Life's Too Short (Aespa song)

"Life's Too Short"
English version cover
Single by Aespa
from the EP Girls
LanguageEnglish
ReleasedJune 24, 2022 (2022-06-24)
Genre
Length2:58
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Klempner
Aespa singles chronology
"Dreams Come True"
(2022) 		"Life's Too Short"
(2022) 		"Girls"
(2022)
Music video
"Life's Too Short " on YouTube

"Life's Too Short" is a song by the South Korean girl group Aespa, released on June 24, 2022, by SM Entertainment and Warner Records, as the pre-release single from the group's second extended play Girls. The song is the group's first song fully recorded in English. It was written by Uzoechi Emenike, Becky Hill and Sam Klempner and produced by Klempner. "Life's Too Short" is a mid-tempo pop, soft pop and bubblegum pop song, driven by an electric guitar riff. It is about staying true to oneself and doing what makes one happy, no matter what others have to say.

Background and release

On April 19, 2022, it was announced that Aespa would be performing at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 23, as part of 88rising's Head in the Clouds Forever showcase.[1] Their setlist included "Savage", "Next Level", "Black Mamba" and an English version of a new song titled "Life's Too Short", which was announced as a part of their upcoming release.[2] On June 1, 2022, a teaser marking the release of Girls, was posted on the group's various social media accounts.[3] It was also revealed that the group would release the English version of "Life's Too Short" as the second pre-release single from the EP on June 24.[4] The song was released for digital download and streaming on June 24, 2022, by SM Entertainment and Warner Records.[5]

Composition

"Life's Too Short" was written by Uzoechi Emenike, Becky Hill and Sam Klempner and produced by Klempner. Musically, the song was described as a medium-tempo pop, soft pop and bubblegum pop song with a "catchy, electric guitar riff" and "bright, breezy and hopeful vocals". The song's lyrics have a "positive aspiration to enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime life as desired without regrets".[6][7] "Life's Too Short" was composed in the key of C minor, with a tempo of 72 beats per minute.[8] Aespa said that the song is a "reminder to all our MYs to stay true to yourselves and spread love because life is too short for hate".[9]

Critical reception

Billboard's Jason Lipshutz wrote that the song "slyly harkens back to some stone-cold classic singles from girl groups like the Spice Girls and Destiny's Child".[10] Tomas Mier of Rolling Stone deemed the song "a soft bop, laced with a catchy chorus and danceable melody".[5] Riddhi Chakraborty from Rolling Stone India described the song as "an anthem about staying true to yourself and doing what makes you happy – no matter what haters have to say".[7]

Year-end lists for "Life's Too Short"
Critic/Publication List Rank Ref.
Teen Vogue The 79 Best K-Pop Songs of 2022 Placed [11]

Music video

A scene in the music video, where Aespa is seen having a pillow fight at a sleepover.

An accompanying music video for the song was released at midnight on June 24, 2022, along with "Life's Too Short".[12] The video was inspired by fashion, films and pop culture from the early 2000s in "hazy" tones of pink, purple and blue.[7] The visual shows the group enjoy their lives, eschewing social media to have a sleepover, go to karaoke and attend photoshoots.[12] It has references to films like Mean Girls and Clueless.[7]

Promotion

The group debuted "Life's Too Short" at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 23, 2022.[5] On June 26 and 27, Aespa performed the song during a one-off concert titled the "Aespa Showcase Synk in LA".[13] The group performed the song on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on June 29, 2022.[14] They bagan Good Morning America's Summer Concert Series on July 8, 2022, with performances of "Life's Too Short", "Black Mamba", "Girls", "Illusion" and "Next Level".[15]

Track listing

  • Digital download / streaming[16]
  1. "Life's Too Short (English Version)" – 2:58
  2. "Life's Too Short" (Instrumental) – 2:58

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Girls.[17]

Studio

Personnel

  • Aespa – vocals, background vocals
  • Uzoechi Emenike – English lyrics, composition
  • Becky Hill – English lyrics, composition
  • Sam Klempner – English lyrics, composition, arrangement
  • Jang Jung-won – Korean lyrics
  • MinGtion – vocal directing
  • Oiaisle – background vocals
  • Kang Eun-ji – recording
  • Lee Ji-hong – digital editing
  • Kim Cheol-sun – mixing
  • Kwon Nam-woo – mastering

