JENNIE and JISOO Announce New Animation Soundtracks
by Isabel Miller
Both JENNIE and JISOO of BLACKPINK have announced that they will be featured in the soundtracks of different animated films, a first for either artist.
JENNIE will participate in the soundtrack of the Netflix animation Steps. Her independent agency Odd Atelier shared the news on November 2, and the new, anthemic pop song “Someone to Hold” was made available on streaming platforms today, November 6.
Steps is scheduled for release on November 20. It follows Lilith, who is positioned as one of Cinderella’s stepsisters in a twisted version of the tale. Tired of living in Cinderella’s shadow, she crashes the royal ball in an attempt to rewrite the narrative, causing chaos in an altered version of the classic race against a midnight deadline.
“Someone to Hold” focuses on the two stepsisters, Lilith and Margot, and its lyrics celebrate the friendship and love between the pair during their struggle: “I’m sorry, so sorry, sorry that I never told / I got a hand if you need someone to, someone to hold you.”
“I am so excited to join the Steps family and it was really fun making my first song for an animated film! I love how much heart and personality the characters have, and I’m so happy I got to be a little part of their world,” JENNIE said through her agency.
The track will be her first project since August, following the three-song EP Fallen Angel, which reached number one on the worldwide iTunes album chart.
JISOO is set to be featured in The Angry Birds Movie 3, which is scheduled to hit cinemas in December. As well as being its singer, she also co-wrote the new song “Sun Showers.” A snippet of the song has been revealed in the background of the film’s trailer, which was released November 4.
“I’ve always loved how the films bring together such colourful characters, humour and heart. With “Sun Showers,” I wanted to capture the movie’s playful and bright energy through a fun, feel-good song that makes people want to smile and dance along,” JISOO said in an exclusive interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
The announcement of JISOO’s soundtrack comes swiftly after the release of her latest single “ADDICTED,” a dark dance-pop track that furthers the haunted, romantic tone first introduced with “CLICK” in September. “ADDICTED” reached number one on the worldwide iTunes song chart in 28 regions, and topped several QQ Music charts in China.
For both JENNIE and JISOO, these songs mark the artists’ first contribution to an animated film. They see JENNIE and JISOO branching out into other areas of entertainment, leveraging their successful careers as members of BLACKPINK and soloists towards the field of film.
Animation in particular is a notable choice, its significance emphasised by both artists’ involvement in the medium within a similar time frame. Animation is typically viewed as a very accessible medium, often targeted towards children as is the case here but also holding fun, nostalgic value, and holds a widespread international appeal rather than being tailored to a certain region. Both songs being written entirely in English reinforces that global appeal, as JENNIE and JISOO continue to strive for success in the West. With Steps being produced by Netflix and The Angry Birds Movie 3 part of an already famous franchise, they guarantee exposure for JENNIE and JISOO, hosting their voices in front of a large audience.
JENNIE’s “Someone to Hold” is available to stream now, with a casual lip-syncing video also uploaded online, while JISOO’s “Sun Showers” will be released at an undisclosed later date.