"Fate" (), sometimes referred to as "Ah.Ttak.Jil" () in South Korea, is a song by South Korean girl group

(G)I-dle I-dle (; stylized in all lowercase), formerly known as (G)I-dle (), is a South Korean girl group formed by Cube Entertainment in 2018. The group consists of five members: Miyeon, Minnie (singer), Minnie, Soyeon, Yuqi, and Shuhua. Originally a se ...

from their second studio album '' 2'', released on January 29, 2024. The song was written and produced by

Soyeon Jeon So-yeon (; born August 26, 1998), known mononymously as Soyeon, is a South Korean rapper and record producer under Cube Entertainment. She first gained attention for competing in the television shows ''Produce 101'' and ''Unpretty Rapstar ...

, with additional composition and arrangement credits from Pop Time, Dailly, and Likey. It is a

pop-punk Pop-punk (also punk-pop, alternatively spelled without the hyphen) is a rock music fusion genre that combines elements of punk rock with power pop or pop music, pop. It is defined by its fast-paced, energetic tempos, and emphasis on classic pop s ...

and

funk Funk is a music genre that originated in African-American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African-Americans in the ...

hybrid song with influences from

J-pop J-pop (often stylized in all caps; an abbreviated form of "Japanese popular music"), natively known simply as , is the name for a form of popular music that entered the musical mainstream of Japan in the 1990s. Modern J-pop has its roots in trad ...

. The song features

guitar The guitar is a stringed musical instrument that is usually fretted (with Fretless guitar, some exceptions) and typically has six or Twelve-string guitar, twelve strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming ...

s and vibrant, minimal production, including catchy

piano A piano is a keyboard instrument that produces sound when its keys are depressed, activating an Action (music), action mechanism where hammers strike String (music), strings. Modern pianos have a row of 88 black and white keys, tuned to a c ...

sounds. "Fate" emerged as a sleeper hit on South Korean music charts without any promotional efforts, reaching number one on the

Circle Digital Chart The Circle Digital Chart, previously known as the Gaon Digital Chart, is the music industry standard record chart ranking the 200 most popular singles in South Korea. It provides rankings on a weekly, monthly, and yearly basis, which is based on ...

and other South Korean streaming platforms. Later, it peaked at number five in Taiwan and at number 23 in Singapore's RIAS charts. It gained attention after the release of a stage video on '' Lee Hyori's Red Carpet'' and It's Live YouTube channel, accumulating over one million views. Music critics praised the song's lyricism, funky production, and its nostalgic appeal. After acknowledging its growing popularity, (G)I-dle began promoting the song on South Korean music shows on March 21, 2024, starting with ''

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 ...

''. Although the group did not perform the song on ''

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. ...

'', "Fate" achieved a '' Triple Crown''. By November 2024, "Fate" was nominated for Song of the Year and won Best Vocal Performance at the

MAMA Awards The MAMA Awards (, formerly Mnet Asian Music Awards) is a major Music award, music awards ceremony presented annually by entertainment company CJ ENM. First held in South Korea, the majority of prizes have been won by K-pop artists, although ...

Music and lyrics

"Fate" was written by Jeon So-yeon, along with composing the lyrics and producing the track, with additional contributions from Pop Time, Dailly, and Likey. It is a blend of

and

, featuring minimal yet vibrant production, guitars, and "jaunty" piano. ''

NME ''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming and culture website, bimonthly magazine, and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a "Rock music, rock inkie", the ''NME'' would be ...

'' noted that these elements give the song the bittersweet energy reminiscent of an

end credits Closing credits, aka end credits or end titles, are a list of the cast and crew of a particular motion picture, television show, or video game. While opening credits appear at the beginning of a work, closing credits appear close to or at the ve ...

track from a slice-of-life anime series. Initially,

envisioned "Fate" as the lead single for the album. During an appearance on ''Lee Eun-ji's Song Plaza'' on January 30, 2024, she revealed, "I originally used 'Fate' as the title. It's a song with an animation feel." Soyeon crafted the song with a

cartoon A cartoon is a type of visual art that is typically drawn, frequently Animation, animated, in an realism (arts), unrealistic or semi-realistic style. The specific meaning has evolved, but the modern usage usually refers to either: an image or s ...

