Alive (EP)

This article is about the Korean EP. For the Japanese album of same name, see Alive (Big Bang album).
Alive
EP by Big Bang
Released February 29, 2012 (2012-02-29)
June 3, 2012 (2012-06-03) (special edition)
Recorded 2011 - 2012
Genre
Length 23:41
Label
Producer
Big Bang chronology
The Best of Big Bang
(2011)		 Alive
(2012)		 Alive (Japanese)
(2012)
Singles from Alive
  1. "Blue"
    Released: February 22, 2012
  2. "Bad Boy"
    Released: February 29, 2012
  3. "Fantastic Baby"
    Released: March 7, 2012
Singles from Still Alive
  1. "Monster"
    Released: June 3, 2012

Alive is the fifth Korean-language extended play by South Korean group Big Bang. It was released on February 29, 2012 by YG Entertainment. Big Bang members G-Dragon and T.O.P wrote the music and lyrics, respectively, for nearly all tracks on the album.[1] The EP had three singles,"Blue", "Fantastic Baby", and "Bad Boy". A repackaged version of the EP entitled Still Alive was released on June 3, 2012, and featured the single, "Monster". Both EP versions and their singles attained success on national charts in South Korea, and the EP became the first K-Pop album to chart on the United States' Billboard 200 album chart.

Release and promotion

Beginning on January 27, 2012, the track listing and title of Big Bang's upcoming EP, Alive were released.[2] Teddy Park of YG Entertainment and Big Bang member G-Dragon produced the majority of the music for the EP with the help of other producers such as DJ Murf and Peejay. G-Dragon also wrote the majority of the songs on this album with the help of T.O.P. and Teddy Park.

"Blue" was released on February 22, 2012, as the EP's lead single, and thereafter Big Bang released previews of other tracks on YouTube every day from February 23–28.[3] They also announced the Big Bang Alive World Tour, in support of the album.[4][5]

The Alive EP and its second single, "Bad Boy" were released on February 29, 2012. Promotions began with televised performances from the album on March 11, 2012, on SBS's Inkigayo.[6] "Fantastic Baby" was the album's third single, released March 7, 2012.

The EP was repackaged as a special edition with additional songs and re-titled as Still Alive. The special edition and its single "Monster", were released June 3, 2012. "Blue", "Bad Boy", "Fantastic Baby", and "Monster" were also re-recorded with Japanese lyrics and included on Big Bang's full-length Japanese album, Alive. Other album tracks, in their original Korean language form, were also included on the album.

Chart performance

G-Dragon in Fantastic Baby outfit in 2012

Alive became the first Korean album or EP to chart on the United States' Billboard 200 and at its time of release, held the record for being the best selling K-Pop album ever in the United States, selling over 4,100 copies in its first week of release.[7][8] It also charted at number 4 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart,[9] number 22 on the Independent Albums chart,[10] and number 4 on the World Albums chart.[11] It also made it to number 6 on Japan's domestic Oricon weekly album chart as a Korean import.[12] It was finished 2012 at number 2 on the Gaon year-end album chart.[13]

Lead single "Blue" hit number 1 on the weekly Gaon Digital Chart[14] and Billboard K-Pop Hot 100,[15] and finished at number 10 on Gaon's Year End chart.[16] "Bad Boy" went to number 2 on the weekly Gaon Digital Chart[17] and number three on the Billboard K-Pop Hot 100.[15] It placed at number 59 for the year of 2012 on Gaon's year-end chart.[16] "Fantastic Baby" went to number 3 on Korea's Gaon Chart[18] and number 3 on Billboard's K-Pop Hot 100.[15] "Monster" hit number 1 on the weekly Gaon Digital Charts[19] and Billboard's K-Pop Hot 100[15] It finished at number 14 on the year-end chart.[16]

