"Batter Up" is a song recorded by South Korean girl group Babymonster. It was released on November 27, 2023, by YG Entertainment. The Japanese version of the single was released through YGEX on August 16, 2024.[1]
On December 30, 2022, YG Entertainment introduced their upcoming new girl group Babymonster though the release of a teaser poster.[2] In 2023, the seven members were introduced in the reality show Last Evaluation,[3] where it was also announced that the group would be debuting in September later that year.[4] On November 10, after the supposed debut month, YG Entertainment confirmed a debut date of November 27.[5] Ten days later, the digital single "Batter Up" was announced as Babymonster's debut release.[6] On November 24, the teaser for the music video was released.[7]
"Batter Up" was written by Jared Lee, Yang Hyun-suk, Babymonster member Asa, Treasure member Choi Hyun-suk, AKMU member Lee Chan-hyuk, and songwriting teams Where the Noise and BigTone, and composed by Chaz Mishan, Yang Hyun-suk, Dee.P, Jared Lee, and Asa.[8] It is described as a song with "hip-hop and trap" sounds characteristic of YG Entertainment.[7]
Yoo Ji-hee from Daily Sports expressed that the group failed to establish a clear identity apart from their labelmate seniors 2NE1 and Blackpink, and wrote how the song evokes "a familiar taste, but it's not enough to really grab you."[11] Rhian Daily from NME rated the song two out of five stars, calling it "a tired formula" with "lazy songwriting" and commented "Even in the moments that are clearly designed to be the track’s earworm moments, it feels weak and leaves no lasting impression."[10]
^『BATTER UP -JP Ver.』の配信リリースが8月16日(金)に決定! [The digital release of "Batter Up (JP ver.)" is scheduled for Friday, August 16th!]. Babymonster Japan (in Japanese). August 14, 2024. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
^Kim, Do-gun (November 20, 2023). 베이비몬스터 데뷔곡, 'BATTER UP'[공식] [BabyMonster's debut song, "Batter Up" [Official]] (in Korean). Sports Trend. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2023 – via Naver.
^ abHwang, Hye-jin (November 24, 2023). YG 신인 베이비몬스터, 데뷔곡 'BATTER UP' 최초 공개...힙합 스웨그 [YG's new rookie BabyMonster releases debut song "Batter Up" for the first time... hip-hop swag] (in Korean). Newsen. Archived from the original on November 24, 2023. Retrieved November 24, 2023 – via Naver.
^Kim, Hyun-sook (November 22, 2023). "악뮤 이찬혁·트레저 최현석 참여...베이비몬스터 'BATTER UP' 프로듀서진 공개" [AKMU Lee Chan-hyuk and Treasure Choi Hyun-suk participate... Babymonster's "Batter Up" producer team revealed] (in Korean). MK Sports. Archived from the original on November 22, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2023 – via Naver.
^So, Seung-geun (December 1, 2022). "BabyMonster – Batter Up". IZM (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 13, 2023. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
^Yoo, Ji-hee (December 2, 2023). 아는 맛이긴 한데...베이비몬스터 색깔 흐릿 '배러 업' [MV 톺아보기] [It's a taste I know, but... BabyMonster's colors are blurred in "Batter Up" [MV Review]]. Daily Sports (in Korean). Retrieved December 2, 2023 – via Naver.
^Lee, Da-gyeom (January 10, 2024). NCT 드림, "2023 써클차트" 디지털 앨범상...올해의 가수상은 20팀(종합) [NCT Dream won the 2023 Circle Chart Digital Album Award... Singer of the Year Award goes to 20 teams (Comprehensive)]. Maeil Gyeongje (in Korean). Retrieved January 10, 2024 – via Naver.