South Korean girl group Twice (JYP Entertainment). JYP Entertainment
Twice has been a top-selling South Korean act for more than a half a century. In the five years that they have been together, Twice has released a staggering amount of music. They have released a total of 10 full-length albums and several EPs. There are also a few compilations and reissues. All of their releases have been hugely successful in many Asian countries. After proving themselves to be a formidable force in many of the biggest music markets around the globe, the girls have spent 2021 aiming for America to be the next big K-pop act.
They achieved feats that were unimaginable for South Korean girl groups. 2021 was a year full of firsts for the group. They have reached the Hot 100, broken into the Billboard 200 album chart top 10, and earned their first leader in the Top Album Sales ranking.
With The Feels, the band has their first hit single in the U.S. This is the beginning of their English-language transition. Twice has performed in English before but The Feels was not translated from an earlier release. It was instead written and composed to be sung only in English. This has been a huge hit for the band.
Twice members recently spoke with me about The Feels, what it means for them to perform in English, and how they can connect with American fans like never before.
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Hugh McIntyre - I just listened the new single. I was dancing around my living room. It's so catchy, I'm obsessed. Is it nerve-wracking for you guys to see this single because it's your first English song?
Tzuyu: This is our first English single. Naturally, we feel nervous. We are also anxious to see if our fans like it. What they will do.
McIntyre - I'm aware that you have released songs in English, but this single is your first English one. What is it like translating a song into English versus recording it in English?
Nayeon: We only needed to pay attention to the differences in the languages when we sang Korean songs into English. This time, we began with English so that we could reflect our style and our concepts in English. That was the other part.
McIntyre, Tell me about the first time you heard the music and how it was put together. What would you say to your fans about this?
Nayeon: I was immediately struck by the song's upbeat and dancey vibe. It's a song we can't wait to sing on stage. We didn't have too much to do when we shot the music video. Because the song was so danceable, we just had to have fun.
McIntyre - Is this the first taste of an album or an EP? Is there anything else?
Nayeon, I think we're all prepared for an album or EP. An EP or an album can be released whenever it is possible.
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McIntyre - Would you be interested in an English-only album or EP?
Sana: Yes, it's possible. It will all depend on how our single is met. What kind of global response we get. It would be wonderful if we could get this opportunity.
McIntyre : That would be great. Some of you may have spoken English before the song began, or are they? Is that correct?
Sana: It depends on the level of proficiency.
McIntyre, Yes. McIntyre: Some people may be more fluent in the language than others, but I believe there was a lot of practice involved.
Nayeon, despite our English proficiency, we are still a bit unsure of the meanings of all the words. The lyrics are not the same as daily English. We also added the melody to the words. It was much more difficult. It was difficult, regardless of your English level. We were very focused on pronunciation because this is the first English single that has been released in America. We wanted to make sure that each word was correctly pronounced in our lyrics. We all focused on this.
McIntyre : Yes. It sounds amazing, I'm sure. You guys have really done it.
Nayeon: We're very proud.
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McIntyre - You should. Twice was the reason I wrote about it recently. You charted your first Top 10 Album in the U.S., and you also landed your first No. It was also your first No. 1 album, which is a big accomplishment for you guys. Are you under any pressure to get the song commercially successful?
Jihyo said that it was more fun than pressure. This will allow us to better get to know our fans. Many people in the U.S. are interested in us but were unable to get to know us because of our language barrier. We have now released an English single. This will give them the chance to get to know us.
Nayeon said: It was a great experience. Our fans love to sing along with us on international tours, even though the song is in Korean. Now that the English single has been released, fans will be able sing along in their native language. We are looking forward to it.
McIntyre : You just had some success in the U.S., as I mentioned. The English single is out. You were on Jimmy Fallon. You were on Jimmy Fallon. What does it mean to make a difference in America?
Momo: Success in the United States is for us a fresh start, a new beginning and a new challenge. It will be a chance to connect with more people, visit more countries, and meet new fans.
