Self-Portrait (EP)

Self-Portrait (Korean: 자화상) is the debut extended play by South Korean singer Suho. It was released on March 30, 2020, by SM Entertainment.[3] The physical edition was released in two versions, Archive #1 and Archive #2,[4][2] while the digital version shares the cover of the latter,[1] a collage of four impressionist paintings of Suho's face.[5] The EP features six tracks including the lead single, "Let's Love".[6]

Self-Portrait
Digital and Archive #2 cover[1][2]
EP by
Suho
ReleasedMarch 30, 2020 (2020-03-30)
Recorded2020
StudioSM Studios, Seoul, South Korea
Genre
Length23:18
LanguageKorean
Label
Singles from Self-Portrait
  1. "Let's Love"
    Released: March 30, 2020
Music video
"Let's Love" on YouTube

Background and release

On February 18, 2020, SM Entertainment announced that Suho was preparing for his solo debut.[7][8] On February 27 it was reported that the singer had already completed recording the album.[9] The release date was later announced along with the first promotional photo for the album.[10]

The album and its title track's music video were released on March 30 at 6PM KST both digitally and physically.

Composition

Self-Portrait features six tracks of different pop and rock genres. The lead single "Let's Love" is described as a modern rock song with a warm atmosphere. The lyrics convey a message about mustering the courage to express love, even if you feel clumsy or inadequate.[11]

"O2" is a dreamlike acoustic pop song. The lyrics are about two people with empty hearts who become each other's oxygen as they fall in love.[12] The third song "Made in You" is a mid-tempo pop song that features a groovy drum beat and piano melody. The song is dedicated to Suho's fans, and the lyrics are about how he feels he wouldn't have made it this far or be who he is without them.[13] "Starry Night" is described as a ballad rock song that serves as a continuation of the story present in Suho's first solo song, "Curtain" (2017). The lyrics express the pain of parting with a lover.[14] "Self-Portrait" is a sentimental modern rock song with retro synthesizers and strings.[12] The last song "For You Now" is an acoustic pop song with a piano-driven melody. It presents lyrics conveying sincere gratitude and comfort from one person to another. The song features singer Younha.[15]

Suho participated in writing and conceptualizing each song on the EP, and every track represents a piece of the album's connecting storyline.[16]

Commercial performance

The EP debuted at number one on the Gaon Album Chart[17] and sold over 281,445 copies in South Korea. It also peaked at number 13 on the US World Albums chart. Additionally, Self-Portrait topped over 50 countries' iTunes charts.[18] The EP was certified Platinum for selling over 55,000 copies on China's biggest music platform, QQ Music.[19]

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."O2"
  • DJ HotBoyzZz (Cliff Lin, Ryan Colt Levy, Bryan Cho)
  • SH2O
DJ HotBoyzZz (Cliff Lin, Ryan Colt Levy, Bryan Cho)DJ HotBoyzZz (Cliff Lin, Ryan Colt Levy, Bryan Cho)3:48
2."Let's Love" (사랑, 하자)
  • Noday
  • Aisle
  • Park Moon-chi
  • SH2O
  • Aisle
  • Park Moon-chi
  • Noday
Park Moon-chi3:49
3."Made in You"
  • minGtion
  • JUNNY
  • SH2O
  • Geun-tae
  • minGtion
  • JUNNY
minGtion3:30
4."Starry Night" (암막 커튼)
  • Jo Yoon-kyung
  • SH2O
Kyo
  • Kyo
  • Lim Heon-il
4:38
5."Self-Portrait" (자화상)
  • B-Rock (CLEF)
  • J-Lin (CLEF)
  • ALBN (CLEF)
  • CLEF CREW
  • SH2O
  • B-Rock (CLEF)
  • J-Lin (CLEF)
  • ALBN (CLEF)
  • CLEF CREW
  • B-Rock (CLEF)
  • J-Lin (CLEF)
  • ALBN (CLEF)
3:50
6."For You Now" (너의 차례, featuring Younha)
  • Krysta Youngs
  • David Nathan
  • Alessia Iorio
David Nathan3:43
Total length:23:18

Charts

Weekly charts
Chart (2020) Peak
position
Japan Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[20] 22
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[21] 26
Polish Albums (ZPAV)[22] 32
South Korean Albums (Gaon)[23] 1
UK Digital Albums (OCC)[24] 70
US World Albums (Billboard)[25] 13

Monthly charts
Chart (2020) Peak
position
South Korean Albums (Gaon)[26] 3

Sales
Region Sales
China[27] 100,034
Japan[28] 1,394
South Korea[29] 289,738
United States[30] 1,000

Certifications
Certifications for Self-Portrait
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
South Korea (KMCA)[31] Platinum 250,000^

^shipments figures based on certification alone

Accolades
Music program awards
Song Program Date Ref.
"Let's Love" Music Bank (KBS) April 10, 2020 [32]
Show! Music Core (MBC) April 11, 2020 [33]
Inkigayo (SBS) April 12, 2020 [34]

