ITZY Dalla Dalla: The Hidden Story Behind Their Groundbreaking Debut

ITZY's "Dalla Dalla" made history by becoming the most viewed K-pop group debut music video within 24 hours of its release. When JYP Entertainment launched the South Korean girl group on February 12, 2019, with their debut single album "It'z Different," few anticipated the immediate impact it would create. In fact, the music video garnered an impressive 17.1 million views in less than 24 hours of its debut, shattering previous records for rookie groups.

Furthermore, "Dalla Dalla" continued its record-breaking streak by becoming the fastest K-pop debut music video to reach 100 million views, achieving this milestone within just three months of its release. This remarkable achievement surpassed the previous record held by BLACKPINK's "Boombayah." The group's distinctive concept photos and carefully crafted outfits contributed significantly to their visual appeal, while their promotional activities included performances across multiple South Korean music programs. As a result of their groundbreaking debut, ITZY secured nine music show wins and debuted at No. 3 on the World Digital Song Sales chart, cementing their position as trendsetters in the K-pop industry.

The build-up to ITZY’s debut

Months before their explosive debut, JYP Entertainment began carefully orchestrating the arrival of their newest girl group. The K-pop industry buzzed with anticipation as one of the "Big 3" entertainment companies prepared to unveil a new act—their first girl group since TWICE debuted in 2015.

JYP's announcement and teaser rollout

The strategic teaser campaign for itzy dalla dalla began in mid-January 2019, approximately one month before the official debut. JYP Entertainment initially released a mysterious logo teaser, sparking curiosity among K-pop enthusiasts worldwide. Subsequently, the company unveiled a series of striking visual teasers across social media platforms, gradually revealing the group's name: ITZY.

Each day brought new content—from concept photos to member profiles—building an intricate puzzle that kept fans eagerly awaiting more information. The company masterfully created a sense of mystery through this calculated drip-feed of content, generating substantial pre-debut buzz across platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Introducing the members to the public

The five members—Yeji, Lia, Ryujin, Chaeryeong, and Yuna—were introduced individually through stunning profile photos and short video clips. Each introduction highlighted their unique charms and personalities. Notably, several members had previously appeared in survival shows: Ryujin participated in JTBC's "MIXNINE," while Chaeryeong competed in JYP's "SIXTEEN" alongside TWICE members.

These pre-debut appearances gave the group a head start in public recognition, with many fans already following their journey before the official debut. JYP leveraged this existing fanbase to amplify excitement for the itzy dalla dalla concept photos and teasers.

The concept behind 'It'z Different'

The debut single album title "It'z Different" perfectly encapsulated ITZY's core concept—breaking conventions and showcasing individuality. Their name itself—ITZY—cleverly played on the phrase "got it," symbolizing the members' confidence and capability.

Throughout pre-debut marketing, JYP emphasized the group's distinctive approach to girl group dynamics, focusing on self-confidence rather than traditional cute or sexy concepts. The itzy dalla dalla outfits reflected this bold stance, featuring edgy, colorful styling that immediately distinguished them from contemporaries.

Their catchphrase "It'z different, it'z ITZY" became a declaration of their unique position in the saturated K-pop landscape, preparing audiences for something genuinely fresh and innovative.

The release of 'Dalla Dalla' and its immediate impact

On February 11, 2019, ITZY's much-anticipated music video for "Dalla Dalla" hit YouTube, immediately shattering records and setting a new benchmark for K-pop debuts.

Music video launch and YouTube records

The electropop anthem made an unprecedented impact, accumulating over 14 million views within its first 24 hours. JYP Entertainment later confirmed that "Dalla Dalla" had amassed 17.1 million views in the first day, becoming the most viewed debut music video by a K-pop group in that timeframe. This remarkable achievement signaled extraordinary interest in the rookie quintet. The momentum continued as "Dalla Dalla" reached 100 million views by April 8, 2019—approximately two months after its release—setting another record as the fastest K-pop debut music video to hit this milestone. Previously, BLACKPINK's "BOOMBAYAH" held this title, achieving the same feat in five months and 22 days.

Live showcase and first performances

Alongside the music video release, ITZY hosted "The 1st Single Live Premiere" on V Live to commemorate their debut, where they performed the full choreography for the first time. During the broadcast, members shared behind-the-scenes stories, with Yeji revealing they had to hold their breath during filming to hide it in the harsh winter conditions. ITZY promoted "Dalla Dalla" on numerous South Korean music programs throughout February, including M Countdown, Music Bank, Show! Music Core, Inkigayo, and Show Champion.

Fan reactions and media coverage

Despite their record-breaking debut, initial reception to "Dalla Dalla" was surprisingly divided. Reddit discussions revealed that many fans had expected a different sound based on teasers, leading to negative initial comments and even personal attacks on members. Nevertheless, Billboard quickly recognized ITZY's potential, reporting that the empowering anthem debuted at No. 3 on the World Digital Song Sales chart with 2,000 downloads in the U.S., making it the best-selling K-pop song in America that week. Additionally, "Dalla Dalla" entered at No. 2 on the YouTube chart—the highest debut for any K-pop act's first release. As time passed, public opinion gradually warmed, mirroring similar trajectory patterns seen with other groundbreaking K-pop releases.

