"Ditto" is a song by the South Korean girl group NewJeans, released on December 19, 2022, by ADOR, a label of Hybe Corporation. The producer 250 composed "Ditto" with Ylva Dimberg, who wrote the lyrics with The Black Skirts, Oohyo, and NewJeans member Minji. With a sound rooted in Baltimore club, the track incorporates a balladicelectronic and dance production with influences of house, breakbeat, and UK garage. The lyrics are about reminiscing a platonic love.
"Ditto" topped South Korea's Circle Digital Chart for a record-breaking 13 weeks. It peaked at number eight on the Billboard Global 200; topped the charts in Indonesia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Vietnam; and reached the top 10 in Japan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and the Philippines. It also currently holds the record for longest-running Perfect all-kill—a feat referring to a song's consistent number-one position on IChart's real-time, daily, and weekly charts—at 655 hours.[1]Music critics praised the wintry, minimalist, and nostalgia-inducing production and deemed it a refreshing alternative to the maximalist sound that had saturated the K-pop market. The song ranked 19th on Rolling Stone's 2023 list of the 100 Greatest Songs in the History of Korean Pop Music, being the most recent entry.
South Korean girl group NewJeans released their first eponymous extended play (EP) in August 2022 to commercial success and critical acclaim. The EP topped South Korea's Circle Music Chart,[2] selling 311,200 copies in its first week.[3]
On November 10, 2022, ADOR announced through NewJeans' social medias that the group would release their first single album, OMG, on January 2, 2023.[4]CEO and executive producerMin Hee-jin stated that the release would be preceded by an unnamed single "prepared for [the group's] first winter with Bunnies (NewJeans' official fanbase)" and set to be released on December 19.[4] The song's title, "Ditto", was announced on December 12 through three moving posters: one featured lyrics from the song, while the other two showed two rabbits, one red and the other white, running.[5] The following day, Min stated that the project would feature artists Oohyo and The Black Skirts, who had written part of "Ditto"'s lyrics, and advertising director Shin Woo-seok, who had directed its two-part music video.[6] "Ditto" was released on December 19 alongside its music video.[7]
Yoo Seong-eun from the South Korean music webzine Music Y said the song's rhythm evokes late-2000s Japanese Shibuya-kei artists such as FreeTEMPO and Daishi Dance, whereas its atmosphere reminisces the Weeknd's alternative R&B track "Die for You" (2016).[18] Music critics described the production as hazy, ethereal, and dreamy, which evokes a wintry atmosphere.[17][18][19] Joshua Minsoo Kim of NPR wrote that the synth chords feel like "freshly fallen snow, embodying the down-home comforts of the holiday season",[14] and JT Early of Beats Per Minute felt the soundscape was "chill" and "slightly darker" than the group's previous output.[12]Rolling Stone said the vocal harmonies evoked "Y2K-era Black American girl groups".[20]
The lyrics were written by group member Minji, Ylva Dimberg, The Black Skirts, and Oohyo.[8] Reviewers interpreted the song as a confession of a platonic love.[9][21] NewJeans sing "My feelings for you, like the memories we share, have grown so big", hoping that they are reciprocated.[14] Minji said that while writing "Ditto", she envisioned a scene of "a winter mountain that felt kind of cold, but warm at the same time", which made her "put some objects inside the mountain, for example, like a tree house and a campfire".[16]
Kim appreciated NewJeans' minimalist production choices that set them apart from their contemporaries in the K-pop scene.[14] Ko Kyung-seok of the Hankook Ilbo praised 250's production and noted that the composition, though straightforward, "hides experimentation and complexity".[9] Bang Ho-jung of Kookje Shinmoon was moved by the song and thought that the "simple sound" allows the listener to focus on the vocals, melody, and lyrics.[10] Critic Kim Yun-ha deemed the composition "ordinary", but found the song emotionally touching, writing that "Ditto" encapsulates a winter made of "small fragments of memories that were hidden between the bone-chilling sub-zero cold, the huge tree, the noisy street scene and the laughter of friends".[23]
