# Fate ((G)I-dle song)

"Fate" (Korean: 나는 아픈 건 딱 질색이니까; RR: Naneun Apeun Geon Ttak Jilsaeginikka; lit. 'Because I hate being sick'), sometimes referred to as "Ah.Ttak.Jil" (Korean: 아.딱.질) in South Korea, is a song by South Korean girl group (G)I-dle from their second studio album 2, released on January 29, 2024. The song was written and produced by Soyeon, with additional composition and arrangement credits from Pop Time, Dailly, and Likey.
It is a pop-punk and funk hybrid song with influences from J-pop. The song features guitars and vibrant, minimal production, including catchy piano sounds. "Fate" emerged as a sleeper hit on South Korean music charts without any promotional efforts, reaching number one on the Circle Digital Chart and other South Korean streaming platforms. Later, it peaked at number five in Taiwan and at number 23 in Singapore's RIAS charts. It gained attention after the release of a stage video on Lee Hyori's Red Carpet and It's Live YouTube channel, accumulating over one million views.
Music critics praised the song's lyricism, funky production, and its nostalgic appeal. After acknowledging its growing popularity, (G)I-dle began promoting the song on South Korean music shows on March 21, 2024, starting with M Countdown. Although the group did not perform the song on Inkigayo, "Fate" achieved a Triple Crown. By November 2024, "Fate" was nominated for Song of the Year and won Best Vocal Performance at the MAMA Awards.

## Music and lyrics

"Fate" was written by Jeon So-yeon, along with composing the lyrics and producing the track, with additional contributions from Pop Time, Dailly, and Likey. It is a blend of pop-punk and funk, featuring minimal yet vibrant production, guitars, and "jaunty" piano. NME noted that these elements give the song the bittersweet energy reminiscent of an end credits track from a slice-of-life anime series. Initially, Soyeon envisioned "Fate" as the lead single for the album. During an appearance on Lee Eun-ji's Song Plaza on January 30, 2024, she revealed, "I originally used 'Fate' as the title. It's a song with an animation feel." Soyeon crafted the song with a cartoon-like scene in mind, giving it a "band-like sound" instead of a typical dance track. Reporter Lee Deok-haeng of IZE magazine compares "Fate" to past song like "Allergy" (2023) and "Never Stop Me" (2022), highlighting (G)I-dle's consistent fusion of J-pop and band elements.
   "'Fate' is a tune about the feeling of heartbreak that you suddenly get after bumping into a stranger. You don't remember who that person is, but you feel like you know him and you begin to shed tears."
The track revolves around the theme of an "unexpected yet fateful encounter", which captures" the sudden heartbreak that follows a chance meeting with a stranger. The Fact reporter Choi Soo-bin noted that the track incorporated J-pop influences and resonates with listeners through relatable lyrics like "This morning again, with bread in my mouth/Starting the day the same/Iced Americano in one hand all day long/I'm so tired". Jang Jun-hwan of IZM praised Soyeon's skillful lyricism, which adeptly portrays various situations and emotions using relatable metaphors. Additionally, Jun-hwan highlighted the intuitive plot twists in the song.

## Live video

Following the song's unexpected success, (G)I-dle had announced the release of a live video on March 13, 2024. The poster, which prominently features members Minnie and Yuqi, evokes a nostalgic atmosphere reminiscent of a youth movie. This nostalgic vibe has generated attention among netizens. The video emphasized their "bright visuals" in school uniforms, while they were surrounded by "fluttering flower petals added warmth, reminiscent of a scene from a youth movie", which left "a deep lingering impression." Following its release, "Fate" secured the top spot in South Korea's YouTube chart with 3.6 million views. The song has remained on the charts for five consecutive weeks.

