Signal (EP)

Signal (stylized as SIGNAL) is the fourth extended play (EP) by South Korean girl group Twice. The EP was released on May 15, 2017 by JYP Entertainment and distributed by Genie Music.[1][2]

Signal
EP by Twice
Released	May 15, 2017 (2017-05-15)
Studio	JYPE Kairos Music Group
Genre	K-pop dance
Length	19:45
Language	Korean
Label	JYP Republic
Producer	J.Y. Park "The Asiansoul"
Twice chronology
What's Twice? (2017) Signal (2017) #Twice (2017)
Singles from Signal
"Signal" Released: May 15, 2017 (2017-05-15)

It includes the lead single of the same name produced by Park Jin-young, a song that features a programmed Roland TR-808-style kick and hi-hat. Several producers and songwriters participated, including Twice's members Jihyo and Chaeyoung who wrote the lyrics for the fifth track "Eye Eye Eyes", while the third track "Only You" has lyrics written by former Wonder Girls' member Ha:tfelt.[3][4][5]

Background and release

On March 31, 2017, it was reported that Twice would be releasing their first full-length album before heading to Japan. However, JYP Entertainment quickly denied the news and stated that nothing was confirmed yet.[6][7][8]

On April 18, the agency confirmed Twice's May comeback with no exact date of release. Nine days later, it was reported that the group finished filming the music video for the title track, which was produced by Park Jin-young.[9][10]

On May 1, Twice shared an image teaser through their official SNS channels featuring the nine members wearing school uniform-styled outfits and confirmed the release of their fourth extended play titled Signal on the 15th. They also released the schedule of promotion for the album, including the two-day encore concert of Twice 1st Tour: Twiceland The Opening on June 17–18 which was held in Jamsil Indoor Stadium.[2][11][12] The next day, it was revealed that the EP has three versions with nine random CD covers.[13]

Individual image teasers of the members, posed with both hands on their heads using letter Y of the American manual alphabet that look like two antennas, were released over the next few days.[14][15][16] It was then followed by a series of video teasers featuring the nine members, an intro video with an enigmatic visual palette like a fantasy film that shows scenes of an alien with big eyes stroking a rabbit in the woods, and a spoiler video of the title track's instrumental.[17][18][19]

The first music video teaser of "Signal" was released on May 13. The album, along with the music video for the lead single, was officially released on the 15th as a digital download on various music sites while the physical album was released the following day.[20][21][22]

Promotion

JYP Entertainment denied the report about the group's plan to promote the EP for only two weeks due to their Japanese debut in June. Twice's leader Jihyo, who took a break from activities due to a knee injury, re-joined the group for promotions.[23][24][25]

Unlike during their last comeback, Twice promoted actively on variety shows. They filmed their first variety show for the EP on April 26, 2017 as guests on I Can See Your Voice. On May 3, 4 and 9, Twice recorded an episode of Weekly Idol, Knowing Bros and Top 3 Chef King, respectively.[26][27][28][29]

Twice held a media event at Blue Square Samsung Card Hall in Hannam-dong, Seoul before the release of the EP. The group also had a comeback showcase with fans two hours after the release, where they performed "Signal" and other songs from their previous albums like "Like Ooh-Ahh", "Cheer Up" and more. It was broadcast live via Naver V Live.[30][31]

The group held their comeback stage on the May 18th episode of M Countdown, followed by performances on the May 19th, 20th and 21st episode of Music Bank FIFA U-20 World Cup Opening Commemorative in Jeonju, Show! Music Core and Inkigayo, respectively.[32][33][34][35] Twice ended their promotions in music shows on the June 4th episode of Inkigayo.[36]

Commercial performance

On May 23, 2017, it was reported that Signal sold over 250,000 copies within a week after its release. The EP and its title track both entered the Billboard charts World Albums and World Digital Songs at number 3 respectively.[37][38][39]

Signal debuted atop the Gaon Album Chart on the chart issue dated May 14–20, 2017. In its second and third week, the EP charted at number 5 and at number 7 in its fourth week.[40][41][42][43] The EP entered at number 2 on the chart for the month of May 2017 with 248,550 physical copies sold.[44]

Track listing

Signal — Standard edition

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Arrangement	Length
1.	"Signal"	J.Y. Park "The Asiansoul"	J.Y. Park "The Asiansoul" Kairos	J.Y. Park "The Asiansoul" Kim Seung-soo Armadillo Kairos	3:17
2.	"Three Times a Day" (하루에 세번; Harue Sebeon)	Kim Won Dia	Kim Won Dia	Kim Won	3:11
3.	"Only You" (Only 너; Only Neo)	Ha:tfelt	David Anthony Eames Debbie-Jane Blackwell 72	David Anthony Eames	3:38
4.	"Hold Me Tight"	Jowul	Jowul Scott Granger Brian Judah Johnny Marnell Roahn Hylton	Jowul	3:19
5.	"Eye Eye Eyes"	Jihyo Chaeyoung	Lise Kristin Kvenseth Erlend Elvesveen Jo Sverre Sande Tone Ravna Bjørnstad Rune Helmersen Elizaveta Vassilieva	Lise Kristin Kvenseth Erlend Elvesveen Jo Sverre Sande Tone Ravna Bjørnstad Rune Helmersen Elizaveta Vassilieva	2:55
6.	"Someone Like Me"	Park Won	Ronny Vidar Svendsen Anne Judith Stokke Wik Nermin Harambašić Moa Anna Maria Carlebecker	Ronny Vidar Svendsen Anne Judith Stokke Wik Nermin Harambašić Moa Anna Maria Carlebecker	3:25
Total length:					19:54

