Illella

2022 single by Mamamoo

"Illella"
Single by Mamamoo
from the EP Mic On
LanguageKorean
ReleasedOctober 11, 2022
Recorded2022
StudioRBW Studio
Genre
  • K-pop
  • reggaeton
LabelRBW
Composer(s)
  • Kim Do-hoon
  • Kang Ji-won
  • Moonbyul
  • Inner Child (MonoTree)
Lyricist(s)
  • Kim Do-hoon
  • Kang-Ji-won
  • Yoo Joo-yi
  • Moonbyul
  • Inner Child (MonoTree)
Mamamoo singles chronology
"Mumumumuch"
(2021) 		"Illella"
(2022)
Music video
"Illella" on YouTube

"Illella" (Korean: 일낼라lit=get up[note 1]; occasionally stylized as "1llella") is a song by South Korean girl group Mamamoo. It was released through RBW and Kakao Entertainment on October 11, 2022, as the lead single from their twelfth extended play Mic On.[2] It was co-written by Moonbyul, Yoo Joo-yi, Kang Ji-won, Kim Do-hoon, and Inner Child, the latter three of whom also handled the song's production. Described as a K-pop and reggaeton track, it was met with positive reviews from critics who praised the group for their vocal harmonies.

Background and release

On June 20, 2022, Mamamoo's label RBW confirmed that the group was scheduled to have a comeback with a group album in the latter half of the year with a concert to follow.[3][4] That August, Mamamoo members Solar and Moonbyul formed the group's first sub-unit, Mamamoo+. Their first single, "Better" featuring Big Naughty, was released on August 28.[5] On September 27, the group officially announced their comeback with their 12th mini-album Mic On, scheduled for release on October 11.[2] The first teaser video for the song was released on YouTube on October 5.[1] "Illella" was released at 6PM KST on October 11, 2022.[6]

Track listing

Digital download and streaming[7]

  1. "Illella" (일낼라) – 2:46

Critical reception

Divyansha Dongre of Rolling Stone India described it as a reggaeton track that beautifully fuses rich brass sounds with guitar riffs. They further commented "It’s a near-perfect soundscape to underline Mamamoo’s vocal prowess that has helped cement their identity as one of K-pop’s leading girl groups".[8] Writing for Billboard, Jeff Benjamin said “Illella” is a full-fledged reminder of their commanding vocal deliveries and artistic auras, that serves powerful belts and sleek harmonies".[9] For NME, Gladys Yeo described it as a reggae-inspired track, that sees the girl group dress in festival-inspired outfits".[10] Pinkvilla described it "as an exotic song with a reggae tone that is impressive with thick brass and repetitive guitar riffs".[11] Apple Music would later include the song on their A-List: K-Pop 2022 playlist of the 50 best K-pop songs of 2022.[12]

Commercial performance

Upon release, "Illella" peaked at number one on iTunes charts in ten regions.[13] For the 42nd week of 2022, "Illella" debuted and peaked at number 66 on the Circle Digital Chart,[14] placing at number nine on the component Circle Download Chart.[15] On the Circle Global K-Pop Chart, which measures worldwide K-pop streaming consumption, "Illella" debuted at number 51 for the week ending October 15, 2022; it peaked at number 38 in its second week on the chart.[16][17]

In the United States, "Illella" debuted at number five on the Billboard World Digital Song Sales chart for the issue dated October 22, 2022, spending two weeks on the chart.[18] The song also peaked at number 30 in Singapore[19] and at number 27 in Hungary, becoming their first song to reach the charts in the latter territory.[20]

Credits and personnel

Adapted from the group's official Twitter.[21]

  • Mamamoo – lead vocals
  • Kim Do-hoon (RBW) – songwriting, composition
  • Kang Ji-won – songwriting, composition, arrangement
  • Yoo Joo-yi[note 2] – songwriting
  • Inner Child (MonoTree) – songwriting, composition

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "Illella"
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Hungary (Single Top 40)[22] 27
Singapore (RIAS)[19] 30
South Korea (Circle)[14] 66
US World Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[18] 5

Monthly charts

Monthly chart performance for "Illella"
Chart (2022) Peak
position
South Korea (Circle)[23] 108

Release history

Release history for "Illella"
Region Date Format Version Label Ref.
Various October 11, 2022
Original
  • RBW
 [2]

References

  1. ^ a b "Mamamoo Reveals a Stellar Teaser for MIC ON Title Track 'Illella' (Watch Video)". Latestly. October 5, 2022. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Yeo, Gladys (September 27, 2022). "Mamamoo to return as a full group with new mini-album 'Mic On' next month". NME. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  3. ^ Yeo, Gladys (June 20, 2022). "MAMAMOO are confirmed to be working on a brand-new album". NME. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  4. ^ "마마무가 온다…"하반기 앨범·단독 콘서트"[공식]". Naver. June 20, 2022. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  5. ^ Yeo, Gladys (August 30, 2022). "Solar and Moonbyul drop first song as Mamamoo+, 'Better' featuring Big Naughty". NME. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  6. ^ Ji, Min-kyoung. "Mamamoo's Whee In reveals solo teaser for new song 'Illella'". Osen. Naver. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  7. ^ "ILLELLA by MAMAMOO". Apple Music. October 11, 2022. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  8. ^ Dongre, Divyansha (October 11, 2022). "Mamamoo Sing About a Night of Allure and Romance in 'Illella'". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  9. ^ Benjamin, Jeff (October 11, 2022). "MAMAMOO Return With the Commanding 'Illella': Watch". Billboard. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  10. ^ Yeo, Gladys (October 11, 2022). "MAMAMOO make long-awaited comeback with music video for 'ILLELLA'". NME. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  11. ^ "MAMAMOO: 5 attractive points of the gorgeous group's latest comeback 'ILLELLA'". PINKVILLA. October 11, 2022. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  12. ^ "A-List K-Pop 2022". Apple Music. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  13. ^ You-mee, Hwang (October 18, 2022). "[Today's K-pop] Mamamoo announces plan for 1st world tour". The Korea Herald. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  14. ^ a b "Digital Chart – Week 42 of 2022". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  15. ^ "Download Chart Week 42 of 2022". Circle Chart. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
  16. ^ "Global K-Pop Chart (2022 Week 42)". Circle Chart. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  17. ^ "Global K-Pop Chart (2022 Week 43)". Circle Chart. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  18. ^ a b "Mamamoo Chart History: World Digital Song Sales". Billboard. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  19. ^ a b "RIAS Top Charts Week 42 (14 - 20 Oct 2022)". RIAS. Archived from the original on October 18, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  20. ^ "Illella". MAHASZ. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  21. ^ "12th Mini Album [MIC ON] ' ILLELLA (일낼라) ' ◽ TRACK LIST ◽". Twitter. October 7, 2022. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  22. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  23. ^ "Digital Chart – October 2022". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  1. ^ 일낼라 is also an expression that can be used to mean "to cause trouble" or "to do something great".[1] In the context of the song, it means "something's about to break."
  2. ^ Also known as "Cosmic Girl" (코스믹 걸).
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