ITZY 'LOCO' (2021)

What is ITZY LOCO?

LOCO is a song recorded by South Korean girl group ITZY for their first Korean studio album Crazy in Love. Released as the lead single on September 24, 2021, by JYP Entertainment, the track marked a significant milestone as the title track from the quintet's debut full-length studio album. The song was written and composed by the South Korean production group Galactika, specifically by Star Wars (Galactika), Atenna (Galactika), and Woo Bin (Galactika), with Team Galactika handling the arrangement. Galactika had previously collaborated with ITZY on their 2020 hit single "Wannabe".

The song features both Korean and English language versions, with the English adaptation written by Star Wars (Galactika) and Sophia Pae. Both versions were included in the Crazy in Love album, which comprises 10 brand-new songs alongside instrumental versions of every ITZY single released from their 2019 debut "Dalla Dalla" through "Mafia In The Morning". Musically, LOCO was composed in the key of C-sharp major with a tempo of 102 beats per minute.

Lyrically, the song expresses the intense attraction felt by young adults experiencing these emotions for the first time, incorporating colloquial references characteristic of Generation Z. The lyrics explore themes of being consumed by love to the point of losing control, using the concept of going "crazy" or "loco" as a metaphor for overwhelming romantic feelings. The track presents ITZY in a confident light, showcasing members who are not preoccupied with heartbreak but rather embrace their emotions boldly.

The song achieved notable chart performance upon release. LOCO debuted at position 97 on South Korea's Gaon Digital Chart in the chart issue dated September 19-25, 2021, before ascending to position 26 in the chart issue dated October 3-9, 2021. Internationally, the track debuted at position 44, 27, and 4 on Billboard's Global 200, K-pop Hot 100, and World Digital Song Sales charts, respectively, in the chart issue dated October 9, 2021. In Singapore, the song debuted at position 5 on RIAS's Top Streaming Chart and position 4 on the RIAS Top Regional Chart for the week of September 24-30, 2021.

Background and release

Album announcement

JYP Entertainment initiated the promotional campaign for Crazy in Love on August 12, 2021, with the release of a graffiti-inspired poster teasing ITZY's upcoming album. The following day, on August 13, the entertainment agency officially announced that ITZY would release their first studio album titled Crazy in Love on September 24, with 'Loco' designated as the lead single. This album represented the group's first Korean release since their fourth extended play Guess Who in April 2021. The promotional schedule for the album was subsequently revealed on August 31, outlining the timeline for various content releases leading up to the official debut.

Teaser releases

The promotional rollout began with an opening trailer released on September 6, followed by a group teaser photo for 'Loco' on September 7. On September 10, the track listing for Crazy in Love was unveiled to fans. A highlight medley teaser video arrived on September 20, providing previews of the album's content. That same day, the music video teaser for 'Swipe,' an album track, was released. The seemingly self-filmed clip paid homage to video streaming platform TikTok and included various shots of the girl group taking mirror selfies and posing together.

On September 21, ITZY released a 12-second teaser for 'Loco' featuring brief sequences of each member in various settings, from a luxury fashion outlet to a giant cat tower. An additional music video teaser for 'Loco' was released on September 22. The teaser opened with member Ryujin posing in front of a vehicle.

Official release date

ITZY released Crazy in Love alongside the music video for 'Loco' on September 24, 2021, at 1 PM Korean Standard Time. The 15-track album included 10 brand-new songs, both Korean and English versions of 'Loco,' and instrumental versions of every ITZY single from their 2019 debut. The music video for 'Swipe' was scheduled for release the following Monday, September 27.

Composition and lyrics

Musical composition

The track was composed in the key of C-sharp major with a tempo of 102 beats per minute. Musically, the song blends multiple genre influences, incorporating trap and EDM elements alongside a moombahton drop during the dance break. The arrangement features prominent bass lines that serve as a unifying thread throughout the distinct sections of the song, providing definition and rhythmic foundation. Electric guitars deliver rock influence to the composition, adding intensity to the overall sound. Besides these elements, the production incorporates Latin musical influences that create an additional layer of complexity.

The instrumental framework includes 808 drum beats, heavy bass, and synthesized elements programmed by CHANG (Galactika), Atenna (Galactika), and Woo Bin (Galactika). Kim Park Chella contributed guitar work to the recording. The vocal arrangement balances sung melodies with rap verses, featuring strong and bold delivery from members Lia, Chaeryeong, Yuna, and Yeji alongside powerful rap sections performed by Ryujin. The chorus opts for a sung melody rather than a chant-along beat drop structure.

Songwriters and producers

Star Wars (Galactika) served as the primary writer for the Korean version, while the composition was handled collaboratively by Star Wars (Galactika), Atenna (Galactika), and Woo Bin (Galactika). Team Galactika managed the complete arrangement of the track. Friday (Galactika) and Sophiya acted as vocal directors during the recording process. The mixing was completed by Jaycen Joshua, with mastering handled by Chris Gehringer. Recording sessions took place at JYPE Studios and GALACTIKA studios.

Language versions

The English adaptation was written by Star Wars (Galactika) in collaboration with Sophia Pae, who also served as translator. Sophiya additionally contributed as a lyricist for the English rendition. Both language versions maintain the same musical arrangement and tempo, expressing the intense attraction experienced by young adults through colloquial references characteristic of Generation Z communication styles. The English version aimed to enhance global fan accessibility and emotional connection to the music.

