Verse 2
EP by
JJ Project
ReleasedJuly 31, 2017 (2017-07-31)
Recorded2017
Genre
LabelJYP Entertainment
Producer
JJ Project chronology
Bounce
(2012)		 Verse 2
(2017)
Singles from Verse 2
  1. "Tomorrow, Today"
    Released: July 31, 2017

Verse 2 is the first extended play by South Korean male duo JJ Project. It was released on July 31, 2017 under JYP Entertainment and incorporates a variety of genres like pop, hip-hop and rock.[1][2] The album contains eight tracks, with two only available on the physical release.[3] The track "Tomorrow, Today" was chosen as the lead single for the promotional cycle.

Background and composition

In 2012, JB and Jinyoung originally debuted as JJ Project under JYP Entertainment with the upbeat hip-hop single "Bounce".[4] Two years later the duo returned as part of the boy group Got7.[5] Verse 2 is the duo's first album after five years.[1] The album contains eight tracks of various genres from pop and alternative rock to hip-hop, adopting lyrical but bright-toned melodies.[2][3] Among them, Jinyoung and JB added their own solo songs "The Day" and "Fade Away" as a hidden track that can only be heard on the CD.[3] According to the duo, they wrote lyrics based on their anxieties going through life in their 20s.[2] Calmness, vagueness and loneliness permeate the record.[6]

"Coming Home" opens the record with the message "now I'm back",[6] and was written by Jinyoung on the airplane while feeling melancholic and missing his parents.[7][8] The lead track of the album, "Tomorrow, Today", is co-written by the duo and Park Jin-young, the founder of the label and the duo's producer. It features coming-of-age stories of the two in a more laid-back style and its lyrics are more personal and intimate than the duo's previous efforts.[2][9] The song features a gentle, percussive rhythm and harmonious melodies and its lyrics highlight the difficulty of making decisions about the future while being tied to the present,[1] talking about the time when young people who have infinite potential and endless weaknesses face their lives, and the agony of having to choose one of two paths.[10][11] The accompanying music video is in line with the song's message and shows JB and Jinyoung traveling in an old car, closing with the two reading books such as J.D. Salinger’s "The Catcher in the Rye", which is a quintessential book for rebellious youth, and Paulo Coelho "Veronika Decides to Die".[1][9] It was filmed in Hokkaido, Japan.[12]

"On&On" talks about the world's rules, "Icarus" speaks of running toward a dream and takes inspiration from Icarus's myth, while "Don't Wanna Know" is the story of JB's youth and the troubles he has felt.[6] "Fade Away" is a R&B track, while "The Day" is a ballad that carries the message that good things aren't always good, and bad things aren't always bad.[8][13]

The duo also held a photography exhibition at the North Korean Gallery in Hannam-dong from July 31 to August 6 to commemorate the release of the new album, which is composed of photographs they have taken and own essays.[2][3][14] The same day of the release, JJ Project held a showcase at Yes24 Live Hall, Seoul, which aired simultaneously through V Live.[10]

Critical reception

JJ Project performing "Tomorrow, Today" at the Inkigayo Super Concert in 2017.

The Kraze defined Verse 2 "a mature, relaxed discussion through the trials and tribulations of adult life." It described "Tomorrow, Today" as "a gorgeous, bittersweet R&B track that doesn't end with a solid resolution in its lyrics, which is actually very fitting; there is never one straightforward answer to beginning a new life transition," stating that the song, in its difference with "Bounce", highlights the musical evolution of the duo.[15]

For Idology, it's an example of mature K-pop that "creates a unique melancholy in a contemplative and dignified atmosphere by adding the flavor of modern rock and the beat of hip-hop" to the R&B narrative.[16]

At the end of the year, Verse 2 was chosen as the fifth best K-pop album of 2017 by Billboard[17] and was nominated in the album division at the Golden Disc Awards.[18][19][20] In 2019, it ranked #21 in Billboard's list of the 25 greatest K-pop album of the 2010s, with the magazine calling it "a stunning collection of heartfelt, harmony-heavy tunes."[21]

Commercial performance

The album was a commercial success in South Korea and charted at number two of the Gaon Album Chart,[22] selling over 116,000 album copies in the month of release.[23] In the United States, Verse 2 charted at number two on the Billboard World Albums chart, marking it the biggest-selling K-pop album in America for the week ending August 3, 2017.[24] According to Nielsen Music it sold 1,000 copies.[24] The album also charted at number nine on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart, which makes it only the seventh K-pop album to enter the Top 10 of Heatseekers in 2017.[24] Its title song, "Tomorrow, Today" charted at number nine on the World Digital Song Sales chart and was the week's fifth best-selling K-pop song in America. It's also a new peak for the duo on the chart, who only charted with "Bounce" back in 2012, which debuted at number fourteen.[24]

Track listing

Credits adapted from the official homepage.[25]

