Blackpink member Rose begins her solo career away from YG Entertainment with the release of Rosie, which was released on the 6th of December 2024. Rose debuted in Blackpink in August 2016 with fellow bandmates Jisoo, Lisa, and Jennie. The girls quickly amassed a huge global ordiance and have continued to break records. After releasing some solo work through YG Entertainment, Blackpink label, back in March of 2021, fans asked for more. It wasn't until she had negotiated a solo contract with Black Label and Atlantic Records that she was able to release her first proper album.
Enjoyment of each song:
Number one Girl – 10
3am – 8
Two years – 9
Toxic till the end – 10
Drinks or coffee – 9
APT. – 7
Gameboy – 9
Stay a little longer – 10
Not the same – 9
Call it the end – 8
Too bad for us – 9
Dance all night – 10
The album features the international hit ATP featuring Bruno Mars. Yes, I can see why it has taken over the world to such an extent; however, it is my least favourite song on the album. It just feels too messy for my liking.
However, all the other songs are great listens, as Rose showcases her great vocals. "Number One Girl" is a slow, strong, and emotionally moving song about a past relationship in Rose's life. You can really feel the emotion in her voice as she delivers a pop classic. Another top song from the album is "Toxic Till the End," a self-explanatory song about a toxic relationship, which is not as emotionally charged as "Number One Girl," as it features a high-tempo chorus.
Knowing Rose's vocal potential from some of her covers, I expected/hoped to see more of that raw power, but I was left a bit disappointed. Although this album is what it is meant to be and is undoubtedly a very good piece of pop, it fails to stand out from the crowd of other breakup albums that are plentiful in the pop genre.
However, with this being Rose's first album, it is definitely something to be proud of, and I look forward to seeing where she takes her solo music in the future.
Final thoughts
Rose delivers a very good debut album to launch her solo career, reflecting on the past few years in the life of one of K-pop's most prominent artists. If you are a pop fan, you will likely enjoy some, if not all, of the songs on this album.