by another teaser that was released two days later, being based on a still-cut image from the then-upcoming music video. On 26 February 2014, the release date for the single was announced. It marked the group's first Korean offering in 17 months since their previous song "Lipstick" (2012), and their sixth single overall. "Catallena" was made available for digital download and streaming as a single in various countries through Pledis Entertainment and Kakao M on 12 March 2014. The physical CD single for the song was released in South Korea on 14 March 2014 by the aforementioned record labels. The song was written and composed by the group's long-time collaborators Igy and Seo Yong-bae, with the collaborators also handling production. Both versions of the single contain B-side tracks "So Sorry" and "Cry". Music and lyrics "Catallena" mixes contemporary pop with Italo disco and hi-NRG styles, and contains elements of '70s and '80s. The song is composed in the key of E minor, with a tempo of 127 beats per minute, and runs for 3:13. It interpolates a sample of a Punjabi folk song "Jutti Meri", which is used in the chorus. The track is instrumented by Nile Rodgers & Chic-esque guitars and makes use of a compressed synth bassline, which was compared to English rock band New Order's song "Blue Monday" (1983). "Catallena" also utilizes '80s snares, Ghazal folk samples, and Bollywood-tinged overtones and beats in its production. Throughout the song, Orange Caramel sing using high-pitched vocals and melodious coos. Its orchestration was compared to the style of Swedish supergroup ABBA. During the song's lyrics, the group voice their fascination towards a charming "Catallena" woman in spite of being straight, singing, "She's so great, I've fallen for her/ Even as a girl." Music journalists associated the lyrics to have a deeper meaning. Reception "Catallena" was met with generally favourable reviews from music critics. Jakob Dorof, writing for Vice, praised the "mass" production of the track, which he labelled as "clever" and said made it "feel dang near handmade." Dorof further deemed Orange Caramel's "packaged positivity" as "a nightlight brighter than all the rest." He also wrote an article for Pitchfork, in which he called the song a "pretty fantastic pop" and regarded it as the group's best song, mainly for utilizing a "filter-swept combo" in the production. In PopMatters, Scott Interannte lauded the track for its "odd smashing of genres