## Release and reception

"Fate" the sixth track on the group's second studio album 2, released on January 29, 2024, saw a revival on multiple South Korean music charts, achieving notable success without any promotional backing from the agency. Securing iChart's "Perfect all-kill", it dominated the top spot on major South Korean music streaming service charts, marking their fourth consecutive success after "Tomboy", "Nxde", and "Queencard". Its popularity surged following the release of a stage video on the late-night music talk show Lee Hyori's Red Carpet and It's Live YouTube channel. These videos garnered over 1 million views, with shortened versions reaching 7 million views. A Cube Entertainment official attributed the song's success to the "members' passion and fans' support", noting Soyeon's songwriting and composing skills as key to showcasing the group's "unique sound".
The song also received positive reviews from South Korean music critics. In his album review, Jang Jun-hwan of IZM lauded "Fate" as a standout track, praising the lyricism, the funky guitar melodies and intuitive plot twists, likening the track's atmosphere to a youth cartoon, evoking sympathy and comfort in listeners. Reporter Lee Deok-haeng of IZE magazine praised "Fate" for its unique punk-based, minimal band sound and witty lyrics, evoking comparisons to J-pop or "Japanese animation OST material", and Miyeon's vocals. Additionally, he noted listener fatigue with (G)I-dle's conceptual title tracks like "Nxde" and "Super Lady", emphasizing "Fate's" departure from such artistic direction and reflecting a broader trend towards easy-listening tracks in the K-pop industry. Reporter Seung-gil Lee of My Daily praised (G)I-dle for departure from their usual style. Unlike their previous tracks known for their strong stage presence, he noted that "Fate" resonated with audiences through its light band sound and nostalgic melody reminiscent of youth movies. The song's airy atmosphere and poetic lyrics left a "lasting impression", contributing to its chart success. Renowned music critic Jeong Min-jae praised the song, describing its melody as fluid "like water" and its lyrics as narrative-driven. He noted the song's resurgence through spontaneous social media virality, marking it as a prime example of fan-driven rediscovery. Additionally, reporter Park So-jin of MK Sports pointed out that the song's nostalgic appeal stems from its resemblance to 2000s J-pop, attributing its allure to the unique melody and storytelling elements.
According to Genie Music's 2024 Annual Chart, "Fate" claimed the top spot. The song also secured second place on Melon's annual chart. Additionally, it held the number-one spot on the Tencent Music K-pop chart for 37 weeks in 2024, the longest of any song that year. The song peaked at numbers five and 23 on the Billboard Taiwan Songs and RIAS Singapore Regional charts, respectively.

## Accolades

(G)I-dle has decided to promote the song on South Korean music shows, starting with M Countdown on March 21, 2024. This decision resulted in an Inkigayo Triple Crown despite not appearing on said show. By November 2024, "Fate" was nominated for Song of the Year and won Best Vocal Performance at the MAMA Awards.
Awards and nominations for "Fate" :
| Award ceremony | Year | Category | Result |
| MAMA Awards | 2024 | Song of the Year | Nominated |
| MAMA Awards | 2024 | Best Vocal Performance | Won |
| Melon Music Awards | 2024 | Song of the Year | Nominated |
| Hanteo Music Awards | 2025 | Best Song | Won |
| Golden Disc Awards | 2025 | Song of the Year | Nominated |
| Golden Disc Awards | 2025 | Digital Song Bonsang | Won |
Music program awards for "Fate" :
| Program | Date |
| Inkigayo | March 31, 2024 |
| Inkigayo | April 7, 2024 |
| Inkigayo | April 14, 2024 |

## In popular culture

During the 2024 South Korean martial law crisis, the YouTube channel "Shinuihansu" created the AI-generated song "I Hate Impeachment", based on the original track "Fate". The modified version, featuring lyrics sung in president Yoon Suk Yeol's AI-generated voice, gained attention at pro-impeachment rallies organized by groups like the Candlelight Movement.

## Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from CD liner notes.
Recording
* Recorded at Cube Studio
* Mixed at Klang Studios
* Audio edited at Ingrid Studio
Personnel
* (G)I-dle – vocals
** Soyeon – producer, lyrics, composition, arrangement
* Kako – background vocals
* Pop Time – keyboard, composition, arrangement
* Daily – keyboard, composition, arrangement
* Ryo – guitar
* Choi Ye-ji – recording engineer
* Jeong Eun-kyung – digital editing
* Kang Sun-young – engineer
* Gu Jong-pil – mixing engineer
* Kwon Nam-woo – mastering engineer
* Yoo Eun-jin – assistant mastering engineer