Bang Bang Bang (BigBang song)

"Bang Bang Bang"
Single by BigBang
from the album Made and Made Series
Language
A-side"We Like 2 Party"
ReleasedJune 1, 2015 (2015-06-01)
Genre
Length3:40
LabelYG
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Teddy
  • G-Dragon
BigBang singles chronology
"Bae Bae"
(2015) 		"Bang Bang Bang"
(2015) 		"We Like 2 Party"
(2015)
Music video
"Bang Bang Bang" on YouTube

"Bang Bang Bang" (Korean: 뱅뱅뱅) is a song recorded by South Korean boy band BigBang. Initially released as part of the single album A on June 1, 2015, through YG Entertainment, the song served as one of the eight lead singles from the band's third Korean-language studio album Made, which would be released more than a year later on December 13, 2016. It was written and composed by member G-Dragon along with long-time group collaborator Teddy Park, with additional rap parts penned by member T.O.P.

"Bang Bang Bang" received generally positive reviews from music critics, who complimented the track's energetic sound and the group's performance. The song was a commercial success, ranking as the best-performing single in South Korea during 2015. It also peaked atop the Billboard World Digital Song Sales chart and entered the SNEP singles chart in France. The Japanese version of the song peaked at number two on the Japan Hot 100, and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) in digital downloads and streaming.

The success of "Bang Bang Bang" led it to win various awards in South Korea and abroad, including Song of the Year at 2015 Mnet Asian Music Awards, making the group the second artist to have won the award twice. It won Song of the Year at the 2015 Melon Music Awards, Best Song at the 2016 Seoul Music Awards, and was voted the most popular song of 2015 on Gallup Korea. It was awarded the Asian Song of the Year by Download at the Japan Gold Disc Awards in 2016 and 2017, and was named one of the Top Ten International Gold Songs at the RTHK International Pop Poll Awards.

Background and promotion

[edit]

The first poster titled "Bang Bang Bang" was released on May 27. YG Entertainment's then-CEO Yang Hyun-suk commented that the song was "the most powerful music you have ever heard before."[1] Before its release on June 1 at midnight, the members hosted a live streaming on the app V from the news portal Naver, where they talked about the new songs and answered fans questions. The first televised live performance was held in the Mnet music show M Countdown along with "We Like 2 Party".[2] The group also appeared on the talk show You Hee-yeol's Sketchbook to perform the single.

"Bang Bang Bang" was translated for Japanese to be included in their album Made Series (2016). The Japanese version gained a new music video, that is essentially the same as the Korean original, but edited to be shorter in length. This version was performed in the Japanese TV shows Music Station, Momm!!, Space Shower TV, among others.

Composition

[edit]
"Bang Bang Bang"
A 22-second sample of "Bang Bang Bang", which is noted for containing a dance beat that changes to a "trap-heavy breakdown" in the chorus.[3][4]
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"Bang Bang Bang"'s verses feature a dance beat that were described as "'90s inspired", reminiscent of Diplo and Disclosure, with a "quasi-Migos flow over a hi-NRG" sound. The song then shifts into a "trap-heavy breakdown" in the chorus, and culminating into another breakdown, with chants of "Let the bass drum go".[3][4] Additionally, "reverberating synths filt" throughout the track, "playing off the pounding rhythm and powerful horns", giving "Bang Bang Bang" a "chaotic environment".[5] The chorus features the hook "Like you've been shot, bang bang bang",[6] which was noted for being "less onomatopoeic and more a homage to the band."[5]

Critical reception

[edit]

Billboard placed the track at the tenth spot in their best BigBang songs list, calling the single "impossible to ignore," stating that, even though "the sudden shift in pacing throughout the single come off as jarring upon first listen," the track's "stuttering rhythm," "chaotic environment" and "frenzied energy" makes the song "all that more compelling."[5] Sun-Times included "Bang Bang Bang" in their unranked list of ten best BigBang songs, claiming that "this club-ready track takes classic BigBang swagger to new levels of sophistication."[7] The Muse felt that the single "savvily hits every note, including anthemic trap breakdown" describing the song as "literally, lit."[4] Fuse compared the song to their 2012 single "Fantastic Baby", hailing both as "nonstop party" tracks.[3] KKBox praised the track's energetic sound, and hailed "Bang Bang Bang" a classical song from the band.[8] Thump choose it as one of best songs of summer, feeling that the "multi-genre banger" is "fire in any language, in any country."[9]

