Universe: The Black Hall

It was revealed in GQ Korea's February 2020 interview with Pentagon that the title song for their upcoming studio album has been confirmed. Member Kino states that the song is produced by Hui and it is a concept that Pentagon has never done before.

Leader Hui stated the reason why it's "black hall" and not "black hole" is because it means it is the space in which Universe (fandom name) and Pentagon walk hand in hand together. According to member Kino, the album is the culmination of all their previous works and it also represents a new start for them. Three months prior to its release, Hui written and thrown away 5 songs, and finished 9 songs which were not included, but 3 songs were included in the album.{{cite web|url=https://www.vlive.tv/video/174770|title=[UNIVERSE : THE BLACK HALL] ALBUM COMMENTARY|website=vlive|date=February 11, 2020}} During the group's album showcase, Wooseok revealed that his lower back hurts during practicing for the title song, but is in the midst of recovery.{{cite news |url=https://star.mbn.co.kr/view.php?year=2020&no=146843&refer=portal|title=우석 "펜타곤 컴백 준비 중 허리 부상…무리가지 않는 선에서 활동"|trans-title=Woo-seok "Waist injuries while preparing for Pentagon comeback… Activities in good lines"|author=Shin Mirae|work=Star MBN|language=ko|date=February 12, 2020}}

On January 30, Cube shared the time schedule for the group upcoming comeback as "Pentagon's 1st Full Album [UNIVERSE : THE BLACK HALL]",{{cite news |url=http://pop.heraldcorp.com/view.php?ud=202001310748161562640_1|title=펜타곤, 첫 정규앨범 'UNIVERSE : THE BLACK HALL' 발매..한층 더 성장한 매력|trans-title=Pentagon releases its first album 'UNIVERSE: THE BLACK HALL'|work=HeraldPop|language=ko|date=January 20, 2020}} which the group revealed their group image on February 4 and 5,{{cite news |url=https://www.tvreport.co.kr/2030660|title=펜타곤, 첫 정규앨범 'UNIVERSE : THE BLACK HALL' 콘셉트 이미지 공개|work=TvReport|language=ko|date=February 4, 2020}}{{cite news |url=http://news.wowtv.co.kr/NewsCenter/News/Read?articleId=A202002050029&t=NN|title=펜타곤, 첫 정규앨범 'UNIVERSE : THE BLACK HALL' 두 번째 콘셉트 이미지 공개|trans-title=Pentagon unveils second concept image of its first full-length album 'UNIVERSE: THE BLACK HALL'|work=WowTv|language=ko|date=February 5, 2020}} and followed with audio snippet on February 6.{{cite news |url=http://pop.heraldcorp.com/view.php?ud=202002060750124713796_1|title=펜타곤, 첫 정규앨범 오디오 티저 공개…'Dr. 베베' 포함 총 11곡 수록|trans-title=Pentagon Unveils First Full Album Audio Teaser 'Dr. 11 songs including Bebe|work=HeraldPop|language=ko|date=February 6, 2020}} On February 10, Cube released the music video teaser for title track "Dr. Bebe".{{cite news |url=http://tvdaily.asiae.co.kr/read.php3?aid=15812992601526700010|title='컴백 D-2' 펜타곤, 타이틀곡 'Dr. 베베' MV 티저 공개|trans-title='Come Back D-2' Pentagon, Title Song 'Dr. Bebe's MV teaser revealed|author=Kim Ji-ha|work=TvDaily|language=ko|date=February 10, 2020}}

The album was released through several music portals, including MelOn, iTunes, and Spotify.{{Cite web|url=https://www.melon.com/album/detail.htm?albumId=10387137|title=UNIVERSE : THE BLACK HALL|website=www.melon.com|language=ko|date=February 12, 2020}}{{Citation|title=Universe : The Black Hall by Pentagon|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/universe-the-black-hall/1498169613|website=www.itunes.com|date=February 12, 2020}}{{Citation|title=Universe: The Black Hall By Pentagon|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/7KrRT3DMomHHFtRCdK6sPs?si=NGdRyUWCQ02h6bVISwk_ng|website=www.spotify.com|date=February 12, 2020}}