Beats Per Minute's JT Early wrote that the song "best captures the 'winter' side of the group, refreshing and slightly darker in the soundscape".[12] Sara Delgrado of Teen Vogue deemed "Ditto" one of their best releases yet,[15] while Rolling Stone India's Divyansha Dongre said that the track was a "phenomenal" ending to their 2022 "musical chapter".[17] Crystal Bell placed "Ditto" at number 25 in Mashable's list of the 25 best K-pop songs of 2022.[24]Rolling Stone ranked it number 19 in their 2023 list of the 100 Greatest Songs in the History of Korean Pop Music.[20] Webzine Music Y ranked "Ditto" first place in their ranking of the 10 best songs of 2023.[25] Kim Do-heon, member of the selection committee at the Korean Music Awards, described "Ditto" as "fresh and warm at the same time, new and nostalgic at the same time, a song that symbolizes the winter of 2022".[26]
"Ditto" won eight first place music program awards in South Korea, including a triple crown (three awards) on Inkigayo. It also won a Melon Weekly Popularity Award on January 23, 2023.[27]
"Ditto" debuted at number one on South Korea's Circle Digital Chart in the issue dated December 18–25, 2022, earning NewJeans their second number-one single in the country after "Attention".[45] It remained atop the chart for thirteen weeks, becoming the longest-running number one song in the chart's history.[46][47] The song debuted at number one on the Billboard Vietnam Hot 100 in the chart issue dated December 29, 2022,[48] becoming their first number-one single in the country.[49] It topped the chart for three consecutive weeks, after which it was replaced by their own "OMG", making NewJeans the international artist with the most weeks atop the chart alongside Blackpink.[50][51] "Ditto" reached number one on the Indonesia Songs chart.[52] The song spent three and four consecutive weeks atop the Singapore's Top Streaming Chart and the Taiwan Songs chart, respectively.[53][54] In Japan, the song peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100[55] and number 13 on the Oricon Combined Singles Chart.[56]
In the United Kingdom, "Ditto" was NewJeans' first entry on the Official Singles Chart, peaking at number 95.[57] The song debuted at number 17 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 in the chart issue dated January 7, 2023,[58] and entered the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 96 two weeks later with 5.1 million US streams, becoming the group's first entry on the chart.[59] They were the fastest Korean act to enter the chart[60] and the fifth Korean group after Wonder Girls, BTS, Blackpink and Twice.[61] The song peaked at number 82 in its fifth week on the chart.[62] "Ditto" became NewJeans' highest-ranked song on the Billboard Argentina Hot 100, reaching number 43.[63] It also charted in Australia (54),[64] Canada (43),[65] Hong Kong (3),[66] Malaysia (2),[67] the Netherlands (31),[68] Philippines (2),[69] and Portugal (153).[70]
The song was NewJeans first top-10 hit on the Billboard Global Excl. US, peaking at number four with 41.9 million streams and 3,000 digital downloads sold in the period of December 30, 2022–January 5, 2023.[71] It debuted at number 36 on the Billboard Global 200 in the chart issue dated December 31, 2022,[72] and peaked at number eight two weeks later with 46.5 million streams and 4,000 digital downloads sold, making NewJeans the fourth Korean group to enter the chart's top-10 after BTS, Blackpink, and Big Bang.[73]
Director Shin Woo-seok, CEO of South Korean video production company Dolphiners Films, was approached by Min to direct a music video about the relationship between idols and fans. She offered him full creative control, although she suggested Shin include a scene with "a deer standing alone in a snowy field". At the time, Shin wasn't interested in working in the idol industry, but found the offer intriguing and wanted to try something new. Shin said he "wanted to talk about the fact that the relationship between an idol and a fan ultimately comes to an end, the meaning of the process, and the existence of each other", but he was unsure of how the video would be received. The concept was approved by the label and Min introduced NewJeans to Shin, who described them as "pure and fun as kids their age".[74]
Shin wanted to use an innovative scene composition compared to the "standardized framework" he had observed in most K-pop music videos. He introduced a sixth unnamed character, intended to symbolize NewJeans' fans, to provide a different point of view and to showcase the choreography in a way that fit into the story. Initially indicated as "A" in the script, Shin named the character Ban Hee-soo after the announcement of NewJeans' fandom name, Bunnies.[74] The deer, instead, was meant to symbolize an ideal friend. Shin said he was influenced by a Greek myth of the goddess Circe found in Homer's Odyssey, where she transforms men into swines.[75] Shin had initially planned to make only one music video, but decided to split it after the song was shortened. He explained that each part reflects one of two themes: hope and despair.[74]
