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Pop! (Nayeon song)

"Pop!" is a song recorded by South Korean singer Nayeon for her debut extended play, Im Nayeon. It was released as the EP's lead single on June 24, 2022, through JYP and Republic Records. It is a pop and bubblegum song that features bright beats. It is characterized by live instruments, winding high notes, and a variety of ad libs, with lyrics revolving around a protagonist who sings about her ability to capture her lover's heart in line with "popping a lover's heart like a bubble."

"Pop!" received favorable reviews from music critics, who complimented its catchy production and lyrics. Commercially, it peaked at number two on the Circle Digital Chart for multiple weeks as well as peaking in the top ten in Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Taiwan. In addition, it was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan after surpassing 100 million streams in the country.

Background and release

On May 18, 2022, Republic Records announced that Nayeon would be releasing her debut solo EP on June 24, 2022. On May 31, JYP Entertainment released the EP's tracklist, with "Pop!" as the title track. They also released a short snippet of the song. On June 21, the music video teaser was officially released through JYP Entertainment's YouTube channel. On June 24, the song was finally released through all digital platforms. On June 25, 2022, Nayeon performed the song on MTV's Fresh Out Live Show to promote it. This was followed by two performances on Music Bank and one performance on Inkigayo.

Composition

"Pop!" was described as a song that "conjures classic Twice, from the fun bubblegum beat to the addictive melody and cute lyrics". It is a pop and bubblegum song that takes inspiration from the sounds of second-generation bubblegum K-pop. It is characterized by bright beats, live instruments such as bass, guitar, and horn, winding high notes, and a variety of ad libs. Its lyrics revolve around "a bold declaration of confidence." Where the protagonist sings about her ability to capture her lover's heart with ease. The lyrics "explored the flirtatious and accrescent sentiments of romance using onomatopoeia to portray popping a lover's heart like a bubble." In terms of musical notation, the song was written in the key of D major with a tempo of 97 beats per minute.

Critical reception

Teen Vogue's Lai Frances wrote “Pop!” pays homage to the grandiose sounds and production that embody what K-pop is known for: luxurious music video sets, designer outfits, and a plethora of instruments on top of a catchy hook that revives sounds from second generation K-pop, an era of which she's a fan. She's inspired by Twice as she turns herself into a leader, main vocal, main dancer, energy pill, and center visual all in one. With the spotlight already on her side, she's managed to utilize it as a way to talk casually and let herself be honest about her growth and creativity in music."

Beats Per Minute's JT Early praised the song's catchy energy and its usage of retro and modern sounds, writing "She sings about her ability to captivate and it's hard to disagree as the song maintains a fun and relentlessly catchy energy (the recurrent “pop pop pop”s in particular seem designed to take residence in the brain for days after hearing them). The song effectively mixes the retro and the modern where Nayeon sounds entirely at ease. An anthem for being extroverted and having faith in your own capabilities is a welcome change of pace in the pop landscape."

NME's Rhian Daly described the song as the best track on the album writing, "First, opening the whole show is the title track ‘Pop’ – a confident and assured piece of pop that's bubblegum bright and just as addictive as blowing bubbles til they burst. Nayeon sounds nothing short of spectacular on the summer-ready single, sunnily warning: “You cannot get away from me / The twitch in your eyes / Your nervous gestures, baby / I want to pop you."