The album was a commercial success, exceeding 1 million pre-orders, making Twice the third female K-pop group to do so at the time after Blackpink and Aespa. In South Korea, the album debuted at number two on the Circle Album Chart with nearly 1 million physical copies sold. In the United States, it debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 with 100,000 equivalent album units and became the sixth best-selling album of 2022 in CD album sales. The album also reached the top ten in Japan, Finland, Poland, Sweden, Uruguay, and Croatia.
Background
Between 1&2 followed Celebrate, Twice's fourth Japanese studio album,[1][2] and served as the group's first Korean release in 2022.[3] On May 16, after concluding their second worldwide concert tour in Los Angeles, a cryptic post featuring the dates "2022.06.24" and "2022.08.26"[a] circulated Twice's social media accounts, leading to fan speculation.[4] June 24 was later revealed as the release date for Nayeon's solo debut EP, Im Nayeon.[5]
On July 2, while hosting an episode of MBC's Show! Music Core, Twice member Dahyun announced that Twice would be making a comeback, stating that "it is planned, so please look forward to it".[6] On July 12, all members of Twice renewed their contracts with JYP Entertainment.[7] One day later, the label announced a "mini album" titled Between 1&2 with a planned release date of August 26.[8]
Title and composition
Similar to Formula of Love: O+T=<3, the EP's title, Between 1&2, represents the connection of Twice with their fandom, Once.[9][10] Members Chaeyoung, Dahyun, and Jihyo wrote lyrics of some songs on Between 1&2, with the latter also being credited as a composer on the song "Trouble".[2][11] The EP's second track, "Queen of Hearts", an English song, features a drum beat and guitar sound mixed with Twice's "cool" vocals in harmony. "Brave" was described as a dance-pop track centered on the group's fandom, called Once, which "gives Twice the courage to become themselves". Lyrically, the song expresses "the sincerity of Twice members".[12]
Release and promotion
A promotional poster with the phrase "Tell Me What You Want" written above a light switch was posted onto Twice's social media accounts on July 13, 2022.[13] On July 26, the tracklist of Between 1&2 was released.[14] On August 5, JYP Entertainment released a timetable for the EP.[15] On August 9, Twice released an opening trailer for the EP and a snippet of lead single "Talk That Talk".[16][17][18]
On August 17 and 18, individual teasers and group photos demonstrating the concept of the album were posted on Twice's official social media accounts.[19][20] On August 19, the group released snippets of the second track, "Queen of Hearts", and fifth track, "Brave".[12] On August 23, the group released a sneak peek to the album.[21] On August 24 and 25, the group released two teasers for the music video of "Talk That Talk".[22]
Writing for NME, Tanu I. Raj noted that while Between 1&2 looks back on Twice's "growth with fondness and pride, and leave[s] us with the promise of better things to come", it suffers from some "road bumps".[24]
Commercial performance
On August 25, 2022, it was reported that pre-order sales of Between 1&2 had surpassed 1 million copies, exceeding Twice's previous career high of 700,000 pre-orders for Formula of Love: O+T=<3,[25] and making Twice the third female K-pop group to exceed 1 million pre-orders after Blackpink and Aespa.[9]Between 1&2 debuted at number 2 on South Korea's Circle Album Chart with 995,614 units sold.[26] In Japan, it debuted at number 4 on Oricon's Digital Albums Chart[27] and at number 10 on Billboard Japan's Hot Albums chart.[28] In October 2022, it became Twice's first album to be certified Million by the Korea Music Content Association.[29]
In the United States, the EP peaked at number 3 on the Billboard 200 with over 100,000 equivalent album units. Of these, 94,000 were pure sales, 6,000 were streaming-equivalent units, and a negligible number were track-equivalent units. It is their fifth and best selling album on the chart after Formula of Love: O+T=<3.[30] According to Luminate's Year-End U.S. Report, Between 1&2 was the sixth best-selling CD album of 2022 in the United States, with 199,000 copies sold.[31]
^Hwang, Hye-jin (May 16, 2022). 트와이스, 6월 24일 컴백 예고? JYP "조만간 공식 발표"[공식] [Twice to make a comeback on June 24? JYP "Official announcement soon" [Official]]. Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 7, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
^Lee, Min-ji (May 19, 2022). 나연, 트와이스 첫 솔로 주자 출격 "6월24일 미니 1집 발매" [공식] [Nayeon, Twice's first soloist, will release 1st mini album on June 24th [Official]]. Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 7, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
^Lee, Seul (July 2, 2022). 임영웅, '음중' 또 1위…다현 "올해 트와이스 완전체 컴백" 스포 [종합] [Lim Young-woong is number one on Show! Music Core...Dahyun spoils "Twice's comeback as a whole group this year"]. Xports News (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 8, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
^Lee, Tae-soo (July 12, 2022). 트와이스, JYP와 전원 재계약 성공…"신뢰 바탕으로 미래 확신" [Twice succeeds in renewing contracts with JYP..."Confidence in the future based on trust"] (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. Archived from the original on October 7, 2022. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
^Moon, Han-sik (July 13, 2022). 트와이스, 8월 26일 새 미니 앨범 'BETWEEN 1&2'로 컴백 [Twice, comeback with new mini album 'Between 1&2' on August 26th]. Star News (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 5, 2022. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
^Park, Dong-seon (August 9, 2022). 트와이스, 신보 'BETWEEN 1&2' 트랙리스트 공개…Talk that Talk 등 7곡 [Twice releases track list for new album 'Between 1&2'…7 songs including 'Talk that Talk']. ET News (in Korean). Retrieved August 19, 2022.
^Park Soo-in (August 5, 2022). 트와이스 티징 타임테이블 공개 'BETWEEN 1&2' 베일 벗는다 [Twice teasing timetable released; 'Between 1&2' unveiled]. Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 9, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
^Cheon, Seolhwa (August 9, 2022). 트와이스, 오늘(9일) 0시 미니 11집 'BETWEEN 1&2' 오프닝 트레일러 영상 공개 [Twice releases the opening trailer for their 11th mini album 'Between 1&2' at 0 o'clock today (9th)]. Star Daily News (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 19, 2022. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
^Jimin, kyung (August 9, 2022). 트와이스, 매혹적인 분위기..'BETWEEN 1&2' 콘셉트 포토 공개 [Twice, captivating atmosphere.. 'Between 1&2' concept photo released]. OSEN (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 19, 2022. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
^Kwak, Hyun-soo (August 18, 2022). 트와이스 'BETWEEN 1&2' 두 번째 콘셉트 포토 공개 [Twice's 'Between 1&2' 2nd concept photo released]. YTN (in Korean). Retrieved August 19, 2022.
週間 アルバムランキング – 2022年09月12日付 [Weekly Album Ranking – September 12, 2022] (in Japanese). Oricon. September 12, 2022. Archived from the original on September 7, 2022. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
週間 アルバムランキング – 2022年09月19日付 [Weekly Album Ranking – September 19, 2022] (in Japanese). Oricon. September 19, 2022. Archived from the original on September 14, 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
週間 アルバムランキング – 2022年09月26日付 [Weekly Album Ranking – September 26, 2022] (in Japanese). Oricon. September 26, 2022. Archived from the original on September 25, 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
週間 アルバムランキング – 2022年10月03日付 [Weekly Album Ranking – October 3, 2022] (in Japanese). Oricon. October 3, 2022. Archived from the original on September 28, 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
週間 アルバムランキング – 2022年10月10日付 [Weekly Album Ranking – October 10, 2022] (in Japanese). Oricon. October 10, 2022. Archived from the original on October 5, 2022. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
