Cheshire was a commercial success, where it debuted at number one on South Korea's
Circle Album Chart with 779,525 copies sold in the first week of release, becoming Itzy's fifth number-one album on the chart. In January 2023, the EP was certified
Million by the
Korea Music Content Association (KMCA) for surpassing 1,000,000 copies sold, the group's second million-seller album.
Background and release
On October 21, 2022, Itzy released the pre-release English-language single "
Boys Like You" prior to the release of their upcoming album.[1] On November 7, JYP Entertainment announced Itzy would be releasing their sixth extended play titled Cheshire on November 30, with the promotional schedule released on the same day.[2] On November 9, the first concept film was released.[3] On November 16, the second concept film was released.[4] On November 24, the track listing was released with "
Cheshire" announced as the lead single.[5] The following day, the track spoiler video was released.[6] The music video teasers for lead single "Cheshire" was released on November 28 and 29.[7][8] The EP was released alongside the music video for "Cheshire" on November 30.[9]
Composition
The opening track "
Cheshire," serves as the album's lead single. It was inspired by the "mischievous"
Cheshire Cat from the 1951 Disney movie Alice in Wonderland.[10] It was described as the opposite of the previous lead single "
Sneakers". If the latter was more “energetic” and full of "peppy vibe and shouty delivery," then this one flirts with more darker, "subdued" instrumentals, "bold lyrics,"
groovy, and "sensuous" composition.[10][11] It's characterized by a "
funky"
bassline and gritty
electronic beats. Lyrically, it’s moved away from the "straightforward takes on love" in comparison to their past music; on "Cheshire," the group become "active players in the game of love, pushing and pulling the subject of their affections to fulfill their every whim and fancy. They almost veer into a femme-fatale approach to romance, though they are motivated by mischief (hence the Cheshire Cat inspiration) rather than more nefarious intentions."[10] Followed by the second track, "Snowy," that
samplesBeethoven's classical piece "
Für Elise".[12] It combines with a keyboard instrumental that "emulates the sound of
twinkling bells, all while instilling a dark, unsettling atmosphere."[10] The third track, "Freaky," is a
R&B-
pop song that takes a more "laid-back" and
minimalist approach with lyrics about "shake off a persistent ex-lover."[10] The closing track "
Boys Like You," is the group's first English-language song, released prior to the album. It is a
pop song that incorporates
punk elements, "catchy"
rhythmic rap, and
ad-libs. The lyrics showcase the group realizing their worth and refusing to "take back a two-timing boyfriend."[13][14]
Gladys Yeo of NME praised Cheshire as "a mature update to Itzy's sound", giving the album a three-star review. In particular, she found the title track's "darker, more subdued instrumentation" appealing and saw its lyrics as a departure from the group's previous music, with a bolder approach to romance. However, Yeo criticized the pre-release single "Boys Like You" as unfitting on the album with "painfully juvenile" lyrics.[10]
^Kim, Myung-mi (November 8, 2022).
"Itzy, 30일 'Cheshire' 발매...프로모션 스케줄러 공개" [Itzy releases 'Cheshire' on the 30th...Promotion Schedule Revealed] (in Korean). Newsen.
Archived from the original on December 3, 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2022 – via
Naver.
^Kim, Na-yul (November 9, 2022).
"Itzy, 'Cheshire' 콘셉트 필름 최초 공개..강렬한 비주얼" [Itzy, 'Cheshire' Concept Film Released for the First Time..Intense Visual] (in Korean).
Herald Pop.
Archived from the original on December 3, 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2022 – via
Naver.
^Seon, Mi-kyung (November 16, 2022).
"Itzy, 콘셉트 소화력 최강..반전 매력으로 '컴백'" [Itzy, the best in digesting concepts..'Comeback' with a twisted charm] (in Korean). Osen.
Archived from the original on December 3, 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2022 – via
Naver.
^Hwang, Hye-jin (November 24, 2022).
"'컴백' Itzy, 마마어워즈서 타이틀곡 '체셔' 무대 최초 공개" ['Comeback' Itzy unveils title song 'Cheshire' for the first time at the MAMA Awards] (in Korean). Newsen.
Archived from the original on December 3, 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2022 – via
Naver.
^Jang, In-yeong (November 25, 2022).
"있지, 신곡 '체셔' 하이라이트 음원 공개...기대감 고조" [Itzy, new song 'Cheshire' highlight sound source released... heightened expectations] (in Korean).
Newsis.
Archived from the original on December 3, 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2022 – via
Naver.
^Jung, Hyeon-tae (November 29, 2022).
"있지, 타이틀곡 'Cheshire' MV 티저 추가 오픈..내일(30일) 컴백" [Itzy, an additional MV teaser for the title song 'Cheshire' is open.. Comeback tomorrow (30th)] (in Korean).
Herald Pop.
Archived from the original on December 3, 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2022 – via
Naver.
^Kim, Ye-na (November 30, 2022).
""심각해지지 마"...Itzy, 믿음이 불확실해질 때 '체셔' (쥬크박스)[종합]" ["Don't be serious"...Itzy, when faith becomes uncertain, 'Cheshire' (Jukebox)[Comprehensive]] (in Korean). X-port News.
Archived from the original on December 3, 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2022 – via
Naver.
^Jang, Ji-yoon (October 21, 2022).
"있지(ITZY), 오늘 영어 싱글 공개…'보이즈 라이크 유'" [ITZY releases English single today... 'Boys Like You']. Newsis (in Korean). Retrieved July 8, 2023.