Release history
Release formats for Self-Portrait
Region Date Format Label
South Korea March 30, 2020
Various
  • Digital download
  • streaming
 SM Entertainment

See also

References
  1. "Self-Portrait – The 1st Mini Album by Suho". Apple Music. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
  2. "YesAsia: EXO: Suho Mini Album Vol. 1 (Archive #2 Version)". YesAsia. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
  3. 엑소 수호, 3월30일 데뷔 첫 솔로 앨범 ‘자화상’ 발매(공식) [EXO Suho releases his first solo album "Self-portrait" on March 30 (official)] (in Korean). Naver. 2019-06-20. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
  4. "YesAsia: EXO: Suho Mini Album Vol. 1 (Archive #1 Version)". YesAsia. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
  5. "EXO's Suho Paints an Intimate 'Self-Portrait' With His New Solo EP". Billboard. March 30, 2020. Retrieved April 17, 2020. I saw the covers were based around four different variants.
  6. 엑소 수호, 3월 30일 솔로 데뷔 카운트다운 돌입 (in Korean). Naver. 2020-03-16. Retrieved 2020-03-16.
  7. 엑소 수호, 오는 3월 솔로 음반 낸다 [EXO Suho will release a solo album in March] (in Korean). Naver. 2019-06-20. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
  8. SM 측 “엑소 수호, 첫 솔로앨범 준비 중…일정 확정되면 공개” [공식] [SM “Exo Suho preparing his first solo album… When schedule is confirmed ”[Official]] (in Korean). Naver. 2019-06-20. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
  9. 아이돌 ‘솔로 대전’ [아이돌 ‘솔로 대전’] (in Korean). Naver. 2019-06-20. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
  10. 엑소 수호, 3월30일 데뷔 첫 솔로 앨범 ‘자화상’ 발매(공식) [EXO Suho releases his first solo album “Self-portrait” on March 30 (official)] (in Korean). Naver. 2019-06-20. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
  11. Go, Seung-ah (March 18, 2020). "엑소 수호, 첫 솔로 타이틀은 '사랑, 하자'…감성 모던록" [EXO Suho's first solo title is 'Love, Let's ...' Emotional modern rock]. News1 (in Korean). Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  12. "'D-4' 엑소 수호, 첫 솔로 앨범 '자화상' 다채로운 밴드 사운드 예고" (in Korean). Chosun. 2020-03-26. Retrieved 2020-03-26.
  13. "엑소 수호, 첫 미니앨범 '자화상'으로 애틋한 팬 사랑 전한다 '기대감 UP'" (in Korean). Hankookilbo. 2020-03-25. Retrieved 2020-03-25.
  14. "엑소 수호 첫 미니앨범 수록곡 '암막 커튼', 특별한 솔로곡 서사" (in Korean). Chosun. 2020-03-24. Retrieved 2020-03-24.
  15. "엑소 수호, 첫 솔로 앨범서 윤하와 호흡..수록곡 '너의 차례' 피처링" (in Korean). Chosun. 2020-03-20. Retrieved 2020-03-20.
  16. "'新 열정킹' 엑소 수호, 첫 솔로앨범 작사-콘셉트 기획 참여" (in Korean). Chosun. 2020-03-19. Retrieved 2020-03-19.
  17. "Week 16 of 2020". MediaTraffic. April 16, 2020.
  18. "[공식]엑소 수호, 음악 색깔 제대로 通했다…'자화상' 아이튠즈 전 세계 50개 지역 1위". n.news.naver.com. Retrieved 2020-05-13.
  19. "QQ Music Chart Report". m.weibo.cn (in Chinese). 2020-03-30. Retrieved 2020-07-14.
  20. "Billboard Japan Hot Albums 2020/4/13". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  21. "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2020-04-13" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  22. "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  23. "Gaon Album Chart – Week 14, 2020". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  24. "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  25. "Suho Chart History (World Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  26. 2020년 03월 Album Chart [March 2020 Album Chart] (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Archived from the original on June 11, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  27. Cumulative sales for Self-Portrait:
  28. 週間 CDアルバムランキング 2020年04月13日付 [Weekly CD Album Ranking on April 13, 2020] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  29. Cumulative sales for Self-Portrait:
  30. "EXO's Suho Makes Debut on World Albums With 'Self-Portrait' Solo EP". Billboard. April 9, 2020. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  31. "South Korean album certifications – Suho – Self-Portrait - The 1st Album" (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association (KMCA).
  32. "'뮤뱅' 수호, '사랑, 하자' 방송 출연 없이 1위..최강창민·(여자)아이들·스텔라장 컴백[종합]". Chosun (in Korean). Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  33. "'음악중심' 수호, 출연 없이 1위 2관왕..최강창민 솔로→임영웅X영탁 컬래버 [★밤TView]". Naver (in Korean). Retrieved April 11, 2020.
  34. "'인기가요' 수호, 1위·3관왕..최강창민 솔로 데뷔→임영웅 스페셜 무대 '풍성' [종합]". Naver (in Korean). Retrieved April 12, 2020.
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