Supernova (Aespa song)

On April 22, 2024, SM Entertainment announced that Aespa would be releasing their first studio album, Armageddon. It was also announced that the album would feature two title tracks: "Supernova" and "Armageddon", with the former releasing on May 13 and the latter, along with the album, on May 27.^[2] On May 10, the track listing was revealed alongside a highlight medley teaser video.^[3] Two days later, the music video teaser was released.^[4] "Supernova" was released along with its music video on May 13.^[5]

On September 20, ScreaM Records released the remix version of "Supernova" by Canadian musician Grimes alongside the remixes of "Armageddon", under the 33rd volume of the series iScreaM.^[6]

"Supernova" was written and composed by Kenzie and Paris Alexa, and Dem Jointz participating in both the composition and production. Alexa wrote the original song in English to Jointz beat's, and Kenzie refined and translated the lyrics into Korean to make it flow seamlessly together.^[7] Described as a dance and hyper-pop song characterized by "heavy kick and bass", "catchy top line", and "synth melody" with lyrics about "Aespa's expanded world view by comparing the beginning of an event that opens a door to another dimension to a supernova, expressing the beginning of a big explosion".^[8][9] "Supernova" was composed in the key of B minor, with a tempo of 120 beats per minute.^[10]

Gil Kaufman of Billboard, described the track as "the dance floor-ready" fusion of "hip-hop beats, EDM rhythms and smooth pop vocals".^[8] Uproxx's Derrick Rossignol characterized "Supernova" as a "cross-genre banger" that combines "elements of pop, dance, hip-hop, and electronic music into one cohesive package".^[11]

"Supernova" debuted at number eight on South Korea's Circle Digital Chart in the chart issue dated May 12–18, 2024,^[12] ascending to number one in the following week.^[13] The song also debuted on the Billboard South Korea Songs in the chart issue dated May 25, 2024,^[14] ascending to number one in the following week.^[15] The song achieved the perfect all-kill status, where a song simultaneously reaches number one on the real-time, daily, and weekly components of iChart.^[16] In Japan, the song debuted at number 26 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 in the chart issue dated May 22, 2024,^[17] ascending to number 25 in the following week.^[18] On the Oricon Combined Singles Chart, the song debuted at number 24 in the chart issue dated May 27, 2024.^[19]

In Singapore, "Supernova" debuted at number 28 on the RIAS Top Streaming Chart and number 11 on the Top Regional Chart in the chart issue dated May 10–16, 2024,^[20] ascending to number six on the Top Streaming Chart and number two on the Top Regional Chart in the following week.^[21] In Hong Kong, the song debuted at number 15 on the Billboard Hong Kong Songs in the chart issue dated May 25, 2024,^[22] ascending to number one in the following week.^[23] In Taiwan, the song debuted at number six on the Billboard Taiwan Songs in the chart issue dated May 25, 2024,^[24] ascending to number two in the following week.^[25] In Indonesia, the song debuted at number 14 on the Billboard Indonesia Songs in the chart issue dated June 1, 2024.^[26] In Malaysia, the song debuted at number ten on the Billboard Malaysia Songs in the chart issue dated June 1, 2024.^[27]

In the United States, "Supernova" debuted at number five on the Billboard World Digital Song Sales in the chart issue dated May 25, 2024.^[28] In New Zealand, "Supernova" debuted at number 20 on the RMNZ Hot Singles in the chart issue dated May 20, 2024,^[29] ascending to number 12 in the following week.^[30] In the United Kingdom, the song debuted at number 33 on the OCC's UK Singles Download Chart,^[31] and UK Singles Sales Chart in the chart issue dated May 17–23, 2024.^[32] In Netherlands, the song debuted at number 17 on the Global Top 40 in the chart issue dated May 27, 2024.^[33] In Argentina, the song debuted at number 50 on the Billboard Argentina Hot 100 in the chart issue dated June 1, 2024.^[34] Globally, the song debuted at number 50 on the Billboard Global 200,^[35] and number 23 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. in the chart issue dated May 25, 2024,^[36] ascending to number 19 on the Global 200,^[37] and number seven on the Global Excl. U.S. in the following week.^[38] The song peaked at number 17 on the Global 200,^[39] and number six on the Global Excl. U.S. the following week^[40]

The music video directed by Ha Junghoon (Hattrick),^[41] was released on May 13, 2024, alongside the song.^[11] On the same day, it was announced that the music video had surpassed 10 million views within 10 hours.^[11]

The "futuristic" music video shows Aespa in "dynamic and witty characterizations",^[42] displaying their superpowers throughout the city.^[11] It features each member possessing an "otherworldly power" - Karina's super strength, Ningning's control over fire, Winter's floating in the air and Giselle's time-looping.^[7] The visual starts with Karina surviving a fall from way high up onto a car. Moments later, she leaves the shattered vehicle unharmed.^[11] Other scenes include the member "ripping the side mirrors off parked cars, flashing [her] vampire fangs and lifting up vehicles with one hand".^[8]

Additionally, AI technology was used to move still photos of Aespa's faces in synergy with the lyrics of the song.^[42] Member Ningning revealed that she "laughed so much when [she] saw the AI scene", describing it as "not something you expect". The singer also realized that "even in a world where AI covers and AI-anything are so popular", the technology will not be able to "replicate our expressions and the temperatures of humans".^[43]

Following the release of "Supernova", on May 13, 2024, Aespa performed on four music programs in the first week of promotion: Mnet's M Countdown on May 16,^[44] and KBS's Music Bank on May 17,^[45] MBC's Show! Music Core on May 18,^[46] and SBS's Inkigayo on May 19.^[47] In the second and final week of promotion, they performed on four music programs: M Countdown on May 23,^[48] Music Bank on May 24,^[49] Show! Music Core on May 25,^[50] and Inkigayo on May 26,^[51] where they won first place for three appearances except Music Bank.

On South Korea music programs, "Supernova" achieved a triple crown on June 23 episode of Inkigayo in 2024.^[52]

Digital download and streaming

1. "Supernova" – 2:58

Digital download and streaming – iScreaM Vol.33: Supernova / Armageddon Remixes

1. "Supernova" (Grimes remix) – 3:47
2. "Armageddon" (Flava D remix) – 4:07
3. "Armageddon" (2Spade remix) – 3:08
4. "Armageddon" (Mount XLR remix) – 3:16
5. "Supernova" – 2:58
6. "Armageddon" – 3:16

Digital download and streaming – Re:Works

1. "Supernova" (Kenzie Re:Works) – 3:32
2. "Supernova" – 2:58

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.^[91]

Studio

• SM Wavelet Studio – recording
• SM Yellow Tail Studio – digital editing
• SM Blue Ocean Studio – mixing
• 821 Sound – mastering

Personnel

• SM Entertainment – executive producer
• Aespa – vocals, background vocals
• Kenzie – lyrics, composition, vocal directing
• Paris Alexa – composition, lyrics, background vocals
• Dem Jointz – composition, arrangement
• Noh Min-ji – recording, digital editing
• Kang Eun-ji – recording
• Kim Cheol-sun – mixing
• Kwon Nam-woo – mastering

• List of Circle Digital Chart number ones of 2024
• List of Inkigayo Chart winners (2024)
• List of M Countdown Chart winners (2024)
• List of Music Bank Chart winners (2024)
• List of Show! Music Core Chart winners (2024)