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Be Yourself (EP)

Be Yourself is the third extended play by South Korean singer Jay B, released on September 21, 2022, through CDNZA Records.[1]

Be Yourself
Digital cover
EP by
Jay B
ReleasedSeptember 21, 2022 (2022-09-21)
Genre
Length17:26
Language
  • Korean
  • English
LabelCDNZA
Jay B chronology
Love
(2022) 		Be Yourself
(2022) 		Abandoned Love
(2022)

Background and release

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After signing with CDNZA Records on July 22, 2022,[2] Jay B immediately started working on a new album, beginning with writing the lyrics,[3] and Be Yourself was announced the following September 2.[4][5] The theme of the album is to express oneself freely without caring what others think, and was born from suggestions sent to the singer by fans about what kind of music they would like to hear.[6][7] Jay B stated that he didn't decide on the theme in advance, but that he developed it by working and thought he wanted to talk about himself getting stronger.[8] "Sunny" counterpart of SOMO:Fume and Love., Be Yourself draws inspiration from the singer's b-boy roots, celebrating freedom and friendship in a pop atmosphere of gratitude.[8]

Under the pseudonym Def., Jay B is credited for the lyrics or composition of all tracks.[9] The first song, "Go Up", combines funk pop and new jack swing,[6] with the lyrics talking about going beyond other people's expectations and finding true freedom.[10] "Break It Down", which features rapper Sik-K, urges to try something new, "Livin'" talks about setting independent goals and expectations for the future, and "The Way We Are" is a message for his fans.[10] The last two songs are entirely in English: "Fountain of Youth" expresses the value of friendship, while the slow R&B song "Holyday", based on gospel, is a thank you and encouragement to conquer the world.[3][10][11][12]

Critical reception

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Divyansha Dongre of Rolling Stone India stated: "Be Yourself's ingenious storytelling with a wondrous soundscape and vocal performance weaves a tranquil ambiance, making it easy for the listener to not only understand Jay B at a deeper level but seamlessly follow his train of thoughts too. Though just six tracks long, the EP is thematically tight with a clear message and rarely digresses from its core theme. It is not far from being the sonic equivalent of a self-help guide that teaches you how to live life than merely exist."[3]

For Nandini Iyengar of Bollywood Hungama, "with Be Yourself he presents us Jay B who paints a vibrant picture of living life in the moment and living it as honestly as possible." She noted that the singer, in addition to giving a sneak peek of his thoughts and heartfelt note of gratitude to the Got7 members and fans, had amalgamated different genres, sonically beautiful melodies and thoughtful lyrics, concluding "Be Yourself definitely feels like a spring album and utter triumph in his discography."[12]

NME defined Be Yourself "an oeuvre that is complex as it is cohesive," whose credit goes to "Jay B's painfully crystalline voice, striking when you least expect it, whether he plays with high or low registers, hip hop verses or sweeping ballads."[8] In an article recommending the must listen songs released in September 2022, Sports Donga's journalist Jeon Hyo-jin included "Break It Down", commenting that the record itself was a representation of freedom and put a person at ease, and wondering how far Jay B's musical spectrum could further expand.[13]

At the end of the year, Bandwagon included it in the list of the best albums of 2022, praising the sonic richness and exploration of other genres besides the R&B Jay B is known for.[14]

Commercial performance

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Be Yourself debuted in seventh place in South Korea on the Circle Weekly Album Chart, with 34,000 copies sold.[15] It was the 16th best selling album for the month of September 2022, with 51,453 copies.[16]

Track listing

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No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."Go Up"
  • Def.
  • Son Jung-hwa (Jam Factory)
  • Yoo Da-eun (Jam Factory)
  • Sabon
  • Thomas Troelsen
  • Sandro Cavazza
  • Dhani Lennevald
Thomas Troelsen2:39
2."Break It Down" (featuring Sik-K)
  • Def.
  • Sik-K
  • Leon
  • Def.
  • Sik-K
  • Leon
  • Royal Dive
Royal Dive2:51
3."Livin'"Def.
  • Def.
  • Junny
  • Royal Dive
Royal Dive3:11
4."The Way We Are"
  • Ryan "Rykeyz" Williamson
  • Dewain Whitmore Jr.
  • Patrick "J. Que" Smith
Ryan "Rykeyz" Williamson2:29
5."Fountain of Youth"
  • Andrew Stoelzing
  • Troy
  • Def.
  • Andrew Stoelzing
  • Dougie F
  • Im Jung-woo
  • Paprikaa
  • Paprikaa
  • Im Jung-woo
3:09
6."Holiday"Troy
  • Def.
  • iHwak
  • Mirror Boy
  • Royal Dive
  • Mirror Boy
  • Royal Dive
3:07
Total length:17:26

Personnel

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Credits adapted from Mania Database.[17]