Commercial performance

[edit]

"Bang Bang Bang" had the highest first-week sales in 2015 by a group on the Gaon Chart, with 339,856 downloads sold.[10] It peaked at number one on the Gaon Digital Chart.[11] By the end of June, "Bang Bang Bang" was number one on the monthly digital chart, with a total of 681,111 digital sales and 26.472 million streams.[12][13][14] On Gaon's year-end chart issue for 2015, "Bang Bang Bang" was ranked as the best performing song of the year, having been downloaded 1,581,284 times.[15] In September 2018, Gaon revealed that the song surpassed 2,500,000 downloads in South Korea.[16] In the United States, the single held the two top spots on the Billboard US World Digital Songs chart along with "We Like 2 Party", the second time for the group after the previous release M,[17] which led them tying with Psy's record for being the only K-pop act to hold the top two slots on the chart twice.[18] Billboard named "Bang Bang Bang" the biggest K-pop song on the World Digital Chart during the summer of 2015.[19] On the chart's year-end issue, it ranked at number five and was the third best-selling K-pop song in the US, behind only Psy's "Gangnam Style" and 2NE1's "I Am the Best".[20]

In Europe, "Bang Bang Bang" peaked at number 194 on the France SNEP singles chart,[21] number 44 on the UK Indie Singles chart,[22] and number 30 on the Official Finnish Download Chart.[23] In Japan, the Japanese version of the song peaked at number two on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 in the week of February 20, 2016.[24] It appeared on the chart's year-end issue for two consecutive years, ranking at number 28 in 2016 and number 95 in 2017. "Bang Bang Bang" was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) twice for surpassing 100,000 downloads and 50,000,000 streams in May 2016 and October 2022, respectively.[25][26] The single also ranked second as the most popular Korean singles in 2015 in Taiwan by music streaming service KKBox.[27] In 2017, the song ranked first place on the top 10 tracks of the year in the Japanese version of KKBox.[8]

Accolades

[edit]

"Bang Bang Bang" received numerous accolades, including Song of the Year at the annual Mnet Asian Music Awards and Melon Music Awards. It was named one of the top ten international gold songs at the 2016 RTHK International Pop Poll Awards and won two Song of the Year by Download accolades from the Japan Gold Disc Awards in 2016 and 2017. Additionally, "Bang Bang Bang" received four consecutive Melon Weekly Popularity Awards.[28]

Awards and nominations for "Bang Bang Bang"
Organization Year Award Result Ref.
Gaon Chart Music Awards 2016 Song of the Month (June) Won [29]
Japan Gold Disc Awards Song of the Year by Download (Asia) Won [30]
2017 Won [31]
Melon Music Awards 2015 Song of the Year Won [32]
Netizen Popularity Award Won
Mnet Asian Music Awards 2015 Song of the Year Won [33]
Best Dance Performance Nominated
MTV Iggy 2015 International Song of Summer Won [34]
QQ Music Awards 2016 Best Music Video of the Year Won [35]
RTHK International Pop Poll Awards 2016 Top Ten International Gold Songs Won [36]
Seoul Music Awards Best Song Award Won [37]
Music program awards
Program Date Ref.
M Countdown June 11, 2015 [38]
June 25, 2015 [39]
Inkigayo June 14, 2015 [40]
June 28, 2015 [41]

Music video

[edit]

"Bang Bang Bang" music video was directed by Seo Hyun-seung[42] and choreographed by Parris Goebel, who makes an appearance on the video. The video was well received by critics. Jeff Benjamin from Fuse described it as "an over-the-top affair, with the guys rocking a slew of wild looks, hairdos and fashions in a neon-tinged world,"[3] while Eric Ducker from Rolling Stone claimed that "nothing from [this year] really beats the explosive grandiosity of 'Bang Bang Bang' from genre legends BigBang."[43] Billboard highlighted the members' "boundary pushing" high-fashion.[44] Stereogum hailed it an "insanely epic video," and admired the video's "beautiful, absurd riot of glitter and pink hair and hydraulic low-riders and flamethrowers and tricked-out motorcycles and grenade launchers and studded leather and androgynous models on leashes and anti-aircraft guns and cowboy hats and Buckingham Palace guard hats and assault vehicles being driven like chariots."[45]

