Sparkling Blue

Sparkling Blue is the debut extended play (EP) by South Korean boy band TWS, released on January 22, 2024, through Pledis Entertainment. It was promoted by the singles "Oh Mymy: 7s" and "Plot Twist".^[1] It debuted atop the Circle Album Chart and at number three of the Japanese Oricon Albums Chart.

Sparkling Blue
Digital cover
EP by TWS
Released	January 22, 2024 (2024-01-22)
Genre	K-pop
Length	15:04
Language	Korean English
Label	Pledis
TWS chronology
Sparkling Blue (2024) Summer Beat! (2024)
Singles from Sparkling Blue
"Oh Mymy: 7s" Released: January 3, 2024 "Plot Twist" Released: January 22, 2024

Background and release

In January 2024, Pledis Entertainment proceeded with their plans to launch TWS, the entertainment label's first boy group in nine years, since Seventeen's debut in 2015.^[2] The music video for the song "Oh Mymy: 7s" served as the first preview for TWS' EP a few days before its official release.^[2] Several teasers and activities, including a highlight medley,^[3] a product endorsement deal with Lotte Chilsung's Milkis,^[4] and cover features on Japanese magazines Ray and ViVi,^[5] were also revealed to promote and build anticipation for TWS' first EP.

On January 22, 2024, Sparkling Blue, a five-track EP that embodied the sound of "boyhood pop", was released alongside the music video for its lead single "Plot Twist".^[6]

Critical reception

Writing for Osen, Kyung Jimin commented that the EP was "impressive", remarking on its natural and friendly musical tone and likening it to "a conversation with friends during break time".^[7] IZM's Han Seonghyeon scored Sparkling Blue three out of five stars, commenting that although the quality of the EP was decent, its title track "Plot Twist" overshadowed the rest of its tracks due to the album prioritizing achieving a "consistent mood" as a goal.^[8]

Commercial performance

Sparkling Blue debuted at number one on the South Korean Circle Album Chart, where it sold 237,606 copies in its first week.^[9] The EP also debuted at number three on the Japanese Oricon Albums Chart and number four on the Billboard Japan Hot Albums chart.^[10][11] In the United States, Sparkling Blue opened at number eight on the Heatseekers Albums chart and number 32 on the Top Album Sales chart.^[12][13]

Track listing

Sparkling Blue track listing

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Arrangement	Length
1.	"Plot Twist" (Korean: 첫 만남은 계획대로 되지 않아; RR: cheot mannameun gyehoekdaero dwiji anha; lit. The First Meeting Is Not Going to Go as Planned)	Wasurenai Brother Su Jeon Jin BuildingOwner Glenn	Wasurenai Jeon Ohway! Nmore Heon Seo BuildingOwner Glenn T-SK Saeki YouthK (RzC)	Wasurenai Jeon Nmore BuildingOwner Ohway!	2:32
2.	"Unplugged Boy"	Louise Udin Adam Von Mentzer	Jeon BuildingOwner Heon Von Mentzer	Jeon BuildingOwner Von Mentzer	3:08
3.	"First Hooky"	Kim Min-jeong (Jam Factory) Hwang Hye-rim (Jam Factory) Im Su-ran	Andreas Öberg Sqvare William Weeks	Öberg Sqvare Weeks	3:29
4.	"BFF"	Cha Yu-bin (XYXX) Mia Bay (153/Joombas) Shannon Max Ulver	Nmore Ulver Birsday Park Ki-tae	Nmore Birsday	2:46
5.	"Oh Mymy: 7s"	Wasurenai Shannon Jeon Haon Glenn	Wasurenai Believve Shannon	Wasurenai Believve	3:09
Total length:					15:04

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for Sparkling Blue Chart (2024) Peak position Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[14] 80 Japanese Albums (Oricon)[10] 3 Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[11] 4 South Korean Albums (Circle)[9] 1 US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[12] 8 US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[13] 16 US World Albums (Billboard)[15] 6

Monthly charts Monthly chart performance for Sparkling Blue Chart (2024) Peak position Japanese Albums (Oricon)[16] 10 South Korean Albums (Circle)[17] 5 Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for Sparkling Blue Chart (2024) Position Japanese Albums (Oricon)[18] 90 Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[19] 96 South Korean Albums (Circle)[20] 57

Certifications and sales

Certifications and sales for Sparkling Blue

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
South Korea (KMCA)[21]	Platinum	250,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release history for Sparkling Blue

Region	Date	Format	Label
South Korea	January 22, 2024	CD	Pledis
Various		Digital download streaming