Wikipedia

Youth (Kihyun EP)

Youth is the first extended play by the South Korean vocalist Kihyun. It was released by Starship Entertainment and distributed by Kakao Entertainment on October 24, 2022. The EP contains five tracks, including the title track of the same name.

Youth
Digital cover
EP by
Kihyun
ReleasedOctober 24, 2022
GenreK-pop
Length17:02
LanguageKorean
Label
Kihyun chronology
Voyager
(2022) 		Youth
(2022)
Singles from Youth
  1. "Youth"
    Released: October 24, 2022

Background and release

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On September 30, Kihyun posted the coming image of his first EP Youth through Monsta X's official SNS, with release date announced to be on October 24, confirming his first comeback, seven months after his solo debut.[1][2]

The album film was released on October 5,[3] the tracklist on October 7,[4] and concept films and photos between October 8 to 16.[5][6] Kihyun had a comeback showcase on Naver Now's #OUTNOW to introduce Youth along with its title track.[7]

The physical EP was released in three standard versions; Youth, Goodbye Youth, and The 2nd Journey, along with a jewel case version and a KiT version.[8]

Composition

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Kim Eana wrote the lyrics for the title track "Youth" and group member Hyungwon participated in writing, composing, and arranging the tracks "Bad Liar" and "Where Is This Love", while Kihyun participated in writing the lyrics for the track "'Cause of You" alongside labelmate Brother Su.[9]

Youth is an album that intends to revisit childhood based on the worldview of a "traveler" and started from an autobiographical story.[10]

The title track "Youth" is an alternative rock track in which the present Kihyun tells the child Kihyun all the emotions of that time and the current promise.[10][11] For the other tracks, "Bad Liar" was composed to complement Kihyun's vocals and is meant to capture that lies can coexist with the desire to get back together, "Stardust" is an up-tempo song with an energetic drum sound, "Where Is This Love" is a song that was inspired by the movie Closer, and "'Cause of You" is a song filled with sweet and refreshing feelings.[12]

Critical reception

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Lai Frances of Uproxx wrote that the EP "brought nothing but nostalgia" and described the title track as "a feel-good rock pop song that invites listeners to take a trip down memory lane and remember the greatest times of our lives - our youth", with following four tracks can be interpreted as "moments in our youth where we experience feelings such as anger, heartbreak, loss, and love", while summed it all up as "a timeless masterpiece worth having on loop".[13]

Listicles

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Name of critic or publication, name of listicle, name of work, and rank
Critic/Publication List Work Rank Ref.
Album
Uproxx The Best K-pop Albums of 2022 Youth Placed[a] [13]

Commercial performance

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Kihyun received his second Hanteo Chart Bronze Certification Plaque for achieving 114,950 copies of Initial Chodong sales in its first week of release in South Korea.[14]

Track listing

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Youth track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."Youth"Kim Eana
  • Karl Morgan
  • Ryan S. Jhun
  • AVIN
  • SLAY
  • CHASE
2:42
2."Bad Liar"
  • Hyungwon
  • Justin Oh
  • Jantine Annika Heij
  • Hyungwon
  • Justin Oh
3:29
3."Stardust"Jang Da-in (PNP)
  • Gusten Dahlqvist
  • Christian Fast
  • Noak Hellsing
  • Hautboi Rich
Gusten Dahlqvist3:46
4."Where Is This Love"
  • Hyungwon
  • Justin Oh
  • Jantine Annika Heij
  • Hyungwon
  • Justin Oh
  • Jantine Annika Heij
  • Hyungwon
  • Justin Oh
3:25
5."'Cause of You"
Brother SuBrother Su3:40
Total length:17:02

Charts

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Album

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Songs

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Weekly chart

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Chart performance for "Youth"
Chart (2022) Peak
position
South Korea (Circle)[18] 90

Certification and sales

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Certification and sales for Youth
Region Certification Certified units/sales
South Korea — 167,823[19]

Release history

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Release history and formats for Youth
Region Date Format Label
South Korea October 24, 2022
Various
  • Digital download
  • streaming

Notes

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  1. ^ All the albums and songs listed are either unranked or just alphabetically ranked.