Stereogum ranked the music video at number 14 in their list of the 50 Best Music Videos of 2015, the only non-English work mentioned.[46] Miami New Times wrote that the "bombastic" video highlights "what the Hallyu is all about", featuring "insane costumes, dynamic dancing, and production values that match, even surpass, those of their Western competitors."[47] The video became most viewed K-pop group video of 2015 and second most viewed video by a K-pop group overall at the time, only behind their own "Fantastic Baby." On January 19, 2016, it reached 100 million views on YouTube, the second music video by a K-pop boy group to do so.[48] It became the second K-pop group music video to surpass 200 million views on January 11, 2017.

Controversy

[edit]

The group was criticized for appropriating Native American culture because of the war bonnet, worn only by those who have earned the highest honors in their tribes, Seungri wears in the video.[44] The Muse described the incident as "another example of K-pop appropriation" stating that "Western culture's various racial stereotypes" are "consumed and blown-out" by the genre "that it almost seems like an avenue in which to decentralize and possibly even defang some of those."[4]

Covers and usage in media

[edit]

In January 2016, iKon covered the song during the Seoul concerts of their iKoncert 2016: Showtime Tour. December 2016, A.C.E performed a dance cover of "Bang Bang Bang" while busking in the Hongdae area of Seoul.[49] In September 2018, Wanna One covered "Bang Bang Bang" at the Music Bank World Tour concert in Berlin;[50] members of Dreamcatcher also performed a cover the song at the 2018 Jeju Hallyu Festival that November.[51] In 2019, Stray Kids covered "Bang Bang Bang" at the 33rd Golden Disc Awards.[52] At the 2021 KBS Song Festival, Yeonjun, Taehyun and Huening Kai from TXT and Ni-ki and Heeseung from Enhypen covered the song as part of a "Legend of K-pop" medley performance.[53] In April 2022, Treasure performed the song along with several others at their Trace Concert at the Olympic Hall.[54]

Legacy

[edit]

"Bang Bang Bang" topped the 2015 Gallup Korea annual poll of nationwide Koreans between the ages of 13 and 59 for Song of the Year.[55] In 2016, song was chosen by the South Korean government to be a part of the loudspeaker propaganda broadcast into North Korean borders, in response to the January 2016 nuclear tests.[6] It was also sung by Seoul university students during the 2016 South Korean protests for the resignation of president Park Geun-hye.[56] In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked "Bang Bang Bang" number 66 in their list of the 100 Greatest Songs in the History of Korean Pop Music, writing that it "had immediate impact upon arrival, with newer groups still covering it seven years later. It’s an instant mood-booster".[57]

Chart performance

[edit]

Sales and certifications

[edit]
Sales and certifications for "Bang Bang Bang"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ)[25]
Japanese ver. 		Gold 100,000*
South Korea (Gaon) — 2,500,000[16]
United States (Billboard) — 11,000[60]
Streaming
Japan (RIAJ)[26]
Japanese ver. 		Gold 50,000,000†

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
† Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit]
Release dates and formats for "Bang Bang Bang"
Region Date Language Format Label Ref.
South Korea June 1, 2015 Korean Digital download YG Entertainment
Various [65]
Japan June 17, 2015 YGEX [66]
February 3, 2016 Japanese

