| Drama | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Digital cover | ||||
| EP by | ||||
| Released | January 23, 2015 (2015-01-23) | |||
| Recorded | 2014–2015 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 18:27 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Nine Muses chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Drama | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Drama" onYouTube | ||||
Drama (stylized asDRAMA)[1] is the thirdextended play by theSouth Koreangirl groupNine Muses. It was released on January 23, 2015, byStar Empire Entertainment, and distributed byKT Music. The title track "Drama" was also released on the same day as its only single. The album marks the first to include members Keumjo and Sojin, who joined the group after Lee Sem, Eunji and Sera's departure.[2] In order to promote the album, the group performed on variousKorean music shows.
On January 29, 2014, it was announced by Star Empire Entertainment that members Lee Sem and Eunji had left the group.[3] A few months later, on June 23, it was also revealed that member Sera's contract expired and she decided to no longer be a part of the company, also leaving the group. However, Star Empire confirm that a comeback from the remaining girls was expected to happen on August, including a new member, yet to be revealed.[4]
The anticipated comeback didn't happen. Instead, on August, a new project from the company was announced, including Nine Muses' Kyungri,ZE:A's Kevin, and the trainee Sojin.[5] They debuted as the trioNasty Nasty on September 3.[6]
After the promotions for the trio ended, a teaser image for a Nine Muses comeback came out on January 8, 2015, also announcing the album to be released on January 23.[7] On January 11, another teaser was unveiled, confirming another line-up change to the group, as two new members appeared along the other girls showing only their backs.[8] The day after, on January 12, the new members were revealed to be Keumjo, and Sojin, who debuted alongside Kyungri and labelmate Kevin as Nasty Nasty on the previous year.[9] In order to introduce the new members, two teasers were released, one for Sojin dancing toBeyoncé's "Ego",[10] and the other for Keumjo singing a shorta capellacover of "Killing Me Softly with His Song".[11]
The mini album was officially released on January 23 on most South Korean digital retailers, includingMelon.[1] It was made available worldwidely throughiTunes.[12] A physical version of the album was also released on January 28.[13]
The title track "Drama" had the first teaser for its music video released on January 17.[14] A second teaser came out two days later, on January 19.[15] The full music video was released on January 23, filled with references toHollywood's golden age, includingMarilyn Monroe's iconic subway dress scene from the 1995 filmThe Seven Year Itch.[16] On January 24, a dance practice video was also released, featuring the girls dancing to the full choreography of the song in casual clothes.[17]
Before the release of the album, a showcase was held on January 21, where the group interacted with fans and also performed new songs from the album as well as two of their previous singles, "Glue" and "Wild". It was broadcast live through Genie Music's officialYouTube channel.[18] The first comeback stage was held with the single "Drama" onMnet'sM Countdown on August 22, where the members Sojin, Kyungri, Sungah and Minha also performed a dance intro to Beyoncé'sYoncé.[19] Other Korean music shows were used as the stage for the promotions of the album, includingKBS'sMusic Bank,[20]MBC'sShow! Music Core,[21]SBS'sInkigayo,[22] andSBS M'sThe Show.[23] The promotions went on until March 15.[24]
Drama debuted on theGaon Album Chart at number 4 on the issue between January 25 and January 31, 2015.[25] For the same month, the album appeared at number 10 on the monthly edition of the Gaon Album Chart with 4,661 physical copies sold.[26] It stayed on the chart for the months of February and March, selling 1,785 and 1,521 copies respectively.[27][28] The album had sold 7,978 copies as of 2015, appearing at number 140 on the Gaon Year-End Chart.[29]
The single "Drama" debuted at number 41 on theGaon Digital Chart on the issue between January 18 and January 24, 2015,[30] having sold 32,102 digital copies.[31] On the following week, the song climbed 28 positions, peaking at number 13 and becoming Nine Muses' highest peak on the chart to date.[32] By the end of 2015, "Drama" had sold over 301,993 downloads,[33] and garnered 1,675,033 streams.[34]
Some of the teaser pictures used to announce the album were accused of plagiarism, due to the similarity withW Magazine Korea's pastel doll concept. To clear up the controversy, Star Empire said the pictures were a homage to the magazine's pictorial and that they made sure there were no copyright issues before the release.[35] However, on January 15, W Korea released a statement revealing the agency never contacted them, or the editorial's photographer Hong Janghyun, and no agreement was ever made.[36] That led to Star Empire formally apologizing for the confusion and stating that, although the copyright issues were never discussed between both parties, they did refer to the magazine's work during the production of the album's jacket photoshoot.[37]
Credits adapted fromNaver.[38]
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Arrangement | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Pilot Episode" |
|
|
| 0:48 |
| 2. | "Drama" (드라마) |
|
|
| 3:00 |
| 3. | "Choice" (초이스) |
|
|
| 3:30 |
| 4. | "Trickle" (주르륵;Jururuk) |
|
|
| 3:05 |
| 5. | "September 17th" (9월 17일;Guwol Sibchil) |
|
|
| 4:02 |
| 6. | "September 17th" (instrumental) |
|
| 4:02 | |
| Total length: | 18:27 | ||||
| Chart (2015) | Peak position | Ref. |
|---|---|---|
| South Korea (Gaon Album Chart) | 4 | [25] |
| Chart (2015) | Peak position | Ref. |
|---|---|---|
| South Korea (Gaon Album Chart) | 10 | [26] |
| Chart (2015) | Peak position | Ref. |
|---|---|---|
| South Korea (Gaon Album Chart) | 140 | [29] |
| Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Korea | January 23, 2015 | Digital download | Star Empire Entertainment, KT Music | [1] |
| Worldwide | [12] | |||
| South Korea | January 28, 2015 | CD | [13] |
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