Cheshire was a commercial success, where it debuted at number one on South Korea's
Circle Album Chart with 779,525 copies sold in the first week of release, becoming Itzy's fifth number-one album on the chart. In January 2023, the EP was certified
Million by the
Korea Music Content Association (KMCA) for surpassing 1,000,000 copies sold, the group's second million-seller album.
Background and release
On October 21, 2022, Itzy released the pre-release English-language single "
Boys Like You" prior to the release of their upcoming album.[1] On November 7, JYP Entertainment announced Itzy would be releasing their sixth extended play titled Cheshire on November 30, with the promotional schedule released on the same day.[2] On November 9, the first concept film was released.[3] On November 16, the second concept film was released.[4] On November 24, the track listing was released with "
Cheshire" announced as the lead single.[5] The following day, the track spoiler video was released.[6] The music video teasers for lead single "Cheshire" was released on November 28 and 29.[7][8] The EP was released alongside the music video for "Cheshire" on November 30.[9]
Composition
The opening track "
Cheshire," serves as the album's lead single. It was inspired by the "mischievous"
Cheshire Cat from the 1951 Disney movie Alice in Wonderland.[10] It was described as the opposite of the previous lead single "
Sneakers". If the latter was more “energetic” and full of "peppy vibe and shouty delivery," then this one flirts with more darker, "subdued" instrumentals, "bold lyrics,"
groovy, and "sensuous" composition.[10][11] It's characterized by a "
funky"
bassline and gritty
electronic beats. Lyrically, it’s moved away from the "straightforward takes on love" in comparison to their past music; on "Cheshire," the group become "active players in the game of love, pushing and pulling the subject of their affections to fulfill their every whim and fancy. They almost veer into a femme-fatale approach to romance, though they are motivated by mischief (hence the Cheshire Cat inspiration) rather than more nefarious intentions."[10] Followed by the second track, "Snowy," that
samplesBeethoven's classical piece "
Für Elise".[12] It combines with a keyboard instrumental that "emulates the sound of
twinkling bells, all while instilling a dark, unsettling atmosphere."[10] The third track, "Freaky," is a
R&B-
pop song that takes a more "laid-back" and
minimalist approach with lyrics about "shake off a persistent ex-lover."[10] The closing track "
Boys Like You," is the group's first English-language song, released prior to the album. It is a
pop song that incorporates
punk elements, "catchy"
rhythmic rap, and
ad-libs. The lyrics showcase the group realizing their worth and refusing to "take back a two-timing boyfriend."[13][14]
Gladys Yeo of NME praised Cheshire as "a mature update to Itzy's sound", giving the album a three-star review. In particular, she found the title track's "darker, more subdued instrumentation" appealing and saw its lyrics as a departure from the group's previous music, with a bolder approach to romance. However, Yeo criticized the pre-release single "Boys Like You" as unfitting on the album with "painfully juvenile" lyrics.[10]
^Kim, Myung-mi (November 8, 2022).
"Itzy, 30일 'Cheshire' 발매...프로모션 스케줄러 공개" [Itzy releases 'Cheshire' on the 30th...Promotion Schedule Revealed] (in Korean). Newsen.
Archived from the original on December 3, 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2022 – via
Naver.
^Kim, Na-yul (November 9, 2022).
"Itzy, 'Cheshire' 콘셉트 필름 최초 공개..강렬한 비주얼" [Itzy, 'Cheshire' Concept Film Released for the First Time..Intense Visual] (in Korean).
Herald Pop.
Archived from the original on December 3, 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2022 – via
Naver.
^Seon, Mi-kyung (November 16, 2022).
"Itzy, 콘셉트 소화력 최강..반전 매력으로 '컴백'" [Itzy, the best in digesting concepts..'Comeback' with a twisted charm] (in Korean). Osen.
Archived from the original on December 3, 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2022 – via
Naver.
^Hwang, Hye-jin (November 24, 2022).
"'컴백' Itzy, 마마어워즈서 타이틀곡 '체셔' 무대 최초 공개" ['Comeback' Itzy unveils title song 'Cheshire' for the first time at the MAMA Awards] (in Korean). Newsen.
Archived from the original on December 3, 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2022 – via
Naver.
^Jang, In-yeong (November 25, 2022).
"있지, 신곡 '체셔' 하이라이트 음원 공개...기대감 고조" [Itzy, new song 'Cheshire' highlight sound source released... heightened expectations] (in Korean).
Newsis.
Archived from the original on December 3, 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2022 – via
Naver.
^Jung, Hyeon-tae (November 29, 2022).
"있지, 타이틀곡 'Cheshire' MV 티저 추가 오픈..내일(30일) 컴백" [Itzy, an additional MV teaser for the title song 'Cheshire' is open.. Comeback tomorrow (30th)] (in Korean).
Herald Pop.
Archived from the original on December 3, 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2022 – via
Naver.
^Kim, Ye-na (November 30, 2022).
""심각해지지 마"...Itzy, 믿음이 불확실해질 때 '체셔' (쥬크박스)[종합]" ["Don't be serious"...Itzy, when faith becomes uncertain, 'Cheshire' (Jukebox)[Comprehensive]] (in Korean). X-port News.
Archived from the original on December 3, 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2022 – via
Naver.
^Jang, Ji-yoon (October 21, 2022).
"있지(ITZY), 오늘 영어 싱글 공개…'보이즈 라이크 유'" [ITZY releases English single today... 'Boys Like You']. Newsis (in Korean). Retrieved July 8, 2023.