T-ara T-ara (; ) is a South Korean girl group formed in 2009, currently consisting of four members: Qri, Hahm Eun-jung, Eunjung, Hyomin, and Park Ji-yeon, Jiyeon. T-ara's career is marked by Hook (music), hook-heavy dance-pop music, a result of their ...

MBK Entertainment MBK Entertainment () was a South Korean entertainment company established by Kim Kwang-soo. MBK Entertainment is known for managing multiple successful K-pop artists, such as T-ara, DIA, Davichi, SeeYa, F-ve Dolls, Shannon, Coed School, and S ...

Interpark Interpark is a South Korean company launched as an internet, online auction website and shopping mall. In 2014, it entered the Korean music industry as a record distributor. History 1996 - Established the first online shopping mall, Interpark, ...

extended play An extended play (EP) is a Sound recording and reproduction, musical recording that contains more tracks than a Single (music), single but fewer than an album. Contemporary EPs generally contain up to eight tracks and have a playing time of 1 ...

Remember Remember may refer to: Film and television Film * ''Remember'' (1926 film), an American silent drama film * ''Remember?'' (1939 film), an American romantic comedy * ''Remember'' (2015 film), a Canadian film by Atom Egoyan * ''Remember?'' (201 ...

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 ...

ballad A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of the popular poetry and song of Great Britain and Ireland from the Late Middle Ages until the 19th century. They were widely used across Eur ...

YinYueTai YinYueTai (), is a music video sharing website in China. Launched in 2009, the site became China's most visited music video website by 2015. As of December 2019, YinYueTai is rumored to have been closed down. The website first published charts r ...

Tudou Tudou, Inc. () is a Chinese video-sharing website headquartered in Shanghai, China, where users can upload, view and share video clips. Tudou went live on April 15, 2005 and by September 2007 served over 55 million videos each day.streaming platforms. The song's success in the country contributed to T-ara being nominated for Artist of the Year and Group of the Year at

the 5th V Chart Awards The 5th V Chart Awards (第五届音悦V榜年度盛典) is a music awards hosted by YinYueTai on April 8, 2017 at Studio City, Macau. The emcee for the award were Bowie Tsang and Tao Guo. Shortlisted Criteria 1. The "data-based category" awar ...

, where they won the latter. The music video for "Tiamo" became T-ara's fastest to reach 1 million views on

YouTube YouTube is an American social media and online video sharing platform owned by Google. YouTube was founded on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim who were three former employees of PayPal. Headquartered in ...

at the time, and broke the record for reaching 130 million views on Tudou within less than a week. Additionally, it was named the best K-pop music video of 2016 by '' Fuse Music''.

Background and release

In October 14, 2016, T-ara announced that they would be releasing their first mini-album in one year and three months, scheduled for release in November. The official release date was set on November 9. On November 1, it was revealed that the lead single would be titled "Tiamo", described as a medium-tempo track. Throughout the preparation process, the group actively shared updates with fans on

V Live V Live (stylized as VLIVE), sometimes referred to as V App, was a South Korean live video streaming service that allowed celebrities based in the country to broadcast live videos such as live chat sessions with fans, performances, reality show ...

. On November 4, T-ara released a teaser video, accompanied by jacket photoshoot images. A second teaser followed on November 7. On November 8, a day before the album's release, T-ara shared a handwritten letter with their fans, expressing their excitement and gratitude: ''"Everyone, it's been a long time~ You've waited a long time, right? One year and three months have already passed."'' They addressed their Korean fans, acknowledging their patience and anticipation. The letter continued: ''"'Tiamo' will finally be revealed in 12 hours... we are very nervous. Thank you for waiting... Let's make many happy memories! – T-ara".'' To celebrate the release, a special live broadcast titled "Tiamo Special Live" was held on November 8 at 10:30 PM KST via V APP, allowing T-ara to interact with their international fanbase. The broadcast surpassed 700,000 likes during its airing. "Tiamo" was officially released digitally on November 9, 2016. The music video premiered on V Live at 12:00 AM KST and was later uploaded to

MBK Entertainment MBK Entertainment () was a South Korean entertainment company established by Kim Kwang-soo. MBK Entertainment is known for managing multiple successful K-pop artists, such as T-ara, DIA, Davichi, SeeYa, F-ve Dolls, Shannon, Coed School, and S ...

