ITZY’s “THAT’S A NO NO” is Resurgence Done Right
Photo: ITZY Official X
After ITZY kicked off their third world tour in Seoul on February 13, an unexpected song took the Internet by storm—a B-side from their rookie years went viral for its brand new performance. 2020’s “THAT’S A NO NO” off the group’s IT’z ME EP received new and original choreography that garnered overwhelming positivity online. The choreography spawned a dance challenge, whose popularity led the group to perform it as a special stage on M!COUNTDOWN. Though ITZY named their current world tour after their title track “TUNNEL VISION,” their innovative ideas span through years of their discography.
When “THAT’S A NO NO” Came Out
“THAT’S A NO NO” appears as a B-side on IT’z ME, ITZY’s third release. The EP came out on March 9, 2020, over the COVID-19 pandemic. While fans across the globe consumed K-Pop through their screens, a different IT’z ME song went viral at the time. Ryujin’s signature “shoulder dance” during the title track “WANNABE” captured most of the attention during that period.
Composed by Shim Eunji, KASS, and Ariowa Irosogie, “THAT’S A NO NO” is a moombahton song that turns the stage into a dance festival. As expected from ITZY’s concept characterized by teenage rebellion and individuality, “THAT’S A NO NO” comes from a proud and confident ITZY that marches to the beat of their own drum. As drum beats echo in its instrumental, they will continue their own dance through life, and asking them to stop is a “no no.”
New Choreography Creates Virality
Concerts offer opportunities for older songs to receive another chance in the spotlight. Choreographers YURI (손유리) and Haeinyss (정해인) created the dance for “THAT’S A NO NO,” which got performed for the first time during the <TUNNEL VISION> tour. They previously made the choreography for ITZY’s “Swipe” and “Kiss & Tell,” but “THAT’S A NO NO” takes the performance to another level. In this new choreography, ITZY strikes their moves with a relaxed yet precise grace, especially in the chorus.
@itzyofficial THAT'S A NO NO w/ Choreographers💘 #ITZY #YEJI #예지 #THATSANONO ♬ оригинальный звук - bat dream
Following the song’s increasing popularity, JYP Entertainment responded by uploading multiple related videos. The official fancams, dance practices, and dance challenges all include elements of what made the song viral. The <TUNNEL VISION> concert fancam in particular highlights the members’ wide grins, showing how much they love the performance. The “full cam” version sits at over 5.7 million YouTube views a month after uploading.
Judging by its reception, “THAT’S A NO NO” will likely stay in the <TUNNEL VISION> setlist for the whole tour. ITZY will tour the Asia-Oceania region from April to July, starting with Melbourne, Australia on April 17. More shows will be announced in the future so hopefully fans in other continents also get to experience “THAT’S A NO NO” live.
Edited by Clark Royandoyan