The title song "Dr. Bebe" is an electronic genre based on hip-hop rhythm. The song contains four themes 'Love, Fall, Hurt and Crazy' it is talking about repeated 'bridle of love' that everyone falls in love with, breaks up, get hurts, goes crazy and loves again. "Asteroid" is an up-tempo pop genre with synth-pluck sound, groovy drumbeats and unique synth line added to the song's ambience. The medium tempo "Shower of Rain" based on the hip-hop genre with easily with lyrics and lyrical melody portrays a man crying in the rain to hide the tears flowing from the heartbreak. "Die For You" contains a love story that happened after he was abandoned by his ex-lover. The song is composed by member Kino with an inspiration of Harley Quinn from the movie Suicide Squad.{{cite news |url=http://www.slist.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=134906|title=[현장] 펜타곤 유토 "수록곡 '동백꽃' 꽃말 예뻐서 사용하고 싶었다"|author=Choi Eun-hee|work=Single List|language=ko|date=February 12, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kA9gND2igBk&t=0h7m46s|title=펜타곤(PENTAGON) - 펜토리 #94 (1st Full Album [UNIVERSE : THE BLACK HALL] 재킷 촬영 비하인드)│ENG|website=Youtube|publisher=Pentagon Official Channel|date=February 8, 2020}} "Talk" is a sensual R&B ballad song featuring the stories of old lovers who don't dare to know each other's hearts. Member Jinho and Wooseok participated in the writing. "The Black Hall" is an EDM dance song made through a collaboration between Hui and duo Flow Blow who together produce "Never" and "energetic" in 2016. "Worship U" is a trendy and energetic medium tempo synth-pop that tells a story of a man whose life has changed through his love and promises to his lover that her love her until the end of his life. Oriental guitar and synth sound creates "Zoom Up" a dreamy and mysterious atmosphere with heavy bass and groovy rhythm song. "Camelia" is a modern rock ballad song produced and written by member Yuto. Through the meaning of camellia, the song depicts memories that Pentagon and Universe spent together in the past 3 years. The album also contains two special tracks, "Someday" that has the vocals of Jinho and Hui, and "Happiness (Korean Ver.)" is a newly released Korean version of "Happiness" which was the double title song of Pentagon's 2nd Japanese single Happiness/Sha La La.

Tamar Herman of Billboard magazine called the title track "dynamic in its propulsive angst with pounding choruses, rapidfire raps, and melodic showcasing the diverse tones of the eight members.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/international/8550747/pentagon-dr-bebe-music-video|title=Pentagon Haunted by a Dangerous Love in 'Dr. BeBe' Music Video|magazine=Billboard|date=February 11, 2020}}

{{Track listing

|headline = Universe: The Black Hall track listing

| extra_column = Arrangement

| total_length = 37:06

| title1 = Dr. BeBe

| note1 = Dr. 베베

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

| music1 = {{hlist|Hui|NATHAN|Yunji}}

| extra1 = {{hlist|NATHAN|Yunji}}

| length1 = 3:11

| title2 = Asteroid

| note2 = 소행성

| lyrics2 = {{hlist|Lee Seu-ran (이스란) (Jam Factory (music publisher))|Wooseok}}

| music2 = {{hlist|Andrew Choi|Coach & Sendo|minGtion|Oh Seung-eun|Andreas Baertels}}

