Challenger (EP)

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Challenger (EP) is a 2021 extended play by the Japanese boy band JO1. Released on April 28, 2021 by Lapone Entertainment, it serves as JO1’s third single and the lead release from their second studio album, Kizuna (2022). The EP contains six songs and was issued in three physical editions (Limited A, Limited B, Normal) and one digital edition.

Lead track and promotion
- The single’s lead song, Born to Be Wild, has retro funk influences. Its music video premiered on March 24, 2021.
- Born to Be Wild topped the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart and the Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales chart. First-week sales were about 254,111 copies, and the single was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for shipments of 250,000+.
- The track helped JO1 reach No. 2 on Billboard Japan’s Artist 100 and contributed to strong year-end chart finishes.

Background and release
- In early 2021, JO1 traveled to South Korea to prepare new material. In February they held an online concert in Paju to promote their work around The Star, and they announced Challenger for an April release.
- Cover images were released on March 4, and JO1 continued with online events and video releases in the following months, including clips for Speed of Light and Design.

Track listing (highlights)
- The EP features six songs: Born to Be Wild, Speed of Light, Get Inside Me, Kimi no Mama (As You Are), Design, and Tsutaerareru Nara (If You Can Tell).
- Different editions include various additional content, with the digital edition offering all six tracks.

Charts and certifications
- Challenger reached number one on Oricon’s Weekly Singles Chart and topped Billboard Japan’s Top Singles Sales.
- It performed well on year-end charts and helped JO1 earn a Platinum certification in Japan for shipments, with first-week sales exceeding 250,000 copies.

Release details
- Release date: April 28, 2021 (Japan)
- Editions: Limited A (CD + DVD), Limited B (CD + photo booklet), Normal edition (CD), and a digital edition containing all tracks.