4 Only is the third Korean-language and fourth overall studio album by South Korean singer and songwriter Lee Hi, released on September 9, 2021, through AOMG.[1] It is Lee's first studio album since Seoulite (2016), and first collection of new material since her 2019 EP 24°C and subsequent departure from YG Entertainment.[2]
| 4 Only | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 9, 2021 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 35:30 | |||
| Language | Korean | |||
| Label | AOMG | |||
| Lee Hi chronology | ||||
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| Singles from 4 Only | ||||
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The single "Red Lipstick" featuring Yoon Mi-rae was released alongside the album on September 9.[2] The album debuted at number 18 on the Gaon Album Chart in October 2021 following its physical release, selling over 8,000 copies in the last week of September.
Music and lyrics
editAccording to the description of the album, the protagonist of 4 Only encounters different types of love in each track. The emotions frequently change within each track, expressing such things as the purity of love, sorrow, joy, sadness, thrill, anger, regret, excitement, and desperation.[3]
To embody the theme of expressing the various emotions of love, Lee Hi incorporates various music genres on the album, setting her voice against synth-pop and jazz melodies rather than the funky R&B soul of her previous songs. The Latin-style song "Intentions" emphasizes her husky voice while "Waterride" adds a rhythmic guitar performance in a fast tempo. "Savior", the third collaboration between Lee Hi and B.I, includes jazz sounds and poetic lyrics.[4] "Red Lipstick" is a retro-style song that "drew inspiration from the South Korean R&B and hip-hop duo Tashannie."[5]
Singles
edit4 Only was preceded by the pre-release single "Only" on August 27, 2021,[6] and was supported by the main single "Red Lipstick" featuring Yoon Mi-rae, released with the album on September 9.[7]
The song "Savior" featuring B.I was scheduled to be released as the second pre-release single alongside "Only", but was delayed due to record production issues per a statement from AOMG.[6] The music video for "Savior" was released on September 3, 2021,[8] while the song was released on September 9, 2021, along with the rest of the album.[6]
Promotions
editLee Hi promoted "Red Lipstick" on M Countdown on September 9,[9] Music Bank on September 10,[10] Show! Music Core on September 11,[11] and Inkigayo on September 12.[12]
Critical reception
editKim Seong-yeop of IZM rated 4 Only 2.5 out of 5 stars. According to Kim, the album is pleasing to the ear as it encompasses a wide musical range but no song seems to pack a punch, including the lead single "Red Lipstick" and "Safety Zone". He added that the album serves as a "turning point" where Lee Hi breaks the image YG Entertainment created for her and expresses her true identity.[4]
Upon the release of the lead single "Only", Kim Seong-uk of IZM rated it 3 out of 5 stars. He stated that it shows off Lee's "refined singing" while giving off a "warm aura". He concluded that with the song, Lee and songwriter Ahn Shin-ae proved that they work well together.[13]
Angela Suacillo of NME rated the album 5 out of 5 stars. She commented that "Although five years may feel like too long a wait for new music, Lee Hi makes it all worth it by producing a cohesive record that not only stays true to her roots, but one that allows her to explore genres that strengthen her identity as one of K-pop’s strongest vocalists."[14]
Accolades
editAwards and nominations
edit| Award | Year | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Korean Hip-hop Awards | 2022 | R&B Album of the Year | Nominated | [15] |
Year-end lists
edit| Critic/Publication | List | Work | Rank | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NME | The 25 Best Asian albums of 2021 | 4 Only | 22 | [16] |
| Rolling Stone India | 10 Best Korean Hip-Hop and R&B Albums of 2021 | 10 | [17] | |
| PopMatters | The 20 Best K-Pop Albums of 2021 | 12 | [18] | |
| The Ringer | The Best K-pop Songs of 2021 | "Savior" | 10 | [19] |
