Illella

"Illella"
Single by Mamamoo
from the EP Mic On
LanguageKorean
ReleasedOctober 11, 2022
Recorded2022
StudioRBW Studio
Genre
LabelRBW
Composer(s)
  • Kim Do-hoon
  • Kang Ji-won
  • Moonbyul
  • Inner Child (MonoTree)
Lyricist(s)
  • Kim Do-hoon
  • Kang-Ji-won
  • Yoo Joo-yi
  • Moonbyul
  • Inner Child (MonoTree)
Mamamoo singles chronology
"Mumumumuch"
(2021) 		"Illella"
(2022)
Music video
"Illella" on YouTube

"Illella" (Korean: 일낼라; lit. get up[note 1]; occasionally stylized as "1llella") is a song by South Korean girl group Mamamoo. It was released through RBW and Kakao Entertainment on October 11, 2022, as the lead single from their twelfth extended play Mic On.[2] It was co-written by Moonbyul, Yoo Joo-yi, Kang Ji-won, Kim Do-hoon, and Inner Child, the latter three of whom also handled the song's production. Described as a K-pop and reggaeton track, it was met with positive reviews from critics who praised the group for their vocal harmonies.

Background and release

[edit]

On June 20, 2022, Mamamoo's label RBW confirmed that the group was scheduled to have a comeback with a group album in the latter half of the year with a concert to follow.[3][4] That August, Mamamoo members Solar and Moonbyul formed the group's first sub-unit, Mamamoo+. Their first single, "Better" featuring Big Naughty, was released on August 28.[5] On September 27, the group officially announced their comeback with their 12th mini-album Mic On, scheduled for release on October 11.[2] The first teaser video for the song was released on YouTube on October 5.[1] "Illella" was released at 6PM KST on October 11, 2022.[6]

Critical reception

[edit]

Divyansha Dongre of Rolling Stone India described it as a reggaeton track that beautifully fuses rich brass sounds with guitar riffs. They further commented "It’s a near-perfect soundscape to underline Mamamoo’s vocal prowess that has helped cement their identity as one of K-pop’s leading girl groups".[7] Writing for Billboard, Jeff Benjamin said “Illella” is a full-fledged reminder of their commanding vocal deliveries and artistic auras, that serves powerful belts and sleek harmonies".[8] For NME, Gladys Yeo described it as a reggae-inspired track, that sees the girl group dress in festival-inspired outfits".[9] Pinkvilla described it "as an exotic song with a reggae tone that is impressive with thick brass and repetitive guitar riffs".[10] Apple Music would later include the song on their A-List: K-Pop 2022 playlist of the 50 best K-pop songs of 2022.[11]

Commercial performance

[edit]

Upon release, "Illella" peaked at number one on iTunes charts in ten regions.[12] For the 42nd week of 2022, "Illella" debuted and peaked at number 66 on the Circle Digital Chart,[13] placing at number nine on the component Circle Download Chart.[14] On the Circle Global K-Pop Chart, which measures worldwide K-pop streaming consumption, "Illella" debuted at number 51 for the week ending October 15, 2022; it peaked at number 38 in its second week on the chart.[15][16]

In the United States, "Illella" debuted at number five on the Billboard World Digital Song Sales chart for the issue dated October 22, 2022, spending two weeks on the chart.[17] The song also peaked at number 30 in Singapore[18] and at number 27 in Hungary, becoming their first song to reach the charts in the latter territory.[19]

Credits and personnel

[edit]

Adapted from the group's official Twitter.[20]

  • Mamamoo – lead vocals
  • Kim Do-hoon (RBW) – songwriting, composition
  • Kang Ji-won – songwriting, composition, arrangement
  • Yoo Joo-yi[note 2] – songwriting
  • Inner Child (MonoTree) – songwriting, composition

Charts

[edit]

Release history

[edit]
Release history for "Illella"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various October 11, 2022
RBW [2]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Mamamoo Reveals a Stellar Teaser for MIC ON Title Track 'Illella' (Watch Video)". Latestly. October 5, 2022. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Yeo, Gladys (September 27, 2022). "Mamamoo to return as a full group with new mini-album 'Mic On' next month". NME. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  3. ^ Yeo, Gladys (June 20, 2022). "MAMAMOO are confirmed to be working on a brand-new album". NME. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  4. ^ "마마무가 온다…"하반기 앨범·단독 콘서트"[공식]". Naver. June 20, 2022. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  5. ^ Yeo, Gladys (August 30, 2022). "Solar and Moonbyul drop first song as Mamamoo+, 'Better' featuring Big Naughty". NME. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  6. ^ Ji, Min-kyoung. "Mamamoo's Whee In reveals solo teaser for new song 'Illella'". Osen. Naver. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  7. ^ Dongre, Divyansha (October 11, 2022). "Mamamoo Sing About a Night of Allure and Romance in 'Illella'". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  8. ^ Benjamin, Jeff (October 11, 2022). "MAMAMOO Return With the Commanding 'Illella': Watch". Billboard. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  9. ^ Yeo, Gladys (October 11, 2022). "MAMAMOO make long-awaited comeback with music video for 'ILLELLA'". NME. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  10. ^ "MAMAMOO: 5 attractive points of the gorgeous group's latest comeback 'ILLELLA'". PINKVILLA. October 11, 2022. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  11. ^ "A-List K-Pop 2022". Apple Music. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  12. ^ You-mee, Hwang (October 18, 2022). "[Today's K-pop] Mamamoo announces plan for 1st world tour". The Korea Herald. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  13. ^ a b "Digital Chart – Week 42 of 2022". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  14. ^ "Download Chart Week 42 of 2022". Circle Chart. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
  15. ^ "Global K-Pop Chart (2022 Week 42)". Circle Chart. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  16. ^ "Global K-Pop Chart (2022 Week 43)". Circle Chart. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  17. ^ a b "Mamamoo Chart History: World Digital Song Sales". Billboard. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  18. ^ a b "RIAS Top Charts Week 42 (14 - 20 Oct 2022)". RIAS. Archived from the original on October 18, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  19. ^ "Illella". MAHASZ. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  20. ^ "12th Mini Album [MIC ON] ' ILLELLA (일낼라) ' ◽ TRACK LIST ◽". Twitter. October 7, 2022. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  21. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  22. ^ "Digital Chart – October 2022". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  1. ^ "일낼라" is also an expression that can be used to mean "to cause trouble" or "to do something great".[1] In the context of the song, it means "something's about to break."
  2. ^ Also known as "Cosmic Girl" (코스믹 걸).
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