"Attention" is the debut single by the South Korean girl group NewJeans. The music video for the song was surprise-released on July 22, 2022, and the track was released for download and streaming as part of their self-titled debut EP in August 2022. Written and composed by 250, Duckbay, Gigi, and the group member Danielle, "Attention" is a pop and R&B track with elements of late-1990s and early-2000s music such as house music on a new jack swing beat, and it incorporates dynamic key changes between the major and minor chords. Its lyrics are about the sensations of young infatuation.
Music critics generally praised the catchy production of "Attention". The single appeared on lists of the best songs of 2022, including those by Billboard, IZM, Music Y, NME, and Teen Vogue. Commercially, "Attention" peaked atop the South Korean Circle Digital Chart, reached number 54 on the Billboard Global 200, and charted in Argentina, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, and Vietnam. The single received certifications in Japan and South Korea.
Background and release On July 22, NewJeans released the music video for "Attention" as a surprise release, without previously revealing the members' identities or the group concept. The choreography video was released on the same day, and followed swiftly by the announcement of the quintet's debut self-titled extended play, which was confirmed to contain four tracks, including two additional singles.
Composition With a length of 2 minutes and 58 seconds, "Attention" switches between the major and minor chords. Built on minimal instrumentation, the track incorporates influences of pop and R&B from the late-1990s and early-2000s in its beats, which evoke the rhythms of new jack swing and house music. The production includes vocal samples and sounds of applause, and the hook features sounds of chimes. In the refrain, all five members harmonize vocally. NewJeans' member Danielle participated in writing lyrics for the track.
Reception
Jang Jun-hwan wrote for IZM that "it aims for a comfortable listening experience, but will never be boring" and "satisfies the concept and significance of debut in many ways". Carmen Chin of NME thought that the track has a "groovy je ne sais quoi" and described its beat as "bustling".
+ "Attention" on select listicles Publication List Rank Billboard The 25 Best K-Pop Songs of 2022 6 CNN Philippines CNN Philippines' 25 Favorite K-pop Songs of 2022 No order Cosmopolitan The 15 Best K-Pop Songs of 2022 6 Dazed The best K-pop tracks of 2022 7 Idology Top 20 Songs of 2022 No order IZM 10 Best Songs of 2022 Music Y Best Songs of 2022 1 NME The 25 best K-pop songs of 2022 7 Teen Vogue The 79 Best K-Pop Songs of 2022 No order 21 Best K-Pop Music Videos of 2022 YouTube Korea Top 10 Most Popular YouTube Videos in 2022 2
Commercial performance "Attention" debuted at number one and number two on the Billboard South Korea Songs and on the Circle Digital Chart, respectively. It peaked at number one on the Circle Digital Chart in the chart issue dated August 14–20. Overseas, it debuted at number 26 on the RMNZ Hot Singles on the chart issue dated August 8, 2022. On the Global 200 the song peaked at 54. In Singapore and Vietnam the song debuted at eleven.
Accolades +Awards and nominations for "Attention" Year Ceremony Award Result 2022 MAMA Awards Song of the Year Best Dance Performance Female Group 2023 Circle Chart Music Awards New Artist of the Year – Digital Artist of the Year – Global Digital Music (August) Golden Disc Awards Digital Bonsang Digital Daesang Korean Music Awards Song of the Year Best K-pop Song
+ Music program awards for "Attention" Program Date M Countdown August 18, 2022 Music Bank August 19, 2022 Show! Music Core August 20, 2022 Inkigayo August 21, 2022 August 28, 2022
+Melon Popularity Award Award Date (2022) Weekly Popularity Award August 22
Credits and personnel Credits adapted from the EP's photo book.
Locations Recorded and engineered at Hybe Studio Mixed at Chapel Swing Studios, Valley Glen
Credits and personnel 250 – producer, composition, instrumental, programming, vocal directing Duckbay (Cosmos Studios, Stockholm) – composition, lyrics, background vocals Gigi – lyrics Danielle – lyrics Jungwoo Jang – vocal directing NewJeans – background vocals Emily Kim – background vocals Hyejin Choi – engineering Tony Maserati – mixing David K. Younghyun – mixing
Charts
Weekly charts + Chart (2022–2023) Peakposition Argentina (Argentina Hot 100) 78 Global 200 (Billboard) 54 Indonesia (Billboard) 22 Japan Heatseekers (Billboard Japan) 3 Japan Streaming (Billboard Japan) 72 Malaysia (Billboard) 19 New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ) 26 Singapore (Billboard) 7 Singapore (RIAS) 7 South Korea (Billboard) 1 South Korea (Circle) 1 Taiwan (Billboard) 25 Vietnam (Vietnam Hot 100) 8
Monthly charts + Chart (2022) Peakposition South Korea (Circle) 1
Year-end charts + Chart Year Position South Korea (Circle) 2022 22 South Korea (Circle) 2023 9 South Korea (Circle) 2024 44 South Korea (Circle) 2025 116
Certifications
Release history + Region Date Format LabelRef Various July 22, 2022 Music video ADOR August 1, 2022
References