Breaking down the music and visuals

ITZY's debut project balanced bold musical innovation with meticulously crafted visuals, creating a multi-sensory experience that captivated audiences from first glance.

Tracklist: 'Dalla Dalla' and 'Want It?'

The single album "IT'z Different" featured just two tracks that showcased ITZY's versatility. While "Dalla Dalla" served as the title track, "WANT IT?" provided an equally compelling B-side. The second track opened with an electric guitar intro that immediately set it apart from the title song. Compared to "Dalla Dalla," "WANT IT?" presented a more playful approach, relying heavily on chants for the verses rather than conventional singing or rapping. Both songs highlighted ITZY's powerful vocal delivery and high-energy performance style, establishing their signature sound from the outset.

ITZY Dalla Dalla lyrics and message

Written and composed by production team Galactika, "Dalla Dalla" (meaning "Different Different" in Korean) centered around themes of individuality and self-confidence. The lyrics directly challenged societal expectations with empowering lines like "Don't measure me by your standards alone" and the repeated affirmation "I love myself". Throughout the song, the members asserted their uniqueness with declarations such as "I'm different from them" and "I don't care what people say, I know myself". This message of self-acceptance and rejection of external validation resonated strongly with younger audiences, particularly those struggling with peer pressure and societal expectations.

ITZY Dalla Dalla outfits and fashion breakdown

Fashion played a crucial role in establishing ITZY's visual identity. Each member wore distinct high-fashion pieces that complemented their individual styles: Chaeryeong in a red check coat from Kwak Hyun Joo Collection, Lia in a Balmain high-neck knit mini dress, Ryujin sporting a Sportmax turtleneck logo sleeve sweater, Yeji in an OFF-WHITE logo straps lace bodysuit with an Alexander Wang metal letters belt, and Yuna in a Fendi sports crop top. These carefully selected pieces required extensive alterations to accommodate dance choreography, with JYP's styling team often working on minimal sleep to perfect each look. Impressively, 90% of the outfits were purchased rather than borrowed, highlighting JYP Entertainment's substantial investment in the group's image.

ITZY Dalla Dalla concept photos and visual identity

The visual concept for "Dalla Dalla" featured a kaleidoscopic array of colors against futuristic backdrops. The music video showcased chrome hallways, color-changing backgrounds, and even a long-haired dog that changed hues. Additional settings included fuzzy furniture, moving escalators, and urban landscapes that created a visually stimulating experience. Meanwhile, the concept photos reinforced the group's "teen crush" aesthetic—an alternative to traditional cute or sexy concepts that had dominated girl group imagery. This distinctive visual approach complemented their lyrical messages of individuality and confidence, creating a cohesive artistic statement that distinguished ITZY from their peers.

Chart success and critical reception

Beyond YouTube records, "Dalla Dalla" demonstrated remarkable commercial success across multiple music platforms immediately after its release.

Domestic and international chart rankings

Within hours of its February 12 debut, "Dalla Dalla" climbed to the top positions on major Korean realtime charts, reaching #1 on Genie, Bugs, Mnet, and Soribada, while securing #2 on Melon and #3 on Naver. After three weeks, the song peaked at #2 on the Gaon Digital Chart and maintained strong performance throughout 2019, ultimately ranking 11th on the year-end Gaon Digital Chart—making it the best-performing girl group song of 2019 in South Korea.

Internationally, ITZY made an equally impressive impact. "Dalla Dalla" topped iTunes charts in at least 10 different regions on its release day alone, including Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Cyprus, Indonesia, Taiwan, and Singapore. On Billboard's charts, the song debuted at #2 on the World Digital Song Sales chart, selling 2,000 downloads in its first week—becoming the best-selling K-pop song in America during that period. Additionally, "Want It?" debuted at #8 on the same chart.

Critical reviews from Billboard and IZM

Music critics offered mixed but mostly positive assessments of ITZY's debut. Tamar Herman of Billboard described "Dalla Dalla" as an "empowering anthem, introducing ITZY as a group that's an alternative to its peers," praising its "feisty and quick to shift tempos and genres" approach with notable "hip-hop breakdowns". Conversely, IZM's Jeong Yeon-kyung observed that the song "borrows a dance beat in a ratchet style, exuding a YG atmosphere," while noting similarities to Red Velvet and f(x)'s electronic sounds.

Awards and music show wins

"Dalla Dalla" amassed an impressive 9 music show wins, including achievements on M Countdown, Music Bank, Show! Music Core, and Inkigayo, with the group earning a coveted "triple crown" on Inkigayo. Most importantly, ITZY's groundbreaking debut contributed to their status as the first K-pop girl group to achieve a "Rookie Grand Slam" by winning Rookie of the Year awards at seven major Korean music awards ceremonies.

The song's lasting impact was further recognized when it received the Digital Bonsang award at the 34th Golden Disc Awards. In September 2019, "Dalla Dalla" earned a platinum certification from the Korea Music Content Association for surpassing 100 million streams, solidifying its status as one of the most successful K-pop debut songs in history.