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End Theory
Studio album by
Younha
ReleasedNovember 16, 2021
Genre
Length39:36
LanguageKorean
LabelC9
Younha chronology
Unstable Mindset
(2020) 		End Theory
(2021)
Singles from End Theory
  1. "Stardust"
    Released: November 16, 2021
  2. "Event Horizon"
    Released: March 30, 2022
End Theory: Final Edition cover

End Theory is the sixth studio album by South Korean singer Younha. It was released on November 16, 2021, through C9 Entertainment. It consists of eleven tracks, including the lead single "Stardust".[2][3] The reissue version of the album, titled End Theory: Final Edition, was released on March 30, 2022.[4][5]

The lead single "Event Horizon" from the reissue End Theory: Final Edition emerged as a major commercial success in South Korea topping the Circle Digital Chart in November 2022 and achieving a PAK on several music charts.[6][7][8]

Background and composition

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End Theory contains stories about different kinds of "end",[9] like the end of the Earth, of a relationship, or of the universe,[10] and conveys the singer's messages through metaphors related to the cosmos.[11] It took eleven months to complete it,[12] as Younha started working on it at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.[10] In an interview with Esquire Korea, the singer explained that she thought of using the end as a theme when she started thinking she needed to make an album to comfort people who couldn't meet and were waiting for it to end, "like singing a song about peace when war breaks out. To do that, you need to know what's at the end. [...] There should always be hope."[10]

Younha wrote the lyrics, and sometimes the music, for most of the 11 songs;[13] among them, the selection of the title track fell on pop ballad "Stardust", as she thought it showed the preciousness and the importance of the process from a beginning to an end better than the others.[12] The song, which talks about the precious beings met on planet Earth[9][14] and what true love is,[15] was composed by her best friend and member of composition team Urban Zakapa Kwon Sun-il, with Younha penning the lyrics, and started from the question "What kind of useful person am I?"[16] "P.R.R.W." stands for Process, Result and Reason Why.[17]

Aside from Younha and Kwon, the producing team includes Jewno and James Son; the latter joined after appealing, through Kwon, to participate, leading Younha to ask him for a demo out of curiosity.[18] The collaboration with Sarah Kang on "Tik-Tok" was born at the suggestion of Younha after seeing an acoustic live performance of Kang playing the guitar outdoors, and they worked on the song through video calls.[19] The Korean title, which translates to "6 years and 230 days", refers to the days left to the destruction of the Earth.[10]

On March 30, 2022, End Theory was repackaged as End Theory: Final Edition adding three additional songs, "C/2022YH", "Event Horizon" and "Black Hole", based on rock music.[10] "C/2022YH", whose Korean title means "comet", is a pop rock fast tempo song with a 16-bit piano riff;[20] "Event Horizon" is the name of the outer boundary of a black hole, a completely uncharted territory that Younha compared to a breakup, when no one knows what will happen next;[10] "Black Hole" is a future bass pop song where she tells a black hole she will never forget the moment it was a star.[20] Younha took charge of the lyrics and composition of all three songs.[20]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
IZM[1]

Son Gi-ho from IZM gave the album 4 out of 5 stars; he called it "intense" from the first track, stating: "All the songs in the album are sincere to capture both the person who rescued her and the music," and concluding "The light reached after countless attempts and failures gives Younha a chance to grow on her own and becomes a medium in the name of hope that will unite her and the public again. In that way, a solid galaxy that will not be shaken by any adversity is born."[1]

Art Insight wrote: "Younha's End Theory doesn't erase the existence of sadness and failure from life, but looks straight ahead. [...] It contains confidence for tomorrow and gives support and comfort with a trustworthy message of 'I will be by your side'."[21]

End Theory was featured on Time's list of the best K-pop songs and albums of 2021,[22][23] while Billboard chose "Stardust" as the 13th best K-pop song of 2021 for its simplicity made of "simple, beautiful chord progression that grows naturally within the song's orchestral production."[24]

