After 10 episodes, Mnet’s Queendom Puzzle has finalized its project group, EL7Z UP. H1-KEY’s Hwiseo placed first, followed by woo!ah!’s Nana, PURPLE K!SS’ Yuki, Lovelyz’ Kei, WJSN’s Yeoreum, Rocket Punch’s Yeonhee, and former CLC member Yeeun. Those competing alongside them were AOA’s Dohwa, Rocket Punch’s Juri and Suyun, Weki Meki’s Elly, woo!ah!’s Wooyeon, Weeekly’s Jihan, and tripleS’ Jiwoo. The show’s finale, which aired on August 15, 2023, also revealed its last songs, “Billionaire” and “Last Piece,” the works of many beloved K-Pop producers. It ended the show’s three-month airing, which originally began on June 13, 2023. 

The Final Songs: “Billionaire” and “Last Piece” 

SM Entertainment songwriter and producer KENZIE wrote the show’s finale songs, “Billionaire” and “Last Piece.” The minute that anyone sees “KENZIE” on the credits of a song, they know they’re in for something good. Luckily, she isn’t the only recognizable name: a whole slew of producers known for hits within SM Entertainment and beyond also grace Queendom Puzzle’s final songs with their magic.  

The team of Kei, Yeonhee, Nana, Suyun, Yuki, Wooyeon, and Jihan performed “Billionaire,” a charming, bouncy track that boasts lyrics of fame and fortune. The song was composed by KENZIE, Courtney Woolsey, and LDN Noise (Hayden Chapman and Greg Bonnick). Dance crew LACHICA knew how to create energetic choreography for Queendom Puzzle’s songs, and “Billionaire” is perfect. The live broadcast made it hard to hear the song clearly (I can’t blame an excited live audience during a finale), but streaming platforms do the trick. It does well to deliver the vibes of being a rich superstar, and the idols do it with such confidence (backed by those horns!).  

Dohwa, Juri, Yeeun, Elly, Yeoreum, Hwiseo, and Jiwoo performed “Last Piece,” a powerful girl crush song. They proudly announce they are the last piece to the puzzle. It was composed by KENZIE, Adrian Mckinnon, and Moonshine (Jonatan Gusmark and Ludvig Evers). Choi Youngjoon returned for a final time to create the choreography, the highlight of the performance. During the team selection process in Episode 9, six contestants desired Elly’s position, sub-vocalist two, which leads a commanding walk during the song’s second chorus. Many remarked how cool and fierce the choreography came off, and they were right —  the performance came out spectacularly.

The Members of EL7Z UP

The members of EL7Z UP have quite the story to tell. First and second place winners Hwiseo and Nana served as the puzzlers (who created teams for challenges) in the “remix battle” and in the finale. While Nana proved popular from the onset of the show, Hwiseo finally entered the top seven near the end. Kei, with her well-known vocals, showed off strengths in many different concepts: the strong “SNAP” and “BAD BLOOD,” the sentimental “Only One” and “If We Ever Meet Again,” and the playful “PUZZLIN’” and “Billionaire.” 

Yeoreum started off strong as one of the highest ranked contestants in the show’s first round, the “up-down battle,” and consistently kept her place within the top seven. Yuki and Yeeun showcased their chemistry as a rap duo in their cover of “Rush Hour.” Yuki, Yeoreum, and Yeeun  — lovingly nicknamed by fans online as “Triple Y” — can also add Yeonhee to their “Y” ensemble. The show highlighted many of Yeonhee’s struggles, from Episode 2 where she danced with a broken shoe, but she eventually ranked sixth. 

Future Activities 

EL7Z UP will debut in September. According to Queendom Puzzle Episode 7 onwards, EL7Z UP will release an album, hold “global tours,” and perform at the 2023 MAMA Awards. Following their debut, they will hold their first fanmeeting in Japan on October 22 and October 24, 2023. The group will be managed by LM Entertainment, the former company of soloists Kang Daniel and Yoon Jisung.   

As for the members, some already have upcoming plans with their original groups. Those in EL7Z UP will resume their original activities together with the new group schedules. H1-KEY will come back with their second EP Seoul Dreaming on August 30, and PURPLE K!SS will come back with their first single album FESTA on September 5. Check out those upcoming releases in anticipation for EL7Z UP!

Edited by Omani