On March 9, 2012, it was revealed that Big Bang occupied 5 out of the top 10 spots on Billboard K-Pop's Hot 100 with "Blue", "Bad Boy", "Fantastic Baby", "Ain't No Fun", and "Love Dust".[20]

Critical reception

The music video for "Fantastic Baby" became one of YouTube's most viewed K-pop music videos in 2012,[21] and as of March 2014, it had over 100 million views,[22] making it the first by a Korean boy band to reach that milestone.[23] It was also featured in the British newspaper The Guardian.[24] At the start on 2015, "Fantastic Baby" beat "Gee" and became the 5th most viewed K-Pop video. In January 2016, the music video reached 200 million views on YouTube.

Arirang TV news considered "Fantastic Baby" one of Big Bang's "mega hits".[25] Kevin Perry from the British music publication NME wrote that its music video features the boy band wearing fancy costumes and embracing riot chic, and the song's “boom shakalaka” refrain reminds the listener of music from Sly & The Family Stone.[26] The Daily Telegraph recommended its readers to try "Fantastic Baby", "whose video rivals Lady Gaga for fashionista eccentricity and excess."[27] The Vancouver Sun wrote the song "is easily one of the most colourfully twisted pop videos we’ve seen in a while, combining RPG style art, riot gear, steampunk elements and street pop swagger."[28]

Track listing

Alive
No. TitleLyricsMusicArrangement Length
1. "Intro (Alive)" (Intro)G-Dragon, Teddy, T.O.PDee.P, G-Dragon, TeddyDee.P 0:48
2. "Blue"  G-Dragon, Teddy, T.O.PTeddy, G-DragonTeddy 3:53
3. "Love Dust" (사랑먼지; Sarangmeonji)G-Dragon, Teddy, T.O.PG-Dragon, TeddyTeddy 3:52
4. "Bad Boy"  G-Dragon, T.O.PG-Dragon, Choice37Choice37 3:57
5. "Ain't No Fun" (재미없어; Jaemieobseo)G-Dragon, T.O.PG-Dragon, D.J Murf, PeejayD.J Murf, Peejay 3:42
6. "Fantastic Baby"  G-Dragon, T.O.PTeddy, G-DragonTeddy 3:51
7. "Wings" (날개; Nalgae; Daesung solo)G-Dragon, DaesungG-Dragon, Choi Pil-kangChoi Pil-kang, Dee.P 3:43
Total length:
 23:41
Still Alive – Special Edition tracklist[29]
No. TitleLyricsMusicArrangement Length
1. "Still Alive"  G-Dragon, Teddy, T.O.PDee.P, G-Dragon, TeddyDee.P 3:18
2. "Monster"  G-Dragon, T.O.PG-Dragon, Choi Pil-kangChoi Pil-kang, Dee.P 3:51
3. "Feeling" (Korean version)G-Dragon, T.O.PBoys Noize, G-Dragon, T.O.PBoys Noize 3:35
4. "Fantastic Baby"  G-Dragon, T.O.PTeddy, G-DragonTeddy 3:52
5. "Bad Boy"  G-Dragon, T.O.PG-Dragon, Choice37Choice37 3:58
6. "Blue"  G-Dragon, Teddy, T.O.PTeddy, G-DragonTeddy 3:55
7. "Bingle Bingle" (빙글빙글; Binggeul Binggeul)G-Dragon, T.O.PTeddy, G-Dragon, Seo Won-jinTeddy, Seo Won-jin 3:00
8. "Ego" (Korean version)G-Dragon, T.O.PG-Dragon, Ham Seung-cheon, Kang Wook-jinHam Seung-cheon, Kang Wook-jin 3:25
9. "Love Dust" (사랑먼지; Sarangmeonji)G-Dragon, Teddy, T.O.PG-Dragon, TeddyTeddy 3:51
Total length:
 32:45

