2=3:13
|title3=VVith
|lyrics3={{hlist|Bumzu|Baekho|Minhyun|JR}}
|music3={{hlist|Bumzu|Baekho}}
|extra3=
|note3={{lang|ko|사실 말야}} {{literal translation}} In Fact
|length3=3:06
|title4=Emotion
|lyrics4={{hlist|Bumzu|GDLO|JR}}
|music4={{hlist|Bumzu|GDLO}}
|extra4=
|note4={{lang|ko|티격태격}} {{literal translation}} Bickering
|length4=4:00
|title5=One Kis2
|lyrics5={{hlist|Zuwan|Lee Chang-geun|Premium Project 1}}
|music5={{hlist|Zuwan|Lee Chang-geun|Premium Project 1}}
|extra5=
|length5=4:13
}}
Charts
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
!Chart (2016) !Peak position |
| scope="row" | South Korea Gaon Music Chart
| 5 |
|---|
| scope="row" | US Billboard World Albums Chart{{cite magazine | url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/nuest/chart-history/wlp/ | title=Nu'est Chart History | magazine=Billboard | access-date=2019-12-29}}
| 11 |