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Hawwah (Gain EP)

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Hawwah
Digital album cover for Hawwah
EP by
Gain
ReleasedMarch 12, 2015
Recorded2014–2015
Genre
Length20:30
LanguageKorean
Label
Producer
  • Yeong-cheol
  • Lee Min-soo
  • Kim Eana
  • Park Geun-tae
  • Park Soo-jong
  • Lee Jong-hoon
  • Jeong Seok-won
  • G.Gorilla
  • KZ
  • east4A
  • Jeon Da-woon
  • Michin Kamseong
Gain chronology
Truth or Dare
(2014) 		Hawwah
(2015)
Singles from Hawwah
  1. "Apple"
    Released: March 12, 2015
  2. "Paradise Lost"
    Released: March 12, 2015
Music video
"Apple" on YouTube
"Paradise Lost" on YouTube

Hawwah (stylized as ḥawwāh) is the fifth extended play by South Korean singer and actress Gain. It was released digitally on March 12, 2015, and physically five days later by APOP Entertainment (now a subsidiary of Mystic Entertainment), and distributed by LOEN Entertainment. Described as a Bible-influenced concept through the singer's understanding as a story, the extended play was executively produced by Jo Yeong-cheol and Lee Min-soo, with lyricist Kim Eana penning most of the record's lyrics. The extended play also saw Gain collaborating with several South Korean rappers, namely Jay Park and Dok2, while G.Gorilla, Mad Clown and singer Wheesung contributed lyrically to the release.[1]

Upon its release, Hawwah received positive reviews from critics for its "fine" tune, further complimenting Gain for crossing the "extreme[ness]" in sexuality. The extended play was a commercial success for the singer in her native country, peaking at number five on the Gaon Album Chart, while experiencing her breaking into the United States, reaching number nine on the Billboard World Digital Albums chart. Two singles were released to promote the release, namely "Apple" and "Paradise Lost", to great commercial success.[2]

Background

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After many reports of her home group's comeback in 2015, it was announced on February 26, 2015, that Gain would be releasing her fourth solo mini-album entitled Hawwah, which would be released in the middle of March. Through a modernized reinterpretation of Hawwah, the first woman created by God (Yahweh, the God of Israel), the album was expected to present unconventional music and concept.[3]

The Bible-inspired album's release date was confirmed to be March 12, 2015. According to APOP Entertainment, Gain's agency, the EP would be promoted by two lead singles, and released digitally at 12:00 am KST on the aforementioned day.[2]

Composition

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Hawwah was executive produced by Jo Young-cheol, while composer Lee Min-soo co-produced the album and lyricist Kim Eana participated as a lyric producer.[4] Various male musicians collaborated with Gain for the album; Jay Park (featured artist and lyricist, "Apple"), Dok2 (featured artist and lyricist, "Free Will"), Mad Clown (lyricist, "Guilty") and Wheesung (lyricist, "Free Will"),[5] while previous producers, such as KZ and east4A also participated in producing the songs. Due to her being an atheist, Gain understood the album's concept as a story, while expressing the album is "not easy to enjoy for a pop audience".[1]

The album takes influences from mostly dance music and R&B, white interpolating elements from electronic, jazz and bossa nova. Featuring a lot of genres and moods, its content was described as a Biblical portrayal of Eve with emphasis on temptation, duality and self-confiding.[6]

Singles

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"Apple"

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"Apple" is one of two lead singles from Hawwah.[7] It cutely expresses the desire about the "forbidden fruit". Featuring a rap by Jay Park, the song comes up with an answer to the worry about something to try in spite of knowing that it shouldn't be done. Based on jazz piano and melodies, the funky track shows an impressive combination of Gain's vocals and Jay Park's rapping.[8] The song also contains a "Four, Tres, Two, Uno" sample from Fergie's "Fergalicious".

