Monday, 27 July 2020

Stray Kids - I am WHO

Hello
안녕하세요 
(Annyeonghaseyo)
こんにちは 
(Konnichiwa)
你好
(Ni Hao)


I am WHO is Stray Kids' 2nd mini album, on the 31st of July 2018, the "I am WHO" Inst. Lyric Card 1 "WHO?", Inst. Lyric Card 2 "My Pace", Inst. Lyric Card 3 "Voices" and Inst. Lyric Card 4 "Question" were released.
WHO?
Owned by JYP Entertainment
My Pace
Owned by JYP Entertainment
Voices
Owned by JYP Entertainment
Question
Owned by JYP Entertainment
On the 1st of August 2018, the "I am WHO" Inst. Lyric Card 5 "불면증 (Insomnia)", Inst Lyric Card 6 "M.I.A", Inst. Lyric Card 7 "갑자기 분위기 싸해질 필요 없잖아요 (Awkward Silence)" and Inst. Lyric Card 8 "Mixtape#2" were released.
불면증 (Insomnia)
Owned by JYP Entertainment
M.I.A
Owned by JYP Entertainment
갑자기 분위기 싸해질 필요 없잖아요 (Awkward Silence)
Owned by JYP Entertainment
Mixtape#2
Owned by JYP Entertainment
On the 2nd of August 2018, the "My Pace" Teaser Video 1 was released.
Owned by JYP Entertainment
On the 3rd of August 2018, the "My Pace" Teaser Video 2 was released.
Owned by JYP Entertainment
On the 6th of August 2018, the M/V for title track "My Pace" was released, along with the physical and digital released of their 2nd mini album I am WHO.
On the 23rd of August 2018, the "갑자기 분위기 싸해질 필요 없잖아요 (Awkward Silence)" Teaser Video was released.
Owned by JYP Entertainment
On the 8th of August 2018, the "My Pace" Dance Practice Video was released.
Owned by JYP Entertainment
On the 12th of August 2018, the 불면증 (Insomnia) Video (Street Ver.) was released.
Owned by JYP Entertainment
On the 14th of August 2018, the "My Pace" Performance Video was released.
Owned by JYP Entertainment
On the 15th of August 2018, the "Voices" Performance Video was released.
Owned by JYP Entertainment
On the 19th of August 2018, the "M.I.A" Performance Video was released.
Owned by JYP Entertainment
On the 22nd of August 2018, the "Question" Video (Street Ver.) was released.
Owned by JYP Entertainment
Stray Kids
On the 27th of August 2018, the "갑자기 분위기 싸해질 필요 없잖아요 (Awkward Silence)" M/V was released.
Owned by JYP Entertainment
On the 29th of August 2018, the "갑자기 분위기 싸해질 필요 없잖아요 (Awkward Silence)" Dance Practice Video was released.
Owned by JYP Entertainment
On the 5th of September 2018, the "Mixtape#2" Video was released.
Owned by JYP Entertainment

Stray Kids held a showcase titled "Stray Kids Unveil: OP.02: I am WHO, just a day before the albums release.

In the month of August 2018, the album had sold 79,684 in physical copies.

Woojin, Han and Felix wrote the lyrics for "WHO?", as well as co-composing on the track.
Stray Kids as a whole wrote and composed the Cd only track Mixtape#2.
3racha (Bang Chan, Changbin & Han) wrote the lyrics for "Voices", "Question", "불면증 (Insomnia)", "M.I.A" and "갑자기 분위기 싸해질 필요 없잖아요 (Awkward Silence)", as well as co-composing on the tracks.
3racha co-wrote and co-composed on title track "My Pace".

I am WHO peaked at No.3 on the Gaon Albums Chart, No.34 on the Oricon Albums Chart, No.15 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums Chart and No.5 on the Billboard World Albums Chart.
Gaon Sales:
142,434+
Oricon Sales:
1,474+
Giving the album a total of 143,908+ in physical album sales.
*YouTube views correct at time of writing post*
The M/V for "My Pace" has so far gained 83,001,068 million views, with the views continuing to increase.

I am WHO was released in 2 versions: I am and WHO.
Both versions are set out in a paperback book style case and come with the Cd, photo book, random self-portrait version QR photo card, random selfie version QR photo card, random behind version QR photo card and a random lyrics poster.
Photo books for both versions are different.