Charts

Alive

Chart (2012) Peak
position
Japan Oricon Weekly album chart[12] 6
Japan Oricon Monthly album chart 33
South Korea Gaon Weekly album chart[30] 1
South Korea Gaon Monthly album chart[31] 1
South Korea Gaon Yearly album chart (End-year)[13] 2
Taiwan G-Music Combo Chart[32] 1
United States Billboard 200[33] 150
United States Billboard Heatseekers Albums[34] 4
United States Billboard Independent Albums[35] 22
United States Billboard World Albums[36] 4
Chart (2013) Peak
position
South Korea Gaon Weekly album chart 19 [37]
South Korea Gaon Monthly album chart 58 [38]
Chart (2014) Peak
position
South Korea Gaon Weekly album chart 69 [39]
Chart (2015) Peak
position
South Korea Gaon Weekly album chart 75 [40]
Chart (2016) Peak
position
South Korea Gaon Weekly album chart 90[41]

Still Alive

Chart (2012) Peak
position
South Korea Gaon Weekly album chart[42] 1
South Korea Gaon Monthly album chart[43] 1
South Korea Gaon Yearly album chart[13] 6
Taiwan G-Music Combo Chart[44] 2
Chart (2013) Peak
position
South Korea Gaon Weekly album chart 10 [45]
South Korea Gaon Monthly album chart 29 [46]
South Korea Gaon Yearly album chart (End-year) 90 [47]
Chart (2014) Peak
position
South Korea Gaon Weekly album chart 53 [48]
South Korea Gaon Monthly album chart 77 [49]
Chart (2015) Peak
position
South Korea Gaon Weekly album chart 56 [50]
Chart (2016) Peak
position
South Korea Gaon Weekly album chart 60[51]

Sales

Alive

Chart Sales
Gaon physical sales
  • 266,848 (2012)[13]
  • 4,730 (2013)
Oricon sales 26,914
Billboard sales[8] 4,100+
Taiwan sales[52] 35,000+

Still Alive - Special Edition

Chart Sales
Gaon physical sales
  • 148,030 (2012)[13]
  • 15,610 (2013)[53]
  • 2,718 (2014)
  • 757 (2016)[54]
Oricon sales 9,000+
Taiwan sales 20,000+

Release history

Country Date Label(s) Format
South Korea February 29, 2012 YG Entertainment Digital download, CD
Worldwide Digital download
Taiwan March 27, 2012 Warner Music Taiwan CD
South Korea June 3, 2012 (Still Alive) YG Entertainment Digital download
Worldwide
South Korea June 6, 2012 (Still Alive) CD
Taiwan June 29, 2012 (Still Alive) Warner Music Taiwan

