Flip That[b] (sometimes stylized as FL!P that) is the fifth extended play by South Korean girl group Loona. It was released on June 20, 2022, through Blockberry Creative and Warner Music Korea. The EP features a total of six songs and is Loona's first project since [#] to not feature a full English song. This was their final release under Blockberry Creative.
Background
Loona released their fourth extended play, [&], in June 2021. The genre diverse project received generally positive reviews from music critics and became the group's best selling album.[1] In September of the same year, Loona released their debut double A-side Japanese single, "Hula Hoop" / "Star Seed" that became a top ten hit in the country.[2][3] On February 21, 2022, Mnet announced that Loona would participate in Queendom 2.[4][5] On June 2, Loona finished as runner-up in the live finale of the show despite not performing in the first round due to some members testing positive for COVID-19.[6]
Promotion
On June 3, 2022, Loona released a cryptic trailer titled "The Journey", which features lush flowers and grass growing on an empty, pastel-colored train carriage and a garden with a mysterious door. The clip ends with a mysterious release date of June 20. The next day Loona announced the release of their fifth extended play Flip That. The group shared the news alongside a teaser image that features the group members holding hands while standing by a tree with purple flowers. The EP was released before the start of the group's first-ever world tour that is set to begin on August 1 in Los Angeles.[7][8][9]
Promotional pictures for the EP featuring the group members were released starting from June 5–15.[10][11] The track listing was released on June 8 and featured two already performed songs by the group. Loona performed the song "Pose" on the last round of Queendom 2 and during their concert Loonaverse: From they performed the track "Playback", which is the first song written by the members to appear on an album.[12] Alongside the tracklist the first teaser for the music video "Flip That" was released.[13] The EP's highlight melody was released on June 16 featuring snippets of all the songs featured on the project. On June 18, 2022, the second teaser for the music video for "Flip That" was released.[14][15]
Live performances
Prior to the release of the EP, the group held a live showcase on the same date to introduce the extended play and communicate with their fans, where they performed the title track along with "Pale Blue Dot".[16]
Rhian Daly from NME gave the extended play four out of five stars, calling the project "an understated but subtly addictive return". He called the EP "a much-needed gift from the group, but it's not one that does much to turn up the volume" but instead "ditches the girl crush sound of recent [singles], and returns to Loona's dreamier, more ethereal side". He called it a "refreshing move, albeit one that means some of the songs present on the project need a little more attention before they get under your skin".[17]
^Jeon, Hyo-jin (June 2, 2021). "하슬 활동복귀...이달의 소녀, 28일 완전체 컴백 [공식]" [HaSeul's return to activity. LOONA will make a comeback as a whole on the 28th. (Official)]. Sports Donga (in Korean). Retrieved June 2, 2021.
^Jeon, Hyo-jin (February 28, 2022). "이달소 하슬·여진·비비, 코로나 확진...오늘(28일) '퀸덤2' 녹화 불참 [공식입장]" [Loona Haseul·Yeojin·Vivi, confirmed with Corona...Today (28th) 'Queendom 2' recording absent [Official Position]] (in Korean). Sports Donga. Retrieved April 2, 2022 – via Naver.
^Yoon, Seong-yeol (June 3, 2022). "우주소녀 '퀸덤2' 최종 우승 '감격의 눈물'..이달소 준우승 [★밤TV]" [Cosmic Girls 'Queendom 2' Final Winner 'Tears of Emotion'.. Loona Runner-up [★Night TV]] (in Korean). Star News. Retrieved June 3, 2022 – via Naver.
^Jang, Woo-young (June 20, 2022). "이달의 소녀, '퀸덤2' 뒤집은 기적의 소녀...첫 서머송 컴백 [종합]" [Loona, the miracle girl who overturned 'Queendom 2'...First Summer Song Comeback [General]] (in Korean). Osen. Archived from the original on June 23, 2022. Retrieved June 22, 2022 – via Naver.