Track List:
WHO?
My Pace
Voices
Question
불면증 (Insomnia)
M.I.A
갑자기 분위기 싸해질 필요 없잖아요 (Awkward Silence)
Mixtape#2 (Cd only)






















































I bought this album pre-owned so I don't have all the extra goodies, but I did buy it purposely because it has a Woojin photo card and and I wanted to make sure I get a least 1 album of theirs that has a Woojin card. It's a cute layout of the album but it had the same layout as their other albums that I own. There was one song on this album that made me want to buy it, but I'm glad I did as the album itself is full of amazing songs. I wouldn't say this is one of my favourite era's from Stray Kids but that's because I wasn't really a big fan of "My Pace".
I think WHO? is a good song to ease you into the album and I think it fits the I am WHO concept really well, as a child you start to develop your personality and identity but when you become an adult you begin to question who you are and who you will be and become as an adult. Although trying to discover who you are can be scary and confusing, I think the melody gives off a calming feeling and I love the lyrics that Felix, Han and Lee Know wrote.
WHO?

I will honestly say that My Pace isn't one of my favourite title tracks from Stray Kids, but it has begun to grow on me and it's not a track I choose to skip anymore. Some songs just need to grow on you. For me the more I listened to it the more I noticed things in the song that made me enjoy it just a little better. I feel bad for being negative because I know how much how much hard work 3racha put into their music, but for me this is one of their weakest songs and title tracks.
My Pace
Mnet K-POP

My favourite song on this album and the reason I bought it is because of Voices, the first time I heard this song it really stuck with me. I love everything about this song, the music is just stunning and I love all their voices, especially Bang Chan's, this song really made me fall in love with his voice. My only problem with this song is that it always without fail appears on my Spotify Daily Mix 1, it's a good job I really love this song and can never get enough of it. While I know they have re-recorded this song, my heart belongs to the OT9 version, for me this song was made for Woojin's voice.
Voices
Voices

I can't really put my finger on it but Question really reminds me of another Stray Kids track, I think a majority of STAY'S live for Felix's 'what the'. For me this song I love Seungmin and Lee Know's voices.
Question

불면증 (Insomnia) is another of my favourite tracks on the album. I absolutely love Bang Chan's 'I can't sleep, so tell me'. All of Stray Kids are all pretty amazing vocalists and I absolutely love Han's voice in this son.
불면증 (Insomnia)

My main favourite parts of M.I.A are the raps, I could happily sit and listen to Changbin, Han and Hyunjin rap all day, they all have different rap styles and I think this helps showcase some of their rap styles. The only thing I don't really like about this song is the auto tune, none of them need or require it.
M.I.A

I absolutely adore 갑자기 분위기 싸해질 필요 없잖아요 (Awkward Silence), it's such a cute song. It's one of those songs where you know that they have fun performing this song as they'll get to play around. When I look at the lyrics for this song, it makes me think about how we only get to love once and not to take yourself or life too seriously, if it's fun do it, even if it makes you look silly in the process.
갑자기 분위기 싸해질 필요 없잖아요 (Awkward Silence)

KBS WORLD TV
I've actually written about Mixtape#2 before as it appears on their Cle 2: Yellow Wood, along with their other previous Mixtape tracks, so I'll share it with you again.
Mixtape#2 is something new for me, I've never heard Stray Kids do a slow track, and I love it. I love the lyrics, I've noticed their Mixtape tracks tend to be more of their meaningful songs, the songs that tell of their journey. Mixtape #2 seems to be telling us of their journey and struggles so far from their trainee days to the album this mixtape was released on. Listening to this song now and seeing the lyrics makes me realise as a new member of the fandom how much Woojin's voice will be missed.
Mixtape#2

As a newer member to the fandom (I've been a fan for just short of 1 and a half years), while I'm mad and gutted that I wasn't a fan when these songs and albums were released, but I do love being able to listen back on their past albums and see how much they've all grown in just a short time. For me Stray Kids have a big future ahead of them and I hope 3racha never lose that spark that helps them create such amazing and inspirational songs.

Stray Kids everywhere all around the world, you make Stray Kids Stay!

Were you a fan of I am WHO?
Do you have a physical copy?
Which version did you choose?
What were your first thoughts on My Pace?
Do you have a favourite track from the album?
Let me know in the comments below.

See you soon!


안녕
(Annyeong)
さようなら
(Sayonara)
再见
(ZaiJian)
Bye

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