WDA (Whole Different Animal)

"WDA (Whole Different Animal)"
Single by Aespa featuring G-Dragon
from the album Lemonade
LanguageKorean
ReleasedMay 11, 2026 (2026-05-11)
Studio
  • SM Yellow Tail (Seoul)
  • SM Wavelet (Seoul)
  • SM Aube (Seoul)
  • Vibe Music Studio 606 (Seoul)
Genre
Length2:54
Label
Composers
Lyricists
  • Jvde (Galactika)
  • G-Dragon
Aespa singles chronology
"Rich Man"
(2025)		 "WDA (Whole Different Animal)"
(2026)		 "Lemonade"
(2026)
G-Dragon singles chronology
"Too Bad"
(2025)		 "WDA (Whole Different Animal)"
(2026)
Music video
"WDA (Whole Different Animal)" on YouTube

"WDA (Whole Different Animal)" is a song recorded by South Korean girl group Aespa, featuring South Korean rapper and singer-songwriter G-Dragon, for their second studio album Lemonade. It was released by SM Entertainment on May 11, 2026, as the lead single from the album. It charted at number 12 on the Circle Chart.

Background and release

On April 20, 2026, SM Entertainment announced that Aespa would be releasing their second studio album titled Lemonade on May 29.[1] On May 4, it was announced that "WDA (Whole Different Animal)" would be pre-released on May 11.[2] On May 8, the music video teaser was released.[3] The song was released alongside its music video on May 11.[4]

Composition

"WDA (Whole Different Animal)" was written by Jvde of Galactika and G-Dragon, composed by Dem Jointz, Ryan S. Jhun, Varick "Smitty" Smith, and G-Dragon, and arranged by Dem Jointz and Ryan S. Jhun.[5] It is a hip-hop-based dance song characterized by "synth bass and heavy hook" with lyrics about "capturing the growth of Aespa".[6]

Music video

The music video portrays a world where the boundary between reality and the digital realm has become increasingly blurred, making it impossible to prove what is "real." In this world, beings that resemble Aespa but are not them appear, creating confusion and conflict. Amid this chaos, Aespa ultimately break through the fracture ("Complaexity") and reaffirm their own existence.[7]

Promotion

Prior to the release of "WDA (Whole Different Animal)", on May 11, 2026, Aespa held a live event called "WDA Countdown Live" on YouTube and TikTok, aimed at introducing the song.[8] They subsequently performed the song at four music programs: Mnet's M Countdown on May 14,[9] KBS's Music Bank on May 15,[10] MBC's Show! Music Core on May 16,[11] and SBS's Inkigayo on May 17.[12]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
IZMStarStar[13]

Son Min-hyun of IZM gave the song two out of five stars, writing that the song's "internal structure" was "loose" despite the significance of G-Dragon's collaboration. He argued that G-Dragon's contribution was limited to repetition and a brief transition, lacking the distinctive presence that had strengthened his previous featured appearances. Son further criticized the track's sharp electronic effects and "metallic" sound for reducing its identity to a promotional slogan, while finding its closing humming section indistinct.[13]

Accolades

Music program awards for "WDA (Whole Different Animal)"
Program Date Ref.
Music Bank June 5, 2026 [14]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[15]

Studio

  • SM Yellow Tail Studio – recording, digital editing, engineered for mix
  • SM Wavelet Studio – recording
  • SM Aube Studio – recording
  • Vibe Music Studio 606 – recording
  • SM Blue Cup Studio – digital editing, mixing
  • 821 Sound – mastering

Personnel

Charts

Release history

Release history for "WDA (Whole Different Animal)"
Region Date Format Label
Various May 11, 2026