No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementsLength
1."Coming Home"
  • Jinyoung
  • Distract
  • Secret Weapon
Secret Weapon3:32
2."Tomorrow, Today" (내일, 오늘)
  • Lee Woomin "collapsedone"
  • Mayu Wakisaka
Lee Woomin "collapsedone"3:55
3."On&On"
  • Defsoul (JB)
  • Jinyoung
  • mr.cho
  • Defsoul (JB)
  • Jinyoung
  • mr.cho
  • Cheongdam-dong Gunwoo
Cheongdam-dong Gunwoo3:34
4."Icarus"
  • Defsoul (JB)
  • Andrew Choi
  • Defsoul (JB)
  • Andrew Choi
  • Royal Dive
Royal Dive3:44
5."Don't Wanna Know"
  • Defsoul (JB)
  • Jinyoung
Devine ChannelDevine Channel3:43
6."Find You"
  • Defsoul (JB)
  • Andrew Choi
  • Defsoul
  • Andrew Choi
  • Royal Dive
Royal Dive4:03
7."The Day" (그날 (Jinyoung solo))
  • Jinyoung
  • Jukjae
  • Ju Daekwan (MonoTree)
  • Jukjae
  • Ju Daekwan (MonoTree)
  • Jukjae
  • Ju Daekwan (MonoTree)
3:43
8."Fade Away" (JB solo)
  • Defsoul
  • Andrew Choi
  • Defsoul
  • Andrew Choi
  • Royal Dive
Royal Dive2:55
Bonus track of the Taiwan version
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementsLength
9."Bounce"J.Y. Park "The Asiansoul"J.Y. Park "The Asiansoul"
  • J.Y. Park "The Asiansoul"
  • Shin Bong-won
  • Lee Woo-min
  • Jo Sung-been
3:15

Charts

Chart (2017) Peak
position
South Korean Albums (Gaon)[26] 2
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[27] 29
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[28] 9
US World Albums (Billboard)[29] 2

Release history

Region Date Format Label
South Korea July 31, 2017
  • CD
  • Digital download
Various Digital download JYP Entertainment

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Herman, Tamar (July 31, 2017). "GOT7's JJ Project Returns After Five Years With Introspective 'Tomorrow, Today': Watch". Billboard. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Kim, Jae-heun (August 7, 2017). "JJ Project returns to find startling success". Kpop Herald. Korea Times. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Jeong, Seo-won (July 31, 2017). "JJ프로젝트, 오늘(31일) 5년만 컴백…전시회·쇼케이스 동시 개최" [JJ project, after 5 years comeback ... Simultaneous exhibition and showcase]. Chosun. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
  4. ↑ Lee, Joel (July 28, 2017). "JJ Project unveils teaser before comeback". Kpop Herald. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  5. ↑ "JYP, 포스트 2PM 그룹명은 '갓세븐(GOT7)'..16일 데뷔무대" [JYP, first boy group since 2PM, group name 'GOT 7' .. debut stage]. Osen. January 16, 2014. Retrieved December 30, 2014.
  6. 1 2 3 "[인터뷰] 'Verse 2' JJ Project, 불사조처럼 다시 피어올라". hankyung.com (in Korean). August 3, 2017. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  7. ↑ "[화보] JJ프로젝트 JBx진영, '너는 내 운명'". www.chosun.com (in Korean). August 8, 2017. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  8. 1 2 "You are my destiny (너는 내 운명)". High Cut (in Korean). Vol. 203. August 3–16, 2017.
  9. 1 2 Hong, Dam-young (August 1, 2017). "[Herald Interview] JJ Project returns five years later with reflective 'Verse 2'". Kpop Herald. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
  10. 1 2 "JJ Project, 오늘(31일) 정오 신보 'Verse 2' 발표". hankyung.com (in Korean). July 31, 2017. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  11. ↑ "[인터뷰] 5년만의 귀환". Brunch (in Korean). August 2, 2017. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  12. ↑ "갓세븐의 청춘, JJ프로젝트 'Verse 2'". KBS News (in Korean). Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  13. ↑ "[인터뷰①] JB·진영 "JJ프로젝트→갓세븐, 함께 성장해 애틋"". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). August 1, 2017. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  14. ↑ Jung, Ji-won (July 31, 2017). "[정오의 신곡] JJ프로젝트, 5년만에 돌아온 빛나는 청춘…'내일, 오늘'" [[New song] JJ project, a bright youth that came back in five years ... 'Tomorrow, today']. Chosun. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
  15. ↑ Travis, Emlyn (May 9, 2018). "Today, Tomorrow, and the Future with JJ Project". The Kraze. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  16. ↑ "JJ 프로젝트 – Verse 2 (2017)" (in Korean). 2017-07-30. Retrieved 2022-04-11.
  17. ↑ Benjamin, Jeff; Herman, Tamar; Kelley, Caitlin (December 14, 2017). "The 20 Best K-pop Albums of 2017: Critics' Picks". Billboard. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  18. ↑ "[32회 골든] 부문별 후보부터 심사기준까지..골든디스크, 톺아보기". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). December 11, 2017. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  19. ↑ "The 32nd Golden Disc Nominees". Archived from the original on December 11, 2017. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  20. ↑ "(종합)방탄소년단, 음반 대상·본상·인기상 싹쓸이...'4관왕 기염'[2019 골든디스크]". entertain.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  21. ↑ Benjamin, Jeff (December 17, 2017). "The 25 Greatest K-Pop Albums of the 2010s: Staff List". Billboard. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  22. ↑ "Verse #2 (2017)". Archived from the original on August 10, 2017.
  23. ↑ "Gaon Album Sales, Verse #2 (see #8)". Archived from the original on September 7, 2017. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  24. 1 2 3 4 "JJ Project Make First Appearance on World, Heatseekers Albums Chart 5 Years After Debut". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 15, 2017.
  25. ↑ "JJ Project's Official Homepage (see "Credit" section)". JYP Entertainment. July 31, 2017. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
  26. ↑ 2017년 31주차 Album Chart (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
  27. ↑ オリコン週間 CDアルバムランキング 2017年07月31日～2017年08月06日. Oricon Style (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on August 9, 2017. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
  28. ↑ "Heatseekers Albums: Up and Coming Musicians Chart". Billboard. Nielsen Holdings. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
  29. ↑ "World Music: Top World Albums Chart". Billboard. Nielsen Holdings. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
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