Album Review: Rosé – Rosie

Even if you don’t follow K-pop you’ve likely heard of Blackpink. They’ve been called “the biggest girl-group in the world” and are one of the best-selling bands of all time. With this introduction to the industry, it’s no surprise that member Rosé’s debut album R did well with its lead single On the Ground becoming the first song by a K-pop star to reach number one on the Billboard 200. The Australian-born star continued to make waves. And after breaking away from the agency that had managed her career so far she has released her first studio album, Rosie which she has called a “little journal” with her writing or co-writing all the songs.

The opening track No 1 Girl introduces the album with soft vocals and melodic piano backing. The ballad style fits well with the overwrought lyrics as Rosé sings ”’I’ll do anything to make you want me”. The opening track is emotive and affecting setting up the album with the singer declaring it a “break up album”, which features many songs with a more heartfelt tone. It’s followed by 3 am a much more upbeat pop track with a fun drumline and synth effects. It’s as different from No 1 Girl as any two tracks on the album showcasing an immediate range and showing that although the album has more serious and emotive moments Rosé is still leaning into her pop style. The two tones come together in Two Years which combines slow tragic lyrics about being unable to move on from a bad relationship with a rapid dance beat, that makes the song as catchy as it is moving.

Having made her start in pop, Rosé proves herself to be a natural at creating infectious pop songs. APT (feat. Bruno Mars) was the lead single and has already topped the Billboard 100. The song combines English and Korean lyrics with a wildly catchy hook that will have you humming “Don’t you want me like I want you baby” for the rest of the day. Bruno Mars works very well as a featured artist; his talk-sung verses do not interupt the track but elevate it. Toxic Till the End is another single and while less immediately catchy as APT its tongue-in-cheek lyrics and sarcastic take on a toxic relationship make it a memorable listen. Drinks or Coffee is probably the most K-pop-sounding track in the album, its playful lyrics as Rosé sings “gotta keep it nice can’t get naughty”, making it a fun lighter addition. These three tracks are so good they leave you wanting an all-pop album from Rosé, who more than has the skill for it.

However, a full pop album would mean we would miss out on tracks like Stay a Little Longer and Call it the End. Initially similar to No 1 Girl’s  ballad style and piano backing Stay a Little Longer distinguishes itself with its powerful vocals. With the choruses Rosé can show a range that is often limited by her pop catalogue, demonstrating strong strained vocals that lend emotion to the track. Call it the End stands out for its clever lyrics playing on the idea of calling it as she sings “Call you the one or the one who got away” and “Call you every night or never call you again”. This along with the piano backing and slow low register vocals make it stand out among the break-up ballads. The album finishes with the hopeful Dance all Night which pays homage to Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds, and brings an optimistic end to the album. After the emotional experience, the track is a breath of fresh air and an upbeat ending.

With Rosie, Rosé proves that she has what it takes to make it as a solo artist. Her pop songs are good enough to stand toe to toe with the best pop coming out this year, and despite comes out late in 2024 they establish her as a real stand-out in the pop scene. The ballad-style tracks show off both her range and songwriting ability showing that Rosé can do more than the pop that made her famous. As an album, Rosie works well cementing Rosé ‘s status as one to watch and while being one of the last albums of the year it could also be one of the most memorable.