Weeekly will drop a digital single, “Stranger,” on Jan. 25, the girl group’s agency IST Entertainment said Wednesday.
The digital single will feature two versions of “Stranger”: a Korean version of “Stranger,” first unveiled during the group’s fan meeting “Weeekly University” held last week, and an English version of the track.
“‘Stranger’ will also act as a prerelease track for Weeekly’s upcoming single album,” IST Entertainment said in a press release.
Weeekly’s first “single album,” “Play Game: Awake” (2022), featured three tracks.
Weeekly debuted in 2020 with its first EP, “We are.” The group is known for its upbeat high teen music, shown in songs “Tag Me (@Me)” (2020), “Zig Zag” (2020), “After School” (2021) and more.
Weeekly dropped its fifth EP, “ColoRise,” on Nov. 1, marking the group’s first album release in more than one year and seven months.
[#위클리 뉴스] 위클리, 25일 신곡 발매…영어 버전 함께 수록#Weeekly @_Weeeklyhttps://t.co/l9PGwCkOAq pic.twitter.com/PnKemr6Hjd
— IST ent (@ist_ent) January 10, 2024
IST Entertainment shares Weeekly will be releasing digital single “Stranger” on January 25th
According to the girl group’s agency IST Entertainment on Wednesday, January 10, the digital single will feature two versions of Stranger.
It will come in two versions, the Korean version first introduced during the fan meeting at Weeekly University last week, and the English version of the track.
The song tells about the pain experienced to achieve one’s dream.
“It is a song with a cozy atmosphere with an attractive and emotional acoustic guitar sound,” according to the agency.
The digital single Stranger is a prerelease track for Weeekly’s upcoming single album.
Last year, Weeekly dropped their fifth EP ColoRise marking the group’s first album release after more than a year. Josh Castro
Who Are Weeekly?
Weeekly (Korean: 위클리; Japanese: ウィークリー) is a six-member girl group under IST Entertainment. Originally as seven, they debuted on June 30, 2020 with their first mini album We Are.
2018–2020: Pre-debut
Since the very beginning of the group, its lineup of trainees saw many changes. On September 1, 2018, FAVE Entertainment announced that trainees Lee Soomin, Park Soyeon, and Kim Bowon had left the agency and the group after terminating their contracts.
On October 18, FAVE Entertainment announced its plans to debut a new girl group, tentatively named FAVEGIRLS, sometime in early 2019. A pre-debut showcase, titled WE?, that would feature seven “candidates” of the group, was set to be held on November 11.
Starting on October 21, the seven trainees were revealed every day via social media. The first trainee to be revealed was Lee Soojin, followed by Monday, Park Haelin, Shin Jiyoon, Park Soeun, Kim Gaeun, and finally Lee Jaehee on October 27.
On February 13, 2019, Kakao M announced that FAVE Entertainment and Plan A Entertainment would be merging. The company’s new name, IST Entertainment, was announced on March 29. Thus, the group’s tentative name was changed to PlayM GIRLS and debut preparations were delayed.
In July, trainee Park Haelin left PlayM and the project to focus on her studies. In August, Kim Gaeun also left both the agency and the group. By October, trainees Han Jihyo and Jo Hyewon had officially joined the pre-debut lineup.
On April 28, 2020, the group uploaded a video, titled ‘Who R U?’, to their official YouTube channel. Through the video, the stage names for Jihan (formerly Han Jihyo) and Zoa (formerly Cho Hyewon) were revealed.
2020: Debut with We Are, fandom name, first comeback with We Can
On May 8, 2020, Play M confirmed PlayM GIRLS would be making their debut sometime in June. On May 11, the group’s debuting name Weeekly and its members were revealed. On June 12, a teaser timeline revealed the release of the group’s first mini album, We Are, was set for June 30. On this day, Weeekly officially debuted with the mini album and its title track “Tag Me (@Me)”.