"Apple" reached number two on the Gaon Singles Chart for the 12th week of 2015.[9] Since its release, the song has sold over 574,000 digital copies in South Korea.[10]

A Billboard review of the song said that the accompanying music video "was also sweeter, but just as seductive as "Paradise Lost"."[11]

"Paradise Lost"

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"Paradise Lost", another lead track from the album,[12] is inspired from the same-titled epic poem written by English poet John Milton. The song depicts Adam (the first man) and Hawwah expelled from the Garden of Eden after succumbing to the serpent's temptation.[13]

The single reunited composer Lee Min-soo and lyricist Kim Eana, who have worked together with Gain since her first solo EP Step 2/4 (2010). It adds the steel guitar sound and strings on pipe organ instrumentation, which is rarely used in pop music. On March 9, 2015, in a premiere held prior to the album's release, Gain stated that she borrowed the character of the serpent attracting Hawwah in the song, to express the character of the woman.[14]

The track's corresponding music video was filmed in Thailand. About her snakelike choreography in the music video, the singer commented, "Snakes caught my eyes as I studied about the concept of Hawwah. While snakes go slow they suddenly move quickly, and the sensation of their speed was attractive. I tried to capture that part."[14]

"Paradise Lost" peaked at number six on the Gaon Singles Chart for the 13th week of 2015,[15] and has sold nearly 363,000 digital copies domestically.[16]

Fuse TV named the single's video clip as "one of the darkest K-pop music videos of 2015", saying that "Gain brings in a new perspective of K-pop to the world."[17] Billboard magazine reviewed the song favorably, saying that "it opened with a nice balance of classical elements and modern embellishments." It also called the corresponding video a "must-see".[11]

Release and promotion

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On February 28, the album's collaborative artists and track listing were revealed via the Web.[18][19] A 25-second preview video for "Paradise Lost", one of two lead singles from the album, was released online at 3:12 pm on March 9.[20][21] A preview video for another lead single "Apple" was released online the following day.[22]

The entire album was released with an official music video for "Paradise Lost",[23][24] and a corresponding music video for "Apple" came out a day after the EP's release.[25]

Upon its release, Hawwah debuted and peaked at number five on the Gaon Weekly Albums Chart.[26] The album also reached number nine on the Billboard World Albums Chart for the week of March 28, 2015, becoming Gain's first appearance on any U.S. chart.[27]

Gain began promoting her comeback album on various music programs, starting on the March 12, 2015, broadcast of M! Countdown (Mnet).[28] She promoted the lead singles on M! Countdown, Music Bank (KBS),[29] Show! Music Core (MBC),[30] Inkigayo (SBS),[31] and The Show (SBS M).[32]

Promotions for the album were concluded by the singer's performances on You Hee-yeol's Sketchbook (KBS), aired on April 24, 2015.[33] On the show, Gain performed "Paradise Lost", along with her previous hit single "Bloom" (Korean: 피어나; RR: Pieona) and her home group's mega hit "Abracadabra".[34][35][36]

Track listing

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CD/Digital download[19]
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Apple" (featuring Jay Park)Kim Eana, Jay ParkPark Geun-tae, Park Soo-jong, Lee Jong-hoon3:03
2."Free Will" (featuring Dok2)Wheesung, Dok2Jeong Seok-won, east4A3:14
3."Paradise Lost"Kim EanaLee Min-soo3:30
4."The First Temptation"Kim Eanaeast4A, Lee Min-soo3:36
5."Two Women" (두 여자; Du Yeoja)G.GorillaG.Gorilla4:01
6."Guilty"Mad ClownKZ, Jeon Da-woon, Michin Kamseong3:06
Total length:20:30

Charts

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Chart (2015) Peak
position 		Sales
South Korean Gaon Album Chart[26] 5
US Billboard World Albums Chart[38] 9

Release history

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Region Date Format Label
South Korea March 12, 2015 Digital download APOP Entertainment, LOEN Entertainment
Worldwide[39]
South Korea[40] March 17, 2015 CD
Taiwan[41] Nega Network