The music video was mainly shot in three locations around Jung District, Daegu: Gyeseong Middle School, Cheongna Hill, and Dongsan Medical Center.[76] Shin wanted to faithfully portray a Korean hagwon. While thinking back to his school days,[75] he decided to shoot part of the video with a camcorder. Shin thought it could be a realistic and effective medium to convey Hee-soo close relationship with NewJeans, as she is shown filming her friends dancing with the camcorder. Since he didn't have times to realize CGI, Shin brought to set a real deer.[74]Choi Hyun-wook and Park Ji-hu made cameo appearances.[77]
The music video drew attention for its "retro yet dreamy" atmosphere that reminded Generation X viewers of their school days.[78][10] Several reviewers compared it to the Whispering Corridors film series (1998–2021; also known as the Girls' High School Ghost Story series); some reviewers also compared it to Love Letter (1995) and Hana and Alice (2004) by Japanese director Shunji Iwai,[10] famous for depicting the sense of loss and anxiety of becoming an adult in his films.[79] Bang felt emotional watching the music video as it evoked old memories.[10] Benjamin praised the video for "perfectly" capturing "the loneliness and awkwardness one can feel in adolescence, even when surrounded by friends".[21] Writing for Weekly Dong-a, music critic Mimyo wrote that NewJeans "challenges the idol fantasy": while idols usually create an emotional bond with fans by showing them all facets of their lives, in the music video NewJeans are depicted as "ghost-like" figures, whose past and relation to the public is unclear.[80] Delgrado likened the "hazy visuals" to those of Sofia Coppola's films.[15] According to Elle Korea, the music video contributed to the resurgence of camcorders.[81]
NewJeans performed "Ditto" on South Korean music programsInkigayo on January 15, 2023, and Music Bank on January 20 and 27, 2023, after having already won four trophies for the song at different music programs in the previous weeks.[82][83][84] They garnered four additional trophies, reaching a total of eight wins for "Ditto".[39][42][40][43]
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^『レコ大』各賞発表 大賞候補にJO1、NewJeans、新しい学校のリーダーズ、Adoら10組 YOASOBIは特別国際音楽賞 [`"Rekodai" awards announced 10 groups including JO1, NewJeans, New Gakko no Leaders, Ado and others for the grand prize Yoasobi will receive the special international music award]. Oricon News (in Japanese). November 22, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
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^Hwang, Hee-jin (December 19, 2022). 뉴진스 '디토(Ditto)' 뮤비, 대구 청라언덕·구 계성고·3호선·동산의료원 등장 눈길 [New Jeans' 'Ditto' music video, Daegu Cheongna Hill, former Gyeseong High School, Line 3, and Dongsan Medical Center are attracting attention]. Imaeil (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 19, 2022. Retrieved January 28, 2023 – via Naver.
^Kim, Ji-hye (December 19, 2022). [팝업뮤직]뉴진스 하이틴 또 통했다..'Ditto' 선공개 동시 차트 점령 [[Pop-up Music] New Jeans High Teen worked again.. 'Ditto' pre-release simultaneously occupying the chart]. Herald Pop (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 30, 2023. Retrieved January 30, 2023 – via Naver.
^Lee, Jae-hoon (December 19, 2022). 민희진, 팬덤 세계관 '디토'…뉴진스 뮤비서 이와이 슌지가 보이네 [Min Hee-jin, fandom worldview 'Ditto'... I see Shunji Iwai from the New Jeans music video]. Newsis (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 30, 2023. Retrieved January 30, 2023 – via Naver.
^Mimyo (January 12, 2023). 새로운 아이돌의 길 개척하는 뉴진스 [New Jeans pioneering a new idol path]. Weekly Dong-a (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 12, 2023. Retrieved January 20, 2023 – via Naver.
^빈티지 캠코더의 매력에 풍덩! [Dive into the charm of vintage camcorders!]. Elle (in Korean). February 5, 2023. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
^Park, Yoon-jin (January 15, 2023). 벌써 음방 5관왕…뉴진스, 오늘 '인기가요'서 컴백 후 첫 무대 [Already won 5 music awards... New Jeans, first stage after comeback on 'Inkigayo' today]. My Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 21, 2023. Retrieved January 21, 2023 – via Naver.
^Oh, Yoon-ju (January 21, 2023). 뉴진스 "최근 가장 'OMG' 한 일? 민지가 이걸 안 먹어봤다고" [뮤뱅] [New Jeans "The most 'OMG' thing you've done recently? Minji hasn't tried this" [Mubang]]. My Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 22, 2023. Retrieved January 21, 2023 – via Naver.
^Yu, Won-jeong (January 28, 2023). 뉴진스, 'OMG'로 '뮤직뱅크' 1위…음악방송 8관왕 [New Jeans, 1st place on 'Music Bank' with 'OMG'... 8 awards on music shows]. No Cut News (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 30, 2023. Retrieved January 30, 2023 – via Naver.
^For the full credits see:
"Ditto (Side B)". YouTube. December 19, 2022. Archived from the original on December 22, 2022. Retrieved January 22, 2023.