Accolades

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Awards and nominations
Organization Year Category Result Ref.
Korean Music Awards 2023 Song of the Year (Daesang)
(for "Event Horizon") 		Won [25]
Best Pop Song (for "Event Horizon") Won
Music program awards
Song Program Date Ref.
"Event Horizon" Inkigayo November 27, 2022 [26]
December 4, 2022 [27]
December 11, 2022 [28]
Music Bank December 23, 2022 [29]

Track listing

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End Theory track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."P.R.R.W."
  • Younha
  • Jewno
Jewno3:14
2."Big Picture" (나는 계획이 있다)
  • Kim Su-ji (Lalala Studio)
  • Younha
  • Jewno
Jewno3:20
3."Oort Cloud" (오르트구름)Danke (Lalala Studio)
  • Jewno
  • KZ
  • Hoff
Jewno3:26
4."Wish" (물의 여행)Danke
  • Younha
  • Jewno
Jewno2:54
5."How U Doing" (잘 지내)YounhaYounhaJewno4:05
6."Highlight" (반짝, 빛을 내)
  • Younha
  • Danke
  • Younha
  • Jewno
  • Jade
Jewno3:29
7."Tik-Tok" (6년 230일)YounhaSarah Kang
  • Patrick Hizon
  • Jewno
  • Lee Ha-eun
3:28
8."Truly"YounhaYounhaJewno3:35
9."Stardust" (별의 조각)YounhaKwon Sun-ilJewno3:50
10."Here" (하나의 달)Younha
  • Younha
  • James Son
4:41
11."Savior"
  • Younha
  • James Son
James SonShaun3:34
Total length:39:36
End Theory: Final Edition track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."Oort Cloud" (오르트구름)   3:26
2."C/2022YH" (살별)Younha
  • Younha
  • Jewno
Jewno3:15
3."Wish" (물의 여행)   2:54
4."Highlight" (반짝, 빛을 내)   3:29
5."Tik-Tok" (6년 230일)   3:28
6."P.R.R.W."   3:14
7."Big Picture" (나는 계획이 있다)   3:20
8."Truly"   3:35
9."Stardust" (별의 조각)   3:50
10."Here" (하나의 달)   4:41
11."Event Horizon" (사건의 지평선)Younha
  • Younha
  • Jewno
  • Jewno
  • Shaun
5:00
12."Black Hole"Younha
  • Younha
  • Jewno
  • Shaun
  • Samin
  • Hardy
  • Jewno
  • Shaun
3:08
13."Savior"   3:34
14."How U Doing" (잘 지내)   4:05
Total length:50:59