-like scene in mind, giving it a "band-like sound" instead of a typical

dance Dance is an The arts, art form, consisting of sequences of body movements with aesthetic and often Symbol, symbolic value, either improvised or purposefully selected. Dance can be categorized and described by its choreography, by its repertoir ...

track. Reporter Lee Deok-haeng of ''IZE magazine'' compares "Fate" to past song like "

Allergy Allergies, also known as allergic diseases, are various conditions caused by hypersensitivity of the immune system to typically harmless substances in the environment. These diseases include Allergic rhinitis, hay fever, Food allergy, food al ...

" (2023) and " Never Stop Me" (2022), highlighting (G)I-dle's consistent fusion of J-pop and band elements. The track revolves around the theme of an "unexpected yet fateful encounter", which captures" the sudden heartbreak that follows a chance meeting with a stranger''. The Fact'' reporter Choi Soo-bin noted that the track incorporated

influences and resonates with listeners through relatable lyrics like "This morning again, with bread in my mouth/Starting the day the same/Iced Americano in one hand all day long/I'm so tired". Jang Jun-hwan of ''

IZM ''IZM'' () is a South Korean online magazine that publishes pop music Pop music is a genre of popular music that originated in its modern form during the mid-1950s in the United States and the United Kingdom.S. Frith, W. Straw, and J. Stre ...

'' praised Soyeon's skillful

lyricism Lyricism is a term used to describe a piece of art considered to have deep emotions. Its origin is found in the word ''lyric'', derived via Latin ' from the Greek ('), the adjectival form of ''lyre''. It is often employed to relate to the capab ...

, which adeptly portrays various situations and emotions using relatable

metaphor A metaphor is a figure of speech that, for rhetorical effect, directly refers to one thing by mentioning another. It may provide, or obscure, clarity or identify hidden similarities between two different ideas. Metaphors are usually meant to cr ...

s. Additionally, Jun-hwan highlighted the

intuitive Intuition is the ability to acquire knowledge without recourse to conscious reasoning or needing an explanation. Different fields use the word "intuition" in very different ways, including but not limited to: direct access to unconscious knowledg ...

plot twist A plot twist is a literary technique that introduces a radical change in the direction or expected outcome of the plot in a work of fiction. When it happens near the end of a story, it is known as a twist ending or surprise ending. It may change ...

s in the song.

Live video

Following the song's unexpected success, (G)I-dle had announced the release of a live video on March 13, 2024. The poster, which prominently features members

Minnie As a first name, Minnie is a feminine given name. It can be a diminutive (hypocorism) of Minerva, Winifred, Wilhelmina, Willemina, Winona, Margaret, Hermione, Jasmine, Mary, Miriam, Maria, Marie, Naomi, Miranda, Clementine, Dominique, Dom ...

and

Yuqi Song Yuqi (, ; born September 23, 1999), known mononymously as Yuqi, is a Chinese singer-songwriter, dancer and record producer. She is a member of the South Korean girl group I-dle, which debuted as (G)I-dle under Cube Entertainment in May 201 ...

, evokes a

nostalgic Nostalgia is a sentimentality for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations. The word ''nostalgia'' is a neoclassical compound derived from Greek, consisting of (''nóstos''), a Homeric word meaning "homecomi ...

atmosphere reminiscent of a youth movie. This nostalgic vibe has generated attention among

netizens The term ''netizen'' is a portmanteau of the English words ''internet'' and ''citizen'', as in a "citizen of the net" or "net citizen". It describes a person actively involved in online communities or the Internet in general.

. The video emphasized their "bright visuals" in school uniforms, while they were surrounded by "fluttering flower petals added warmth, reminiscent of a scene from a youth movie", which left "a deep lingering impression." Following its release, "Fate" secured the top spot in South Korea's YouTube chart with 3.6 million views. The song has remained on the charts for five consecutive weeks.