Charts

Release history

Release history for "Life's Too Short"
Region Date Version Format(s) Label(s)
Various June 24, 2022 English
July 8, 2022 Korean SM

References

  1. ^ Kim, Myung-mi (April 19, 2022). 에스파, 美 최대 음악 축제 코첼라 메인 스테이지 공식 초청 [Aespa's Official Invitation to the Main Stage of Coachella, America's Largest Music Festival]. Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  2. ^ Benjamin, Jeff (April 20, 2022). "aespa Share Details on Coachella Debut & 'New Music That Will Wow the World': Exclusive". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 20, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  3. ^ Bowenbank, Starr (May 31, 2022). "Aespa Announces Release Date for Second Mini Album 'Girls': Here's When It Arrives". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 2, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  4. ^ Lee, Seung-rok (June 1, 2022). 에스파, '도깨비불' 선공개했다 [Aespa pre-released 'Illusion']. MyDaily [ko] (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 1, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  5. ^ a b c Mier, Tomas (June 24, 2022). "K-Pop Girl Group Aespa Do What They Want on English Bop 'Life's Too Short'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  6. ^ Ahn, Hana (June 22, 2022). 에스파, 첫 영어 싱글 'Life's Too Short' 티저 이미지 공개 [Aespa releases teaser image for first English single 'Life's Too Short']. Maeil Broadcasting Network (in Korean). Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  7. ^ a b c d Chakraborty, Riddhi (June 24, 2022). "Watch Aespa's Dreamy Y2K-Themed 'Life's Too Short' Video". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  8. ^ "Key & BPM for Life's Too Short by Aespa". Tunebat. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  9. ^ Billboard, Staff (June 30, 2022). "Aespa Makes U.S. Late Night Debut With 'Life's Too Short'". Billboard. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  10. ^ "10 Cool New Pop Songs to Get You Through The Week: Aespa, Dove Cameron, Dayglow & More". Billboard. June 27, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  11. ^ "The 79 Best K-Pop Songs of 2022". Teen Vogue. December 15, 2022. Archived from the original on December 24, 2022. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  12. ^ a b Ziwei, Puah (June 24, 2022). "Watch aespa's music video for 'Life's Too Short'". NME. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  13. ^ Taesoo, Lee (June 28, 2022). 에스파 미국 LA 쇼케이스서 현지 팬 1만명 환호 [10,000 local fans cheered at ESPA's LA showcase]. Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  14. ^ Soo-in, Park (June 2, 2022). 에스파 미국 LA 쇼케이스서 현지 팬 1만명 환호 [Aespa, English single stage for first appearance on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' in the US]. Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  15. ^ Jae-eun, Lee (June 26, 2022). 에스파, GMA 2022 포문 연다[공식] [Aespa opens the gates of GMA 2022 [Official]]. Sports Trend (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 9, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
    - Kim Hyun-sik (July 8, 2022). '대세' 에스파 8일 출격…서머송 대전 불 붙인다[종합] ['Top trend' Espa's sortie on the 8th... Summer Song War Ignites [General]]. Edaily [ko] (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 9, 2022. Retrieved July 8, 2022 – via Naver.
  16. ^ "Life's Too Short - Single by Aespa". iTunes. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  17. ^ Aespa (2022). Girls (photobook). South Korea: SM Entertainment; Dreamus. Credits.
  18. ^ "Billboard Global 200: Week of July 9, 2022". Billboard. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  19. ^ "Indonesia Songs: Week of July 9, 2022". Billboard. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  20. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot 100 – Week of July 6, 2022". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  21. ^ "RIAS Top Charts Week 28 (8 - 14 Jul 2022)". RIAS. July 19, 2022. Archived from the original on July 19, 2022. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  22. ^ "Digital Chart: 2022 Week 28". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  23. ^ "Digital Chart: 2022 Week 29". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  24. ^ "Aespa Chart History (Billboard Vietnam Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  25. ^ "Digital Chart – July 2022". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved August 11, 2022.