Charts

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Son, Gi-ho. "Younha 6th Album 'End Theory'" (in Korean). Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  2. ^ Lee, Seung-hoon (November 15, 2021). ""전곡이 타이틀감"..윤하, 4년만 정규앨범 'END THEORY' 오늘(16일) 발매". Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved July 2, 2022.
  3. ^ Jo, Hye-jin (November 16, 2021). "윤하, 기다림이 아깝지 않은 4년 만의 정규…가장 윤하다운 '별의 조각' [쥬크박스]". Xportsnews (in Korean). Retrieved July 2, 2022.
  4. ^ Noh, Min-taek (March 30, 2022). "윤하, 정규 6집 리패키지 'END THEORY : Final Edition' 발매". TVReport (in Korean). Retrieved July 2, 2022.
  5. ^ Lee, Jun-hyun (March 30, 2022). "윤하, 오늘(30일) 정규 6집 리패키지 '엔드 띠어리 : 파이널 에디션' 발매". TenAsia (in Korean). Retrieved July 2, 2022.
  6. ^ "[유튜브인기곡] 윤하의 'Event Horizon' 46주차 1위, 여자아이들·르세라핌·뉴진스·아이브 TOP5…최다곡 진입은 임영웅·윤하". 톱스타뉴스 (in Korean). November 20, 2022. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  7. ^ "Younha's "Event Horizon" Becomes 6th Song To Achieve Perfect All-Kill In 2022". Soompi. November 20, 2022. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  8. ^ "EXO's Chen, LE SSERAFIM, Younha, BLACKPINK, And More Top Circle (Gaon) Weekly Charts". Soompi. November 24, 2022. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  9. ^ a b "윤하 정규 6집 END THEORY 타이틀곡 별의 조각 음원 차트 1위성공적 컴백 신호탄" (in Korean). November 17, 2021. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
  10. ^ a b c d e f "윤하 "지나다 보면 지나져요"" (in Korean). March 23, 2022. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
  11. ^ "윤하, 신보 'END THEORY' 마지막 콘셉트 포토 공개…인형미모 '눈길'" (in Korean). November 6, 2021. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
  12. ^ a b Baroli, Marianna (December 20, 2021). "YOUNHA's magic voice is back". Retrieved August 21, 2022.
  13. ^ Yoo, Jung-min (November 16, 2021). "윤하, 새 정규앨범 'END THEORY'로 컴백...전곡이 타이틀감" (in Korean). Retrieved August 21, 2022.
  14. ^ "[오늘노래] '역대급 명반' 자신한, 윤하의 'END THEORY'" (in Korean). Retrieved August 21, 2022.
  15. ^ "<END THEORY>로 돌아온 윤하의 작은 방" (in Korean). December 8, 2021. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
  16. ^ "윤하, 에픽하이와 콜라보→신곡 '별의 조각'…명불허전 라이브 여신 (스케치북)" (in Korean). November 20, 2021. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
  17. ^ "윤하, 다큐멘터리 '스타더스트 미션' 두 번째 이야기 공개…정규 6집 'END THEORY' 위한 '송캠프' 시작" (in Korean). November 19, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  18. ^ "윤하, 신보 'END THEORY' 작업기 담은 다큐멘터리 오픈…진정한 협업에 대한 이야기" (in Korean). November 17, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  19. ^ "윤하, 제임스 슬럼프 탈출→사라 강 협업..'END THEORY' 탄생 과정" (in Korean). Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  20. ^ a b c "'30일 컴백' 윤하, 'END THEORY'로 선보일 완벽 세계관" (in Korean). Retrieved August 21, 2022.
  21. ^ "[Opinion] 무한한 우주를 여행하는 '나'의 동반자, '나' - 윤하 6집 'End Theory' [음악]" (in Korean). Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  22. ^ "The Best K-Pop Songs and Albums of 2021". December 8, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  23. ^ "윤하 'END THEORY', 美 타임지 '베스트 케이팝 앨범' 선정" (in Korean). December 10, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  24. ^ "25 Best K-Pop Songs of 2021: Critics' Picks". Billboard. December 18, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  25. ^ "대중음악상 프로듀서 250 4관왕, 뉴진스 3관왕" [Producer 250 wins 4 awards at the Korean Popular Music Awards, New Jeans wins 3 awards]. Seoul Shinmun (in Korean). Naver. March 5, 2023. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
  26. ^ 11월 마지막 주 인기가요 차트 [Inkigayo chart for the fourth week of November]. SBS Inkigayo (in Korean). November 30, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  27. ^ 12월 첫째 주 인기가요 차트 [Inkigayo chart for the first week of December]. SBS Inkigayo (in Korean). December 7, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  28. ^ Park, Pan-seok (December 11, 2022). ‘인기가요’ 윤하, 끝나지 않은 역주행 ‘사건의 지평선’ 3주 연속 1위..민호 솔로 데뷔[종합] ['Inkigayo' Younha, 1st place for 3 weeks in a row on the unfinished reverse run ‘Event Horizon’.. Minho’s solo debut [Comprehensive]]. OSEN (in Korean). Retrieved December 11, 2022.
  29. ^ 12월 4주 순위 [Music Bank ranking for the fourth week of December]. KBS Music Bank (in Korean). December 23, 2022. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
  30. ^ "Gaon Album Chart – Week 47, 2021". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  31. ^ "Gaon Album Chart – Week 14, 2022". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  32. ^ "Gaon Album Chart – November 2021". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  33. ^ "Gaon Album Chart – March 2022". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved July 3, 2022.
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