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Gain Goes In on New 'Hawwah' EP, Religion and South Korea's Conservative Music Industry". Billboard. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
  2. ^ a b Kwon, Seok-jeong (March 2, 2015). "가인, 새앨범 '하와' 12일 발매 확정 더블타이틀 컴백 ("Gain's New Album "Hawwah" Confirmed to Be Released on March 12th, with Two Lead Singles")" (in Korean). 10Asia. Retrieved March 6, 2015.[permanent dead link‍]
  3. ^ Seon, Mi-kyung (February 26, 2015). "가인, 내달 '하와'로 1년만에 컴백..금기 깬 여자이야기 ("Gain to Make Her Comeback with "Hawwah" Next Month, After a Year... The Story of a Woman Who Broke Taboos")" (in Korean). OSEN. Retrieved March 7, 2015.
  4. ^ Jeong, Ji-won (March 9, 2015). "가인 "성경 속 '하와' 재해석, 가장 어려운 콘셉트" ("Gain Said "Reinterpreting Hawwah in the Bible Was the Hardest Concept for Me"")" (in Korean). XPORTSNEWS. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  5. ^ Seon, Mi-kyung (March 4, 2015). "휘성·박재범·매드클라운·도끼, 가인 새 앨범 '하와' 피처링-작사 ("Wheesung, Jay Park, Mad Clown, and Dok2 to Participate in Making "Hawwah" as Featured Artists and Lyricists")" (in Korean). OSEN. Retrieved March 7, 2015.
  6. ^ "Album Review: Ga-In – Hawwah". March 16, 2015. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
  7. ^ "Gain (BEG) feat. Jay Park – Apple – pop!gaga – kpop translation lyrics". pop!gasa. March 11, 2015. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  8. ^ Lee, Eun-ho (March 12, 2015). "윤종신, 가인에 1위 축하 메시지 "가인아 축하해" ("Yoon Jong-shin Sends a Congratulatory Message to Gain on Her Topping the Charts")" (in Korean). 10Asia. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  9. ^ "South Korean Gaon Chart: Singles – The 12th Week of 2015". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  10. ^ Sales references for "Apple":
  11. ^ a b Benjamin, Jeff (March 12, 2015). "Ga In Drops Brilliantly Dark-Yet-Sexy 'Paradise Lost' & 'Apple' Singles". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  12. ^ "Gain (BEG) – Paradise Lost – pop!gasa – kpop translation lyrics". pop!gasa. March 11, 2015. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  13. ^ Lee, Jae-hoon (March 9, 2015). "가인, 아찔한 콘셉트… 솔로 앨범 '하와' ("Gain Returns with Dizzy Concept... Her New Solo Album "Hawwah"")" (in Korean). Newsis. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  14. ^ a b "가인 "'하와', 대중성 떨어질 수도…애플힙 만들려 하체 운동만 3개월" ("Gain Said "My New Album "Hawwah" Might Be with Less Popularity"... She Exercised Her Lower Body for Three Months to Make Apple Hips")" (in Korean). Incheon Ilbo. March 10, 2015. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  15. ^ "South Korean Gaon Chart: Singles – The 13th Week of 2015". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  16. ^ Sales references for "Paradise Lost":
  17. ^ "Fuse TV names Ga In's "Paradise Lost" the darkest K-Pop MV of 2015". Koreaboo. March 18, 2015. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  18. ^ "Official Twitter of Mystic Entertainment". Retrieved March 7, 2015.
  19. ^ a b "Official Twitter of Mystic Entertainment". Retrieved March 7, 2015.
  20. ^ Kim, Yoo-mi (March 9, 2015). "미스틱89, 가인 '파라다이스로스트' 홍보 ("MYSTIC89 to Promote Gain's "Paradise Lost"")" (in Korean). STARNEWS. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