Music video and performance

Music video release

The visual accompaniment debuted simultaneously with the album on September 24, 2021, via JYP Entertainment. Galactika, the production duo behind the track's synth-heavy instrumentals and flowing pop melodies, collaborated on the project. The video showcased vibrant aesthetics and high production values, featuring diverse settings that included a luxury fashion outlet and a giant cat tower backdrop. Post-production techniques highlighted the visual quality, incorporating dynamic editing and effects that complemented the song's energetic tone. The choreography emphasized powerful movements, particularly during the chorus sections, with the main gesture involving holding and shaking the head to reflect the Spanish meaning of "loco" as "crazy." The video presented an edgier visual direction compared to the group's earlier works while maintaining dynamic energy through performance sequences and a staged billboard moment.

Television performances

Prior to the album's official release, ITZY held a live event titled "ITZY #OUTNOW COMEBACK SHOW" on Naver Now on September 24, 2021, to introduce the album and communicate with fans. The group subsequently performed on four Korean music programs, beginning with KBS2's Music Bank on September 24. Show! Music Core on MBC followed on September 25, with SBS's Inkigayo airing on September 26. The promotional cycle continued with Mnet's M Countdown on September 30. The comeback stage on Music Bank featured elaborate set design with a large heart structure and floral arrangements. Performance execution demonstrated the group's stage presence through live vocal delivery and complex choreography. Styling choices during these appearances generated attention, with particular focus on contemporary Y2K and early 2010s aesthetic influences.

International performances

The group appeared on The Kelly Clarkson Show on September 27, 2021, marking their American television debut for the release. This performance expanded the song's reach to international audiences beyond Asian markets. Looking ahead, ITZY was scheduled to perform at the Mawazine festival on June 23 at the OLM Souissi stage in Rabat. This booking represented the group's first concert appearance in North Africa and the Middle East region, positioning them as the third K-pop act to perform at the festival's OLM Souissi stage following ATEEZ and aespa.

Commercial performance

Chart debuts

South Korea's Gaon Digital Chart registered the track at position 97 in the chart issue dated September 19-25, 2021. On Billboard's international rankings for the chart issue dated October 9, 2021, the song entered at position 44 on the Global 200, position 27 on the K-pop Hot 100, and position 4 on the World Digital Song Sales chart. Singapore's RIAS charts reflected strong initial performance, with the track debuting at position 5 on the Top Streaming Chart and position 4 on the Top Regional Chart for the week of September 24-30, 2021. The global chart debut occurred at position 24 on October 3, 2021. The English version debuted at position 121 on the global Spotify chart with 971,000 streams.

Peak positions

The song ascended to position 26 on South Korea's Gaon Digital Chart in the chart issue dated October 3-9, 2021. Monthly chart performance showed a peak of position 32 on the South Korea Gaon chart and position 26 on the K-pop Hot 100. Additional weekly peak positions included position 20 in Hungary's Single Top 40, position 46 on Japan's Hot 100, position 11 in Malaysia according to RIM, and position 13 on New Zealand's Hot Singles chart. The track reached position 5 on Singapore's RIAS chart and position 48 on the UK Indie chart.

Platform-specific achievements demonstrated varied streaming success. Apple Music Chart registered the track at position 1 on February 20, 2022. YouTube Chart recorded a peak of position 2 on October 3, 2021. The iTunes Chart peak reached position 4 on March 15, 2026, while the Radio Chart achieved position 10 on January 25, 2026. On Soompi's K-Pop Music Chart, the track moved up 18 spots to claim the number one position in October 2021, becoming the group's second chart-topper that year.

Regional performance

Geographic distribution spanned multiple Asian markets, with the song charting in Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand. UK Official Charts documented three separate chart appearances: position 30 on the Official Video Streaming Chart, position 48 on the Official Independent Singles Chart, and position 9 on the Official Independent Singles Breakers Chart, all dated October 7, 2021.

Awards and accolades

Music show wins

The track secured three victories across South Korean music programs during its promotional period. Music Bank on KBS awarded the first win on October 8, 2021. Inkigayo on SBS followed with a second win on October 10, 2021. The third and final music show trophy came from M Countdown on Mnet on October 14, 2021, where the song competed against ATEEZ's "Eternal Sunshine" for first place. Following the M Countdown victory, member Yeji expressed surprise at the achievement, stating the group had not anticipated receiving the top position. The wins marked the continuation of ITZY's track record of music show success, with this release achieving fewer victories compared to previous singles in their discography.

Award nominations

Asian Pop Music Awards recognized the track with multiple nominations for its 2021 ceremony. The song received a nomination for Best Arranger (Overseas). Besides this technical category, the parent album Crazy in Love competed for Best Album of the Year (Overseas) and Best Group (Overseas). Specifically, the Asian Pop Music Awards acknowledged LOCO with a win in the Best Arranger (Overseas) category. The Circle Chart Music Awards, formerly known as Gaon Chart Music Awards, included the song as a nominee for Artist of the Year in the Digital Music category for September 2021. The track's appearance in these nominations reflected its impact within the broader Asian music market beyond South Korean borders.

Year-end recognitions

Asian Pop Music Awards presented LOCO with recognition in their year-end honors for 2021. The song secured a position among the Top 20 Songs of the Year (Overseas). This placement positioned the track alongside other significant releases from the international K-pop market during that calendar year. Correspondingly, the parent album Crazy in Love received the Top 20 Albums of the Year (Overseas) award at the same ceremony. The TMElive International Music Awards in 2025 awarded ITZY the Best International Stage Performance Award, though this recognition pertained to performances incorporating LOCO rather than the song itself. The year-end acknowledgments demonstrated the track's sustained relevance beyond its initial promotional cycle, maintaining recognition in retrospective evaluations of 2021's musical output.