GIRLS (Album)

## Singles from *GIRLS - The 1st Full Album*

1. GIRLS
Released: November 2, 2020

***GIRLS - The 1st Full Album*** is the first studio album release by South Korean girl group VALKYRIE. It was released on November 2, 2020 through Virtual Entertainment. It was accompanied by their first single in over a year, titled GIRLS. The album consists of 7 tracks, with the album featuring a divisive taste of various genres, and a feature from American recording artist, and icon Madonna.

The album was a global success, debuting in the top 10 in all major charts, while in the UK it stalled at 13 and peaked at #7. In other regions, it went #1. The album has since sold an estimated 9,130,612 copies since release and has amassed over 702,733,005 million streams on streaming platforms.

### Background & Recording

Following their solo releases, VALKYRIE confirmed on Twitter, with a visual teaser release of the concept that the girls will be releasing their first official studio album this year! As rumors begin swirling, Madonna the global icon in Pop confirmed she has been in talks with Virtual for a collaboration with the girls. VALKYRIE claim the album will further their storyline and put an end to their fight with MAƧUDA. Joined by VALKYRII, VALKYRII are confirmed to have been in a battle with the light, and the dark due to an infectious disease further coming off with a lot of controversy due to the fact of the COVID 19 Pandemic.

VALKYRIE have extended production credits individually on various tracks throughout the album, alongside VALKYRIE have songwriting credits additionally included on some of the tracks in the album, as they recorded some of the songs from debut to a few months prior of the final confirmation of the tracks. Madonna was recorded filming her parts in the VALK studios for *MYTH*.

In the midst of recording, YUNA was requested to perform at various events, and attended events causing a mix up of the schedules, alongside it caused a postponing scare for the fans. VALKYRIE stated in the behind the scenes recording, they wanted to establish a sound, and as such their villain MAƧUDA has reeked enough terror and chaos throughout their world, MIDNIGHT, and VALKYRII tried their best to intervene and with this, VALKYRIE have claimed they will put an end to the villain.

In the months before the release, VALKYRIE posted a string of tweets confirming the album, and its tracks alongside the collaboration with Madonna.

The album was confirmed to feature 7 songs, of which only 1 song was previously released titled 'SO HOT'. This will extend their discography to over 9 songs.

### Cover & Packaging

The album was delivered in two format(s) for fans around the world during the COVID-19 pandemic, with first week pre-orders through Virtual Entertainment's website being given 75% off shipping. The album came with the standard edition, and the VALORANT Edition for VALKYRIE's fanbase. Both editions come with photocards, a poster, and a vinyl edition of the album, while the VALORANT edition comes with exclusive photocards, a "legendary" themed card with holographic texture on it, two exclusive member posters, a holographic "V" embossed on a see through case for the vinyl, while it also features the members without the yellow background as featured on the album cover. It also came with a code for 50% off Virtual Entertainment's shop.

The official cover features the members all standing together, themed in leather with the title of the album 'GIRLS' in the center. It's themed as a feminist anthem, and a war cry song.

### Critical Reception

Upon release, the album was met with great reviews, with some questioning why VALKYRIE was trying to cross-over into mainstream Pop, with '*SET U FREE*' being heavily criticized as the worst track on the album and in their discography. Besides that, fans were in love with the album, hence it's sales. The album debuted in the top 10 of every major chart in the world, besides the UK debuting at #13. GIRLS entered the US Billboard 200 at number 2. On Gaon's chart, it debuted at number one selling a record amount over

### Commercial Performance

The album debuted in the top 10 of every major chart, besides the UK where it entered in at #13. In the US, it debuted #2 on the US Billboard 200, in the following week it went #1. In Canada, it entered in at #6, and rose to #1 in the following week following promotion on "The Canadian Idol". In Latin America, the album debuted at #1, and fell to #2 in its 4th week, #6 in its 5th, and remained in between #1 and #6 for a majority of the year there. In the United Kingdom, the album peaked in its third week at #7 on the chart, before leaving at #75 after having a dramatic rise in its 23rd week. The album debuted at #1 in Europe, and slowly began falling off the chart, at #2 in the 2nd week, then out of the top 10 in its 5th week. In Oceania, the album debuted at #1, before falling to #4 in its 3rd week. In Asia, the album remained consistently in the top 10 for the first 15 weeks before stalling in between the top 20 of the Gaon chart, fluctuating to the top of the chart, and back down each week due to promotion. It is one of the longest charting albums in Asia on the Goan chart, having charted for over 147 weeks.

GIRLS became one of the best selling albums instantly in Asia, selling over 6,203,960 copies, and had one of the best first weeks with over 900k units being sold first week.

### Album Track List

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1 All released singles are marked with BOLD font.

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Released under Virtual Entertainment | 2020