Happily Ever After (EP)

Happily Ever After is the sixth Korean extended play by the South Korean boy band NU'EST, released on April 29, 2019.

Happily Ever After
Cover of the digital release
EP by NU'EST
Released	April 29, 2019 (2019-04-29)
Genre	K-pop
Length	20:17 (digital) 23:38 (physical)
Label	Pledis Entertainment
Producer	Baekho Bumzu
NU'EST chronology
Canvas (2016) Happily Ever After (2019) The Table (2019)
Singles from Happily Ever After
"Universe" Released: April 3, 2019 "Bet Bet" Released: April 29, 2019

Background and release

Happily Ever After is the first album release from NU'EST since Canvas in 2016, marking the return of the group as five after Minhyun's activities with Wanna One had ended earlier in 2019.^[1][2] The album was later confirmed to be in production on April 13, 2019.^[3] Happily Ever After was released on April 29, 2019; to accompany its release, the physical version was bundled with a 92-page photobook in four different versions, CD artwork featuring one of the five members at random, and two random photocards (with 10 total collectible).^[4]

Composition

The title track of Happily Ever After, "Bet Bet", is the final part in the "Three-part Knight Series" that began in NU'EST's 2016 extended play, Q is.^[2] It is described as a future bass song composed of "whistling synths" and "staccatoed beats", with lyrics about an "addiction-like love."^[2] The song "Different" was described as having a part that sounds like "going through the universe."^[5]

Minhyun's solo song "Universe" was released digitally on April 3, 2019 along with its music video as a pre-release track.^[6] The music video was filmed in Budapest and Milan.^[7] The song was later included in physical releases of Happily Ever After.^[8]

Reception

Happily Ever After peaked at #1 on the Gaon Music Chart.^[9] The album sold over 250,000 physical copies in South Korea,^[10] and it was certified platinum.^[11] It debuted at #8 on the US Billboard World Albums Chart,^[12] while "Bet Bet" peaked at #2 on the Billboard Korea K-pop 100.^[13] The music video for "Bet Bet" drew 10 million views on YouTube in one week after it was posted.^[14]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Baekho and Bumzu^[8]

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Arrangement	Length
1.	"Segno"	Baekho JR Bumzu	Bumzu Baekho Park Gi-tae	Bumzu Park Gi-tae	3:58
2.	"Bet Bet"	Baekho JR Bumzu	Bumzu Baekho Royal Dive	Royal Dive	3:20
3.	"Bass"	Baekho JR Bumzu	Bumzu Baekho	Bumzu Anchor	3:10
4.	"Talk About Love"	Baekho JR Bumzu	Bumzu Baekho	Bumzu Anchor	3:10
5.	"Different"	Baekho JR Bumzu	Bumzu Baekho Park Gi-tae	Bumzu Park Gi-tae	3:08
6.	"Fine"	Baekho JR Bumzu	Bumzu Baekho	Bumzu	3:31

Physical edition

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Arrangement	Length
7.	"Universe" (별의 언어 lit. Star Language; Minhyun solo)	Minhyun Bumzu Seo Ji-eum	Bumzu Park Gi-tae	Bumzu Park Gi-tae	3:21
Total length:					23:38

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2019)	Peak position
South Korean Albums (Gaon)^[9]	1
US World Albums (Billboard)^[15]	8

Year-end charts

Chart (2019)	Position
South Korean Albums (Gaon)^[16]	23

Accolades

Music programs awards

Song	Program	Date
"Bet Bet"	Show Champion (MBC Music)	May 8, 2019
	M Countdown (Mnet)	May 09, 2019^[17]
	Music Bank (KBS2)	May 10, 2019^[18]
	Show Champion (MBC Music)	May 22, 2019

References

1. Lee, Gyu-lee (April 22, 2019). "NU'EST teases 'Happily Ever After' with 2 new group photos". The Korea Times. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
2. Herman, Tamar (April 29, 2019). "NU'EST Makes Regal Return with 'Bet Bet': Watch the Music Video". Billboard. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
3. "[단독] 뉴이스트, 오는 29일 컴백 확정…3년만 완전체 앨범". News1 (in Korean). April 13, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
4. "NU'EST、韓国6枚目のミニ・アルバム『HAPPILY EVER AFTER』". Tower Records (in Japanese). April 17, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
5. NU'EST Recall First Impressions of One Another, Their Last Playful Bet & More. United States: Billboard. July 9, 2019. Event occurs at 1:00-1:16. Retrieved January 13, 2020. Ren: For me, I want to recommend "Different." There's a part that sounds like you're going through the universe. It always makes me excited, so that's the song I recommend.
6. "[퇴근길 신곡] "넌 나의 유니버스"..뉴이스트 컴백한 민현, 감성보컬의 취향저격". Osen (in Korean). April 3, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
7. "[HI★스포] "나만의 언어로" 황민현, 행복을 바라는 별의 노래". Hankook Ilbo (in Korean). April 3, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
8. "NU'EST、ニューアルバム「Happily Ever After」トラックリストを公開…タイトル曲は「BET BET」". Newsen (in Japanese). KStyle. April 23, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
9. • . Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 12, 2019. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
   • 2019년 11월 Album Chart [November 2019 Album Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved December 12, 2019.
10. Travis, Emlyn (July 26, 2019). "NU'EST on KCON, Fans and the Future". Paper. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
11. "국내 대표 음악 차트 가온차트!". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved December 22, 2019.
12. Benjamin, Jeff (May 8, 2019). "NU'EST Earn First Top 10 on World Albums, Biggest U.S. Sales Week With 'Happily Ever After'". Billboard. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
13. "Nu'est". Billboard. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
14. Lee, Gyu-lee (May 9, 2019). "NU'EST has first music show win". The Korea Times. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
15. "NUEST Chart History (World Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
16. "2019년 Album Chart". Gaon. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
17. "뉴이스트, 'BET BET'으로 '엠카' 1위 "러브들이 준 상"" (in Korean). Retrieved May 8, 2019.
18. "뉴이스트 'BET BET' 공중파 첫 1위 "러브에게 감사"" (in Korean). Retrieved May 10, 2019.