References

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  1. ^ Yoon, Yoon-baek (October 1, 2022). 몬스타엑스 기현, 24일 솔로 컴백… 7개월 만 [MONSTA X's Kihyun to make a solo comeback on the 24th... 7 months only]. Edaily (in Korean). Retrieved October 1, 2022 – via Naver.
  2. ^ Suacillo, Angela Patricia (October 3, 2022). "MONSTA X member Kihyun to release new solo mini-album". NME. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  3. ^ Jeong, Hee-yeon (October 6, 2022). 몬스타엑스 기현, 'YOUTH' 앨범 필름 공개 '감성 충만' [MONSTA X Kihyun, 'YOUTH' album film release 'full of emotion']. Sports Dong-A (in Korean). Retrieved October 6, 2022 – via Naver.
  4. ^ Seon, Mi-kyung (October 8, 2022). '컴백' 몬스타엑스 기현, 'YOUTH' 트랙리스트 공개…작사 참여 ['Comeback' MONSTA X's Kihyun reveals 'YOUTH' tracklist... Participate in songwriting]. OSEN (in Korean). Retrieved October 8, 2022 – via Naver.
  5. ^ Lee, Nam-kyung (October 12, 2022). 몬스타엑스 기현, 'YOUTH' 콘셉트 필름+포토 공개…잔잔한 여운 [MONSTA X Kihyun, 'YOUTH' concept film + photo released... calm aftertaste]. MBN (in Korean). Retrieved October 12, 2022 – via Naver.
  6. ^ Lee, Nam-kyung (October 19, 2022). 몬스타엑스 기현, 신보 마지막 버전 콘셉트 필름 및 포토 공개 [MONSTA X Kihyun reveals concept film and photo for the last version of the new album]. MBN (in Korean). Retrieved October 19, 2022 – via Naver.
  7. ^ Park, Seo-hyun (October 24, 2022). 몬스타엑스 기현, 오늘(24일) 'YOUTH' 발매→컴백쇼 개최 [MONSTA X's Kihyun to release 'YOUTH' today (24th) → Held a comeback show]. Kpop Herald (in Korean). Retrieved October 24, 2022 – via Naver.
  8. ^ Choi, Yoon-jung (October 4, 2022). 몬스타엑스 기현, 7개월만 컴백…2번째 여행 떠난다 [MONSTA X Kihyun, comeback after 7 months... 2nd trip]. Newsis (in Korean). Retrieved October 4, 2022 – via Naver.
  9. ^ Kim, No-eul (October 8, 2022). 몬스타엑스 기현, 'YOUTH' 트랙리스트 공개‥형원→김이나 지원사격 [MONSTA X's Kihyun, 'YOUTH' tracklist released...Hyungwon → Kim Eana supporting shooting]. Star News (in Korean). Retrieved October 8, 2022 – via Naver.
  10. ^ a b Hwang, Hye-jin (October 21, 2022). '매력부자' 몬스타엑스 기현, 기대되는 두 번째 여정 ['Rich Charmer' MONSTA X's Kihyun, an anticipated second journey]. Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved October 21, 2022 – via Naver.
  11. ^ Kim, Jae-won (October 23, 2022). 몬스타엑스 기현, 새 앨범 일부 공개하며 기대감 급상승시켜 [MONSTA X's Kihyun raises expectations by releasing some new albums]. Sports World (in Korean). Retrieved October 23, 2022 – via Naver.
  12. ^ Lee, Jeong-hyuk (October 24, 2022). 몬스타엑스 기현, 오늘(24일) 두 번째 솔로 여정 시작…첫 번째 미니앨범 'YOUTH' 발표 [MONSTA X's Kihyun, the second solo journey begins today (24th)... 1st mini album 'YOUTH' released]. Sports Chosun (in Korean). Retrieved October 24, 2022 – via Naver.
  13. ^ a b Frances, Lai (December 8, 2022). "The Best K-pop Albums of 2022". Uproxx. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  14. ^ Jo, He-un (November 30, 2022). 기현, 솔로 앨범 2연속 '한터차트 초동 브론즈 인증패' 수상 (한터차트 공식) [Kihyun, won the 'Hanteo Chart Initial Chodong Bronze Certification Plaque' for 2 consecutive solo albums (Hanteo Chart Official)]. Hanteo News (in Korean). Retrieved December 29, 2022.
  15. ^ "Week 44 of 2022 Album Chart". Circle Chart (in Korean). October 23–29, 2022. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  16. ^ "October 2022 Album Chart". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  17. ^ "2022 Album Chart". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  18. ^ "Week 44 of 2022 Digital Chart". Circle Chart (in Korean). October 23–29, 2022. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  19. ^ Cumulative sales for Youth (KiT + CD):
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