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Arrangement | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Savior" (구원자; featuring B.I) | B.I |
|
| 3:35 |
| 2. | "Intentions" (그대의 의도) | Ahn Shin-ae | Ahn Shin-ae |
| 3:24 |
| 3. | "Waterride" (물타기) | Ahn Shin-ae | Ahn Shin-ae | Bronze | 3:04 |
| 4. | "Bye" | Lee Hi |
|
| 3:10 |
| 5. | "Red Lipstick" (빨간 립스틱; featuring Yoon Mi-rae) |
|
|
| 3:07 |
| 6. | "H.S.K.T." (머리어깨무릎발; featuring Wonstein) |
|
| Peejay | 3:24 |
| 7. | "Safety Zone" (안전지대) | Lee Hi |
| Code Kunst | 4:08 |
| 8. | "What Is Love?" (어려워) | Lee Hi |
| Code Kunst | 3:43 |
| 9. | "Darling" | Lee Hi |
| Bronze | 3:55 |
| 10. | "Only" | Ahn Shin-ae | Ahn Shin-ae | Philtre | 4:00 |
| Total length: | 35:30 | ||||
Charts
edit| Chart (2021) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| South Korean Albums (Gaon)[20] | 18 |
Sales
edit| Region | Sales |
|---|---|
| South Korea[21] | 8,315 |
References
edit- ^ Basbas, Franchesca Judine (August 27, 2021). "Lee Hi previews upcoming album '4 ONLY' with captivating new single 'ONLY' – watch". Bandwagon Asia. Archived from the original on September 2, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
- ^ a b Suacillo, Angela Patricia (September 1, 2021). "Lee Hi's upcoming album will feature collaborations with Yoon Mirae and Wonstein". NME. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
- ^ "4 ONLY". Bugs! (in Korean). 9 September 2021. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
- ^ a b Kim, Seong-yeop (September 2021). "4 Only". IZM. Archived from the original on 2021-09-28. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
- ^ Reyes, Therese (November 17, 2021). "LeeHi on Her Retro Influences, Current Passions, and Future Plans". Vice. Archived from the original on 2021-11-17. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
- ^ a b c Chin, Carmen (August 26, 2021). "Lee Hi delays release of upcoming single 'Savior'". NME. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
- ^ Lee, Deok-haeng (September 1, 2021). 이하이, '4 ONLY' 트랙리스트 공개...타이틀곡은 '빨간 립스틱' [Lee Hi, '4 ONLY' track list released... Title song 'Red Lipstick']. Star News (in Korean). Retrieved September 2, 2021.
- ^ @aomgofficial (September 3, 2021). "[이하이 (LeeHi)] 이하이 (LeeHi) – '구원자 (Savior) (Feat. B.I)' Official Music Video" (Tweet). Retrieved September 22, 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ [LeeHi - Red Lipstick (Feat. Yoonmirae)] Comeback Stage | #엠카운트다운 EP.724 | Mnet 210909 방송 (in Korean). Mnet K-POP. September 9, 2021 – via YouTube.
- ^ 빨간 립스틱 (Feat. 윤미래) (Red Lipstick) - 이하이 (LEE HI) [뮤직뱅크/Music Bank] | KBS 210910 방송 (in Korean). KBS Kpop. September 10, 2021 – via YouTube.
- ^ [쇼! 음악중심] 이하이 - 빨간 립스틱 (LeeHi - Red Lipstick), MBC 210911 방송 (in Korean). MBCkpop. September 11, 2021 – via YouTube.
- ^ LeeHi(이하이) - Red Lipstick (Feat. Yoonmirae)(빨간 립스틱 (Feat. 윤미래)) @인기가요 inkigayo 20210912. SBS KPOP. September 12, 2021 – via YouTube.
- ^ Kim, Seong-uk (September 2021). "Only". IZM. Archived from the original on 2021-09-08. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
- ^ Suacillo, Angela (September 13, 2021). "Lee Hi – '4 ONLY' review: a long-waited, soulful homecoming from one of K-pop's most elite". NME.
- ^ "한국 힙합 어워즈 2022 후보" [Korean Hip-hop Awards 2022 Nominees]. Korean Hip-hop Awards (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2017-01-22. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
- ^ "The 25 best Asian albums of 2021". NME. December 24, 2021. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
- ^ "10 Best Korean Hip-Hop and R&B Albums of 2021". Rolling Stone India. December 29, 2021. Archived from the original on December 29, 2021. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
- ^ Ribeiro, Ana Clara (November 29, 2021). "The 20 Best K-Pop Albums of 2021". PopMatters. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
- ^ Halliwell, Kate (December 13, 2021). "The Best K-pop Songs of 2021". The Ringer. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
- ^ "Gaon Album Chart – Week 40, 2021". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved October 7, 2021.
- ^ 2021년 09월 Album Chart [September 2021 Album Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved October 7, 2021.