SOLO
Album
SOLO (Digital Single)
Release Date
November 12, 2018
Genre
Pop / Hip-hop
Label
Participating Artist
About the Song
“Solo” is the debut single by South Korean singer and rapper Jennie, released on November 12, 2018 through YG Entertainment and Interscope Records. Written and composed by Teddy, with production assistance from 24, the track blends dance-pop, hip-hop, and light EDM elements. Lyrically, it tells a story of breaking away from a painful relationship and reclaiming independence—transforming heartbreak into empowerment.
The song became a major commercial success in Korea, spending two consecutive weeks at No. 1 on both the Gaon Digital Chart and the Billboard K-pop Hot 100. Internationally, it marked a milestone as Jennie became the first female K-pop soloist to top the U.S. Billboard World Digital Song Sales chart. “Solo” also entered the charts in Canada, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Scotland, Singapore, and the U.K. In Korea, the track earned triple platinum certifications from the KMCA—surpassing 2.5 million digital sales, 250,000 physical sales, and 100 million streams. It later received gold certifications from the RIAJ in Japan and RMNZ in New Zealand.
The music video—directed by Han Sa-min and filmed in the U.K.—portrays Jennie’s transformation from a fragile, soft-hearted girl into a confident, self-reliant woman. Upon release, it was uploaded to the official BLACKPINK YouTube channel and eventually made history in 2024 as the first music video by a female K-pop solo artist to surpass 1 billion views.
Jennie promoted “Solo” on major Korean music shows such as Inkigayo and Music Core, and also performed it during BLACKPINK’s “In Your Area” world tour. The track went on to win several awards, including Best Digital Song at the 34th Golden Disc Awards.
[FULL LYRICS – ROMANIZATION & ENGLISH ONLY]
“Solo” describes reclaiming identity and confidence after being held down in a one-sided relationship. The narrator realizes the love story lacked emotion and meaning, choosing independence over staying in pain.
The repeated “I’m going solo” symbolizes breaking free from expectations, embracing self-worth, and stepping into a brighter, more authentic version of oneself. The song carries themes of empowerment, self-love, clarity, and emotional liberation.
