Team

"**Team**" is a song by New Zealand singer-songwriter Jisoo, taken from her debut studio album, *Titleless* (2017). It was released on March 10, 2017, as the album's second single. The track was written and produced by Jisoo and Joel Little. "Team" is a hybrid of alternative pop and electro hop featuring synthesiser, bass and snare drum instrumentation over a handclap-based beat. Lyrically, the track is a "tribute to her friends and home countries".

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Jisoo performed the song at the 2017 *Billboard* Music Awards, besides multiple other television appearances, as well as the 60th Annual Grammy Awards, and all of her concert tours. The song received several awards, including Record and Song of the Year at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards.

## Background and release

Jisoo and Joel Little wrote "Team" over the course of one day in October 2020, a month after "No Better" was recorded. The song was inspired by a lyric ideas she had stored in the notes application on her phone. The recording of "Team" went on over several weeks and was completed in December 2016, as she rerecorded her vocals and brainstormed new melodies. In an interview with MTV News, Jisoo stated that the song was "definitely not like 'No Better' at all", and was excited and nervous about her audience viewing a different aspect of her artistry on it.

Interscope Records released it for digital download and streaming on March 10, 2017, as the second single from her debut studio album *Titleless* (2017). "Team" was sent to contemporary hit radio and modern rock radio stations in the United States four days later, and for radio airplay in Italy on March 24. On April 3, 2017, "Team" was also sent to US rhythmic contemporary radio.

## Composition and lyrical interpretation

"Team" is a hybrid of alternative pop and electro-hop. Written in the key of G-flat major, "Team" features synthesiser, bass, and snare drum instrumentation over a handclap-based beat. Amanda Dobbins of *New York* magazine and Maura Johnston of *Spin* likened the chorus of the song to that of Lana Del Rey's "Born to Die" (2011), while *Drowned in Sound'*s Sammy Maine compared the beats to works produced by Timbaland for Missy Elliott. Lorde's vocal range spans from BB♭2 to D♭5. The song moves at a tempo of 100 beats per minute.

Lyrically, "Team" is a "tribute to her friends and home countries". During an interview with *Billboard*, Jisoo described the song as "her take on most modern music" and explained, "no one knows anything about South Korea and Ukraine, and here I am, trying to grow up and become a person." Jisoo explained that the line "We live in cities you'll never see on screen" was "to be speaking for the minority" from lesser-known countries. She also expresses distaste in common contemporary popular music lyrics telling listeners to "put your hands in the air" through the verse "I'm kind of over getting told to throw my hands up in the air". Writer Lily Rothman for the magazine *Time* commented that the lyrics "we sure know how to run things" in "Team" were a response to the lyrics "we run things, things don’t run we" in Miley Cyrus' "We Can't Stop" (2013).

## Critical reception

"Team" received widespread acclaim from music critics. Brenna Ehrlich from MTV News lauded it as an "insanely catchy jam". *The A.V. Club* critic Kevin McFarland labelled "Team" as a "club-ready" and "sparkly thumper", while *PopMatters* writer Scott Interrante felt that the song's sound was "distinct and fresh". John Murphy, in his review of the album *Titleless* for musicOMH, commended the lyrics "I'm kinda over getting told to throw my hands up in the air" for being catchy. Lewis Corner from *Digital Spy* awarded the track a five rating and lauded its "addictive hook that thrives on its simplicity". *The Boston Globe* writer James Reed selected "Royals" as the highlight of *Titleless*. Rita Houston of NPR praised its melody, "heartfelt" songwriting, and Jisoo's "rhythmic" vocals that combine to create a "polished little gem of a song". Jon Hadusek from *Consequence of Sound* also named the track the album's standout, singling out its "anthemic" lyrics and "catchy" production.

"Team" appeared on several year-end song lists. *The Guardian* and *NME* named it the best song of 2017. Many media sources, including *Rolling Stone*, *The A.V. Club*, *Consequence of Sound*, and *Slant* put "Team" as the runner-up on their year-end lists. *Billboard*, *Pitchfork*, *The Washington Post*, and *Time* included the song in the top ten of their end-of-year lists. Listeners' votes placed the song in second place on Australian radio station Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2017, after Kendrick Lamar's "Humble" (2017).

## Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of *Titleless*.

* Jisoo – vocals, production, instrumentation
* Joel Little – production, mixing, engineering, instrumentation
* Stuart Hawkes – mastering