Plot Twist (TWS Song)

"Plot Twist" () is a song by South Korean boy group TWS. It was released on January 22, 2024, through Pledis Entertainment, as the second single and the lead track of the group's debut EP ''Sparkling Blue''. The song peaked at number two on the Circle Digital Chart.

Background and release

After premiering the pre-release single "Oh Mymy: 7s" and its music video on January 2, 2024, several teasers and activities, including a highlight medley, a product endorsement deal with Lotte Chilsung's Milkis, and cover features on Japanese magazines ''Ray'' and '' ViVi'', were revealed to promote and build anticipation for TWS' first EP. With the release of ''Sparkling Blue'' and its lead single "Plot Twist" on January 22, TWS became the first boy group to debut under Pledis Entertainment in nine years, following the launch of Seventeen in 2015.

On the same day of its release, TWS performed "Plot Twist", together with the tracks "Oh Mymy: 7s", "Unplugged Boy", and "BFF", for the first time on the group's global debut program ''TWS: Debut Show'' on Mnet. The show was simultaneously broadcast on the Mnet, M2, and Hybe Labels channels on YouTube.

Composition

In an effort to define the group's musical identity, TWS planned to showcase their own unique genre, which they have defined to be "boyhood pop". Characterized by a "refreshing vibe" and its combined use of drum, guitar, and synth sounds, "Plot Twist" has been noted to embody the "thrill of a first encounter", in reference to the meaning of the song's Korean title 첫 만남은 계획대로 되지 않아, which translates to "first encounters don't go as planned".

Music video

The official music video was simultaneously released with "Plot Twist" on January 22, 2024. It depicted scenes of the TWS members experiencing feelings of excitement and nervousness as they navigate through their first day of school. On January 30, a performance video of the song was released.

Critical reception

Jeff Benjamin ranked "Plot Twist" at number three on ''Billboard'' mid-year list of 2024's 20 best K-Pop songs, praising the single for its "unexpected but dynamic turns within the production" and lauding it as "a sonic adventure" that "hook listeners from the first note to the anthemic chant that closes the track". ''Paste'' Kayti Burt complimented the track for its relatable lyrics and "shiny" production, recognizing the song to be "an endearing official introduction" for the group, as well as "one of the -popindustry's biggest hits of the year". Writing for ''Osen'', Kyung Jimin commented that the song gave "a pleasant feeling", summarizing it as "a story of overcoming the vagueness encountered in the excitement of a first encounter, with anticipation for the bright days ahead together".

Listicles

Commercial performance

In South Korea, "Plot Twist" peaked at number two on the Circle Digital Chart for the week of March 3–9, 2024. Having performed consistently well on domestic music services such as Melon, Bugs, and Spotify, the song was recognized for its success and easy-listening nature, eliciting commentary on the general difficulty of boy groups climbing major South Korean music charts due to their preference for more intense genres. Despite never topping the weekly or monthly charts, the song ranked first on the Circle Digital Chart for the first half of 2024.

Accolades

"Plot Twist" won five music program awards in South Korea.

Charts

Weekly charts

Monthly charts

Year-end charts

References

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2024 debut singles
2024 songs
Hybe Corporation singles
Songs in Korean