Between 1&2

Between 1&2 followed Celebrate, Twice's fourth Japanese studio album,^[1][2] and served as the group's first Korean release in 2022.^[3] On May 16, after concluding their second worldwide concert tour in Los Angeles, a cryptic post featuring the dates "2022.06.24" and "2022.08.26"^[a] circulated Twice's social media accounts, leading to fan speculation.^[4] June 24 was later revealed as the release date for Nayeon's solo debut EP, Im Nayeon.^[5]

On July 2, while hosting an episode of MBC's Show! Music Core, Twice member Dahyun announced that Twice would be making a comeback, stating that "it is planned, so please look forward to it".^[6] On July 12, all members of Twice renewed their contracts with JYP Entertainment.^[7] One day later, the label announced a "mini album" titled Between 1&2 with a planned release date of August 26.^[8]

Similar to Formula of Love: O+T=<3, the EP's title, Between 1&2, represents the connection of Twice with their fandom, Once.^[9][10] Members Chaeyoung, Dahyun, and Jihyo wrote lyrics of some songs on Between 1&2, with the latter also being credited as a composer on the song "Trouble".^[2][11] The EP's second track, "Queen of Hearts", an English song, features a drum beat and guitar sound mixed with Twice's "cool" vocals in harmony. "Brave" was described as a dance-pop track centered on the group's fandom, called Once, which "gives Twice the courage to become themselves". Lyrically, the song expresses "the sincerity of Twice members".^[12]

A promotional poster with the phrase "Tell Me What You Want" written above a light switch was posted onto Twice's social media accounts on July 13, 2022.^[13] On July 26, the tracklist of Between 1&2 was released.^[14] On August 5, JYP Entertainment released a timetable for the EP.^[15] On August 9, Twice released an opening trailer for the EP and a snippet of lead single "Talk That Talk".^[16][17][18] On August 17 and 18, individual teasers and group photos demonstrating the concept of the album were posted on Twice's official social media accounts.^[19][20] On August 19, the group released snippets of the second track, "Queen of Hearts", and fifth track, "Brave".^[12] On August 23, the group released a sneak peek to the album.^[21] On August 24 and 25, the group released two teasers for the music video of "Talk That Talk".^[22]

More information Review scores, Source ...

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[23]
NME	[24]

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Writing for NME, Tanu I. Raj noted that while Between 1&2 looks back on Twice's "growth with fondness and pride, and leave[s] us with the promise of better things to come", it suffers from some "road bumps".^[24]

On August 25, 2022, it was reported that pre-order sales of Between 1&2 had surpassed 1 million copies, exceeding Twice's previous career high of 700,000 pre-orders for Formula of Love: O+T=<3,^[25] and making Twice the third female K-pop group to exceed 1 million pre-orders after Blackpink and Aespa.^[9] Between 1&2 debuted at number 2 on South Korea's Circle Album Chart with 995,614 units sold.^[26] In Japan, it debuted at number 4 on Oricon's Digital Albums Chart^[27] and at number 10 on Billboard Japan's Hot Albums chart.^[28] In October 2022, it became Twice's first album to be certified Million by the Korea Music Content Association.^[29]

In the United States, the EP peaked at number 3 on the Billboard 200 with over 100,000 equivalent album units. Of these, 94,000 were pure sales, 6,000 were streaming-equivalent units, and a negligible number were track-equivalent units. It is their fifth and best selling album on the chart after Formula of Love: O+T=<3.^[30] According to Luminate's Year-End U.S. Report, Between 1&2 was the sixth best-selling CD album of 2022 in the United States, with 199,000 copies sold.^[31]

Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.^[32]

• List of certified albums in South Korea