  21. ^ 1theK (March 9, 2015). "[Teaser 1] GAIN(가인) _ Paradise Lost (Preview Video) [Hawwah]" (YouTube). YouTube.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  22. ^ 1theK (March 10, 2015). "[Teaser 2] GAIN(가인) _ Apple (Feat. Jay Park(박재범)) (Preview Video) [Hawwah]" (YouTube). YouTube.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  23. ^ "가인 하와 뮤비, "걱정될 정도로 파격적이다" 평가 … 어떻길래? ("Gain's Music Video for "Hawwah" Was Reviewed "Unconventional Enough to Be Worried"... For What Reason?")" (in Korean). Hankook Media Network. March 12, 2015. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 13, 2015.
  24. ^ 1theK (March 12, 2015). "[MV] GAIN(가인) _ Paradise Lost" (YouTube). YouTube.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  25. ^ 1theK (March 13, 2015). "[MV] GAIN(가인) _ Apple (Feat. Jay Park(박재범))" (YouTube). YouTube.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  26. ^ a b "South Korean Gaon Chart: Album – The 13th Week of 2015". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  27. ^ Benjamin, Jeff. "Gain Goes In on New 'Hawwah' EP, Religion and South Korea's Conservative Music Industry". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved April 23, 2015.
  28. ^ Lee, Kyeong-ho (March 12, 2015). "'엠카' 가인, '하와' 더블 타이틀곡 첫 공개 '큐티vs섹시' ("Gain Reveals Two Lead Tracks from "Hawwah" on M! Countdown "Cuteness vs. Sexiness"")" (in Korean). STARNEWS. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  29. ^ KBSKpop (March 13, 2015). "[HIT] 뮤직뱅크 – 가인, '파라다이스 로스트'로 화려한 컴백…섹시미 폭발 . 20150313" (YouTube). YouTube.
  30. ^ Kim, Mi-hwa (March 14, 2015). "'음중' 가인, 눈을 뗄수 없는 무대..독보적 섹시함 ("Gain Performs on Show! Music Core, Compulsive Stage... Sexiness with No Equal")" (in Korean). STARNEWS. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  31. ^ Jeong, Hee-seo (March 15, 2015). "'인기가요' 가인, 치명적인 섹시미 발산 'Paradise Lost' ("Gain Performs "Paradise Lost" on The Music Trend, Giving Off Her Fatal Sexiness")" (in Korean). XPORTSNEWS. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  32. ^ Bak, Soo-jeong (March 17, 2015). "가인, '더쇼'서 '파라다이스 로스트' 오리지널 버전 공개..역대급 퍼포먼스 완성 ("Gain Performs the Original Version of "Paradise Lost" on The Show")" (in Korean). 10Asia. Retrieved March 22, 2015.[permanent dead link‍]
  33. ^ "'유희열의 스케치북' 가인 "브아걸 성형금지설 떨어졌다" ("Gain Says "My Home Group Was Ordered Not to Have Plastic Surgery"")" (in Korean). Sports Chosun. April 25, 2015. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  34. ^ Hwang, Hye-jin (April 25, 2015). "가인 "브아걸, 데뷔초 날씬한 빅마마 콘셉트였는데.." ("Gain Says "BEG's Early Concept Used to Be the Slimmer Version of Big Mama"")" (in Korean). Newsen. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  35. ^ KBSKpop (April 24, 2015). "[HIT] 유희열의 스케치북 – 가인 – 피어나. 20150424" (YouTube). YouTube.
  36. ^ KBSKpop (April 24, 2015). "[HIT] 유희열의 스케치북 – 가인 – Abracadabra. 20150424" (YouTube). YouTube.
  37. ^ Sales references for Hawwah:
  38. ^ "Billboard Albums Chart – March 28, 2015". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  39. ^ "iTunes – Music – Hawwah – EP by Gain". iTunes Store. March 12, 2015. Retrieved March 13, 2015.
  40. ^ "가인 – HAWWAH (4TH 미니앨범) [엽서 1종 삽입]" (in Korean). Media Synnara. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  41. ^ 五大唱片 (in Chinese). Five Music. Archived from the original on March 17, 2015. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
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