References

  1. ↑ Big Bang reveals new track from upcoming album and release date!
  2. ↑ "Big Bang reveals new track from upcoming album and release date!". Allkpop. 6Theory. 1 February 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  3. ↑ "BIGBANG Unleashes Fifth Teaser for Alive with Electro Title Track "Fantastic Baby"". Soompi. 2012-02-26. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
  4. ↑ "Big Bang to hold ‘ALIVE TOUR 2012′ around the world through Live Nation!". allkpop. 2012-02-06.
  5. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Blue - Single by BIGBANG". iTunes. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Big Bang To Perform On Inkigayo On March 11". hellokpop. 2012-02-27.
  7. ↑ "Big Bang’s ‘Alive’ charts on the Billboard 200". allkpop. 2012-05-23.
  8. 1 2 Benjamin, Jeff (2014-03-05). "2NE1 Sets New U.S. Record for Highest-Charting, Best-Selling K-Pop Album With 'Crush'". Billboard.
  9. ↑ "Big Bang chart history (Heatseekers)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  10. ↑ "Big Bang chart history (Independent)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  11. ↑ "Big Bang chart history (World)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  12. 1 2 "2012年03月05日～2012年03月11日のCDアルバム週間ランキング (Oricon's Weekly chart for March 19th)" (in Japanese). Oricon. March 13, 2012.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 "2012년 Album Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 8, 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  14. ↑ "2012년 09주차 Digital Chart" (in Korean). Gaon. Archived from the original on 9 February 2015.
  15. 1 2 3 4 "Big Bang chart history (K-Pop Hot 100)". billboard.
  16. 1 2 3 "2012년 Digital Chart" (in Korean). Gaon. Archived from the original on 24 July 2014.
  17. ↑ "2012년 10주차 Digital Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Archived from the original on 9 February 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  18. ↑ "2012년 11주차 Digital Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Archived from the original on 9 February 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  19. ↑ "2012년 24주차 Digital Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Archived from the original on 9 February 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  20. ↑ "Bigbang takes over Billboard Charts". allkpop. 9 March 2012.
  21. ↑ Gwee, Elisabeth (October 4, 2012). "BigBang Theory". The Jakarta Post. Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  22. ↑ "#BigBang100M Big Bang's 'Fantastic Baby' MV reaches 100 million views". DKPop News. March 27, 2014. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
  23. ↑ "Big Bang's 'Fantastic Baby' Becomes First Video By A Male K-Pop Group To Surpass 100 Million Views YG Claims". KPopStarz. March 27, 2014. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
  24. ↑ McCurry, Jim (28 September 2012). "K-pop stars: the lowdown on South Korean pop". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  25. ↑ "Art and Culture2". Arirang. 28 September 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  26. ↑ Perry, Kevin E.G. (October 2, 2012). "Beyond 'Gangnam Style' - A Beginner’s Guide To K-Pop". NME. Archived from the original on 25 May 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  27. ↑ "South Korea: a rough guide to Gangnam style". The Telegraph. 7 Oct 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  28. ↑ Marchand, Francois (March 16, 2012). "K-pop sensation Big Bang’s latest video is fantastic, baby". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  29. ↑ "BIGBANG – New Album Release". YG LIFE BLOG. 2012-05-25.
  30. ↑ "2012년 10주차 Album Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Archived from the original on 9 February 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  31. ↑ "Gaon Album Chart 2012년 2월". Gaon (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  32. ↑ "Combo Chart, Week 12". G-Music. June 1, 2012. Archived from the original on 4 April 2012.
  33. ↑ "Music Albums, Top 200 Albums & Music Album Charts / Billboard.com". Billboard. March 8, 2012.
  34. ↑ "Heatseekers Albums / Billboard.com". Billboard. March 8, 2012.
  35. ↑ "Independent Albums / Billboard.com". Billboard. March 8, 2012.
  36. ↑ "World Albums / Billboard.com". Billboard. March 8, 2012.
  37. ↑ "2013년 08주차 Album Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  38. ↑ "Gaon Album Chart 2013년 3월". Gaon (in Korean). Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  39. ↑ "2013년 12주차 Album Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  40. ↑ "2015년 20주차 Album Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  41. ↑ "2016년 05주차 Album Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  42. ↑ "2012년 24주차 Album Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Archived from the original on 9 February 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  43. ↑ "2012년 06월 Album Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 10, 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  44. ↑ "Combo Chart, Week 26". G-Music. July 24, 2012. Archived from the original on 10 July 2012.
  45. ↑ "2013년 03주차 Album Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  46. ↑ "Gaon Album Chart 2013년 01월". Gaon (in Korean). Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  47. ↑ "2012년 Album Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  48. ↑ "2013년 11주차 Album Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  49. ↑ "Gaon Album Chart 2014년 03월". Gaon (in Korean). Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  50. ↑ "2015년 34주차 Album Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  51. ↑ "2016년 16주차 Album Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Retrieved April 22, 2016.
  52. ↑ http://tw.sports.yahoo.com/article/aurl/d/a/121221/35/9j0r.html
  53. ↑ "2013년 Album Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 9, 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  54. ↑ "February 2016". Retrieved March 10, 2016.

External links

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