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[Today’s K-pop] Blackpink’s Lisa sets more records on Billboard’s radio chart

By Hwang You-mee

Published : Jan. 4, 2022 - 16:52

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(Credit: YG Entertainment) (Credit: YG Entertainment)
Blackpink Lisa’s solo song “Money” placed at No. 35 on Billboard’s pop airplay chart, the highest record for a K-pop solo female musician.

The song came out in September as a track from her solo debut album “Lalisa,” and joined the top 40 list that was announced on Monday in the US. The song entered the chart three weeks ago as the first entry by a solo female K-pop musician. Lisa is the first K-pop female artist to have a track on the chart for three weeks.

Blackpink’s “Ice Cream,” a collaboration with Selena Gomez, ranked No. 21 on the chart and stayed for eight weeks. This means that so far, Lisa is the only female K-pop act to have more than one song on the rankings.

The US‘ Forbes magazine touted her as “the most successful female K-pop musician ever on Billboard’s pop chart” in an article published on Monday.

The song also was No. 1 on iHeartRadio’s Most Requested Live annual survey last year.

Choi Yena to debut as solo musician

(Credit: Yue Hua Entertainment) (Credit: Yue Hua Entertainment)
Choi Yena of disbanded IZ*ONE will release her first album as a solo musician on Jan. 17, according to Yue Hua Entertainment.

The agency uploaded six photographs of the singer expressing her lovely charms for her new EP titled “SMiLEY.”

She has taken on a series of roles when she was in a group, from lead vocal and lead dancer to rapper, the agency said. It asked fans to keep their expectations high, especially since she took her time to prepare for her solo debut.

Choi Yena also appears on the second season of a mystery-solving entertainment show that began airing on Dec. 31. Earlier last month, she made her successful acting debut as the 18-year-old female lead in a web drama about first love and friendship.

Mamamoo’s Wheein drops teaser for 2nd solo EP

(Credit: The Live) (Credit: The Live)
Wheein of Mamamoo raised expectations for her upcoming second solo EP “Whee” with a second batch of teaser photographs on Tuesday.

She struck poses in a black-and-white costume draped in pearls, hinting at a sophisticated ambience for the album. In a trailer released three days earlier, a Chinese character from her name was projected onto her face following the phrase: “In a garden of white magnolia, I was born.” The flower is from the dream her mother had when she was pregnant with the songstress, signaling that the new EP is deeply in tune with the singer.

It has been nine months since her first EP “Redd” and the six-track EP will be fully unveiled on Jan. 16.

Meanwhile, fellow group member Moonbyul will release her third solo EP “6equence” on Jan. 19.

Onewe depicts ordinary using space 

(Credit: RBW Entertainment) (Credit: RBW Entertainment)
Boy band Onewe talked about their second EP “Planet Nine: Voyager” that came out on Tuesday.

It has been seven months since the previous EP “Planet Nine: Alter Ego,” and continues the planet-themed narrative of the band.

“I am even more excited, and at the same time worried, since this album contains songs written by all the members,” said Yonghoon. Instead of focusing on one genre, they hoped each member could show their own thoughts and colors, he explained.

Harin paid attention to the EP’s overall sound, believing that it is as important as the words and melodies. Kanghyun said he wanted to convey his philosophy that became solidified while writing it.

If the last EP sheds light on the band’s identity, their latest will make listeners feel as if they are exploring as fellow travelers with the bandmates, Cya said. Projecting your own feelings, or putting yourself in the story would make the experience even better, he added.