ROSÉ Turns Her Vulnerability Into Strength In “rosie”
On December 6, BLACKPINK member ROSÉ released her first solo studio album, rosie. Although she officially signed with THEBLACKLABEL in June 2024, which is headed by long-time BLACKPINK producer Teddy Park, ROSÉ did not announce rosie until October 1.
Through the 12-track project, ROSÉ flexes her songwriting and producing skills. From the fun-filled “APT.” to the heart-wrenching “stay a little longer,” the global star wrote all of the tracks on her debut album under her Korean name, Chae Young Park. We are no longer seeing “How You Like That” (or insert any other BLACKPINK hit) ROSÉ; instead, we are seeing the very heart and soul of Rosie — a nickname she only allows close family and friends to call her. In her first album, she takes us through her growing pains, the lessons she has learned, and all the joy and hurt of love and life.
Can You Be My Number One?
To build anticipation for rosie, the burgeoning singer-songwriter and producer dropped the surprise single “APT.” Full of fresh hooks and a pop-rock sound, ROSÉ and Bruno Mars took the world by storm. Not only has the song been streamed over half a million times on Spotify, but ROSÉ also debuted at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 list — and she is the first female Korean artist to do so.
If “APT.” showcases a free-flowing ROSÉ, then her other pre-release, “number one girl,” showcases a ROSÉ who is deeply in pain. The piano-based ballad is a conductor for her voice and allows the depth of her words shine. “Tell me that I’m special” opens the track, her voice sitting lower than how she usually sings. ROSÉ packs an additional emotional punch in lines like “I’d do anything to make you want me.” In these moments, her voice becomes a bit raspier as if she needs to dig deep to draw up these painful moments once more.
A simple music video accompanies “number one girl.” With only two or three locations appearing in the video, ROSÉ does not try to make a flashy pop song. Rather, she stays honest and lets her lyrics — and her facial expressions and body language — do the talking. She is someone who is hurting, like someone we may know (it could even be ourselves), as she dons jeans and a black crop top with her blonde curls covering part of her face. Through “number one girl,” ROSÉ tells listeners: I’m just like you.
A Heart Wide Open
“Stay a little longer” and “call it the end” continue what “number one girl” began. The former clocks in around four minutes long, but listeners are stopped in their tracks, especially when ROSÉ drags out her husky vocals. With lyrics that beg, “Please, won’t you stay / Stay a little longer, babe?,” the track feels like it was plucked straight out of a diary entry. The bright piano notes and the gently swinging rhythm juxtapose the raw pain ROSÉ captures.
A similar rawness finds its way into “call it the end.” Yet again, a simple piano line supports the singer’s voice, needing very little instrumentals to convey the vulnerable story. “We’re at the crossroad” sets the stage for the rest of the track, as ROSÉ wonders whether she will call this person her ex or her boyfriend. In these songs, ROSÉ does not let the fear of vulnerability drag her down. These three tracks, instead, open up a more holistic look at her stories. She navigates pain and explores sadness through ballads and more upbeat tracks, both of which pull at listeners’ heartstrings.
ROSÉ Brings Fresh Energy To The Table
“Two years,” “3am,” “APT.” (of course), and lead single “toxic till the end” all add a buoyant quality to ROSÉ’s new album. They are not always “happy” — take “toxic till the end” and “3am,” for example — but they do bring fresh energy to her growing discography. Acoustic or pop production, ROSÉ knows how to tap into the heart of a story — and with a little dramatic flair, too.
Slotted following “number one girl,” “3am” begins with a relatable, punchy line, “I just saw a red flag.” In this upbeat track, ROSÉ admits, “I need you really, really that bad” despite the world (and her mother) advising otherwise. The singer-songwriter can’t ignore that this person sees her pretty and not-so-pretty sides, which is partially why she is drawn to them. She sings in the chorus, “The one I run to / Take my makeup off and say good night to / The one I pretty-talk and ugly-cry to.” Despite the vulnerable lyrics, “3am” keeps the energy high with an echoey and bouncy “Eh-eh-eh” throughout the track, creating a memorable earworm.
