Sorry the 2nd post is later this week; I didn't manage to get it finished yesterday. :)
I've previously written several posts about the solo careers of band members, (Fifth Harmony and BTS). Today I'm focusing on the members of Korean girl group BLACKPINK. :)
BLACKPINK are one of the most internationally successful Korean girl groups (and groups in general, along with the likes of BTS), and were branded "the biggest pop band in the world"in 2020.
The group consists of 4 members- 4 members- JISOO (full name Kim Jisoo, or Jisoo Kim in Western terms), JENNIE (Kim Jennie), ROSÉ (real name Roseanne Park/Park Chae-young) and LISA (born Pranpriya Manoban but she has legally changed her first name to Lalisa). Despite JISOO and JENNIE having the same surname/family name (Kim), they aren't related (at least not recently)!
Random fact: Kim is one of the most common family names in South Korea, along with Park and Lee. Some of them may be distantly related.
The band has international links, since LISA is from Thailand, ROSÉ was born in New Zealand and moved to Australia as a child, and JENNIE studied in New Zealand for several years.
Since debuting in 2016, BLACKPINK have released 5 Korean single albums/EPs, one Japanese single album, one compiliation and 2 studio albums- The Album (2020) and BORN PINK (2022). After concentrating on their solo careers in recent years, the girls are currently on tour as BLACKPINK and have just released a new single called JUMP.
Their individual contracts with YG Entertainment (one of the biggest South Korean entertainment companies/record labels) have expired but they will continue to work with YG for group activities. The <Deadline> world tour started on 5th July and will continue until 25th January next year.
As with the other posts, I've decided to split this into two parts, since it was turning into a long post! So Part 1 feaures JENNIE and ROSÉ. :)
For more on the group as a whole, visit this post:
2022 VMA Performances- BLACKPINK: https://starsparklex.blogspot.com/2022/09/2022-vma-performances-blackpink.html
JENNIE
JENNIE was the first BLACKPINK member to launch a solo career, bringing out the single SOLO back in November 2018. (She had previously featured on the 2013 single Black by Korean rapper G-DRAGON from the K-pop group BIGBANG.) The song was a hit both in Korea and internationally, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard World Digital Songs Chart and making JENNIE the first Korean female solo artist to top iTunes worldwide.
The following year she became the first Korean solo artist to perform at the Coachella festival in America, when she sang SOLO during BLACKPINK's set.
JENNIE then continued to work with the group and it wasn't until October 2023 that she released her 2nd solo single, You & Me.
She also launched an acting career in 2023, starring in the American TV series The Idol, alongside Canadian singer The Weeknd (who co-created it) and Lily-Rose Depp (daughter of American actor Johnny Depp and French singer, model and actress Vanessa Paradis). All 3 stars released the single One of the Girls from the show, in December 2023. Then in April 2024, JENNIE featured on Korean rapper Zico's single Spot!
In March this year, JENNIE released her debut solo album Ruby through her own label Oddatelier, which she set up after leaving YG. It has been very successful, selling over 1 million copies worldwide and has been named one of the best albums of 2025 (so far since we're halfway through the year!). Ruby debuted in the Top 10 in 19 countries (No. 3 in the UK Albums Chart) and was certified double platinum in South Korea.
To date, JENNIE has brought out 5 singles from the album- Mantra, Love Hangover, like JENNIE, ExtraL featuring American rapper Doechii and Handlebars featuring British/Albanian singer Dua Lipa. She has also released music videos for some of the other tracks.
SOLO
This is SOLO, JENNIE's debut single, which was released in November 2018. It's a dance, pop and hip hop song, with EDM elements, sung in a mixture of Korean and English.
In addition to being a hit song, the music video (which was filmed in the UK) became the most viewed video by a female K-pop solo act in 24 hours. I remember seeing it on Pops on Seoul on Arirang TV, back when they still had that programme!
You & Me
This was JENNIE's first solo single in 5 years, following SOLO (see above) and her final solo release through YG and Interscope Records (which handles BLACKPINK's reprensentation outside Asia). It came out in October 2023.
You & Me is an all-English dance-pop and EDM track, which JENNIE first performed during BLACKPINK's 2022/2023 BORN PINK world tour. It was originally intended to be released alongside SOLO in 2018. However, it ended up being delayed until 2023.
The song was popular, topping charts in several countries and becoming the first song by a K-pop female soloist to top the UK Singles Download Chart. It also won Best Dance Performance at the 2024 MAMA Awards. Plus, it inspired quite a few K-pop in Public dance covers!
This is the Dance Performance video.
Mantra
Mantra came out last October, the lead single from her debut album Ruby (which came out in March). and was JENNIE's first release on her label Oddatelier and Columbia Records. It's one of JENNIE's most successful singles so far (along with SOLO, One of the Girls from The Idol and like JENNIE; see below). It reached No. 3 in Korea and charted highly in the US, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Mantra is a dance-pop and Miami bass song with R'n'B influences. With lyrics like, "This that pretty girl mantra, this that flaunt ya, just touched down in LA/Pretty girls don't do drama 'less we wanna, it'll be depending on the day", JENNIE has described it as an empowering anthem for ladies, women and pretty girls to love themselves.