Release and reception

"Fate" the sixth track on the group's second studio album ''2'', released on January 29, 2024, saw a revival on multiple South Korean music charts, achieving notable success without any promotional backing from the agency. Securing iChart's " Perfect all-kill", it dominated the top spot on major South Korean music streaming service charts, marking their fourth consecutive success after "

Tomboy A tomboy is a girl or young woman who generally expresses masculine traits. Such traits may include wearing androgynous or unfeminine clothing and engaging in activities and behaviors traditionally associated with boys or men. Origins The w ...

", "

Nxde "Nxde" (pronounced "nude") is a song by South Korean girl group (G)I-dle. It was released through Cube Entertainment on October 17, 2022, as the lead single of the group's fifth extended play, '' I Love'' (2022). It was written, composed, and ar ...

", and " Queencard". Its popularity surged following the release of a stage video on the late-night music talk show '' Lee Hyori's Red Carpet'' and It's Live YouTube channel. These videos garnered over 1 million views, with shortened versions reaching 7 million views. A Cube Entertainment official attributed the song's success to the "members' passion and fans' support", noting Soyeon's songwriting and composing skills as key to showcasing the group's "unique sound". The song also received positive reviews from South Korean

music critics Music journalism (or music criticism) is media criticism and reporting about music topics, including popular music, classical music, and traditional music. Journalists began writing about music in the eighteenth century, providing commentary on ...

. In his album review, Jang Jun-hwan of ''

'' lauded "Fate" as a standout track, praising the

, the funky guitar melodies and intuitive plot twists, likening the track's atmosphere to a youth cartoon, evoking

sympathy Sympathy is the perception of, understanding of, and reaction to the Mental distress, distress or need of another life form. According to philosopher David Hume, this sympathetic concern is driven by a switch in viewpoint from a personal perspe ...

and

comfort Comfort is a state of physical or psychological ease, often characterized by the absence of hardship. Individuals experiencing a lack of comfort are typically described as uncomfortable or in discomfort. A degree of psychological comfort can b ...

in listeners. Reporter Lee Deok-haeng of IZE magazine praised "Fate" for its unique punk-based, minimal band sound and witty lyrics, evoking comparisons to J-pop or "Japanese animation OST material", and

Miyeon Cho Mi-yeon (; born January 31, 1997), better known mononymously as Miyeon, is a South Korean singer and actress. She is a vocalist of the South Korean girl group I-dle under Cube Entertainment, and voiced Ahri in the virtual K-pop girl group ...

's vocals. Additionally, he noted listener fatigue with (G)I-dle's conceptual title tracks like "Nxde" and " Super Lady", emphasizing "Fate's" departure from such artistic direction and reflecting a broader trend towards

easy-listening Easy listening (including mood music) is a popular music genre and radio format that was most popular during the 1950s to the 1970s. It is related to middle of the road (MOR) music and encompasses instrumental recordings of standards, hit ...

tracks in the K-pop industry. Reporter Seung-gil Lee of ''My Daily'' praised (G)I-dle for departure from their usual style. Unlike their previous tracks known for their strong stage presence, he noted that "Fate" resonated with audiences through its light band sound and

melody reminiscent of youth movies. The song's airy atmosphere and

poetic Poetry (from the Greek language, Greek word ''poiesis'', "making") is a form of literature, literary art that uses aesthetics, aesthetic and often rhythmic qualities of language to evoke meaning (linguistics), meanings in addition to, or in ...

lyrics left a "lasting impression", contributing to its chart success. Renowned music critic Jeong Min-jae praised the song, describing its melody as fluid "like water" and its lyrics as narrative-driven. He noted the song's resurgence through spontaneous social media virality, marking it as a prime example of fan-driven rediscovery. Additionally, reporter Park So-jin of ''MK Sports'' pointed out that the song's nostalgic appeal stems from its resemblance to 2000s J-pop, attributing its allure to the unique melody and storytelling elements. According to

Genie Music Genie Music (), a subsidiary of KT Corporation, is a South Korean company that specializes in the production and distribution of music content. Its music streaming service is the second most used in South Korea with 2.5 million subscribers as ...

