Crazy in Love (Itzy album)


Crazy in Love is the first studio album by South Korean girl group Itzy, released on September 24, 2021, by JYP Entertainment. The album contains sixteen tracks, including the lead single "Loco".
It achieved commercial success, debuting at number one on South Korea's Gaon Album Chart and at number 11 on the US [Billboard 200|Billboard 200], marking Itzy's highest-charting album in the United States. In February 2022, the album was certified 2× platinum by the Korea Music Content Association for selling over 500,000 copies.

Background and release

On August 13, 2021, JYP Entertainment announced that Itzy would release their first studio album, Crazy in Love, on September 24. The promotional schedule was revealed on August 31. An opening trailer was released on September 6, followed by a group teaser photo for the lead single "Loco" on September 7. The album's track listing was unveiled on September 10, and a highlight medley teaser video was released on September 20. On September 21, the music video teaser for album track "Swipe" was released, followed by the teaser for "Loco" on September 22.

Composition

Crazy in Love consists of sixteen tracks. The lead single, "Loco", is described as a song that "expresses the strong attraction first felt, in the style of Generation Z". "Swipe" conveys a warning to someone who crosses the line, featuring "808 drum beats, heavy bass, and melodic rap flowing over a retro clarinet". "Sooo Lucky" is a pop track characterized by a "funky guitar" and "cool bass", with lyrics about the miracle of finding love among billions. "#Twenty" is a hip hop song that captures "the excitement and flutter of just turning 20". "Gas Me Up" reflects the anxiety felt before going on stage while emphasizing self-confidence. "Love Is" is a modern pop song delivering an "impressive message" about how "love grows more complicated and difficult as emotions deepen". "Chillin' Chillin'" depicts "the excitement of going on a trip away from ordinary daily life". The album concludes with "Mirror", a track that "maximizes its charm" with emotional vocals and a warm message: "I am already good enough as I am".

Critical reception

Tanu I. Raj of NME gave Crazy in Love a three-star review, noting that while the album is "conceptually and logically sound in ushering in an era of maturity" for the group, it lacks the empowering message that initially drew fans to Itzy. In contrast, Benson Ang of The Straits Times awarded the album four stars, praising its "catchy" and "high-energy" tracks and highlighting that it "makes for a great soundtrack for a girls' night out".

Commercial performance

In South Korea, Crazy in Love debuted at number two on the Gaon Album Chart in the chart issue dated September 19–25, 2021. The album debuted at number four on the Gaon Monthly album chart with 335,610 copies sold, becoming Itzy's highest-selling album. By the end of 2021, the album surpassed 500,124 copies sold. In November 2021, Crazy in Love was certified Platinum by the Korea Music Content Association for selling over 250,000 copies. In February 2022, it was certified 2× Platinum for selling over 500,000 copies. Crazy in Love peaked at number one on the Gaon Album Chart in the chart issue dated January 30-February 5, 2022.
In the United States, the album debuted at number 11 on the Billboard 200 and at number one on the Top Album Sales chart with 22,000 sales, of which CD sales comprised 21,000 and 1,000 were via digital download. This was the group's second and highest-charting entry on the Billboard 200 after Guess Who earlier in the year and marked their first leader on the Top Album Sales chart. The album debuted at number one on Billboards World Albums and Independent Albums charts in the same week as well.
In Japan, the album debuted at position 8 on the Oricon Albums Chart in the chart issue dated October 11, 2021. The album also debuted at position 34 on Billboard Japan Hot Albums in the chart issue dated September 29, 2021.

Promotion

Prior to the album's release, on September 24, 2021, Itzy held a live event called "ITZY #OUTNOW COMEBACK SHOW" on Naver Now to introduce the album and connect with their fans.

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Melon.
Studio
Personnel
  • Itzy – vocals, background vocals
  • Star Wars – lyrics, composition, recording
  • Jo Yoon-kyung – lyrics
  • Shim Eun-ji – lyrics, composition, arrangement, vocal directing
  • Baek Geum-min – lyrics
  • Jo In-ho – lyrics
  • Vacation – lyrics
  • Choi Ji-yoon – lyrics
  • Yoon Ye-ji – lyrics
  • Earattack – lyrics, composition, arrangement, instruments
  • Sophia Pae – lyrics, background vocals, vocal directing
  • Athena – composition, synthesizer, keyboard, bass, digital editing
  • Woo Bin – composition, synthesizer, keyboard, bass
  • Ludwig Lindell – composition, arrangement, programming
  • Josefin Glenmark – composition, background vocals
  • Oneye – composition
  • Lee Min-young – composition, arrangement, vocal directing, programming, bass, drum
  • Yeul – composition, arrangement, programming, piano, bass, drum
  • Charles "Chizzy" Stephens – composition, arrangement, instruments
  • Chan's – composition, arrangement, instruments
  • Eniac – composition
  • Patricia K – composition
  • Kim Bo-mi – composition
  • April Bender – composition
  • Team Galactika – arrangement
  • Ian Asher – composition, arrangement, programming, instruments
  • Anne Judith Stokke Wik – composition
  • Nermin Harambašić – composition
  • Ronny Svendsen – composition
  • 250 – composition, arrangement, vocal directing, programming, instruments
  • Ylva Dimberg – composition
  • Harold Philippon – composition
  • Kim Yeon-seo – composition, background vocals, vocal directing
  • Young Chance – composition, vocal directing, digital editing
  • Shorelle – composition, vocal directing
  • David Anthony Eames – composition
  • Sebastian Thott – composition, arrangement, programming, instruments
  • Rosanna Enér – composition
  • Alawn – arrangement, programming, mixing, bass, synthesizer, drums
  • Bangkok – arrangement, programming, instruments
  • Ra.L – background vocals
  • Friday – background vocals, vocal directing
  • e.NA – background vocals
  • OGI – background vocals
  • Aiden – background vocals
  • Yi Da-eun – background vocals
  • Sound Kim – background vocals
  • Earattack – recording, vocal directing
  • Um Se-hee – recording, digital editing,
  • Park Eun-jung – recording
  • Yi Sang-yeop – recording
  • Gu Hye-jin – recording
  • Choi Hye-jin – recording
  • Jeong Yu-ra – digital editing
  • Jiyoung Shin NYC – digital editing
  • Jeong Mo-yeon – digital editing
  • Yue – digital editing
  • Kang Sun-young – digital editing
  • Jaycen Joshua – mixing
  • Jacob Richards – mixing
  • Mike Seaberg – mixing
  • DJ Riggins – mixing
  • Im Hong-jin – mixing
  • Shin Bong-won – mixing
  • Lee Tae-seop – mixing
  • Park Eun-jung – mixing
  • MasterKey – mixing
  • Uncle Jo – mixing
  • Kang Dong-ho – mixing
  • Chris Gehringer – mastering
  • Kwon Nam Woo – mastering
  • Chang – drums, synthesizer, keyboard, bass
  • Park Cella Kim – guitar
  • Jeong Su-wan – guitar