References

  1. ↑ Choi, Yoon-na (April 20, 2026). 새 챕터 여는 에스파...정규 2집 'LEMONADE' 5월 29일 발매 [Aespa Opens a New Chapter...2nd Full Album 'LEMONADE' Released on May 29]. Sports Donga (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 24, 2026. Retrieved May 24, 2026 – via Naver.
  2. ↑ Jo, Hye-jin (May 4, 2026). 에스파, 세계관 새 챕터 연다...선공개곡으로 정규 2집 '시동' [Aespa Opens New Chapter of Worldview...2nd Full Album 'Start-Up' with Pre-release Single]. Xports News (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 24, 2026. Retrieved May 24, 2026 – via Naver.
  3. ↑ Moon, Wan-sik (May 8, 2026). 에스파, 지드래곤 손잡았다 [Aespa joins hands with G-Dragon]. MT Star News (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 24, 2026. Retrieved May 24, 2026 – via Naver.
  4. ↑ Ha, Kyung-heon (May 11, 2026). GDX에스파, 에스파 선공개 싱글 'WDA' 오늘 5시 공개 [GDX Aespa releases pre-release single 'WDA' today at 5 PM]. Ilgan Sports (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 24, 2026. Retrieved May 24, 2026 – via Naver.
  5. ↑ "WDA (Whole Different Animal) (Feat. G-Dragon)". Kakao Entertainment (in Korean). SM Entertainment. Archived from the original on May 24, 2026. Retrieved May 24, 2026 – via Melon.
  6. ↑ Kwak, Hyun-soo (May 8, 2026). 에스파X지드래곤 만났다...신곡 'WDA'로 세계관 새 챕터 예고 [Aespa x G-Dragon Meet...New Song 'WDA' Teases a New Chapter in Worldview]. YTN (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 24, 2026. Retrieved May 24, 2026 – via Naver.
  7. ↑ Park, Seo-hyeon (May 11, 2026). 에스파 '쇠파민' 터지는 MV 온다..정규 2집 선공개곡 'WDA' 오늘(11일) 공개. Herald Pop (in Korean).
  8. ↑ Park, Seo-hyun (May 11, 2026). 에스파 '쇠파민' 터지는 MV 온다..정규 2집 선공개곡 'WDA' 오늘(11일) 공개 [Aespa's 'Seopamin-Exploding' MV Is Coming..2nd Full Album Pre-release Track 'WDA' Released Today (11th)]. Herald Pop (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 24, 2026. Retrieved May 24, 2026 – via Naver.
  9. ↑ Kim, Seung-hyun (May 14, 2026). 에스파, 선공개곡 'WDA' 음방 출격...컴백 열기 고조 [Aespa to perform pre-release track 'WDA' on music shows...Comeback excitement intensifies]. Sports Donga (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 24, 2026. Retrieved May 24, 2026 – via Naver.
  10. ↑ [뮤직뱅크] 에스파, G드래곤과 손잡고 쇠파민 매력 담았다...'WDA' 컴백 무대 [[Music Bank] Aespa teams up with G-Dragon to capture 'Dopamine' charm...'WDA' comeback stage]. KBS Entertainment News (in Korean). May 15, 2026. Archived from the original on May 24, 2026. Retrieved May 24, 2026 – via Naver.
  11. ↑ Jeon, Ye-seul (May 16, 2026). 코르티스, 악뮤·아일릿 제치고 1위 "함께 이뤄낸 상" ('쇼! 음악중심')[셀럽캡처] [Cortis Takes 1st Place, Beating AKMU and Illit: "An Award Achieved Together" ('Show! Music Core') [Celeb Capture]]. Celuv Media (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 16, 2026. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
  12. ↑ Im, Si-ryeong (May 17, 2026). 코르티스 'REDRED', '인기가요' 1위 트로피 "코어 사랑합니다" [TV캡처] [Cortis 'REDRED', 'Inkigayo' 1st Place Trophy "We love you, Core" [TV Capture]]. Sports Today (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 17, 2026. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
  13. 1 2 Son, Min-hyun (May 20, 2026). "WDA (Whole Different Animal)". IZM. Archived from the original on May 23, 2026. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
  14. ↑ Jeong, Ye-won (June 5, 2026). 에스파 '뮤직뱅크' 1위 "'WDA' 만들어준 모든 분들 감사" [TV캡처] [aespa's 'Music Bank' No.1: "Thank you to everyone who made 'WDA'" [TV capture]]. Sports Today (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 5, 2026. Retrieved June 5, 2026.
  15. ↑ Aespa (2026). Lemonade (photobook). South Korea: SM Entertainment, Kakao Entertainment. Credits.
  16. ↑ "Aespa Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 9, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Aespa Chart History (Hong Kong Songs)". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 9, 2024. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  18. ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot 100 – Week of May 20, 2026". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). May 20, 2026. Archived from the original on May 20, 2026. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Hot 40 Singles". Recorded Music NZ. May 15, 2026. Archived from the original on May 17, 2026. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
  20. ↑ "The Official Singapore Charts Week 21 (May 15–21, 2026)". RIAS. Archived from the original on May 26, 2026. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Circle Digital Chart – Week 23 of 2026". Circle Chart (in Korean). May 31 – June 6, 2026. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
  22. ↑ "Aespa Chart History (Taiwan Songs)". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 13, 2025. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Aespa Chart History (Vietnam Hot 100)". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 8, 2025. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  24. ↑ "Digital Chart – June 2026". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved July 9, 2026.
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