Ready or Not (Momoland song)

Psy lyricist of "Ready or Not" (pictured in 2012).

"Ready or Not" is a dance teen pop song. Cara Emmeline Garcia of GMA Network stated the song "shows the members' charms and confidence with its saxophone hook and upbeat."[1] South Korean singer Psy served as a lyricist on the song along with White99.[2] The composition of the song was made by Alexander Karlsson, Alexej Viktorovitch and Louise Lindberg.[3] The song was produced by JeL.[4]

Momoland released their sixth extended play Starry Night with its lead single of the same title in June 2020.[5] Following the release of "Starry Night", MLD Entertainment announced on October 19 2020 that the group would be making their comeback in their fourth anniversary in November 2020.[6]

Prior to the release of "Ready or Not", teasers featuring photos of Momoland from the single album's photoshoot, and clips from the music video were released online in November 2020.[7] The song was officially released on November 17, 2020 by MLD Entertainment and distributed by Sony Music as the group's third single album.[8] The instrumental of "Ready or Not" was included in the single album as the third track.[9] The dance practice video was uploaded on December 3, 2020.[10]

"Merry Go Round", a new mid-tempo R&B track was also added in the single album, as the second track.[11] It was composed and written by Bull$EyE, Ondine, Jindog and Kim Do Da Ri and produced by Bull$EyE and Jindog.[12] A music video for the song was released on December 8, 2020.[13]

Seoul Beats stated the song "marks the beginning of a newer and mature Momoland."[14] Kristie Chan of The Kraze Magazine complimented the rapping of Nancy and JooE, by making the song "more catchy."[15]

In South Korea, "Ready or Not" debuted and peaked in the Gaon Download Chart at number eighty-one on the week of November 21, 2020.[16] While the single album entered at number twenty-five in the Gaon Album Chart.[17] It was the eighty-first best-selling album for the month November of 2020 with 3,524 sales sold.[18]

A scene in the music video where Momoland's Jane appears in a pastel-colored room.

The music video for "Ready or Not" was uploaded to MLD Entertainment's official YouTube channel on November 17, 2020, in conjunction with the release of the single.[19] The video features bright and pastel colors. Kristie Chan of The Kraze Magazine stated the theme of the video, outfits and the set are reminiscent of 1980's pop.[15] Seoul Beats described the video as "simple" and "it forgoes a fun narrative and offbeat concept in an attempt to step away from the group's quirkier image."[14]

A "performance" version of the music video was published on November 24, 2020.[20]

Momoland promoted "Ready or Not" by performing on several music programs in South Korea including Inkigayo, M Countdown, Music Bank, The Show, Show Champion, Show! Music Core and Simply K-Pop. In December 2020, Momoland performed the song on the 2020 KBS Gayo Daechukje and 2020 SBS Gayo Daejeon.[21]

Credits adapted from Melon.[3]

• Momoland – vocals
• Alexander Karlsson – composer
• JeL – arrangement
• Louise Lindberg – composer
• Psy – lyricist
• Alexej Viktorovitch – composer
• White99 – lyricist