| extra2 = {{hlist|minGtion}}

| length2 = 3:27

| title3 = Shower of Rain

| note3 = 빗물 샤워

| lyrics3 = {{hlist|Hui|Wooseok}}

| music3 = {{hlist|Hui|Minit}}

| extra3 = {{hlist|Minit}}

| length3 = 3:16

| title4 = Die for You

| lyrics4 = {{hlist|Kino|NATHAN|Wooseok}}

| music4 = {{hlist|Kino|NATHAN}}

| extra4 = NATHAN

| length4 = 3:35

| title5 = Talk

| lyrics5 = {{hlist|Jinho|Wooseok}}

| music5 = {{hlist|Albin Nordqvist|Sebastian Lestapier|Adam Alexander}}

| extra5 = {{hlist|Albin Nordqvist|Sebastian Lestapier|Adam Alexander}}

| length5 = 3:06

| title6 = The Black Hall

| lyrics6 = {{hlist|Hui|Wooseok}}

| music6 = {{hlist|Hui|Flow Blow}}

| extra6 = {{hlist|Flow Blow}}

| length6 = 3:09

| title7 = Worship U

| lyrics7 = {{hlist||Wooseok|earattack}}

| music7 = {{hlist|earattck|Jimmy Claeson}}

| extra7 = {{hlist|earattack|Larmook}}

| length7 = 3:17

| title8 = Zoom Up

| lyrics8 = {{hlist|CODE 9|PURAVIDA}}

| music8 = {{hlist|CODE 9|PURAVIDA}}

| extra8 = {{hlist|PURAVIDA}}

| length8 = 3:16

| title9 = Camellia

| note9 = 동백꽃

| lyrics9 = {{hlist|Yuto|Wooseok|FCM Houdini}}

| music9 = {{hlist|FCM Houdini|Yuto|FCM Rimbaud}}

| extra9 = {{hlist|FCM Houdini|Yuto|FCM Rimbaud}}

| length9 = 3:28

| title10 = Someday

| note10 = Song by Jinho and Hui) (Special

| lyrics10 = {{hlist|IMAGES|POPKID}}

| music10 = {{hlist|IMAGES|POPKID}}

| extra10 = {{hlist|IMAGES|POPKID}}

| length10 = 3:57

| title11 = Happiness

| note11 = Korean ver. Special

| lyrics11 = {{hlist|Kino|Yuto|Wooseok}}

| music11 = {{hlist|Kino|홍익인간|멧돼지(S2 EVOLUTION)}}

| extra11 = {{hlist|홍익인간|멧돼지(S2 EVOLUTION)|Gayeoni(가여니)}}

| length11 = 3:24

}}

On January 28, 2020, Pentagon released a forty-one second-long album trailer video. The video revealed Pentagon's logo shining brightly into a black hole after several intersecting images of the universe, with the release date of Pentagon's first studio album.{{cite news |url=http://news.wowtv.co.kr/NewsCenter/News/Read?articleId=A202001290059&t=NN|title=펜타곤, 2월 12일 첫 번째 정규앨범 발매 예고…트레일러 영상 공개|trans-title=Pentagon Announces First Full Album Release on February 12… Trailer footage released|work=WowTv|language=ko|date=January 29, 2020}} The album was supposed to accompany by a fan showcase but Cube Entertainment decided to cancel it due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite news |url=http://sports.khan.co.kr/entertainment/sk_index.html?art_id=202001311422003&sec_id=540101&pt=nv|title='2월 컴백' 펜타곤 측 "팬 쇼케이스 취소..관중 없이 온라인 생중계 진행" [공식]|work=Sports Trends|language=ko|date=January 29, 2020}} Only a live showcase without the attendance of fans was broadcast live on Vlive.{{cite news |url=http://www.newsen.com/news_view.php?uid=202001311337010410|title=큐브 측 "펜타곤 팬 쇼케이스 취소, 관객 없이 생중계 진행"(공식)|trans-title=Cube side “Pentagon fan showcase canceled, live stream without audience” (official)|author=Hwang Hye-jin|work=Newsen|language=ko|date=January 31, 2020}}

Cube held Uni Hall outside Cafe 20 Space: The Mint Universe from February 12 to March 1, 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/CUBE_PTG/status/1227170834940170240|title=PENTAGON 1st Full Album Release Commemoration '#UNI_HALL' OPEN 🎉|website=Twitter|date=February 11, 2020}}

On December 12, 2019, a media showcase was held to commemorate the release of the group's first regular album at YES24 Live Hall in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vop.co.kr/A00001467874.html|title=[종합] 펜타곤 "3년 4개월 만 정규 '더 블랙 홀'… 자신 있을 때 내고 싶었다"|publisher=The Voice of People|date=February 12, 2020}}

The group began promoting their title track "Dr. Bebe" on February 13 on Mnet's M Countdown performing together with "Camellia",{{Cite web|url=http://pop.heraldcorp.com/view.php?ud=202002131543375176919_1|title= 펜타곤, 오늘 '엠카' 출격…신곡 'Dr. 베베'＆'동백꽃' 무대 공개 |trans-title= Pentagon, Today's 'M Countdown' stepping up... new songs 'Dr Bebe' & 'Camellia Flower' stages released|work=HeralPop|date=February 13, 2020}} followed by performances on KBS' Music Bank,{{Cite web|url=https://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=004&oid=438&aid=0000027673|title=[뮤직뱅크] 어마어마한 퀄리티의 첫 정규앨범☆ <동백꽃> -펜타곤|work=KBS Media|date=February 14, 2020}} MBC's Show! Music Core,{{Cite web|url=http://www.topstarnews.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=731257|title='쇼 음악중심(음중)' 펜타곤, Dr 베베-동백꽃과 마마무 문별의 달이 태양을 가...|work=TopStarNews|date=February 15, 2020}} and SBS' Inkigayo.{{Cite web|url=http://tvdaily.asiae.co.kr/read.php3?aid=15818385921527835002|title= '인기가요' 펜타곤, 컴백 무대…180도 다른 매력|work=TV Daily|date=February 16, 2020}}

