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Feel Special (song)

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"Feel Special"
Single by Twice
from the EP Feel Special
LanguageKorean
ReleasedSeptember 23, 2019 (2019-09-23)
Recorded
  • JYP Studio
  • Vibe Studio
Genre
Length3:27
LabelJYP
Composer(s)
Lyricist(s)J.Y. Park "The Asiansoul"
Twice singles chronology
"Breakthrough"
(2019) 		"Feel Special"
(2019) 		"Fake & True"
(2019)
Music video
"Feel Special" on YouTube
Audio sample

"Feel Special" is a song recorded by South Korean girl group Twice. It serves as the lead single of the group's eighth EP Feel Special, released through JYP Entertainment on September 23, 2019, along with its music video. It was composed by Hayley Aitken, Min Lee "Collapsedone", Ollipop and Park Jin-young, the latter of whom also wrote the lyrics.

"Feel Special" was an instant hit, debuting at number one on both the Billboard Kpop Hot 100 and World Digital Song Sales. It also debuted in the top ten on South Korea's Gaon Digital Chart, New Zealand's Hot Singles and Japan's Hot 100. The song won seven trophies on several music programs in South Korea, including Inkigayo, M Countdown, and Show! Music Core. In April 2023, the song was certified 2× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan for surpassing 200 million streams.

Background

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Prior to the EP's release, the group released teasers on social media for the "Feel Special" music video, including individual clips for each member. On September 10, 2019, the day that Momo's clip was released, her name trended ahead of the Apple event on Twitter.[4] Dahyun released a piano cover of the song on May 28, 2020, her 22nd birthday. She also performed vocals in the cover, however, she did not perform her rap part and instead played a piano solo.[5] A Japanese version of "Feel Special" was included in the group's third Japanese language compilation album #Twice3, released on September 16, 2020.[6]

Music and lyrics

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Due to our showbiz career, obviously there have been times when we found hectic schedules and the following outcomes challenging. But we were able to overcome all that thanks to the support from caring people around us, including the members and our fans. And that's what "Feel Special" is about. There are people around us who help us stand on our own two feet. [...] I hope more people will realize that there are helping hands around us and find comfort with our song.

Nayeon on "Feel Special"[7]

"Feel Special" is a pop, synth-pop, miami bass and house song written in the A-flat major key.[1][2][3] Billboard's Tamar Herman described the song as "a vibrant, uplifting track", writing that the song "[opens] with quirky synths and [leads] into a groovy bass beat", slowly transitioning into "atmospheric verses and perky raps" and eventually enters "the boisterous, impactful chorus".[8]

The lyrics of the song, written by Park Jin-young, were based on a conversation he had with members of Twice during dinner, in which they expressed the emotions they felt while dealing with the pressures of fame throughout the four years since their debut in 2015.[4] In an interview with CNN Brazil, Park revealed more about what inspired the lyrics: "Back then, Sana was going through some struggle, and I was watching how the other members were supporting her, and it just touched my heart and I wrote the song for their friendship."[9] Nayeon said Park expressed the members' feelings in the lyrics, and she called it one of the group's most memorable tracks.[4][10] Members have regarded the song as being sincere and relatable with its personal and truthful lyrics.[10] The key message of the song is "the shift from feeling insignificant to finding purpose".[4]

In an interview with PopCrush, Chaeyoung said that the lyrics are meant to inspire fans to realize that they are not alone and appreciate the precious people around them during difficult times. Jeongyeon wants the song to serve as a motivation at times when people feel tired as life gets busy. Tzuyu said that the song "holds very true and sentimental lyrics" to their fans and the public, and noted that songs become tougher to perform as they get more relatable. She hopes that their fans can "find comfort in this song, and realize that they are not alone and it is awesome to love yourself".[11] Mina has a solo verse in this song after the first chorus, towards the middle of the song.[8] Kat Moon of Time pointed out that "the part she recorded for 'Feel Special' seems to echo the statements about her emotions toward performing". Dahyun stressed that the part after Mina's verse is the most important, which describes the sliver of hope appearing, and the progression "from nobody to somebody".[4]

Critical reception

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Jeff Benjamin of the South China Morning Post included "Feel Special" in his "10 Best K-pop songs of 2019", ranking at number three and describing the song as a "stunning, synth-driven single that not only continued Twice’s string of pristine chart-toppers, but also had a deeper message about taking care of yourself."[12] Kim Do-heon of IZM gave a mixed review for the song, calling its production "stylish but outdated", and noted that while the single successfully aimed for a more mature image, its "completeness and method of expression are the lowest among Twice's discography." Nevertheless, he stated that the entirety of Feel Special as a whole is worth listening due to "the well-placed urban and chic electropop [sound] under the lonely and calm atmosphere created by the title track."[13]