The more subdued “two years” overflows with tension. ROSÉ keeps her voice soft; however, the instrumental moves to the forefront and envelops listeners into a lush atmosphere. If “3am” is about the singer still being with a toxic person, then “two years” is a reflection on how she still can’t forget them, despite breaking up two years ago. ROSÉ laments, a bit wryly, “Even had a funeral for you in my head,” yet “this love never dies.”
Swinging back to “3am”-related thoughts, ROSÉ presents “toxic till the end,” the lead single for rosie. Although the track clocks in around two-and-a-half minutes, the high-energy beats and electronic elements riding beneath the melody feel like they carry the song through to the end even faster. ROSÉ cuts straight to the chase, unafraid to say this relationship was “toxic” — and she knew it, too. She adds a little flourish to a calmer moment, saying, “Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you: The X,” the words colored with her Aussie accent. The Tiffany rings that never got returned also add a cheeky bit to the track overflowing with reflections on this toxic relationship. (The fact that ROSÉ is a Tiffany global ambassador makes the line even more amusing.)
The music video, filmed at the Old Westbury Gardens in New York, stars Evan Mock as “The X.” Shot on 35mm film, “toxic till the end” exudes a rosy haze of nostalgia, which juxtapose ROSÉ’s lines such as “Jealous and possessive / So manipulating / Honestly impressive / You had me participating.” ROSÉ and her ex run around the beautiful grounds; sometimes he scoops her up in his arms with her giggling with joy. But there are tense moments, too, like when the ex skateboards down the elegant hallway. In the next cut, ROSÉ is suddenly pushing him into a marble bust, causing it to shatter. There is a push-and-pull in “toxic till the end,” both in the lyrics and in the music video, reflecting ROSÉ’s genuine thoughts.
ROSÉ also explores a smoother and more sultry side to her vocals in “drinks or coffee,” “gameboy,” and “not the same.” If a wink was a song, then it would be “drinks or coffee,” hands down. The outro is an earworm, as ROSÉ bounces between “drinks or coffee” until the music fades out. Meanwhile, there is a sharpness present in “gameboy” that juxtaposes its initial smoothness. This contrast, along with its clever wordplay, helps the track stand out in a sea of songs focusing on the same (or similar) story. On a different note, “not the same” is a vocal playground for the songwriter. Only a guitar backs up ROSÉ, but she does not let the musical space deter her. Here, ROSÉ spreads her vocal wings and paints a tapestry of belted notes, husky lower notes, and notes that reach into her upper range.
Growing Up & Looking Forward
In the final two tracks, ROSÉ looks back on some painful stories, but she looks back on them with a newfound maturity. There is something good about growing up and having some distance when we remember a painful time. “Too bad for us” starts with a bright and hopeful guitar. From her first lyrics, maturity colors her story and even her voice, too. “Now the roses don’t grow here / I guess that love does want it wants / And that’s just too bad for us,” ROSÉ sings, injecting the lines with honesty.
“Dance all night” closes the project brimming with blood, sweat, and tears. Although rosie opens with an extremely low moment (“number one girl”), the album ends on a note of positive self-reflection. Dancing is a release for the star and a way to “Not care about the heartache in [her] life” as well as to “not obsess / Over all the little things I don’t regret.” At the end of the project, ROSÉ reminds us that it is okay to find happiness after going through challenging times.
By the time she released rosie, ROSÉ was the third member of BLACKPINK to share solo work this year. While Jennie and Lisa also created bold tracks embedded in confidence, ROSÉ decided to express this confidence through her vulnerability. From reflecting on toxic relationships to banishing toxic thoughts, rosie is an album of confessions and slowly tearing down the idol view of ROSÉ.
Want more ROSÉ? Check out EnVi’s Best of 2024 roundups here!