's YouTube channel at 12:00 PM KST. Additionally, to cater to their global audience, T-ara released a Chinese version of the song.

Composition

Tiamo" was composed by

Duble Sidekick Duble Sidekick () is a South Korean music producer A record producer or music producer is a music creating project's overall supervisor whose responsibilities can involve a range of creative and technical leadership roles. Typically the job i ...

, a production team known for their work with T-ara on previous solo releases. They have also produced hits like

APINK Apink (; ) is a South Korean girl group formed by IST Entertainment, (formerly Play M Entertainment, A Cube Entertainment, and Plan A Entertainment) and managed by Choi Creative Lab as of April 2024. The group debuted on April 19, 2011, with the ...

's " Mr. Chu",

SISTAR Sistar (; stylized in all caps) was a South Korean girl group formed in 2010 by Starship Entertainment. The group consisted of Hyolyn, Yoon Bo-ra, Bora, Soyou and Kim Da-som, Dasom. They made their official debut with the song "Push Push (Sistar ...

's " Give It to Me", and

B.A.P Bang & Jung & Yoo & Moon () is a South Korean boy band under MA Entertainment. The group, originally consisting of Bang Yong-guk, Yongguk, Himchan, Jung Dae-hyun, Daehyun, Yoo Young-jae, Youngjae, Moon Jong-up, Jong-up, and Zelo is best known ...

's " Crash". The song features a mellow blend of piano, guitar, and strings layered over a pop beat, creating a warm and refreshing atmosphere. Unlike T-ara's signature high-tempo dance tracks, "Tiamo" takes a more dramatic and sentimental approach, showcasing a softer and more emotional side of the group's musical style.

Creative direction

Concept and themes

Unlike their previous comebacks, "Tiamo" was not heavily promoted through excessive

variety show Variety show, also known as variety arts or variety entertainment, is entertainment made up of a variety of acts including musical performances, sketch comedy, magic, acrobatics, juggling, and ventriloquism. It is normally introduced by a comp� ...

s appearances. Instead, T-ara opted for a more artistic and authentic approach, conducting in-depth

offline In computer technology and telecommunications, online indicates a state of connectivity, and offline indicates a disconnected state. In modern terminology, this usually refers to an Internet connection, but (especially when expressed as "on li ...

interviews with various Korean newspapers such as ''Newsen'', ''TV Daily'', and '' Sports Donga''. These interviews focused on the album's creative direction, production choices, and career reflections rather than traditional promotional strategies.

Production

T-ara described "Tiamo" as a significant transformation from their usual high-energy dance tracks. This comeback marked their most mature release since debut, allowing them to explore a softer, more emotional side of their musical identity. For production, they collaborated with Duble Sidekick, a producer they deeply admired and trusted, having worked with him on past solo songs. His ability to capture T-ara's musical essence while creating high-quality songs for other artists made him an ideal choice.

Lyrics and symbolism

The members revealed on ''

Radio Star Stellar radio sources, radio source stars or radio stars are stellar objects that produce copious emissions of various radio frequency, radio frequencies, whether constant or pulsed. Radio emissions from stars can be produced in many varied ways. ...

'' that "Tiamo" was primarily a song dedicated to their fans, expressing gratitude for their unwavering support. Though it was not considered a full comeback, they viewed it as an opportunity to create lasting memories with their audience. Initially, they found the song underwhelming, but over time, they grew to love it, especially as it matched the winter season's ambiance. They emphasized that the lyrics were particularly meaningful, symbolizing a "

secret code Cryptography, or cryptology (from "hidden, secret"; and ''graphein'', "to write", or ''-logia'', "study", respectively), is the practice and study of techniques for secure communication in the presence of adversarial behavior. More gener ...

" between T-ara and their long-time fans, making the song deeply personal. "Tiamo" is derived from the

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, a Romance ethnic group related to or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance languag ...

phrase for "I love you," reinforcing its heartfelt message.

Choreography and visuals

Crafting a choreography that fit the song's sentimental tone was a challenge. Eventually, they decided to incorporate

sign language Sign languages (also known as signed languages) are languages that use the visual-manual modality to convey meaning, instead of spoken words. Sign languages are expressed through manual articulation in combination with #Non-manual elements, no ...

gestures into the routine, with the chorus symbolizing "our own password". The choreography was intentionally kept simple yet graceful, ensuring that the emotional depth of the song remained the focal point. For styling, T-ara selected elegant, feminine stage outfits to enhance the song's warm and wintery feel.

