Rose reveals her journey of surviving the trauma of loneliness in her album "Rosie." Courtesy of The Black Label
Album 'Rosie' features introspective ballads, showcasing Rose’s inner struggles
By KTimes
BLACKPINK member Rose’s first full-length solo album, “Rosie,” released on Friday, marks a departure not only from the familiar patterns of K-pop but also from the musical range of BLACKPINK.
Fans anticipating tracks similar to the prereleased single “APT.” might find themselves in for a surprise, as the album aligns more closely with the second single, “number one girl.”
Unlike K-pop's characteristic choreography-driven hits, “Rosie” predominantly features introspective ballads like “stay a little longer,” showcasing Rose’s raw emotions.
The album, titled after her nickname, is Rose’s first release since parting ways with YG Entertainment to join The Black Label, led by YG’s former producer Teddy.
Despite being under The Black Label, the album was produced in collaboration with Atlantic Records, a subsidiary of Warner Music in the U.S.
Teddy did not participate in the production, with top producers from the American pop scene contributing instead.
Rose served as the album’s executive producer and co-wrote all 13 tracks, including a bonus track, drawing influence from singer-songwriters such as Taylor Swift.
Rose works as an executive producer and co-writer for all 13 tracks on "Rosie." Courtesy of The Black Label
Songs of heartbreak and self-reflection
As her agency described, “Rosie” is filled with music inspired by the inner stories Rose shared with close friends. The album’s recurring theme is heartbreak, with the track “APT.” standing out as an unconventional piece.
Songs like “two years” capture the lingering pain of a past relationship, where she sings, “I tried and tried and tried / This love will never die,” while “gameboy” takes aim at a boyfriend who left her hurt. The third single, “toxic till the end,” expresses anger toward an ex who “ruined the most beautiful years” of her life.
In an interview with The New York Times, Rose shared that her romantic experiences served as creative inspiration. She also spoke candidly about her struggles as a trainee in Seoul, away from her family in Australia, saying, “The loneliness I couldn’t avoid became a trauma, but I survived.”
The single “number one girl” opens with the lyrics, “Tell me I’m special / Tell me I’m beautiful,” reflecting both her insecurities in relationships and the pressure to appear flawless as a girl group member.
Rose also tearfully recounted in the same interview how the song was written after a night of reading online comments until six in the morning. “I always try to show my best self, but it never feels like enough,” she said, adding, “I think many women have felt the same, and I am no different.”
Rose's new solo album captures her inner stories, including the lingering pain of past relationships and the trauma of loneliness. Courtesy of The Black Label
Between emotional resonance and lack of uniqueness
While “APT.” received overwhelming attention, other tracks also resonated deeply with the fans.
Comments on the song’s music video on YouTube include, “Hearing someone sing so honestly about emotions we usually hide made me cry,” and “The raw honesty hits deeply.”
Critics, however, have offered mixed reviews of the album. U.K.-based music magazine Clash called “Rosie” a “bold and successful album that moves between light and darkness,” while AP News noted it “feels sincere but dull and lethargic.”
Music critic Kim Do-heon said, “It follows the well-trodden path of female singer-songwriters like Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo and Sabrina Carpenter but lacks Rose’s unique identity.”
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.
English (United States) ·