Yena Smartphone Album: What Makes This Mini Album Special?

Yena's smartphone album has emerged as a remarkable success story, selling an impressive 117,382 copies in its first week of release - nearly doubling her previous sales record. The music video for the title track "SMARTPHONE" further solidified this achievement, accumulating over 21 million views by mid-August 2022.

Released on August 3, 2022, this mini album showcases five diverse tracks including "Make U Smile," "SMARTPHONE," "WithOrWithOut," "Lemon-Aid," and "U." The album comes in two distinct versions - Smart and Phone - each offering unique collector experiences. Notably, both "SMARTPHONE" and "WithOrWithOut" received dedicated music show promotions, while the album's cute concept perfectly aligned with Yena's image.

Breaking Down Yena's Smartphone Album Tracks

The musical journey of Yena's sophomore mini-album showcases her growth as an artist through five distinct tracks. As a co-writer for three songs on the album - the title track, "Make U Smile," and "WithOrWithOut" - Yena demonstrates her expanding creative involvement.

Title track 'SMARTPHONE' analysis

The title track "SMARTPHONE" stands as a vibrant pop-rock summer anthem, characterized by energetic electric guitar riffs and satisfying synths. The song's retro-tinged comeback incorporates a Y2K aesthetic, with the chorus opening with an emphatic "Push! Swipe!" that instantly captures attention. Additionally, the track's theme resonates with modern life, addressing the era where smartphones have become inseparable companions.

B-side highlights and musical diversity

Each B-side brings its unique flavor to the album. "Make U Smile" opens with tender piano sounds and earnest vocals. "WithOrWithOut" showcases powerful vocals backed by garage band elements. "Lemon-Aid" presents a refreshing 90s pop style with an engaging bass line. The closing track "U" introduces an unexpected brass opening, creating a theatrical atmosphere reminiscent of musical productions.

Production quality and arrangements

The production quality shines through sophisticated layering and thoughtful arrangements. The album masterfully blends rock elements with pop sensibilities, featuring crunchy guitar riffs in "SMARTPHONE" and precise drum arrangements in "WithOrWithOut". Specifically, the vintage 70s synths in "Lemon-Aid" and the gradual incorporation of snaps and synths in "Make U Smile" demonstrate the album's attention to sonic detail. The production team successfully created a cohesive sound while maintaining each track's distinct identity.

Unboxing the Physical Album Experience

The physical release of Yena's SMARTPHONE mini-album comes in two distinct versions - Smart and Phone - each featuring unique cover designs and color schemes. The Smart version showcases a pink aesthetic, whereas the Phone version adopts a red theme, both maintaining consistent dimensions of 170mm x 170mm.

Smart vs Phone version differences

Each version contains an 84-page photobook with distinct photoshoots. The Smart version presents a softer, playful concept, in contrast to the Phone version's more vibrant imagery. Moreover, both versions feature different CD plate designs, with a distinctive duck motif appearing on each.

Special first press inclusions

First press editions offer exclusive collectibles. These special items include a hologram photocard (random 1 out of 6), a clear photocard (random 1 out of 3), and a limited polaroid that's randomly distributed worldwide. The standard inclusions comprise:

Photobook (84 pages)
CD-R
Deco sticker set
Lyrics paper
Random photocard (1 out of 12)
Pop-up card
Four-cuts photo (random 1 out of 3)
Folded poster

Collector's items and packaging design

The packaging demonstrates thoughtful attention to detail, with each album containing a special pouch housing the inclusions. In particular, the pop-up card serves dual purposes - displaying attractive photos on the front while featuring song information and lyrics on the reverse. The deco stickers and four-cuts photos offer fans creative ways to personalize their collection, consequently enhancing the overall collecting experience.

Commercial Success and Records

Setting remarkable milestones, the SMARTPHONE mini-album marked significant achievements in Yena's solo career through impressive sales and chart performance.

First week sales achievements

The album's first-day sales reached 55,021 copies, followed by a stellar first-week performance of 117,382 copies on Hanteo Chart. This achievement nearly doubled Yena's previous record of 64,073 copies set by her debut album SMiLEY. Furthermore, the album's first-month sales on Circle Chart reached 130,041 copies.

Chart performance statistics

SMARTPHONE demonstrated strong chart presence across multiple platforms. The album peaked at number three on Korean charts, subsequently maintaining consistent performance. On the Crown 100 chart, the title track reached its highest position at number 77 and maintained chart presence for three consecutive weeks.

Comparison to other K-pop releases

SMARTPHONE's success positioned Yena among elite female soloists in K-pop. The album's first-week sales earned her the sixth-highest position in Hanteo history for female soloists, placing her in an exclusive group alongside:

BLACKPINK's Lisa and Rosé
IU
TWICE's Nayeon
Girls' Generation's Taeyeon

The album's performance solidified Yena's position in the competitive K-pop market, with total sales in South Korea reaching 139,421 copies. Simultaneously, the release garnered international attention, achieving notable success in Japan where it accumulated 4,016 copies in total sales.

Stage Performances and Promotions

Launching her SMARTPHONE promotions with a showcase at Yes 24 Live Hall in Gwangjin District, Seoul, Yena delivered captivating performances that highlighted her versatility as a performer.

Music show appearances

Initially debuting the title track on Mnet's M Countdown, Yena's performances stood out for their energetic delivery and precise choreography. The stage routines featured smooth pushing and swiping gestures that matched the song's theme, creating an engaging visual experience that resonated with viewers.

Unique stage outfits and concepts

Primarily adopting a Y2K-inspired fashion approach, Yena's stage outfits reflected careful attention to detail. Her showcase performance featured a striking yellow monochromatic ensemble that set the tone for subsequent appearances. The styling incorporated various elements including:

Charm necklaces and barrettes
Platform boots and fingerless gloves
Sporty elements like tennis wristbands paired with Air Jordan 1s

Fan reception and viral moments

Indeed, the performances garnered enthusiastic responses from audiences, with fans particularly noting the first-time inclusion of fan chants during her music show appearances as a soloist. The bright, colorful concept provided a refreshing contrast to contemporary K-pop trends, earning praise for its pure, happy energy. Social media engagement soared as fans created content celebrating Yena's performances, especially highlighting moments where she incorporated choreography tributes to her former IZ*ONE members.