"Dice" is a song by South Korean singer

Onew Lee Jin-ki (; Korean pronunciation: Help:IPA/Korean, .dʑin.ki born December 14, 1989), better known by his stage name Onew, is a South Korean singer, songwriter, and actor. Born in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi-do, Onew was discovered at the 2006 ...

. It was released on April 11, 2022, through

SM Entertainment SM Entertainment Co., Ltd. () is a South Korean multinational entertainment agency established in 1995 by Lee Soo-man. It is one of South Korea's largest entertainment companies and has been responsible for fostering and popularizing the car ...

and served as the lead single for the EP of the same name. "Dice" was written by Kang Eun-jung, Will Lobban-Bean, Griffith Clawson and Jesse Fink, and produced by Lobban-Bean and Hitchhiker.

Background and release

Following the release of Onew's debut solo EP, ''

Voice The human voice consists of sound made by a human being using the vocal tract, including talking, singing, laughing, crying, screaming, shouting, humming or yelling. The human voice frequency is specifically a part of human sound produ ...

'', in 2018, he went on hiatus due to

mandatory military service Conscription, also known as the draft in the United States and Israel, is the practice in which the compulsory enlistment in a national service, mainly a military service, is enforced by law. Conscription dates back to antiquity and it contin ...

. In March 2022, his agency

announced he would resume his solo music career with the release of his second EP ''

Dice A die (: dice, sometimes also used as ) is a small, throwable object with marked sides that can rest in multiple positions. Dice are used for generating random values, commonly as part of tabletop games, including dice games, board games, ro ...

'', led by the single of the same name. Another song was originally intended as lead single but it fell through. Onew instead opted for "Dice" because he liked its rhythm. Image teasers were uploaded to social media beginning March 31, and the song was released alongside its accompanying music video on April 11. Onew promoted the song with performances on ''

M Countdown ''M Countdown'' () is a South Korean music program broadcast by Mnet from the CJ E&M Center Studio in Sangam-dong, Mapo District, Seoul. It features appearances by popular music artists who also perform live on stage. First hosted by Leeteuk ...

'', ''

Music Bank ''Music Bank'' () is a South Korean music program which airs every Friday at 17:15 KST on KBS2. the show is also broadcast in more than a hundred countries through KBS World. Episodes are filmed at the KBS New Wing Open Hall in Yeouido-dong, Ye ...

'', ''

Inkigayo ''Inkigayo'' (; English title: ''The Music Trend'', previously ''Popular Song'') is a South Korean music program broadcast by SBS. It airs live every Sunday. The show features some of the latest and most popular artists who perform on stage. ...

'' and ''

Show! Music Core ''Show! Music Core'' (), or simply ''Music Core'' is a South Korean music television program broadcast by MBC. It airs live every Saturday at 15:30 (KST). The show features some of the latest and most popular artists who perform live on stage. I ...

''.

Composition

"Dice" is a "breezy" and "mellifluous" pop song underpinned by rhythmical guitar plucking and synthesizer sounds that intensify in the chorus. The lyrics compare love to a game; Onew sings about rolling the dice and betting on love despite knowing it's a game he will likely lose.

Music video

The music video for "Dice" opens with Onew gazing at a woman through a hotel window, only to witness her be abducted by a masked individual. Onew enters the hotel in an effort to save her and is met with various foes along the way. He traverses the hotel's many rooms by rolling a magical dice, disguising himself first as a prince and then as a bellboy. He eventually reunites with his love interest, who does not require rescuing and instead dispatches the enemies herself.

Critical reception

Writing for

MTV MTV (an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable television television channel, channel and the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group sub-division of the Paramount Media Networks division of Paramount Global. Launched on ...

, Sarina Bhutani called "Dice" "one of Onew's most unique works to date" and described it as "a song that feels like wind in your hair and sunshine on your skin". Divyansha Dongre of ''

Rolling Stone India ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. The magazine was first known f ...

'' praised it as a "quintessential summer single", highlighting Onew's "signature dulcet vocalizations".

Year-end lists

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of ''Dice''. Recording * Recorded at SM Starlight Studio and SM Yellow Tail Studio * Digitally edited at SM LVYIN Studio * Mixed at SM Blue Cup Studio * Mastered at 821 Sound Mastering Personnel * Onew – vocals, background vocals * Kang Eun-jung – lyrics * Will Lobban-Bean – composition * Griffith Clawson – composition * Jesse Fink – composition * Cook Classios – arrangement * Hitchhiker – arrangement, guitar, keyboard * Lee Min-gyu – recording * No Min-ji – recording * Lee Ji-hong – digital editing * Jeong Eui-seok – mixing * Kwon Nam-woo – mastering

Charts

Release history

References

{{Onew 2022 singles 2022 songs Songs in Korean SM Entertainment singles