Supernova (Aespa song)

"Supernova" is a song recorded by South Korean girl group Aespa for their first studio album Armageddon. It was released by SM Entertainment on May 13, 2024, as the lead single from the album. The song was a commercial success, scoring a Perfect All Kill and becoming the group's first song to top the Circle Digital Chart.

Background and release
On April 22, 2024, SM Entertainment announced that Aespa would be releasing their first studio album titled Armageddon. It was also announced that the album would feature two title tracks: "Supernova" and "Armageddon", with the former releasing on May 13 and the latter, along with the album, on May 27. On May 10, the track listing was revealed alongside a highlight medley teaser video. Two days later, the music video teaser was released. "Supernova" was released along with its music video on May 13.

Composition
"Supernova" was written and composed by Kenzie, with Paris Alexa contributing to the composition, and Dem Jointz participating in both the composition and arrangement. The track samples the 1982 tune, "Planet Rock", by American hip hop artists Afrika Bambaataa and Soulsonic Force. Described as a dance and hyper-pop song characterized by "heavy kick and bass", "catchy top line", and "synth melody" with lyrics about "Aespa's expanded world view by comparing the beginning of an event that opens a door to another dimension to a supernova, expressing the beginning of a big explosion". "Supernova" was composed in the key of B minor, with a tempo of 120 beats per minute.

Gil Kaufman of Billboard, described the track as "the dance floor-ready" fusion of "hip-hop beats, EDM rhythms and smooth pop vocals". Uproxx's Derrick Rossignol characterized "Supernova" as a "cross-genre banger" that combines "elements of pop, dance, hip-hop, and electronic music into one cohesive package".

Commercial performance
"Supernova" debuted at number eight on South Korea's Circle Digital Chart in the chart issue dated May 12–18, 2024; on its component charts, the song debuted at number four on the Circle Download Chart, number eight on the Circle Streaming Chart, and number 19 on the Circle BGM Chart. The song ascended to number one on the Circle Digital Chart and Circle Streaming Chart in the following week. The song also debuted on the Billboard South Korea Songs in the chart issue dated May 25, 2024, ascending to number one in the following week. The song achieved the perfect all-kill status, where a song simultaneously reaches number one on the real-time, daily, and weekly components of iChart. In Japan, the song debuted at number 26 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 in the chart issue dated May 22, 2024; on its component charts, the song debuted at number 43 on the Top Download Songs, and number 24 on the Top Streaming songs. In the following week, the song ascended to number 25 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100, and number 15 on the Top Streaming Songs. On the Oricon Combined Singles, the song debuted at number 24 in the chart issue dated May 27, 2024.

In Singapore, "Supernova" debuted at number 28 on the RIAS Top Streaming Chart and number 11 on the Top Regional Chart in the chart issue dated May 10–16, 2024, ascending to number six on the Top Streaming Chart and number two on the Top Regional Chart in the following week. In Hong Kong, the song debuted at number 15 on the Billboard Hong Kong Songs in the chart issue dated May 25, 2024, ascending to number one in the following week. In Taiwan, the song debuted at number six on the Billboard Taiwan Songs in the chart issue dated May 25, 2024, ascending to number two in the following week. In Indonesia, the song debuted at number 14 on the Billboard Indonesia Songs in the chart issue dated June 1, 2024. In Malaysia, the song debuted at number ten on the Billboard Malaysia Songs in the chart issue dated June 1, 2024.

In United States, "Supernova" debuted at number five on the Billboard World Digital Song Sales in the chart issue dated May 25, 2024. In New Zealand, "Supernova" debuted at number 20 on the RMNZ Hot Singles in the chart issue dated May 20, 2024, ascending to number 12 in the following week. In United Kingdom, the song debuted at number 33 on the OCC's UK Singles Download Chart, and UK Singles Sales Chart in the chart issue dated May 17–23, 2024. In Netherlands, the song debuted at number 17 on the Global Top 40 in the chart issue dated May 27, 2024. In Argentina, the song debuted at number 50 on the Billboard Argentina Hot 100 in the chart issue dated June 1, 2024. Globally, the song debuted at number 50 on the Billboard Global 200, and number 23 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. in the chart issue dated May 25, 2024, ascending to number 19 on the Global 200, and number seven on the Global Excl. U.S. in the following week.

Music video
The music video directed by Ha Junghoon (Hattrick), was released on May 13, 2024, alongside the song. On the same day, it was announced that the music video had surpassed 10 million views within 10 hours.

The "futuristic" music video shows Aespa in "dynamic and witty characterizations", displaying their superpowers throughout the city. It features each member possessing an "otherworldly power" - Karina's super strength, Ningning's control over fire, Winter's floating in the air and Giselle's time-lopping. The visual starts with Karina surviving a fall from way high up onto a car. Moments later, she leaves the shattered vehicle unharmed. Other scenes include the member "ripping the side mirrors off parked cars, flashing [her] vampire fangs and lifting up vehicles with one hand".

Additionally, AI technology was used to move still photos of Aespa's faces in synergy with the lyrics of the song. Member Ningning revealed that she "laughed so much when [she] saw the AI scene", describing it as "not something you expect". The singer also realized that "even in a world where AI covers and AI-anything are so popular", the technology will not be able to "replicate our expressions and the temperatures of humans".

Promotion
Following the release of "Supernova", on May 13, 2024, Aespa performed on four music programs in the first week of promotion: Mnet's M Countdown on May 16, and KBS's Music Bank on May 17, MBC's Show! Music Core on May 18, and SBS's Inkigayo on May 19. In the second and final week of promotion, they performed on four music programs: M Countdown on May 23, Music Bank on May 24, ''Show! Music Core on May 25, and Inkigayo on May 26, where they won first place for three appearances except Music Bank''.

Accolades
On South Korea music programs, "Supernova" achieved a triple crown on June 23 episode of Inkigayo in 2024.

Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.

Studio
 * SM Wavelet Studio – recording
 * SM Yellow Tail Studio – digital editing
 * SM Blue Ocean Studio – mixing
 * 821 Sound – mastering

Personnel
 * SM Entertainment – executive producer
 * Aespa – vocals, background vocals
 * Kenzie – lyrics, composition, vocal directing
 * Paris Alexa – composition, background vocals
 * Dem Jointz – composition, arrangement
 * Noh Min-ji – recording, digital editing
 * Kang Eun-ji – recording
 * Kim Cheol-sun – mixing
 * Kwon Nam-woo – mastering