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Departing from the upbeat, sensational hit “Apateu”, Number One Girl by Rosé is a ballad that critics find unmemorable, with the song achieving moderate success based on the rankings on Billboard Global 200, yet making it to the top five in Asia including Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia. Elsewhere, the song received similar standings in Australia, United Kingdom, and South Korea.

Notably, Number One Girl feels like a soothing balm for both fans and non-fans because it excellently expresses what they’ve been meaning to articulate, especially after having gone through episodes of insecurity. While anyone can feel vulnerable at any age, Rosé revealed that this song is a window into her 20s, usually the period when someone would tend to feel unsure and insecure, being young adults and naturally torn between having time for oneself as well as shouldering adult-level responsibilities. At first glance, the song appears to be something about a lover and needing his constant reassurance to feel worthy. As it turns out, the Blackpink lead singer has been on the receiving end of hate comments, amplified by the rather unfiltered nature of social media, as these days there’s more outlets of expression and an unimaginable variety of user-generated content. At the same time, Rosé habitually reads such comments and despite feeling small and shattered, these negative comments would actually transform and fuel her work, regardless whether they’re chart-topping. This track is one of many in her debut album as she journeys solo, outside of the K-Pop girlgroup that made her famous.

In Rosé’s case, her vocals alone are powerful, even when there’s no accompanying background music. In the era of electronic music and autotune, one’s vocal quality is quite often highlighted and analysed. For fans who lean towards songs that echo of self-reflection, one’s journey in life and heartfelt lyrics, the singer’s vocal quality is an important benchmark for them to deeply appreciate his/her work.

In this particular track, Rosé not only shows her range, but her delivery technique, which is smart and commendable, as listeners will feel as if they’re taken on a voyage, sometimes just by one note or a phrasing.

The pop punk soft rock elements would remind listeners of Avril Lavigne, the pop-punk queen, who is also the sister-in-law of Ryota Kohama, the bassist linked to the Japanese band One OK Rock. Canadian-born Skye Sweetnam, the metal and rock singer influenced by Lavigne, also comes to mind whilst listening to this song. From what I found online, it seems Rosé also consulted Taylor Swift, who provided some guidance as to what a pop song should sound like.

Employing a melody that’s commonly found in many pop songs today, Rosé and the team of songwriters as well as producers had to find a way to keep the listeners and fans listening. This is achieved through going into a higher register, yet exposing a softer dynamic and elongating, placing and varying a single word or note, as well as diminishing the melody/chord towards the end of the song. Rosé is someone who is not afraid of vocal breaks or cracks in her voice, as evident in both the music video and through the audio version. This is surely a bold move, showing her fans, critics and non-fans alike, that she is after all human.

The writing of the song may seem similar to other pop songs. However, it has a certain contrast because in the beginning, Rosé is pictured as one person, alone. But later, as the song progresses, through the lyrics, she instils a sense of community – inspiring as many to be as friendly and as humble as possible.

The corresponding music video, released 22 November 2024, aptly reflects the song’s mood and sound. The nightlife/scenery at night of Seoul is seen in the video, representing her feelings - lonely, seeking validation. Overall, the self-directed video goes in hand in hand with her emotional, airy delivery.

Her album has been out since 6 December 2024.