Music videos

Background and release

The first teaser for "Tiamo" was released on November 4, 2016, featuring Jiyeon standing in a field of swaying reeds with tears in her eyes. On November 5,

MBK Entertainment MBK Entertainment () was a South Korean entertainment company established by Kim Kwang-soo. MBK Entertainment is known for managing multiple successful K-pop artists, such as T-ara, DIA, Davichi, SeeYa, F-ve Dolls, Shannon, Coed School, and S ...

unveiled

behind-the-scenes https://www Googlefinans.co= In filmmaking, behind-the-scenes (BTS), also known as the making-of, the set, or on the set, is a documentary film that features the production of a film or television program. This is often referred to as the EPK ( ...

footage of the music video, offering fans a glimpse into the filming process. A second teaser followed on November 7, showcasing a

Christmas Christmas is an annual festival commemorating Nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a Religion, religious and Culture, cultural celebration among billions of people Observance of Christmas by coun ...

-themed setting where T-ara danced in the snow. The official music video premiered on November 9, debuting on

V Live V Live (stylized as VLIVE), sometimes referred to as V App, was a South Korean live video streaming service that allowed celebrities based in the country to broadcast live videos such as live chat sessions with fans, performances, reality show ...

at 12:00 AM KST and later on MBK Entertainment's

YouTube YouTube is an American social media and online video sharing platform owned by Google. YouTube was founded on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim who were three former employees of PayPal. Headquartered in ...

channel at 12:00 PM KST. Directed by Lee Gi-Baek, who would go on to direct T-ara's "

What's My Name What's My Name? or What's My Name may refer to:Rustam Baloch * What's My Name (China Anne McClain, Thomas Doherty and Dylan Playfair song), "What's My Name" (China Anne McClain, Thomas Doherty and Dylan Playfair song) * What's My Name? (Rihanna so ...

" music video in 2017. To accommodate their international audience, a Chinese version of the music video was initially scheduled for release on November 14 but was delayed due to unforeseen factors. It was eventually released on November 18, 2016.

Synopsis

In the music video for "Tiamo," the group performs the song in various settings, blending both indoor and outdoor scenes. The visuals feature dramatic lighting and intricate choreography, with the members dressed in elegant, coordinated outfits. Interspersed with the performance shots are scenes that evoke emotional depth, highlighting themes of love, longing, and separation, mainly played by Jiyeon. The narrative suggests a romantic relationship filled with intense emotions, as the members express both vulnerability and strength.

Critical reception

In February 2016, "Tiamo" was chosen as the best K-pop music video of 2016 by '' Fuse Music''.

Commercial performance

"Tiamo"'s music video achieved significant commercial success upon its release. It quickly surpassed 1 million views on

YouTube YouTube is an American social media and online video sharing platform owned by Google. YouTube was founded on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim who were three former employees of PayPal. Headquartered in ...

within 24 hours. In

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...

, the video topped

YinYueTai YinYueTai (), is a music video sharing website in China. Launched in 2009, the site became China's most visited music video website by 2015. As of December 2019, YinYueTai is rumored to have been closed down. The website first published charts r ...

's Realtime Chart and maintained the number one position on the weekly chart for four consecutive weeks, earning a perfect 100% score—a notable achievement for a South Korean female artist. On

Tudou Tudou, Inc. () is a Chinese video-sharing website headquartered in Shanghai, China, where users can upload, view and share video clips. Tudou went live on April 15, 2005 and by September 2007 served over 55 million videos each day.video-sharing platform, the video reached the top of the charts and accumulated over 130 million views within the first week. It reached 120 million views in just five days.

