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Hi High

"Hi High"
Single by Loona
from the EP [+ +]
Language
  • Korean
ReleasedAugust 20, 2018 (2018-08-20)
Genre
Length3:16
LabelBlockberry Creative
Songwriter(s)
  • Jaden Jeong
  • GDLO
  • Hwang Hyun (MonoTree)
Producer(s)
  • Jaden Jeong
  • GDLO
  • Hwang Hyun (MonoTree)
  • Mayu Wakisaka
Loona singles chronology
"Favorite"
(2018) 		"Hi High"
(2018) 		"Butterfly"
(2019)
Music video
"Hi High" on YouTube

"Hi High" is a song released by South Korean girl group Loona. It was released on August 20, 2018, as the title track of Loona's EP [+ +], by Blockberry Creative.[2] It is the second single released by Loona as a full twelve-member group.[3]

Background and release

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A teaser for the music video of the song was released on August 17, 2018, and showed the members of Loona running towards somewhere.[4][5] Various teaser images were also revealed in the lead up to the album's release.[4] On August 20, "Hi High" was released alongside the album [+ +] as its title track.[2]

Composition and lyrics

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The lyrics were written by Jaden Jeong, MonoTree's GDLO, and MonoTree's Hwang Hyun. The music was composed by Mayu Wakisaka, MonoTree's GDLO, and MonoTree's Hwang Hyun.[6] According to Loona, "Hi High" has the double meaning of saying hi to the now-complete lineup of the 12 members in addition to representing Loona's goal of climbing to the top of the music scene.[7] It can also been seen as a reference to the LOONAverse, as all 12 girls, or 3 'worlds' come together. Billboard described "Hi High" as a "bright electro-pop song full of quirky beats and synths" with an "upbeat chorus".[3] Furthermore, Billboard stated that the "track picks up and drops momentum frequently", allowing it to highlight the different singing styles of each member of Loona.[3]

Critical reception

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The Kpop Herald also commented on how the song "delivers the bubbly energy of the band",[2] and TenAsia similarly characterized the song as energetic.[8] Hong Dam-young's album review in The Korea Herald remarked that "Hi High" is fast-paced with a "vivacious tempo and explosive vocals."[9] However, Hong criticized the writing of the song's lyrics as a "major drawback" due to some of its "silly lines".[9]

In 2022 NME crowned the song as the best in Loona's discography calling it a "flawless, impeccable debut single". They added how "perfecting the art of that effervescent, high-octane pop sound, the girls race through the entire song at breakneck speed, leaving not even the slightest room for dullness" in the song. They called the song bubbly, cute, and sprinkled throughout with "lowkey hilarious (but genius) lyrics". They ended their review by commenting how "Hi High" is simply the kind of song that leaves you giddy with happiness every single time.[10]

Commercial performance

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"Hi High" peaked at number 11 on the US World Digital Songs Sales, marking their second consecutive entry on the chart as a full group.[11]

Music video

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The song's release on August 20, 2018, was accompanied by a music video that was directed by the production company Digipedi, which also worked on many of Loona's previous music videos, including for "Favorite".[3] The video is colorful and depicts the members of Loona each dressed in a schoolgirl style, dancing and running.[2][3] At the end of the video, Loona member HeeJin jumps upward toward the sky, portraying a sense of positivity and enthusiasm.[12] The video also features the members wearing denim as they perform a routine in an industrial yard, while other scenes see the girls running through meadows, on swings, and jumping off roofs.[13]

The music video reached three million views in three days after its debut,[14] and it later surpassed ten million views eight days after its debut.[12][15]

Charts

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Chart Peak
position
US World (Billboard)[16][11] 11

Release history

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Region Date Format Label
Various August 20, 2018
Blockberry Creative

References

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  1. ^ Yannik, Gölz (August 18, 2018). "Eine Peak für K-Pop: So kommerziell, dass es schon wieder Gegenkultur ist". Laut.de. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d "Loona hopes to become 'rookies of year' with debut EP 'Plus Plus'". The Kpop Herald. 2018-08-20. Retrieved 2018-11-26.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Loona Marks Formal Start Of K-Pop Career With Video For Vibrant Electro-Pop Single 'Hi High': Watch". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-11-26.
  4. ^ a b "Loona Announces First Formal Single 'Hi High': Watch a Teaser". Billboard. 2018-08-17. Retrieved 2018-11-26.
  5. ^ 우빈 (2018-08-17). "이달의 소녀, 완전체 데뷔곡 '하이 하이' 티저 공개…'소녀들의 에너지'". TenAsia (텐아시아) (in Korean). Retrieved 2018-12-02.
  6. ^ "곡 정보 - Hi High". www.melon.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2018-11-26.
  7. ^ 박보람 (2018-08-20). "K-pop girl band Loona launches official debut album with full lineup". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 2018-11-26.
  8. ^ 우빈 (2018-08-29). "걸그룹 이달의 소녀, 방탄소년단 이어 美 빌보드 월드 앨범 차트 4위 랭크". TenAsia (텐아시아) (in Korean). Retrieved 2018-12-02.
  9. ^ a b Hong, Dam-young (2018-08-22). "[Album review] Loona's debut EP was worth the wait". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 2018-11-26.
  10. ^ Daly, Rhian (July 7, 2022). "Every LOONA song ranked in order of greatness". NME. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  11. ^ a b "LOONA Doubles Their Best U.S. Sales Week With Second Album Release". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-03-05.
  12. ^ a b Yim, Hyun-su (2018-08-28). "Loona emerges as a promising girl band". The Kpop Herald. Retrieved 2018-11-26.
  13. ^ Kelly, Emma (August 20, 2018). "LOONA make debut as full 12-piece girl group as they drop MV for Hi High". Metro. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  14. ^ 김수경 (2018-08-24). "이달의 소녀, '하이 하이' M/V 300만 돌파…"매일이 기록"". TenAsia (텐아시아) (in Korean). Retrieved 2018-12-02.
  15. ^ 편집국 (2018-08-28). "이달의 소녀, 유튜브 통합 조회수 1억 돌파". TenAsia (텐아시아) (in Korean). Retrieved 2018-12-02.
  16. ^ "Billboard World Digital Song Sales Chart". Billboard. September 1, 2018.