Pentagon continue their promotion activities with follow-up song "Shower of Rain" starting March 12, on MCountdown.{{Cite web|url=http://www.slist.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=141768|title=펜타곤, '빗물 샤워'로 활동 이어간다...오늘(12일) '엠카'서 최초공개|work=Single List|date=March 12, 2020}}

The music video for the title track was released at midnight, 00:00 KST, on the 12th through Pentagon's official YouTube channel. The music video was meant to be released at the same time as the digital music release but due to the overwhelming response, it was brought forward to midnight on the 12th.{{cite news |url=http://www.spotvnews.co.kr/?mod=news&act=articleView&idxno=344111|title=[단독] 펜타곤 신곡 'Dr 베베' 뮤비, 깜짝 선공개 결정…'18시간 먼저 본다'|trans-title=[Exclusive] PENTAGON new song 'Dr Bebe' music video, a surprise decision to release early…'18 hours ahead of time' |author=Kang Hyo-jin|work=SpotvNews|language=ko|date=February 11, 2020}} The music video showed the members facing terrors raging over love and encountering a variety of dangerous encounters.

On February 14, the official lyrics and dance practice video for "Dr. Bebe" was released on both Pentagon's official YouTube and V Live channel.{{cite news |url=http://star.hankookilbo.com/News/Read/202002151114081945?did=NA&dtype=&dtypecode=&prnewsid=|title= 펜타곤, 'Dr. 베베' 리릭 비디오 공개…신비+몽환적 분위기 '시선집중'|trans-title= Pentagon, 'Dr. Bebe 'Lyrics Video Revealed… Mysterious + dreamlike atmosphere |work=Hankookilbo|language=ko|date=February 15, 2020}}{{cite news |url=http://tvdaily.asiae.co.kr/read.php3?aid=15816398081527614010|title=펜타곤, 'Dr. 베베' 안무 연습 영상 공개 '블랙홀 같은 강렬 퍼포먼스'|trans-title=Pentagon, Dr. Bebe's choreography practice video released 'Intense performance like the black hole' |work=TvDaily|language=ko|date=February 14, 2020}}

On February 16, the music video surpassed 10 million views making it their fastest music video to reach it since debut.{{cite news |url=https://www.news1.kr/articles/?3844055|title= 펜타곤 'Dr. 베베' MV, 4일만에 천만뷰 돌파…데뷔 후 최단 시간 |trans-title=Pentagon 'Dr. Bebe' MV breaks 10 million views in four days Shortest time after debut|work=News1|language=ko|date=February 17, 2020}} Pentagon also released "Dr. Bebe"'s performance version music video on February 17.{{cite news |url=http://www.nbnnews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=369200|title= 펜타곤, 신곡 'Dr. 베베' 퍼포먼스버전 뮤직비디오 공개 |trans-title=Pentagon, the new song 'Dr. Bebe 'performance version music video released|work=NBNNews|language=ko|date=February 17, 2020}}

In M2, Kino stated that in "Dr. Bebe"'s music video, the remaining members are all his alter ego. The video presents two sides, Upside which means reality and Downside means inner feelings. The Upside shows how they are foolishly waiting for their loved ones and slowly turning into madness, while the Downside shows how they tried to escape from the pain of love. Both sides are connected by the metronome. Also, the trailer of the music video showed Hui during "Shine" with the paper aeroplane, and it changed colour as it landed on "Dr. Bebe"'s music video set. This represents how "A boy that wanted to experience love, finally experienced it, and feel the pain when he broke up".{{cite news |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCYxVOPirAI|title=[출발! 뮤직비디오 여행] 펜타곤 홍석이 48시간 동안 물도 끊은 사연은!? Dr. 베베 MV 찐해석 들어갑니다|work=Mnet M2|date=March 6, 2020}}

• List of 2020 albums
• 2020 in South Korean music

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lo5h43mzjbU 1st Full Album UNIVERSE : THE BLACK HALL Audio Snippet] on YouTube
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMIBLloecRI 'Dr. 베베(Dr. BeBe)' Official MV] on YouTube
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHh2p71ZoNM 'Dr. 베베(Dr. BeBe)' (Choreography Practice Video)] on YouTube

{{Pentagon (South Korean band)}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2020 debut albums

Category:Cube Entertainment albums

Category:2020s Korean-language albums

Category:Pentagon (South Korean band) albums

Category:Albums produced by Hui (singer)

Category:Albums produced by Kino (singer)

Category:Albums produced by Yuto