# Whiplash (Aespa song)

"Whiplash" is a song recorded by South Korean girl group Aespa for their fifth extended play of the same name. It was released as the EP's lead single by SM Entertainment on October 21, 2024.

## Background and release

On September 23, 2024, SM Entertainment announced that Aespa would be releasing their fifth extended play titled Whiplash with the lead single of the same name on October 21. On October 11, the track listing was released alongside the highlight medley teaser video. Nine days later, the music video teaser was released. The song was released alongside its music video and the extended play on October 21.

## Composition

"Whiplash" was written by Leslie from XYXX, composed and arranged by Neil Ormandy and Lewis Jankel with Marcus "MarcLo" Lomax and Rosina "Soaky Siren" Russell participating in the composition. It was described as a EDM-based song featuring "strong and fast-paced bass and house beats" with lyrics about "moving forward without hesitation with your own standards and criteria without being confined by a frame".

## Commercial performance

"Whiplash" debuted at number four on South Korean's Circle Digital Chart in the chart issue dated October 20–26, 2024. The song also debuted at number seven on the Billboard South Korea Songs in the chart issue dated November 2, 2024. In Japan, the song debuted at number 13 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 in the chart issue dated October 30, 2024. On the Oricon Combined Singles Chart, the song debuted at number 15 in the chart issue dated November 4, 2024.
In Singapore, "Whiplash" debuted at number 19 on the RIAS Top Streaming Chart, and number six on the RIAS Top Regional Chart in the chart issue dated October 18–24, 2024. The song also debuted at number 19 on the Billboard Singapore Songs in the chart issue dated November 2, 2024. In Malaysia, the song debuted at number 23 on the Billboard Malaysia Songs in the chart issue dated November 2, 2024. In Hong Kong, the song debuted at number eight on the Billboard Hong Kong Songs in the chart issue dated November 2, 2024. In Taiwan, the song debuted at number six on the Billboard Taiwan Songs in the chart issue dated November 2, 2024.
In New Zealand, "Whiplash" debuted at number 12 on the RMNZ Hot Singles in the chart issue dated October 28, 2024. In United Kingdom, the song debuted at number 14 on the OCC's UK Indie Breakers, number 37 on the UK Singles Downloads Chart, and number 40 on the UK Singles Sales Chart in the chart issue dated October 25–31, 2024. Globally, the song debuted at number 30 on the Billboard Global 200, and number 18 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S in the chart issue dated November 2, 2024.

## Promotion

Prior to the release of Whiplash, on October 21, 2024, Aespa held a live event on YouTube, TikTok, and Weverse, aimed at introducing the extended play and its songs, including "Whiplash", and connecting with their fanbase. They subsequently performed the song at three music programs in the first week of promotion: Mnet's M Countdown on October 24, MBC's Show! Music Core on October 26, and SBS's Inkigayo on October 27. In the second and final week of promotion, they performed on two music programs: KBS's Music Bank on November 1 where they won the first place, and Show! Music Core on November 2.

## Accolades

Awards and nominations for "Armageddon" :
| Award ceremony | Year | Category | Result | Ref. |
| MTV Video Music Awards Japan | 2025 | Best Group Video (International) | Won | |
| Music Awards Japan | 2025 | Song of the Year | Pending | |
Music program awards for "Whiplash" :
| Program | Date |
| Inkigayo | November 17, 2024 |
| Inkigayo | November 24, 2024 |
| Inkigayo | December 1, 2024 |
| Music Bank | November 1, 2024 |
| Show Champion | October 30, 2024 |
| Show! Music Core | November 30, 2024 |

### Listicles
#### Year-end lists

Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement :
| Publisher | Year | Listicle | Placement | Ref. |
| Teen Vogue | 2024 | 15 Best K-pop Music Videos of 2024 | Placed | |

## Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes of Whiplash.
Studio
* SM Dorii Studio – recording
* SM Yellow Tail Studio – recording, digital editing, engineered for mix
* SM Droplet Studio – recording
* Vibe Music Studio 606 – recording
* Sound Pool Studio – digital editing
* SM Blue Ocean Studio – mixing
* 821 Sound – mastering
Personnel
* Aespa – vocals, background vocals
* Kriz – background vocals
* Rosina "Soaky Siren" Russell – background vocals, composition
* Leslie (XYXX) – lyrics
* Marcus "MarcLo" Lomax – composition
* Neil Ormandy – composition, arrangement
* Lewis Jankel – composition, arrangement
* Maxx Song – vocal directing
* Emily Yeonseo Kim – vocal directing
* Jeong Jae-won – recording
* Noh Min-ji – recording, digital editing, engineered for mix
* Kim Joo-hyun – recording
* Kwak Jeong-shin – recording
* Jeong Ho-jin – digital editing
* Kim Cheol-sun – mixing
* Kwon Nam-woo – mastering

## Certifications

Certifications for "Whiplash" :
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| Streaming |||
| Japan (RIAJ) | Gold | 50,000,000$^†$ |
| $^†$ Streaming-only figures based on certification alone. |||

## Release history

Release history for "Whiplash" :
| Region | Date | Format | Version | Label |
| Various | October 21, 2024 | Digital downloadstreaming | Original | SMKakao |
| Various | December 11, 2024 | Digital downloadstreaming | Remix | SMKakaoScreaM |