T-ARA Stuns in Long-Awaited Return with “TIKI TAKA”
One of most notable girl groups in the second generation of K-Pop made their legendary return! After a four year hiatus, T-ARA is back with their single album Re:T-ARA and a music video for the track “TIKI TAKA.” Considering it's their first comeback in four years, there’s no doubt that many are proud to see T-ARA make a strong return!
Mnet Media formed an eight-member lineup for MBK Entertainment’s official debut of T-ARA in 2009, however, members Jiwon and Jiae withdrew from the group, delaying the process a bit. By July 2009, T-ARA made their debut with the single “Lie,” beginning their journey to become one of the most memorable girl groups in K-Pop. With legendary singles like “Roly Poly,” “Cry Cry,” “Lovey Dovey,” and “Day by Day,” T-ARA had an astounding eight-year run in the music industry with addictive and earworm-like tracks. T-ARA’s last comeback as a group was in June 2017 during the promotions for their mini-album What’s My Name.
With the years passing by rapidly, fans were uncertain if the girls would ever make a return. In celebration of their twelfth anniversary since debut, T-ARA held a special V LIVE broadcast on July 29, 2021 to chat with fans and reminisce on the memories. As a surprise, the members revealed that they were preparing for their first comeback as a group in four years! This meant that members Qri, Eunjung, Hyomin, and Jiyeon were set to make their return again as T-ARA.
For this single album project, label Dingo Music helped the girls make their legendary return to the music industry. The album contains two tracks titled “ALL KILL” and “TIKI TAKA.” Composers basecamp, Minit, and Colde participated in co-writing the single “TIKI TAKA.” For “ALL KILL,” hitmakers Cho Youngsoo and Ahn Youngmin collaborated with T-ARA, and have worked with T-ARA since their debut.
“TIKI TAKA” has this nostalgic sound that’s almost similar to T-ARA’s past tracks, maybe as a nod to their past and staying with their signature sound. Even after four years, T-ARA’s smooth and velvety vocals remain consistent. The track talks about a relationship with a lover that is falling apart, with the urge to leave based on the treatment they received. With lyrics like, “Are we supposed to give and take wounds?” and, “I won’t be fooled anymore,” you can see that T-ARA expresses the realization that they’ve been made a fool and want to leave this toxic relationship. Even near the end of the track, they sing such heart-wrenching lyrics like, “So that I can’t go back, I’ll erase everything, don’t hold me back,” in such an elegant and sophisticated tone. T-ARA has always succeeded in expressing sad and painful sentiments with their soft vocals.
The music video shows off T-ARA in a luxurious setting, stunning with a flood of red rose petals, gleaming outfits, and breathtaking visuals. As we see each member coping with a broken heart throughout each scene, T-ARA glows while showcasing a sultry and mature choreography between shots. In order to get past heartbreak, the girls are seen having a party and drinking the pain away together to forget a toxic lover. At the beginning and end of the video, T-ARA boasts with their stunning visuals to make sure you never forget them.
Even though it's been a few years since their last comeback, T-ARA has shown us that they are a timeless girl group that will remain unforgettable with their long legacy. It seems like only yesterday we were given all of the legendary tracks that T-ARA brought into the second generation of K-Pop. With a comeback that truly heals from the past, we’re happy to see T-ARA back and stronger than ever.
If you’re interested in diving into T-ARA’s discography, make sure to check out their music on Spotify and YouTube Music. For current promotions about their latest comeback, you can check out Dingo Music’s Instagram and Twitter. Check out the music video for the single “TIKI TAKA” below!