On August 21, an official poll on the group’s Daum Cafe revealed the group’s official fandom name to be “Daileee”, which means “without Daileee (Daily), Weeekly cannot exist.” The official announcement was made three days later on August 23.
On September 8, a source from Play M Entertainment revealed the group was preparing for their first ever comeback, planning for release in October.
On September 21, it was announced that the group’s second mini album, We Can, would be released on October 13. On this day, the mini album, along with its title track “Zig Zag”, were released.
On September 25, the group released their first OST single, “Boom Chiki”, for the animated survival show My Dream is Ryan.
2021: We Play, Play Game : Holiday, Jiyoon’s first hiatus
On February 18, 2021, Weeekly released their second OST single, “Wake Up”, for the KBS drama Hello, Me!.
On February 22, local news outlet Sport TV News reported that Weeekly was preparing for a comeback in March with a new album. Later that day, the reports were confirmed by Play M Entertainment.
A image teaser posted on the group’s social media accounts announced their third mini album, We Play, would be released on March 17. On this day, the mini album, along with its title track “After School”, were released.
On July 13, Play M Entertainment confirmed Weeekly was preparing for a comeback, aiming for an early August release. On July 15,, an image teaser posted across the group’s social medias announced their fourth mini album, titled Play Game : Holiday, would be released on August 4. On this day, the mini album, along with its title track “Holiday Party” was released.
On August 1, PlayM Entertainment released a statement announcing that member Shin Jiyoon would be going on hiatus temporarily from all activities due to reoccurring stress and anxiety. Thus, the group’s mini album Play Game : Holiday, will be promoted as six members.
On December 14, IST Entertainment announced that Shin Jiyoon will be returning from hiatus starting from December 15 and continue activities with the group.
2022: Bubble, “Play Game : Awake”, Jiyoon’s second hiatus, Jiyoon’s departure
On January 24, 2022, Weeekly began their participation in the Dear U Bubble app, made for idols to interact with fans.
On February 15, it was announced that Weeekly will be releasing their first single album, “Play Game : Awake”, on March 7, 2022.
On February 28, it was announced that Shin Jiyoon will not be participating in the album’s promotions due to focusing on treatment and recovery for her anxiety.
On June 1, IST Entertainment released a statement stating that as of today, Jiyoon will be ending her activities as a member of Weeekly. After discussing with Jiyoon, her family, it was decided it would be best for her to continue receiving treatment in an environment that helps her mental health.
2023: Official colors, “Good Day (Special Daileee)”, Colorise
On February 1, 2023, Weeekly’s official colors were revealed to be orchid bloom, banana cream, and beach glass.
On August 16, it was announced that Weeekly will have a comeback in October.
On September 4, it was announced that they would be releasing their third digital single, “Good Day (Special Daileee)” on September 12 before their official comeback in October. On September 25, it was announced that they would be releasing their fifth mini album on November 1, 2023. On October 13, the album’s title was revealed to be Colorise.
2024: “Stranger”, upcoming single album
On January 11, the group announced that they will release their fourth digital single “Stranger” on January 25 as a pre-release for their upcoming single album.
2018–2020: Pre-debut
Since the very beginning of the group, its lineup of trainees saw many changes. On September 1, 2018, FAVE Entertainment announced that trainees Lee Soomin, Park Soyeon, and Kim Bowon had left the agency and the group after terminating their contracts.
On October 18, FAVE Entertainment announced its plans to debut a new girl group, tentatively named FAVEGIRLS, sometime in early 2019. A pre-debut showcase, titled WE?, that would feature seven “candidates” of the group, was set to be held on November 11.
Starting on October 21, the seven trainees were revealed every day via social media. The first trainee to be revealed was Lee Soojin, followed by Monday, Park Haelin, Shin Jiyoon, Park Soeun, Kim Gaeun, and finally Lee Jaehee on October 27.
On February 13, 2019, Kakao M announced that FAVE Entertainment and Plan A Entertainment would be merging. The company’s new name, IST Entertainment, was announced on March 29. Thus, the group’s tentative name was changed to PlayM GIRLS and debut preparations were delayed.