Mantra was also popular in the cover dance world! Check out my K-pop in Public- Solo Edition! post to see some dance covers of the song: https://starsparklex.blogspot.com/2024/11/k-pop-in-public-solo-edition.html
like JENNIE
like JENNIE was the 4th single from Ruby and was released on 7th March, the same day as the album. Lik Mantra, it was a commercial success, becoming JENNIE's 3rd No. 1 song in Korea, No. 1 in Hong Kong and Malaysia, and reaching No. 5 on the Billboard Global 200.
like JENNIE is a mix of English and Korean and has been described as a hip hop song with funk carioca (Brazilian funk) and phonk influences. It was co-writen by JENNIE, American record producer and DJ Diplo (who also co-produced the track), Korean rapper Zico (whom JENNIE previously worked with) and several others.
The song is about JENNIE celebrating her individuality and unique style. A remix by Korean DJ and singer Peggy Gou came out in April.
And here are a couple more JENNIE songs:
Damn Right (with Childish Gambino and Kali Uchis)
This is my favourite song from Ruby. I featured it in my Current Favourite Songs post in March: https://starsparklex.blogspot.com/2025/03/current-favourite-songs.html
Handlebars (with Dua lipa)
JENNIE's most recent single (and the 5th single from Ruby), a collab with Dua Lipa. It came out in March.
Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seARsMwjbEU
ROSÉ
ROSÉ was the next member to make her official solo debut. Like bandmate JENNIE (see above) she also collaborated with G-DRAGON, featuring on his single Without You back in 2012. In addition, she released the solo song Hard to Love from BLACKPINK's 2nd album BORN PINK in 2022.
In March 2021, ROSÉ released her debut single album R, alongside her debut single On the Ground. R had the highest first-week sales by a Korean soloist at the time of release. On the Ground was also a hit.
Gone, the 2nd single from R, came out in April 2021 and was No. 1 in Malaysia, doing fairly well elsewhere. It marked ROSÉ's final solo release under YG and Interscope Records (with whom BLACKPINK signed for global dealings in 2018).
ROSÉ then went quiet on the solo front for several years. Last year she signed with South Korean record label THEBLACKLABEL and American record label Atlantic Records, going on to release the popular single Apt. with American singer Bruno Mars in October 2024. It was the lead single from her debut solo album rosie (written in lower case), which followed in December.
rosie (named after ROSÉ's nickname) was a hit, debuting at No. 3 on the American Billboard 200 chart, which earnt ROSÉ a Guinness World Record as the highest ranked album by a K-pop female soloist on the chart. It reached the Top 10 in several countries, including No. 2 in Korea and Australia, No. 3 int the US and No. 4 here in the UK.
The album has a variety of styles, some which mark a departure from BLACKPINK's signature sound (which ranges from K-pop to hip hop and dance).
In addition to Apt., ROSÉ has brought out two more singles from the album- number one girl and toxic till the end, in November and December 2024 respectively.
She has released two singles so far this year- Messy from F1 the Album (the soundtrack for the new F1 film) in May and On My Mind with American singer Alex Warren last month.
On the Ground
Here is On the Ground, ROSÉ's debut solo single. Released in March 2021 as the lead single from R, it was a chart success. Also, the music video was the most viewed video by a Korean soloist, beating JENNIE's previous record (although the record was later broken by fellow member LISA).
On the Ground is an English language introspective electropop, pop and pop/rock song.
APT. (with Bruno Mars)
ROSÉ teamed up with American singer Bruno Mars for APT., the lead single from her debut album rosie. It was a hit worldwide, reaching No. 1 in many countries and getting to No. 2 in the UK and No. 3 in the US.
APT. was ROSÉ's first solo release since leaving YG and Interscope. It's a pop and pop rock/pop punk song with other influences, including new wave. ROSÉ and Bruno were co-writers on the track (along with several others), which contains samples from American singer Toni Basil's classic 1982 single Mickey.
The Korean/English language song is inspired by a Korean drinking game called Apt. (Apartment Game) ("Apt. is the Korean pronounciation of "apartment").
toxic till the end
toxic till the end was the 3rd single from rosie, released in December. It also did quite well, reaching No. 4 in South Korea and charting highly elsewhere.
Co-written by ROSÉ, toxic till the end is an emo pop song (also described as power pop and synth pop), with all-English lyrics.
Messy (From F1 The Movie
And here is Messy, ROSÉ's most recent solo single. It's from the sountrack of F1 The Movie, which came out on 27th June.
Described as a "sleek and passionate pop ballad", the song was co-written by ROSÉ. It was released in May.
Plus, check out the music video for On My Mind, ROSÉ's collab with Alex Warren (released on 27th June): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AX0jQYaIeDc
Hope you enjoyed the post! :) Stay tuned for Part 2 featuring solo music from LISA and JISOO!
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