Blue (BigBang song)
"Blue" | ||||
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Alive | ||||
Released | February 22, 2012 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:53 | |||
Label | YG Entertainment | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) |
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Big Bang singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Blue" on YouTube |
"Blue" (
"Blue" received generally positive reviews from
The music video for "Blue", filmed in New York City, was uploaded in conjunction with the single's release. To promote the track, BigBang appeared on several music programs in South Korea and further included it in the setlist for their Alive Galaxy Tour (2012).
Background and composition
The release of "Blue" marked BigBang's first single in almost a year.
The song was written and produced by BigBang member G-Dragon and Teddy Park, with additional lyrics penned by member T.O.P.[2] Yim Hyun-su of The Korea Herald described the track as possessing a "crispy sound that reminds you of the cold and fresh air early in the morning."[11]
Written in the standard time of 4
4, the song is composed in the key signature of G major and carries an average tempo 125 beats per minute.[12] The title "Blue" serves as a representation of the emotions conveyed though the song, which consists the sadness and grief one experiences following their separation from a lover.[8] Deemed a stylistic shift from previous releases, the song embraces a more emotional side of the group seldom exposed to the public, and highlights their mature vocals.[8] In an article posted on YG Life at the time of the track's release, the group stated that the song expresses the feelings of longing, emptiness, and sadness. "It is a song where painful things turn blue", while also providing "a warm feeling of being comforted".[13]
Critical reception
"Blue" primarily received positive reviews from music critics, many of whom commented on its fresh musical style. The Borneo Post review described the song as a throwback recipe "with hints of modernism," calling it a "therapeutic confession."[14] Kaitlin Miller of the Chicago Sun-Times included "Blue" in their 2016 list of best BigBang songs from the past ten years; she wrote that Alive contained "a more mature sound that included more interesting electronic samples and production techniques", which were present in the "smooth [and] emotional track".[15] In an album review for Alive, Fuse TV contrasted the track along with "Bad Boy" to the heavily electronica-inspired "Fantastic Baby", calling both songs "clean [and] clutter-free" and made "Alive one of Big Bang's most well-rounded releases to date."[16] Owen Meyers of Popjustice praised the track's musical composition and ranked it second on their list of 2012's best K-pop singles, writing that despite its toned down elements, "it subtly morphs and builds into a non-boring slowburn anthem, punctuated by G‑Dragon's occasional croon 'I'm singing my blu-oo-ooos.'"[17] In December 2019, Caitlin Kelley of Billboard referred to "Blue" as one of BigBang's career defining hits and called the song "their smoothest R&B concoction to date."[1]
Awards
BigBang received the Song of the Month award at the
Year | Organization | Award | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2012 | Cyworld Digital Music Awards | Song of the Month (February) | Won | [19] |
2013 | Gaon Chart K-Pop Awards
|
Won | [20] |
Program | Date | Ref. |
---|---|---|
M Countdown | March 8, 2012 | [21] |
Music on Top | March 14, 2012 | |
Music Bank
|
March 9, 2012 | [22] |
March 16, 2012 | [23] | |
Inkigayo
|
March 11, 2012 | [24] |
March 18, 2012 | [25] | |
March 25, 2012 | [26] |
Commercial performance
Commercially, "Blue" experienced success in South Korea. In the week ending on February 25, 2012, the song entered South Korea's
Music video and promotion
The music video for "Blue" was uploaded to BigBang's official
The production crew eventually selected the Coney Island Cyclone, a wooden roller coaster at Luna Park, as one of the filming locations for the desaturated visual, where they utilized long dolly shots in order to depict the band members running down a street along the Cyclone. Additionally, several scenes were filmed in an industrial section of Brooklyn and on a rooftop of a warehouse in DUMBO, where it incorporated views of the busy Manhattan Bridge in the background in order to convey a drudge-like urban atmosphere.[44]
An instant hit on
Track listing
- Digital download / streaming
- "Blue" – 3:53
Charts
Weekly charts
Monthly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Release history
Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Various | February 22, 2012 | YG Entertainment | [2] |
References
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- ^ a b c d "Blue – Big Bang". Melon (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 21, 2021. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
- ^ 빅뱅, 2월 컴백 앞두고 트랙리스트 공개 [Big Bang to release tracklist ahead of comeback in February]. TV Report (in Korean). January 27, 2012. Archived from the original on April 30, 2021. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
- ^ 빅뱅 월드투어 공식발표 '16개국 25개 도시 달군다' [Big Bang World Tour Official Announcement 'Will Visit 25 Cities in 16 Countries']. Newsen (in Korean). February 7, 2012. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
- ^ Son, Nam-won (February 16, 2012). 빅뱅 새 앨범, 타이틀곡이 도대체 몇개야 [Big Bang's new album, how many title songs are there?]. Osen (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
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- ^ 빅뱅 '블루' 미리듣기, 팬들 기대감↑ '빨리 음원 나왔으면' [Big Bang's 'Blue' will be released in advance, fans' anticipate 'upcoming music']. TV Daily (in Korean). February 17, 2012. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
- ^ a b c d Woo, Geun-hyang (February 22, 2012). 빅뱅 ‘블루’ 신선한 느낌준다! ‘반응 폭발적’ [Big Bang's 'Blue' gives a fresh feeling! 'Explosive reaction']. The Korea Economic Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 7, 2021. Retrieved September 7, 2021 – via Naver.
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- ^ Lee, Kyung-ho. 빅뱅, '엠카' 1위...'블루' 파워 빅뱅 [Big Bang wins 1st place on 'M Countdown'...'Blue']. Star News (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2020 – via Naver.
- ^ 빅뱅, '블루'로 '뮤뱅' 첫 1위 등극 [Big Bang ranked first on 'Music Bank' with 'Blue']. My Daily (in Korean). March 9, 2012. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
- ^ 빅뱅 불참 불구 '뮤직뱅크' 2주 연속 1위…'주인공 공석에 씁쓸' [No. 1 on 'Music Bank' for 2 weeks in a row despite Big Bang's absence]. TV Daily. March 16, 2012. p. ko. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
- ^ [연예 뉴스 스테이션] 빅뱅, 미니앨범 '블루'로 SBS 인기가요 1위 차지 [[Entertainment News Station] Big Bang ranked 1st on SBS Inkigayo with 'Blue']. Sports Donga (in Korean). March 12, 2012. Archived from the original on May 10, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
- ^ '인기가요' 빅뱅, 2주째 뮤티즌송 영예 '역시 빅뱅' [‘Inkigayo’ Big Bang, honored with Mutizen Song for the 2nd week]. TV Daily (in Korean). March 18, 2012. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
- ^ 빅뱅, 3주 연속 뮤티즌송으로 트리플크라운 [Big Bang receives Triple Crown for winning Mutizen Song for 3 consecutive weeks]. E-Daily (in Korean). March 25, 2012. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
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"Korea K-Pop Hot 100 (The week of March 24, 2012)". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 8, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2021. - ^ "Big Bang Chart History (World Digital Songs)". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
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- ^ Cumulative sales for "Blue":
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