References

[edit]
  1. ^ YG Entertainment. "[OSEN Focus] Bigbang Returns with Powerful "BANG BANG BANG". Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  2. ^ 빅뱅VS엑소, '엠카' 불태운 역대급 빅매치 (TV종합). Naver. June 4, 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d Benjamin, Jeff. "Banger, "Bang Bang Bang"". fuse. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d Julianne Escobedo Shepherd (May 6, 2015). "K-Pop Boy Band Bigbang's Vid for 'Bang Bang Bang' Is Actually Explosive". The Muse. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
  5. ^ a b c Herman, Tamar (December 23, 2016). "The 10 Best Bigbang Songs: Critics' Picks". Billboard. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
  6. ^ a b "Big Bang's Bang Bang Bang kicks off South Korea's loudspeaker propaganda broadcast to North Korea". ABC News. January 8, 2016. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  7. ^ Miller, Kaitlin (May 2, 2015). "BigBang's 10 best songs of the past 10 years". Sun-Times. Archived from the original on February 7, 2016. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
  8. ^ a b "Bigbang が楽曲部門1位に！ KKBox2016 年年間チャート発表". Japan KKBox. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
  9. ^ "Bigbang, Boys Noize, and Róisín Murphy Have Our Anti-Songs of the Summer". Thump. Vice. June 4, 2015. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
  10. ^ "Gaon Download Chart- Week 24". Gaon Music Chart. July 6, 2015. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  11. ^ "Gaon Digital Chart- Week 24". Gaon Music Chart. July 6, 2015. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  12. ^ "2015년 06월 Digital Chart". Gaon Chart.
  13. ^ "2015년 06월 Download Chart". Gaon Chart.
  14. ^ "2015년 06월 Streaming Chart". Gaon Chart.
  15. ^ "Circle Download Chart – 2015". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  16. ^ a b C., Daniel (September 12, 2018). "Gaon's 관찰노트" [Gaon's Observation Notes]. Gaon Charts. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  17. ^ "Bigbang Own Top Two Slots on World Digital Songs...Again!". Billboard. June 11, 2015. Retrieved June 14, 2015.
  18. ^ "K-Pop's Big Bang Ties Psy Record with Single "Bang Bang Bang"". musictimes.com. June 12, 2015. Retrieved June 14, 2015.
  19. ^ Benjamin, Jeff (July 22, 2015). "Most Viewed K-Pop Videos in America & Around the World: June 2015". Billboard. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  20. ^ a b "World Digital Song Sales – 2015". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 27, 2020. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  21. ^ a b "Lescharts.com – Bigbang – Bang Bang Bang". Lescharts. June 13, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
  22. ^ a b "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. June 7–13, 2015. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  23. ^ a b "Suomen Virallinen Lista" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  24. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot 100 – Week of February 20, 2016". Billboard. February 20, 2016. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  25. ^ a b "Japanese digital single certifications" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Select 2016年5月 on the drop-down menu
  26. ^ a b "Japanese single streaming certifications – BigBang – Bang Bang Bang" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved October 25, 2022. Select 2022年9月 on the drop-down menu
  27. ^ "2015韓語年度單曲/專輯榜 TOP 20 (in Chinese)". KKbox Taiwan. February 3, 2016. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  28. ^ "MelOn Popularity Award". Melon.
  29. ^ 제5회 가온K팝어워드, YG 음원-SM 음반 '초강세'..빅뱅·엑소 5관왕(종합) [5th Gaon K-Pop Awards, YG and SM 'super strong'... BigBang and EXO wins 5 crowns (comprehensive)]. Star News (in Korean). February 17, 2016. Archived from the original on February 19, 2017. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  30. ^ "The Winners of the Japan Gold Disc Award 2016 Announced". February 26, 2016. Retrieved February 27, 2016.
  31. ^ "The Japan Gold Disc Award 2017". Retrieved February 26, 2017.
  32. ^ "2015 Melon Music Awards Winners" (in Korean). Melon. Archived from the original on November 28, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  33. ^ "2015 Mnet Asian Music Awards Winners | 2015 MAMA". Mwave. Archived from the original on October 4, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  34. ^ Kim, Dong-joo (July 22, 2015). "BigBang's 'Bang Bang Bang' MV voted as 'International Song of Summer 2015'". Yahoo! Singapore. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  35. ^ "Bigbang Win Big at China's QQ Music Awards". China Plus. March 24, 2016. Archived from the original on October 5, 2016. Retrieved May 23, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  36. ^ "27th International Pop Poll Awards". RTHK International Pop Poll Award. Archived from the original on May 11, 2017. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