  • Def. (Jay B) – lyrics (tracks 1-4), composition (tracks 2-3, 5-6)
  • Son Jung-hwa (Jam Factory) – lyrics (track 1)
  • Yoo Da-eun (Jam Factory) – lyrics (track 1)
  • Sabon – lyrics (tracks 1, 4)
  • Thomas Troelsen – composition (track 1), arrangements (track 1), background vocals (track 1), drums (track 1), keyboard (track 1), synthesizer (track 1)
  • Sandro Cavazza – composition (track 1)
  • Dhani Lennevald – composition (track 1)
  • Park Eon-seo – background vocals (tracks 1-2)
  • Sik-K – lyrics (track 2), composition (track 2)
  • Leon – lyrics (track 2), composition (track 2)
  • Royal Dive – composition (tracks 2-3, 6), arrangements (tracks 2-3, 6), direction (tracks 2-3)
  • Shin Sang-ho – background vocals (track 2)
  • Jeon Byung-seon – bass (tracks 2-3)
  • Junny – composition (track 3)
  • Jo Sung-hwak – background vocals (track 3)
  • Hong Yeong-in – piano (track 3)
  • Joo Yoon-kyung – lyrics (track 4)
  • Cha Yu-bin – lyrics (track 4)
  • Ryan "Rykeyz" Williamson – composition (track 4), arrangements (track 4)
  • Dewain Whitmore Jr. – composition (track 4)
  • Patrick "J. Que" Smith – composition (track 4)
  • Andrew Stoelzing – lyrics (track 5), composition (track 5)
  • Troy – lyrics (tracks 5-6)
  • Dougie F – composition (track 5)
  • Im Jung-woo – composition (track 5), arrangements (track 5)
  • Paprikaa – composition (track 5), arrangements (track 5), vocal direction (tracks 1, 4)
  • iHwak – composition (track 6), direction (track 3)
  • Mirror Boy – composition (track 6), arrangements (track 6)
  • Lee Kyung-won – recording (tracks 1, 3), digital editing (track 1)
  • Ahn Chang-gyu – recording (tracks 1-2), digital editing (tracks 1-2)
  • Gu Jong-pil – mixing (track 1)
  • Kwon Nam-woo – mastering (tracks 1, 3)
  • Park Gyeong-seon – mixing (track 2), mastering (track 2)
  • Kwon Yoo-jin – digital editing (track 3)
  • Bcalm – mixing (track 3)

Charts

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References

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  1. ^ "GOT7's Jay B releases sophomore album 'Be Yourself'". news.yahoo.com. September 21, 2022. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  2. ^ Divyansha Dongre (July 25, 2022). "Jay B and Sik-K Part Ways With H1GHR Music". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c Divyansha Dongre (October 7, 2022). "Exclusive: Why Jay B is a Symbol of Authenticity". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  4. ^ Yim Seung-hye (September 2, 2022). "Jay B of GOT7 to soon release new EP 'Be Yourself'". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  5. ^ Gladys Yeo (August 29, 2022). "GOT7's JAY B announces sophomore EP 'Be Yourself'". NME. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  6. ^ a b Seon Mi-kyung. "갓세븐 JAY B, 자유+유쾌 에너지로 컴백..21일 'Be Yourself' 발매". entertain.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  7. ^ Thoraya Abdullahi (September 14, 2022). "'Be Yourself': K-pop singer Jay B talks new music, his UAE visit and Got7". The National. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  8. ^ a b c Tássia Assis (September 27, 2022). "JAY B: "These days my burden is growing, so I try to instil the mindset of enjoying it all"". NME. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  9. ^ "갓세븐 제이비, '손글씨'로 채운 새 앨범 트랙리스트 공개". Naver News (in Korean). Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  10. ^ a b c "갓세븐 제이비, 'Be Yourself' 음원 일부 공개…자유분방 에너지" (in Korean). September 16, 2022. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  11. ^ Park Seo-hyun (September 21, 2022). "'컴백' 제이비 "유쾌하고 편안하게 다가가고자..보답 노력"[일문일답]" (in Korean). Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  12. ^ a b Nandini Iyengar (September 28, 2022). "JAY B revels in personal growth in joyous smasher 'Be Yourself': Album Review". Bollywood Hungama. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  13. ^ "비오, 대세의 감각 [DA:스퀘어]". entertain.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  14. ^ "Top Albums/EPs of 2022: Bandwagon's Picks — Epik High, Beyoncé, RM, ena mori, j-hope, DPR IAN, Utada Hikaru, and more". December 30, 2022. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  15. ^ a b "Circle Album Chart - Week 39, 2022". Circle Chart. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
  16. ^ "Circle Chart - Album Chart for September 2022". Circle Chart. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
  17. ^ "JAY B - Be Yourself [ep] (2022)". maniadb.com. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
  18. ^ "Circle Album Chart – September 2022". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved November 21, 2022.
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