Promotion and live performances

Unlike their previous comebacks, "Tiamo" was not heavily promoted through excessive

variety show Variety show, also known as variety arts or variety entertainment, is entertainment made up of a variety of acts including musical performances, sketch comedy, magic, acrobatics, juggling, and ventriloquism. It is normally introduced by a comp� ...

s appearances. Instead, T-ara opted for a more artistic and authentic approach, conducting in-depth

offline In computer technology and telecommunications, online indicates a state of connectivity, and offline indicates a disconnected state. In modern terminology, this usually refers to an Internet connection, but (especially when expressed as "on li ...

interviews with various Korean newspapers such as ''Newsen'', ''TV Daily'', and '' Sports Donga''. These interviews focused on the album's creative direction, production choices, and career reflections rather than traditional promotional strategies. T-ara began the promotion of their album with a release showcase on November 9, 2016, at Blue Square Samsung Hall, coinciding with the album's release date. During the event, the group performed "Tiamo" along with other tracks from the album and a hit medley. The showcase was broadcast live on

V Live V Live (stylized as VLIVE), sometimes referred to as V App, was a South Korean live video streaming service that allowed celebrities based in the country to broadcast live videos such as live chat sessions with fans, performances, reality show ...

. Girl group DIA attended the showcase. The group continued their promotion on South Korean music shows, including SBS's ''

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 ''The Show'', MBC's ''

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 ...

'' and KBS's ''Music Bank'', starting on November 10, 2016; and concluding November 29, 2016. T-ara debuted "Tiamo" on

Mnet M-Net (an abbreviation of Electronic Media Network) is a South African pay television channel established by Naspers in 1986. The channel broadcasts both local and international programming, including general entertainment, children's series, ...

's ''

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 ...

'' on November 10, 2016, where they brought six young children on stage during the performance, with members visibly emotional and shedding tears at the closing. Additionally, T-ara performed "Tiamo" at major events such as the 2016 Super Seoul Dream Concert, KBS Hope Concert, and 2016 V LIVE End-year concert. On March 18, 2017, the group performed the song during their headlining set at the 12th Seoul Girls Collection. The live performances received positive feedback from critics, with Asia Media Tower noting their feminine charm, particularly in the pure white one-piece dresses that emphasized innocence.

Reception

Commercial performance

"Tiamo" peaked at number 81 on the Gaon Weekly Digital Chart. and debuted at number 43 on Gaon Sales Chart.The song also reached number 10 on the

Gaon Social Chart The Circle Social Chart (), formerly the Gaon Social Chart (), part of Circle Chart, is a weekly chart that ranks the top 50 most-popular South Korean musical artists according to data collected from the digital platforms YouTube, Mubeat, MyCelebs ...

, where it remained for 89 weeks. Additionally, it ranked number 35 on the Bell chart, staying on the chart for 75 weeks. In

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...

, "Tiamo" topped

YinYueTai YinYueTai (), is a music video sharing website in China. Launched in 2009, the site became China's most visited music video website by 2015. As of December 2019, YinYueTai is rumored to have been closed down. The website first published charts r ...

, the country's largest streaming platform, for 4 consecutive weeks. The song's success contributed to T-ara being nominated for the Artist of the Year and Group of the Year awards at

the 5th V Chart Awards The 5th V Chart Awards (第五届音悦V榜年度盛典) is a music awards hosted by YinYueTai on April 8, 2017 at Studio City, Macau. The emcee for the award were Bowie Tsang and Tao Guo. Shortlisted Criteria 1. The "data-based category" awar ...

, where they won the latter category.

Critical reception

"Tiamo" received generally positive reviews from critics. ''News Fim'' praised T-ara's sophisticated and mature transformation with the song, noting its departure from the group's previous sexy concept and upbeat rhythms. The review highlighted how the song emphasizes

femininity Femininity (also called womanliness) is a set of attributes, behaviors, and Gender roles, roles generally associated with women and girls. Femininity can be understood as Social construction of gender, socially constructed, and there is also s ...

through its soft, lyrical melody, evoking faint emotions with relaxed choreography that complements the heartfelt lyrics. ''Hype

Malaysia Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. Featuring the Tanjung Piai, southernmost point of continental Eurasia, it is a federation, federal constitutional monarchy consisting of States and federal territories of Malaysia, 13 states and thre ...

'' also commended the track for its contrast to T-ara's signature catchy, upbeat dance tunes. The review emphasized how "Tiamo" features a sweeter, mellower melody that shifts the focus to the group's vocals, showcasing a more delicate side of the members' musical abilities.

Accolades

Release history

References

__FORCETOC__ {{T-ara T-ara songs 2016 songs Korean songs