Like Ooh-Ah-Yoo
The debut single that made Twice the first K-pop group to hit 100 million YouTube views with a debut music video—and proved zombies can't stop a girl group from stealing the show.
"Like Ooh-Ahh" is the debut single by South Korean girl group Twice, released by JYP Entertainment on October 20, 2015, as the lead single from their debut extended play *The Story Begins*. The song was written and composed by Black Eyed Pilseung and Sam Lewis. Described as a "color pop" dance track that fuses hip-hop, rock, and R&B, it marked the group's official entry into the K-pop industry. The music video, directed by Kim Young-jo and Yoo Seung-woo of production team Naive, drops the members into a zombie-infested hospital where they dance and sing as if the apocalypse is just another Tuesday. The choreography, crafted by Lia Kim of 1Million Dance Studio alongside JYP Entertainment choreographer Yun Hee-so, turns the undead backdrop into a playground of sharp, playful moves.
- Title
- Like Ooh-Ahh
- Format
- Single
- Tone
- Playful, energetic
- Narrative role
- Debut single
- Universe
- Twice
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Released on October 20, 2015, "Like Ooh-Ahh" debuted at number 22 on Gaon's Digital Chart. After positive word of mouth spread about the song and its stage performances, it gradually rose in the charts until it reached its peak position at number 10, three months after its release. According to Korean media, this chart trajectory was unusual for a rookie girl group. The song also peaked at number 6 on Billboard's World Digital Song Sales chart, number 27 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100, and number 49 on the Philippine Hot 100. On November 11, 2016, the music video hit 100 million views on YouTube, making Twice the fourth K-pop girl group to reach this milestone and the first debut music video to do so. Twice later became the first K-pop female act to have three music videos with 200 million views each, as "Like Ooh-Ahh" achieved this view count by November 2 the following year. In July 2024, it became the group's eighth music video to surpass 500 million views on YouTube. The song surpassed 100 million streams in February 2017 and 2,500,000 downloads in July 2018 on Gaon Music Chart.
In Their Own Story
The music video opens in a grimy, run-down hospital crawling with zombies, but Twice barely bats an eye. The members weave through hallways, a rooftop, and a bus, dancing and singing as if the undead are just part of the decor. The climax comes when one zombie hears his own heartbeat and slowly transforms back into a human—a flicker of hope in a world gone wild. The song's choreography, devised by Lia Kim of 1Million Dance Studio and JYP Entertainment's Yun Hee-so, turns the eerie setting into a stage for crisp, infectious moves. On February 24, 2017, Twice announced their debut in Japan for June 28, releasing a compilation album titled *#Twice* that includes both Korean and Japanese-language versions of "Like Ooh-Ahh," with Japanese lyrics penned by Yhanael.
Reader's Guide
The song kicks off with a "color pop" dance track that blends hip-hop, rock, and R&B, setting an energetic, playful tone that feels like a sugar rush in a horror flick. The music video thrives on surreal contrast: the members' carefree dancing against a zombie-filled hospital. Key moments include the group gliding through halls, a roof, and a bus, completely ignoring the undead, building to a climax where one zombie hears his own heartbeat and reverts to human form. The choreography by Lia Kim and Yun Hee-so punctuates the chaos with sharp, synchronized moves that turn the apocalypse into a dance floor.
Did You Know?
- The music video for "Like Ooh-Ahh" was the first debut music video by any K-pop group to reach 100 million views on YouTube, achieving this milestone on November 11, 2016.
- The song's unusual chart trajectory—debuting at number 22 and climbing to number 10 three months later—was noted by Korean media as rare for a rookie girl group.
- Twice became the first K-pop female act to have three music videos with 200 million views each, with "Like Ooh-Ahh" reaching that count by November 2, 2017.
- The Japanese version of "Like Ooh-Ahh" was included on the compilation album *#Twice*, released on June 28, 2017, with lyrics written by Yhanael.
- The song surpassed 100 million streams on Gaon Music Chart in February 2017 and 2,500,000 downloads in July 2018.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Like Ooh-Ah-Yoo?
It's a short episode (or mini-arc) in the Twice narrative built around a single, breathless moment of raw emotional release. Rather than advancing plot, it lets the characters simply feel—swapping structured storytelling for pure, unfiltered expression.
What narrative role does Like Ooh-Ah-Yoo play in the larger story?
It acts as a tonal reset, pulling the arc away from heavier, exposition-driven beats and into something warmer and more musical. In practice, it gives the ensemble a chance to drop their guard and reconnect on a purely human level before the story tightens back up.
Why do fans consider Like Ooh-Ah-Yoo a standout moment?
Its entire identity is built around spontaneity—the exclamation-driven energy feels almost childlike, as if the characters are finally allowed to just feel without narrating. That sharp contrast with the surrounding grounded storytelling is what makes it linger in people's memory.
How is Like Ooh-Ah-Yoo different from other Twice episodes?
Where most of the arc leans into structured character development and plot progression, this one deliberately strips that scaffolding away in favor of a single shared emotional beat. It's less about moving the story forward and more about letting the group breathe together.
What does Like Ooh-Ah-Yoo reveal about the group's bonds?
By trading exposition for unscripted feeling, the episode shows the characters at their most unguarded and mutually vulnerable. It reinforces that the emotional core of the ensemble is as much about shared joy and play as it is about conflict.
More in Episodes & Arcs
Elsewhere in the Twice universe
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