Commercial performance

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"Feel Special" reached the top of both Billboard's Kpop Hot 100 and World Digital Song Sales.[14] It also peaked at number 4 on Billboard's Japan Hot 100,[15] number 8 on RMNZ Hot Singles,[16] number 9 on Gaon Digital Chart,[17] and number 13 on Oricon Digital Singles.[18] The song also marks the group's first entry to Billboard's Canadian Hot 100, debuting at number 82.[19] In May 2020, "Feel Special" received Silver streaming certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for surpassing 30 million streams. In March 2021, the song was certified Platinum for surpassing 100 million streams.[20] In April 2023, "Feel Special" became Twice's first song to be certified 2× Platinum by the RIAJ for surpassing 200 million streams.[21]

Music video and promotion

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The music video was released at 6 pm KST on September 23, 2019. It was watched more than 11 million times on YouTube in less than 16 hours after its release.[22] In the video, members of the group are dressed up in unique looks to showcase their individual personalities and distinct roles in the group. Eight members of the group formed four pairs. In each pair, we see the members reach out to one another. Chaeyoung, who is inside a white dome, meets Mina as she approaches the dome and it turns transparent. Momo encounters Tzuyu, who is a goddess doll residing in a dollhouse. Nayeon, whose face is displayed on numerous TV screens, offers a smile of support to Jihyo. Dahyun, carrying an umbrella featuring Twice's colors, reaches out to Sana, who is sitting alone and soaked by the rain. Jeongyeon, not paired with any member, is seen feeling alone initially until she envisions herself joining other members of the group, enjoying herself and having fun.[8] In March 2024, the music video achieved 500 million views.[23]

Twice promoted "Feel Special" on several music programs in South Korea, including Inkigayo, M Countdown, and Show! Music Core, from late-September to the middle of October. Mina did not participate, as she was on hiatus due to an anxiety disorder at the time.[4] The group collected a total of seven wins for "Feel Special" throughout the course of its promotion. They also performed the song live during the Japanese leg of the Twicelights World Tour (2019–2020),[24] with the first performance as a full group taking place in Fukuoka on February 11, 2020.[25]

Accolades

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Music program awards for "Feel Special"
Program Date Ref.
Show Champion October 2, 2019 [26]
October 9, 2019 [27]
M Countdown October 3, 2019 [28]
October 10, 2019 [29]
Music Bank October 4, 2019 [30]
Inkigayo October 6, 2019 [31]
October 13, 2019 [32]

Usage in media

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"Feel Special" was included in the Ubisoft dance rhythm game Just Dance 2021, which was released on November 12, 2020.[33] On December 12, Joysound revealed the single to be the most popular K-pop song in Japanese karaoke for the year 2020, topping the "2020 Joysound Annual Ranking" list, and Twice having the most entries in the Top 20 with 4 songs. Joysound stated that Karaoke song rankings are an indicator to the kind of songs enjoyed by the Japanese general public, as opposed to album sales where fandom influence is inevitable.[34]

Credits and personnel

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Credits adapted from Melon.[35]

Studios

Song credits

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

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Streaming certifications for "Feel Special"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ)[21] 2× Platinum 200,000,000†

† Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Kim, Na-yul (September 23, 2019). "트와이스, 'Feel Special'로 오늘(23일) 컴백..퍼포먼스 티저로 기대 UP" [Twice, comeback today (23rd) with 'Feel Special'... expect UP with performance teaser]. Herald Pop (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 10, 2023. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Gillett, Chris (October 2, 2019). "TWICE's 'Feel Special' EP review: K-pop girl group mix EDM, hip hop and 90s vibes and make it work". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on April 21, 2020. Retrieved September 14, 2020. ... the gang of nine really get into their groove across seven tracks of upbeat, and energetic pop tunes.
  3. ^ a b Amanda, Lee (September 26, 2019). "TWICE Album Review: K-pop Girl Group Releases Feel Special EP". Soundigest. Archived from the original on January 24, 2021. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Moon, Kat (October 9, 2019). "K-Pop Powerhouse TWICE Opens Up About How Their New Album Is More Personal Than Ever". Time. Archived from the original on October 9, 2019. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  5. ^ Liou, Connie (May 28, 2020). "TWICE Member Dahyun Releases a 'Feel Special' Piano Cover on Her Birthday and Fans Love Every Second". Showbiz Cheat Sheet. Archived from the original on October 22, 2020. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  6. ^ "TWICE 3rd BEST ALBUM 「#TWICE3」". Twice Official Site. Warner Music Japan. Archived from the original on July 17, 2020. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  7. ^ Hong, Dam-young (September 24, 2019). "How 9 girls from Twice dominated K-pop". Kpop Herald. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  8. ^ a b c Herman, Tamar (September 23, 2019). "Twice 'Feel Special' On Inspiring New Single and EP: Listen". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 24, 2019. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  9. ^ Park, J. Y. (November 8, 2022). "J.Y. Park Claims to Be Creating a Latino Group in the K-Pop mold" (Interview). Interviewed by Isabela Gadelha. CNN Brazil. Event occurs at 3:05. Retrieved October 5, 2024 – via YouTube.
  10. ^ a b Twice (December 31, 2019). "K-Pop Sensation Twice Tells Us About Their Bond With Once, Managing Stress, And The Impact Of "Feel Special"". BuzzFeed (Interview). Interviewed by Sarah Han. Archived from the original on October 30, 2020. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  11. ^ Twice (November 5, 2019). "Asia's Top-Selling Girl Group TWICE Reflect On Their Bond, Fourth Anniversary". PopCrush (Interview). Interviewed by Lai Frances. Archived from the original on November 6, 2019. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  12. ^ "10 of the best K-pop songs this year: did your fave make it?". South China Morning Post. December 21, 2019. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  13. ^ Kim, Do-heon. "Feel Special Album Review". IZM. Archived from the original on November 19, 2019. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  14. ^ a b "Twice Chart History - Billboard Kpop Hot 100". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 16, 2020. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  15. ^ a b "Twice Chart History - Japan Hot 100". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on July 12, 2019. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  16. ^ a b "Hot 40 Singles". Official Charts. September 30, 2019. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  17. ^ a b "2019년 39주차 Digital Chart". October 3, 2019. Archived from the original on October 10, 2019. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  18. ^ a b "Feel Special" (in Japanese). Oricon. October 7, 2019. Archived from the original on October 2, 2019.
  19. ^ Benjamin, Jeff (October 4, 2019). "TWICE's 'Feel Special' Hits No. 1 on World Digital Song Sales & Enters Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 6, 2020. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  20. ^ "Japanese single streaming certifications – Twice – Feel Special" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved May 28, 2023. Select 2021年3月 on the drop-down menu
  21. ^ a b "Japanese single streaming certifications – Twice – Feel Special" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved May 28, 2023. Select 2023年4月 on the drop-down menu
  22. ^ Park, Sae-jin (September 23, 2019). "Girl band TWICE's 'Feel Special' garners more than 11 million YouTube views in less than 16 hours". Aju Business Daily. Archived from the original on September 26, 2019. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  23. ^ Kim, Jisu (March 22, 2024). "TWICE "Feel Special" MV Achieves 500 Million Views". Dispatch. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  24. ^ Ziwei, Puah (September 23, 2020). "Stream K-pop girl group TWICE's latest mini-album, 'Feel Special'". NME. Archived from the original on October 23, 2020. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  25. ^ Loh, Keng Fatt (February 12, 2020). "Twice singer Mina, who took time out to battle anxiety attacks, back on stage in Japan". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on June 21, 2020. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  26. ^ Hwang, Hye-jin (October 2, 2019). '쇼챔피언' 트와이스, 컴백 후 첫 1위 "용기내준 미나 고마워"(종합). Newsen (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on June 6, 2020. Retrieved February 11, 2020. Alt URL
  27. ^ Lee, Mi-ji (October 9, 2019). [종합]'쇼챔' 트와이스, 출연 없이 1위…장우혁·백지영·정세운 컴백(종합). Herald Pop (in Korean). Herald Corporation. Archived from the original on June 6, 2020. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  28. ^ Kim, Pul-ip (October 3, 2019). '엠카운트다운' 트와이스 2관왕…"미나야 고마워, 팬들 덕에 행복" [콕TV]. TVreport (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 6, 2020. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  29. ^ Lee, Sang-eun (October 10, 2019). 트와이스 'Feel Special' 엑소 첸 제치고 '엠카운트다운' 1위. Kyeongin Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 6, 2020. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  30. ^ Son, Min-ji (October 4, 2019). '뮤직뱅크' 트와이스 'Feel Special' 3관왕..1위 독주[★밤Tview]. Starnews (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 6, 2020. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  31. ^ Woo, Bin (October 6, 2019). '인기가요' 트와이스, 10월 첫 1위 "멤버 미나와 원스 고마워". Ten Asia (in Korean). Korea Entertainment Media. Archived from the original on October 6, 2019. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  32. ^ 10월 2주 인기가요 차트 (in Korean). Seoul Broadcasting System. October 13, 2019. Archived from the original on June 7, 2020. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  33. ^ "트와이스 'Feel Special' 포함, 저스트 댄스 신작 11월 출시". www.gamemeca.com (in Korean). Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  34. ^ "트와이스 'Feel Special', 2020 일본 노래방에서 많이 불린 K팝곡 1위..2위 BTS '다이너마이트'[★NEWSing]". 스타뉴스 (in Korean). December 10, 2020. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  35. ^ "Feel Special - TWICE (트와이스)". Melon (in Korean). Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  36. ^ "Twice Chart History - Canadian Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). Archived from the original on November 10, 2020. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  37. ^ "Twice Chart History - World Digital Song Sales". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  38. ^ 2019년 10월 Digital Chart [October 2019 Digital Chart] (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  39. ^ "2019년 Digital Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association. Archived from the original on February 26, 2020. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  40. ^ "2020년 Digital Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association. Archived from the original on January 1, 2021. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
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