Chaotic Wonderland is the first Japanese-language extended play by South Korean boy band Tomorrow X Together. It was released by BigHit Music and Universal Music Japan on November 10, 2021. Thematically, it follows their previous album The Chaos Chapter: Freeze, released in May 2021. The EP contains two Japanese versions of previous Korean releases, their first English single "Magic", and an original Japanese song "Ito".
Background Tomorrow X Togetger began 2021 by releasing their first Japanese studio album Still Dreaming on January 20, marking an end to The Dream Chapter series. Later, in May 2021 they began The Chaos Chapter with the release of their second Korean studio album named The Chaos Chapter: Freeze and its repackage album The Chaos Chapter: Fight or Escape on May 31 and August 17 respectively. On September 6, 2021, BigHit Music announced that the band would be releasing their first Japanese extended play on November 10, 2021. Originally, the Japanese featuring artist for "0x1=Lovesong" was undisclosed. Beginning October 22, Universal Music Japan teased the reveal with a set of clues via Twitter. The artist was revealed five days later as Ikuta Lilas, also known as Ikura, the main vocalist for Japanese musical duo Yoasobi.
On September 20, the also-undisclosed Japanese original song was revealed to be "Ito", written by Japanese pop-rap male vocal quartet Greeeen. The song revolves around the themes of attachment, like two people who are each one half of a thread meeting to make one thread. It comes from the feelings you get from forming a deep relationship with someone. Ito is also featured as the opening theme for the TV Tokyo's television drama, which began airing on October 15, 2021.
Release and promotion
In September, it was announced that Tomorrow X Together would appear in the December 2021 edition of Numéro Tokyo, slated for release on October 28. On October 26, two days prior to the release, the front covers were revealed with a snippet about their interview. The band also appeared on the front cover of "ar"'s December 2021 issue, released on November 12. This was the first time that a male overseas artist was featured on the front cover.
On November 3, 2021, following the TV-sized release for Spiral Labyrinth, "Ito" was pre-released as a digital single available on streaming platforms worldwide.
Track listing
Notes signifies an additional vocal producer.
Personnel Credits adapted from Tidal and the liner notes of Chaotic Wonderland.
Musicians
Tomorrow X Together – primary artist Soobin – songwriting, backing vocals Yeonjun – backing vocals , songwriting Beomgyu – songwriting Taehyun – backing vocals , songwriting Hueningkai – backing vocals , songwriting Lilas Ikuta – featured artist Revin – songwriting , gang vocals Slow Rabbit – songwriting RM – songwriting Derek "Mod Sun" Smith – songwriting, backing vocals Andrew Migliore – songwriting Melanie Joy Fontana – songwriting, backing vocals "Hitman" Bang – songwriting Danke – songwriting Will Smiths – songwriting Gabriel Brandes – songwriting , backing vocals Matt Thomson – songwriting Max Lynedoch Graham – songwriting No Love For The Middle Child – backing vocals Soma Genda – backing vocals
Kanata Okajima – Japanese lyrics Greeeen – songwriting William Segerdahl – backing vocals Matt Thomson – songwriting Max Lynedoch Graham – songwriting Alex Karlsson – songwriting BigHit Music – songwriting James F Reynolds – songwriting Vendors (Kevin Leinster jr.) – backing vocals Hiromi – Japanese lyrics Olly Murs – songwriting Sarah Blanchard – songwriting Richard Boardman – songwriting Pablo Bowman – songwriting, backing vocals Anders Froen – songwriting Aaron Hibell – songwriting Jenna Andrews – backing vocals Stephen Kirk – backing vocals
Instrumentation
Slow Rabbit – keyboard, synthesizer Aaron Sterling — live drum Young – guitar Andrew DeRoberts – guitar Alysa – keyboard, synthesizer Ricki Ejderkvist – guitar
Matt Thomson – keyboard, synthesizer, guitar Max Graham – keyboard, synthesizer, guitar James F Reynolds – keyboard Aaron Hibell – keyboard Richard Boardman – synthesizer Pablo Bowman – guitar
Production
Slow Rabbit – production , vocal arrangement Alysa – production Soma Genda – vocal arrangement Arcades – production Revin – vocal arrangement El Capitxn – vocal arrangement
The Six – production Aaron Hibell – production Jenna Andrews – vocal production Rob Grimaldi – vocal production Stephen Kirk – vocal production
Technical
Slow Rabbit – digital editing , engineering Hiroya Takayama (Sony Music Studios Tokyo) – digital editing, engineering Aaron Sterling – engineering J.C. Powys – engineering assistance Young – engineering Michel “Lindgren” Schulz – engineering Adam Hawkins – mixing Chris Gehringer – mastering Soma Genda – engineering, digital editing Jeon Bu Yeon – engineering
D.O.I – mixing Revin – digital editing Son Yujeong – engineering El Capitxn – engineering Kim Hyun Soo – engineering Alex Karlsson – engineering Gabriel Brandes – engineering Yang Ga – mixing John Hanes – mixing
Charts
Weekly charts + Chart performance for Chaotic Wonderland Chart (2021) Peakposition Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan) 1
Monthly charts + Monthly chart performance for Chaotic Wonderland Chart (2021) Peakposition Japanese Albums (Oricon) 2
Year-end charts + Year-end chart performance for Chaotic Wonderland Chart (2021) Position Japanese Albums (Oricon) 18 Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan) 19
Certifications and sales
Release history + Release history and formats for Chaotic WonderlandRegionDateLabelFormat(s)CatalogRef.VariousNovember 10, 2021 Citations regarding the release ofChaotic Wonderland for digital download:
Citations regarding the release of Chaotic Wonderland on streaming services:
Japan Universal Japan CD + DVD TYCT-69216 TYCT-69217 CD TYCT-69218 CD PROV-1016 CD PDCV-1140United StatesDecember 3, 2021UMECD + DVD TYCT-69216K TYCT-69217K CD TYCT-69218K
See also List of Oricon number-one albums of 2021 List of Billboard Japan Hot Albums number ones of 2021 List of K-pop albums on the Billboard charts
Footnotes
References
External links Oricon album profile (in Japanese)