In July, trainee Park Haelin left PlayM and the project to focus on her studies. In August, Kim Gaeun also left both the agency and the group. By October, trainees Han Jihyo and Jo Hyewon had officially joined the pre-debut lineup.
On April 28, 2020, the group uploaded a video, titled ‘Who R U?’, to their official YouTube channel. Through the video, the stage names for Jihan (formerly Han Jihyo) and Zoa (formerly Cho Hyewon) were revealed.
2020: Debut with We Are, fandom name, first comeback with We Can
On May 8, 2020, Play M confirmed PlayM GIRLS would be making their debut sometime in June. On May 11, the group’s debuting name Weeekly and its members were revealed. On June 12, a teaser timeline revealed the release of the group’s first mini album, We Are, was set for June 30. On this day, Weeekly officially debuted with the mini album and its title track “Tag Me (@Me)”.
On August 21, an official poll on the group’s Daum Cafe revealed the group’s official fandom name to be “Daileee”, which means “without Daileee (Daily), Weeekly cannot exist.” The official announcement was made three days later on August 23.
On September 8, a source from Play M Entertainment revealed the group was preparing for their first ever comeback, planning for release in October.
On September 21, it was announced that the group’s second mini album, We Can, would be released on October 13. On this day, the mini album, along with its title track “Zig Zag”, were released.
On September 25, the group released their first OST single, “Boom Chiki”, for the animated survival show My Dream is Ryan.
On February 18, 2021, Weeekly released their second OST single, “Wake Up”, for the KBS drama Hello, Me!.
On February 22, local news outlet Sport TV News reported that Weeekly was preparing for a comeback in March with a new album. Later that day, the reports were confirmed by Play M Entertainment.
A image teaser posted on the group’s social media accounts announced their third mini album, We Play, would be released on March 17. On this day, the mini album, along with its title track “After School”, were released.
On July 13, Play M Entertainment confirmed Weeekly was preparing for a comeback, aiming for an early August release. On July 15,, an image teaser posted across the group’s social medias announced their fourth mini album, titled Play Game : Holiday, would be released on August 4. On this day, the mini album, along with its title track “Holiday Party” was released.
On August 1, PlayM Entertainment released a statement announcing that member Shin Jiyoon would be going on hiatus temporarily from all activities due to reoccurring stress and anxiety. Thus, the group’s mini album Play Game : Holiday, will be promoted as six members.
On December 14, IST Entertainment announced that Shin Jiyoon will be returning from hiatus starting from December 15 and continue activities with the group.
2022: Bubble, “Play Game : Awake”, Jiyoon’s second hiatus, Jiyoon’s departure
On January 24, 2022, Weeekly began their participation in the Dear U Bubble app, made for idols to interact with fans.
On February 15, it was announced that Weeekly will be releasing their first single album, “Play Game : Awake”, on March 7, 2022.
On February 28, it was announced that Shin Jiyoon will not be participating in the album’s promotions due to focusing on treatment and recovery for her anxiety.
On June 1, IST Entertainment released a statement stating that as of today, Jiyoon will be ending her activities as a member of Weeekly. After discussing with Jiyoon, her family, it was decided it would be best for her to continue receiving treatment in an environment that helps her mental health.
2023: Official colors, “Good Day (Special Daileee)”, Colorise
On February 1, 2023, Weeekly’s official colors were revealed to be orchid bloom, banana cream, and beach glass.
On August 16, it was announced that Weeekly will have a comeback in October.
On September 4, it was announced that they would be releasing their third digital single, “Good Day (Special Daileee)” on September 12 before their official comeback in October. On September 25, it was announced that they would be releasing their fifth mini album on November 1, 2023. On October 13, the album’s title was revealed to be Colorise.
2024: “Stranger”, upcoming single album
On January 11, the group announced that they will release their fourth digital single “Stranger” on January 25 as a pre-release for their upcoming single album.