  37. ^ "Seoul Music Awards 2016". Archived from the original on November 27, 2015. Retrieved November 27, 2015.
  38. ^ A-ram, Park (June 11, 2015). ‘엠카운트다운’ 빅뱅, 엑소 제치고 1위 차지 "양현석 대표님 감사" ['M Countdown' BIGBANG, surpassing EXO to take first place "Thank you, CEO Yang Hyun-seok"]. Asia Today (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 10, 2020. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  39. ^ Hyun Kim, Seung (June 25, 2015). 빅뱅, 백아연 제치고 '엠카운트다운' 1위 [BIGBANG, surpassing Baek A-yeon, ranked 1st in 'M Countdown']. X Sports News (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 10, 2020. Retrieved November 10, 2020 – via Naver.
  40. ^ 6월 둘째 주 인기가요 차트 (in Korean). Seoul Broadcasting System. June 15, 2015. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
  41. ^ 6월 넷째 주 인기가요 차트 (in Korean). Seoul Broadcasting System. June 30, 2015. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
  42. ^ Breihan, Tom (December 16, 2015). "The 50 Best Videos Of 2015". Stereogum. Retrieved December 30, 2016.
  43. ^ Ducker, Eric (December 22, 2015). "10 Best Music Videos of 2015". Rolling Stone.
  44. ^ a b "Bigbang Get Wild With New Single 'Bang Bang Bang' & Video". Billboard. Retrieved June 14, 2015.
  45. ^ Breihan, Tom (June 3, 2015). "Bigbang – "Bang Bang Bang" Video". Stereogum. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
  46. ^ Breihan, Tom (December 16, 2015). "The 50 Best Music Videos Of 2015". Archived from the original on October 7, 2017. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  47. ^ Markowitz, Douglas (July 18, 2017). "A K-Pop Primer to Prepare You for G-Dragon's Miami Show". Miami New Times. Archived from the original on November 8, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  48. ^ "BigB ang achieved another milestone in beating own record". Yibada. February 4, 2016.
  49. ^ 빅뱅(Bigbang) - BANG BANG BANG & Good Boy Dance cover Busking in Hongdae (Online video). South Korea: Official A.C.E. February 10, 2017. Retrieved August 22, 2023 – via YouTube.
  50. ^ '뮤직뱅크 인 베를린' 워너원, 빅뱅 '뱅뱅뱅' 무대로 환호+박수. Singles List (in Korean). November 1, 2018. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  51. ^ [Get포토] 드림캐쳐(Dreamcatcher) 지유-시연-수아-유현-다미, '뱅뱅뱅~'(2018 제주한류페스티벌) [[Get Photo] Dreamcatcher JiU-Siyeon-Sua-Yoohyeon-Dami, 'Bang Bang Bang~' (2018 Jeju Hallyu Festival)]. Global Economic Daily (in Korean). November 4, 2018. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  52. ^ [2019 골든디스크] 방탄소년단, 4관왕·2년연속 대상 위엄…故종현 본상(종합). Xports News (in Korean). Naver. January 6, 2019. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  53. ^ Legend of K-POP - TOMORROW X TOGETHER, ENHYPEN (2021 KBS Song Festival) I KBS WORLD TV 211217 (Online video). South Korea: KBS World. December 17, 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2021 – via YouTube.
  54. ^ 트레저 첫 단독 콘서트 성료, CD 집어삼킨 라이브+탄탄한 퍼포먼스. Star1 (in Korean). Naver. April 11, 2022. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  55. ^ 빅뱅, 소시·아이유 꺾고 올해 빛낸 가수·가요 1위 '석권'. Osen. December 17, 2015.
  56. ^ '뱅뱅뱅', '다만세' 떼창하며 대학생 4천명 서울광장으로 행진. Naver (in Korean). November 12, 2016.
  57. ^ "The 100 Greatest Songs in the History of Korean Pop Music". Rolling Stone. July 20, 2023. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  58. ^ "Billboard's Japan Hot 100 Singles Chart: Singles". Billboard. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
  59. ^ "Digital Chart Week 24". Gaon Chart. June 8, 2015. Retrieved June 8, 2015.
  60. ^ a b "Bigbang Own Top Two Slots on World Digital Songs...Again!". Billboard. June 11, 2015. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  61. ^ "Yearly Digital Chart – 2015". Gaon Chart. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
  62. ^ "Billboard's Japan Hot 100 – 2016". Billboard Japan. Archived from the original on July 22, 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
  63. ^ "World Digital Song Sales – 2016". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 18, 2020. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  64. ^ "Billboard's Japan Hot 100 – 2017". Billboard Japan. Archived from the original on July 22, 2021. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  65. ^ "A - Single". Apple Music. June 1, 2015. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  66. ^ "全世界を席巻中!! Made Series [A] 日本配信リリース決定!!". ygex.jp/bigbang/. June 3, 2015. Retrieved June 14, 2015.


Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bang_Bang_Bang_(BigBang_song)&oldid=1256740076"