Signal — Thailand edition bonus DVD[45]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Signal" (Music video)
2.	"Signal" (Teaser α)
3.	"Signal" (Teaser β)
4.	"Signal" (Teaser γ)
5.	"Signal" (Music video intro)
6.	"Signal" (Music video teaser)
7.	"Signal" (Dance practice video)
8.	"Signal" (Behind film #1)
9.	"Signal" (Behind film #3)
10.	"Signal" (Behind film #5)

Personnel

Credits adapted from album liner notes.[46]

• J. Y. Park "The Asiansoul" – producer, all instruments, keyboards and computer programming (on "Signal")
• Lee Ji-young – direction and coordination (A&R)
• Kim Bo-hyeon – design (A&R), album design and artwork
• Kim Tae-eun - design (A&R), album design and artwork
• Eom Se-hee – recording and mixing engineer
• Im Hong-jin – recording engineer
• Choi Hye-jin – recording and assistant recording engineer
• Kim Yong-woon "goodear" – recording engineer
• Jang Han-soo – assistant recording engineer
• Wes Koz – assistant recording engineer
• Tony Maserati – mixing engineer
• Jeong Jin – mixing engineer
• Lee Tae-seob – mixing engineer
• Jo Joon-seong – mixing engineer
• Miles Comaskey – assistant mixing engineer
• Park Jeong-eon – mastering engineer
• Lee Soo-jin (Agency Prod) – photographer
• Choi Hee-seon – style director
• Im Ji-hyeon – style director
• Park Nae-joo – hair director
• Won Jeong-yo – makeup director
• Yoon Hee-so – choreographer
• Kang Da-sol – choreographer
• T.Z – choreographer
• Rie Hata – choreographer
• Today Art – printing
• Kim Seung-soo – all instruments, keyboards and computer programming (on "Signal")
• Armadillo – all instruments, keyboards and computer programming (on "Signal") and vocal production (on "Only You")
• Joe J. Lee "Kairos" – all instruments, keyboards, computer programming and vocal production (on "Signal")
• Hobyn "K.O" Yi – additional engineering and vocal production (on "Signal")
• Samuel J Lee "Swish" – vocal production (on "Signal")
• Esther Park "Legaci" – background vocals (on "Signal")
• Kim Won – all instruments and computer programming (on "Three Times a Day")
• Kim So-jin – background vocals (on "Three Times a Day")
• David Anthony Eames – all instruments and computer programming (on "Only You")
• Park Soo-min – background vocals (on "Only You")
• Jowul – all instruments, computer programming and background vocals (on "Hold Me Tight") and vocal production (on "Eye Eye Eyes")
• Nayeon – background vocals (on "Hold Me Tight")
• Jihyo – background vocals (on "Hold Me Tight" and "Eye Eye Eyes")
• Erlend Elvesveen – all instruments and computer programming (on "Eye Eye Eyes")
• Tone Ravna Bjørnstad – all instruments and computer programming (on "Eye Eye Eyes")
• Rune Helmersen – all instruments and computer programming (on "Eye Eye Eyes")
• Ronny Vidar Svendsen – all instruments and computer programming (on "Someone Like Me")
• Twice – background vocals (on "Someone Like Me")
• Cazzi Opeia – background vocals (on "Someone Like Me")
• Park Won – vocal production (on "Someone Like Me")
• Kwon Young-chan – vocal production (on "Someone Like Me")

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2017) Peak position Japanese Albums (Oricon)[47] 11 South Korean Albums (Gaon)[48] 1 US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[49] 11 US World Albums (Billboard)[38] 3

Year-end charts Chart (2017) Position South Korean Albums (Gaon)[50] 14 Chart (2018) Position South Korean Albums (Gaon)[51] 95

Accolades

Year	Award	Category	Result	Ref.
2017	19th Mnet Asian Music Awards	Album of the Year	Nominated
2018	7th Gaon Chart Music Awards	Album of the Year – 2nd Quarter	Nominated	[52]

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Distributor	Ref.
Worldwide	May 15, 2017	Digital download	JYP Entertainment Genie Music	[53]
South Korea				[54]
	May 16, 2017	CD		[22]
Thailand	November 24, 2017 (Thailand edition)	CD and DVD	JYP Entertainment BEC-Tero Music	[45]
United States	March 1, 2020	Streaming	JYP Republic	[55]

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