Open Mind (Wonho song)

"Open Mind"
Single by Wonho
from the EP Love Synonym Pt.1: Right for Me
Language
  • Korean
  • English
ReleasedSeptember 4, 2020 (2020-09-04)
Recorded2020
Genre
Length3:10
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Wonho
  • Lee Seu-ran
Producer(s)
  • Corey Latif Williams
  • David Brook
  • Bryan Fryzel
  • Aaron Kleinstub
Wonho singles chronology
"Losing You"
(2020) 		"Open Mind"
(2020) 		"Lose"
(2021)
Music video
"Open Mind" on YouTube

"Open Mind" is the second solo single released by South Korean singer Wonho. It was released as the lead single and second single from his debut EP Love Synonym Pt.1: Right for Me on September 4, 2020.[2][3]

Background and release

The song alongside Wonho's EP was announced on August 9, as the first solo project of Wonho following his departure from Monsta X in October 2019.[4][5] On August 30, a twenty second video showing a preview of the choreography was released as a teaser.[6]

Wonho performed the song on his debut showcase on the same day as the song's release, hosted through V Live.[7][8]

Composition and lyrics

It uses a foundation of Eighties-style warped bass and synth to tremendous effect, veering into the electronic music with the occasional distorted vocals and a 808 beat. Wonho's vocals on the song were described as hazy over the pre-chorus and that they lead to a groovy, funk-fuelled drop. The lyrics of the song are a bold invitation to a "one-night stand". The track also grooves with an electro-funk current.[9]

Music video

The music video for the song was released alongside the song.[3]

Synopsis

The music video was described as choreography-heavy, with Wonho and his backup dancers performing sleek moves on a dance floor lit up in elegant combinations of reds, purples and blues. The video is interspersed with scenes of the singer getting ready for a night out. The singer then tosses a silver coin contemplatively in the air, stands in an elevator that’s climbing past hundreds of floors and drives a powerful car through a tunnel of streaming, neon lights.[9]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart performance for "Open Mind"
Chart (2020) Peak
position
South Korea (Gaon)[a] 15
US World Digital Songs (Billboard)[11] 4

Accolades

Listicles

Name of critic or publication, name of listicle, name of work and rank
Critic/Publication List Rank Ref.
BuzzFeed 35 Songs That Helped Define K-pop in 2020 6 [12]
CNN Philippines Best K-pop Songs of 2020 Placed[b] [13]
Dazed The 40 Best K-pop Songs of 2020 20 [14]
Medium 20 Best K-pop Songs of 2020 12 [15]
Paper The 40 Best K-pop Songs of 2020 37 [16]
Rolling Stone India 20 Best K-pop Music Videos of 2020 18 [17]

Release history

Release history and formats for "Open Mind"
Region Date Format Label
South Korea September 4, 2020
Various

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "Open Mind" did not enter on the Digital Chart but appeared on the component Download Chart.[10]
  2. ^ All the albums and songs listed are either unranked or just alphabetically ranked.

References

  1. ^ Magpili, Erika (September 5, 2020). "WONHO RELEASES STUNNING AND SENSUAL MUSIC VIDEO FOR HIS SOLO DEBUT TRACK, 'OPEN MIND'". PULP. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
  2. ^ Kim, Eun-ae (September 4, 2020). "'솔로 데뷔' 원호, 전매특허 '매혹 카리스마'로 글로벌 정조준..'Open Mind'[한낮의 신곡]". OSEN (in Korean). Retrieved September 4, 2020 – via Naver.
  3. ^ a b "K-POP Wonho 원호 Releases New Single 'Open Mind' And Official Music Video". Anyabelle. September 6, 2020. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  4. ^ Jo, Yeon-kyung (August 10, 2020). "´솔로 컴백´ 원호, 오피셜 로고 기습 공개". Sports Daily (in Korean). Retrieved September 3, 2020.
  5. ^ Moon, Wan-sik (September 4, 2020). "원호, 오늘(4일) 데뷔 앨범 'Love Synonym' 韓美 동시발매..본격 솔로 도약". Star News (in Korean). Retrieved September 4, 2020 – via Naver.
  6. ^ Leonard, Menson (August 30, 2020). "Wonho reveals teaser for Open Mind". Somag News. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  7. ^ Nam, Hye-yeon (September 5, 2020). "원호, 데뷔 쇼케이스 V라이브 성료… 34만 접속+5억 개♥". Sports Seoul (in Korean). Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  8. ^ Kim, Ye-sol (September 4, 2020). 원호, 'Love Synonym' 솔로 데뷔… "'바로 이거지' 반응 기분 좋아" [V라이브]. OSEN (in Korean). Retrieved September 4, 2020 – via Naver.
  9. ^ a b Chakraborty, Riddhi (September 4, 2020). "Wonho is Dangerous and Seductive in the Video For 'Open Mind'". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  10. ^ 2020년 37주차 Download Chart [Week 27 of 2020 Download Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  11. ^ "World Digital Song Sales chart for the week of September 19, 2020". Billboard. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  12. ^ Travis, Emlyn (December 31, 2020). "35 Songs That Helped Define K-pop in 2020". BuzzFeed. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  13. ^ "Best K-pop Songs of 2020". CNN Philippines. Archived from the original on December 22, 2020. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  14. ^ Glasby, Taylor (December 19, 2020). "The 40 Best K-pop Songs of 2020". Dazed. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  15. ^ Gaffney, Ciara (December 31, 2020). "20 Best K-pop Songs of 2020". Medium. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  16. ^ Bell, Crystal (December 18, 2020). "The 40 Best K-pop Songs of 2020". Paper. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  17. ^ Chakraborty, Riddhi (January 1, 2021). "20 Best K-pop Music Videos of 2020". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved January 3, 2021.