's 2024 Annual Chart, "Fate" claimed the top spot. The song also secured second place on

Melon A melon is any of various plants of the family Cucurbitaceae with sweet, edible, and fleshy fruit. It can also specifically refer to ''Cucumis melo'', commonly known as the "true melon" or simply "melon". The term "melon" can apply to both the p ...

's annual chart. Additionally, it held the number-one spot on the

Tencent Music Tencent Music Entertainment Group (TME; ) is a company that develops music streaming services for the Chinese market. Tencent Music's apps include QQ Music, KuGou, Kuwo, and WeSing; which have more than 800 million active users and 120 million ...

K-pop chart for 37 weeks in 2024, the longest of any song that year. The song peaked at numbers five and 23 on the ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...

'' Taiwan Songs and RIAS Singapore Regional charts, respectively.

Accolades

(G)I-dle has decided to promote the song on South Korean music shows, starting with ''

'' on March 21, 2024. This decision resulted in an ''

'' Triple Crown despite not appearing on said show. By November 2024, "Fate" was nominated for Song of the Year and won Best Vocal Performance at the

In popular culture

During the 2024 South Korean martial law crisis, the YouTube channel "Shinuihansu" created the AI-generated song "I Hate Impeachment", based on the original track "Fate". The modified version, featuring lyrics sung in president

Yoon Suk Yeol Yoon Suk Yeol (; born 18 December 1960) is a South Korean politician and former prosecutor who served as the 13th president of South Korea from 2022 until Impeachment of Yoon Suk Yeol, he was removed from office in 2025. The shortest-serving ...

's AI-generated voice, gained attention at pro-impeachment rallies organized by groups like the Candlelight Movement.

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from CD

liner notes Liner notes (also sleeve notes or album notes) are the writings found on the sleeves of LP record albums and in booklets that come inserted into the compact disc jewel case or cassette j-cards. Origin Liner notes are descended from the prog ...

. Recording * Recorded at Cube Studio * Mixed at Klang Studios * Audio edited at Ingrid Studio Personnel *

vocals **

producer, lyrics,

composition Composition or Compositions may refer to: Arts and literature *Composition (dance), practice and teaching of choreography * Composition (language), in literature and rhetoric, producing a work in spoken tradition and written discourse, to include ...

arrangement In music, an arrangement is a musical adaptation of an existing composition. Differences from the original composition may include reharmonization, melodic paraphrasing, orchestration, or formal development. Arranging differs from orchestr ...

* Kako background vocals * Pop Time

keyboard Keyboard may refer to: Text input * Keyboard, part of a typewriter * Computer keyboard ** Keyboard layout, the software control of computer keyboards and their mapping ** Keyboard technology, computer keyboard hardware and firmware Music * Mus ...

, composition, arrangement * Daily keyboard, composition, arrangement * Ryo guitar * Choi Ye-ji

recording engineer An audio engineer (also known as a sound engineer or recording engineer) helps to produce a recording or a live performance, balancing and adjusting sound sources using equalization, dynamics processing and audio effects, mixing, reproducti ...

* Jeong Eun-kyung

digital editing In mass communication, digital media is any communication media that operates in conjunction with various encoded machine-readable data formats. can be created, viewed, distributed, modified, listened to, and preserved on a digital electronic d ...

* Kang Sun-young engineer * Gu Jong-pil

mixing engineer A mixing engineer (or simply mix engineer) is responsible for combining ("mixing") different sonic elements of an auditory piece into a complete rendition (also known as "final mix" or "mixdown"), whether in music, film, or any other content of a ...

* Kwon Nam-woo

mastering engineer Mastering is a form of audio post production which is the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the Audio mixing (recorded music), final mix to a data storage device called a master recording, the source ...

* Yoo Eun-jin assistant mastering engineer

Charts

Weekly charts

Monthly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

References

{{(G)I-dle 2024 songs I-dle songs Songs in Korean Circle Digital Chart number-one singles Funk songs South Korean pop punk songs Songs written by Soyeon Kakao Entertainment singles