Crazy in Love is the first studio album by South Korean girl group Itzy, released on September 24, 2021, by JYP Entertainment. The album contains sixteen tracks, including the lead single "Loco".
It achieved commercial success, debuting at number one on South Korea's Gaon Album Chart and at number 11 on the US Billboard 200, marking Itzy's highest-charting album in the United States. In February 2022, the album was certified 2× platinum by the Korea Music Content Association for selling over 500,000 copies.
Background and release On August 13, 2021, JYP Entertainment announced that Itzy would release their first studio album, Crazy in Love, on September 24. The promotional schedule was revealed on August 31. An opening trailer was released on September 6, followed by a group teaser photo for the lead single "Loco" on September 7. The album's track listing was unveiled on September 10, and a highlight medley teaser video was released on September 20. On September 21, the music video teaser for album track "Swipe" was released, followed by the teaser for "Loco" on September 22.
Composition Crazy in Love consists of sixteen tracks. The lead single, "Loco", is described as a song that "expresses the strong attraction first felt, in the style of Generation Z". "Swipe" conveys a warning to someone who crosses the line, featuring "808 drum beats, heavy bass, and melodic rap flowing over a retro clarinet". "Sooo Lucky" is a pop track characterized by a "funky guitar" and "cool bass", with lyrics about the miracle of finding love among billions. "#Twenty" is a hip hop song that captures "the excitement and flutter of just turning 20". "Gas Me Up" reflects the anxiety felt before going on stage while emphasizing self-confidence. "Love Is" is a modern pop song delivering an "impressive message" about how "love grows more complicated and difficult as emotions deepen". "Chillin' Chillin'" depicts "the excitement of going on a trip away from ordinary daily life". The album concludes with "Mirror", a track that "maximizes its charm" with emotional vocals and a warm message: "I am already good enough as I am".
Critical reception
Tanu I. Raj of NME gave Crazy in Love a three-star review, noting that while the album is "conceptually and logically sound in ushering in an era of maturity" for the group, it lacks the empowering message that initially drew fans to Itzy. In contrast, Benson Ang of The Straits Times awarded the album four stars, praising its "catchy" and "high-energy" tracks and highlighting that it "makes for a great soundtrack for a girls' night out".
Accolades +Awards and nominations for Crazy in Love Year Organization Award Result 2021 Asian Pop Music Awards Top 20 Albums of the Year (Overseas) Best Album of the Year (Overseas) 2022 Golden Disc Awards Best Album (Bonsang) Seoul Music Awards Bonsang Award
Commercial performance In South Korea, Crazy in Love debuted at number two on the Gaon Album Chart in the chart issue dated September 19–25, 2021. The album debuted at number four on the Gaon Monthly album chart with 335,610 copies sold, becoming Itzy's highest-selling album. By the end of 2021, the album surpassed 500,124 copies sold. In November 2021, Crazy in Love was certified Platinum by the Korea Music Content Association for selling over 250,000 copies. In February 2022, it was certified 2× Platinum for selling over 500,000 copies. Crazy in Love peaked at number one on the Gaon Album Chart in the chart issue dated January 30-February 5, 2022.
In the United States, the album debuted at number 11 on the Billboard 200 and at number one on the Top Album Sales chart with 22,000 sales, of which CD sales comprised 21,000 and 1,000 were via digital download. This was the group's second and highest-charting entry on the Billboard 200 after Guess Who earlier in the year and marked their first leader on the Top Album Sales chart. The album debuted at number one on Billboards World Albums and Independent Albums charts in the same week as well.
In Japan, the album debuted at position 8 on the Oricon Albums Chart in the chart issue dated October 11, 2021. The album also debuted at position 34 on Billboard Japan Hot Albums in the chart issue dated September 29, 2021.
Promotion Prior to the album's release, on September 24, 2021, Itzy held a live event called "ITZY #OUTNOW COMEBACK SHOW" on Naver Now to introduce the album and connect with their fans.
Track listing
Credits and personnel Credits adapted from Melon.
Studio
JYPE Studios – recording, digital editing, mixing GALACTIKA Studios – recording, digital editing Vibe Music Studio 606 – digital editing Canton House Studios – mixing GLAB Studios – mixing JoeLab – mixing Sterling Sound – mastering 821 Sound Mastering – mastering
Personnel
Itzy – vocals, background vocals Star Wars (Galactika) – lyrics, composition, recording Jo Yoon-kyung – lyrics Shim Eun-ji – lyrics, composition, arrangement, vocal directing Baek Geum-min (JamFactory) – lyrics Jo In-ho (lalala studio) – lyrics Vacation – lyrics Choi Ji-yoon (153/Joombas) – lyrics Yoon Ye-ji – lyrics Earattack – lyrics, composition, arrangement, instruments Sophia Pae – lyrics , background vocals , vocal directing Athena (Galactika) – composition, synthesizer, keyboard, bass, digital editing Woo Bin (Galactika) – composition, synthesizer, keyboard, bass Ludwig Lindell – composition, arrangement, programming Josefin Glenmark – composition, background vocals Oneye – composition Lee Min-young (EastWest) – composition, arrangement, vocal directing, programming, bass, drum Yeul (1by1) – composition, arrangement, programming, piano, bass, drum Charles "Chizzy" Stephens – composition, arrangement, instruments Chan's – composition, arrangement, instruments Eniac – composition Patricia K – composition Kim Bo-mi – composition April Bender – composition Team Galactika – arrangement Ian Asher – composition, arrangement, programming, instruments Anne Judith Stokke Wik – composition Nermin Harambašić – composition Ronny Svendsen – composition 250 – composition, arrangement, vocal directing, programming, instruments Ylva Dimberg – composition Harold Philippon – composition Kim Yeon-seo – composition, background vocals, vocal directing Young Chance – composition, vocal directing, digital editing Shorelle – composition, vocal directing David Anthony Eames – composition Sebastian Thott – composition, arrangement, programming, instruments Rosanna Enér – composition Alawn – arrangement, programming, mixing, bass, synthesizer, drums Bangkok – arrangement, programming, instruments Ra.L – background vocals Friday (Galactika) – background vocals, vocal directing e.NA (Galactika) – background vocals OGI (Galactika) – background vocals Aiden – background vocals Yi Da-eun – background vocals Sound Kim – background vocals Earattack – recording, vocal directing Um Se-hee – recording, digital editing, Park Eun-jung – recording Yi Sang-yeop – recording Gu Hye-jin – recording Choi Hye-jin – recording Jeong Yu-ra – digital editing Jiyoung Shin NYC – digital editing Jeong Mo-yeon – digital editing Yue – digital editing Kang Sun-young – digital editing Jaycen Joshua – mixing Jacob Richards – mixing (assistant) Mike Seaberg – mixing (assistant) DJ Riggins – mixing (assistant) Im Hong-jin – mixing Shin Bong-won – mixing Lee Tae-seop – mixing Park Eun-jung – mixing MasterKey – mixing Uncle Jo – mixing Kang Dong-ho – mixing (assistant) Chris Gehringer – mastering Kwon Nam Woo – mastering Chang (Galactika) – drums, synthesizer, keyboard, bass Park Cella Kim – guitar Jeong Su-wan – guitar
Charts
Weekly charts + Chart (2021–22) Peakposition Japan Hot Albums (Billboard Japan) 34 Japanese Albums (Oricon) 8 South Korean Albums (Gaon) 1
Monthly charts + Chart (2021) Peakposition South Korean Albums (Gaon) 4
Year-end charts + Chart (2021) Position South Korean Albums (Gaon) 27
Certifications
Release history + Region Date Format Label Various September 24, 2021 JYP
References