Alive (EP)
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Alive | ||||
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File:BigBang - Alive (Korean Cover).jpg | ||||
EP by Big Bang | ||||
Released | February 29, 2012 June 3, 2012 (Special edition) |
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Recorded | 2011 - 2012 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 23:41 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer | ||||
Big Bang chronology | ||||
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Singles from Alive | ||||
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Singles from Still Alive | ||||
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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.
Contents
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
![](/w/images/thumb/8/86/G-Dragon_in_2012.jpg/250px-G-Dragon_in_2012.jpg)
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's K-pop 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 | |||||
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No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Arrangement | Length |
1. | "Intro (Alive)" (Intro) | G-Dragon, Teddy, T.O.P | Dee.P, G-Dragon, Teddy | Dee.P | 0:48 |
2. | "Blue" | G-Dragon, Teddy, T.O.P | Teddy, G-Dragon | Teddy | 3:53 |
3. | "Love Dust" (사랑먼지; Sarangmeonji) | G-Dragon, Teddy, T.O.P | G-Dragon, Teddy | Teddy | 3:52 |
4. | "Bad Boy" | G-Dragon, T.O.P | G-Dragon, Choice37 | Choice37 | 3:57 |
5. | "Ain't No Fun" (재미없어; Jaemieobseo) | G-Dragon, T.O.P | G-Dragon, D.J Murf, Peejay | D.J Murf, Peejay | 3:42 |
6. | "Fantastic Baby" | G-Dragon, T.O.P | Teddy, G-Dragon | Teddy | 3:51 |
7. | "Wings" (날개; Nalgae; Daesung solo) | G-Dragon, Daesung | G-Dragon, Choi Pil-kang | Choi Pil-kang, Dee.P | 3:43 |
Total length:
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23:41 |
Alive iTunes Store bonus track | ||||
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No. | Title | Music | Arrangement | Length |
8. | "Blue" (Instrumental) | Teddy, G-Dragon | Teddy | 3:52 |
9. | "Bad Boy" (Instrumental) | G-Dragon, Choice37 | Choice37 | 3:57 |
10. | "Fantastic Baby" (Instrumental) | Teddy, G-Dragon | Teddy | 3:48 |
Total length:
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35:18 |
Still Alive – Special Edition tracklist[29] | |||||
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No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Arrangement | Length |
1. | "Still Alive" | G-Dragon, Teddy, T.O.P | Dee.P, G-Dragon, Teddy | Dee.P | 3:18 |
2. | "Monster" | G-Dragon, T.O.P | G-Dragon, Choi Pil-kang | Choi Pil-kang, Dee.P | 3:51 |
3. | "Feeling" (Korean version) | G-Dragon, T.O.P | Boys Noize, G-Dragon, T.O.P | Boys Noize | 3:35 |
4. | "Fantastic Baby" | G-Dragon, T.O.P | Teddy, G-Dragon | Teddy | 3:52 |
5. | "Bad Boy" | G-Dragon, T.O.P | G-Dragon, Choice37 | Choice37 | 3:58 |
6. | "Blue" | G-Dragon, Teddy, T.O.P | Teddy, G-Dragon | Teddy | 3:55 |
7. | "Bingle Bingle" (빙글빙글; Binggeul Binggeul) | G-Dragon, T.O.P | Teddy, G-Dragon, Seo Won-jin | Teddy, Seo Won-jin | 3:00 |
8. | "Ego" (Korean version) | G-Dragon, T.O.P | G-Dragon, Ham Seung-cheon, Kang Wook-jin | Ham Seung-cheon, Kang Wook-jin | 3:25 |
9. | "Love Dust" (사랑먼지; Sarangmeonji) | G-Dragon, Teddy, T.O.P | G-Dragon, Teddy | Teddy | 3:51 |
Total length:
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32:45 |
Still Alive iTunes Store bonus track | |||||
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No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Arrangement | Length |
10. | "Monster" (Instrumental) | G-Dragon, Choi Pil-kang | Choi Pil-kang, Dee.P | 3:50 | |
11. | "Monster" (Acapella) | G-Dragon, T.O.P | 3:50 | ||
Total length:
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40:05 |
Charts
Alive
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Still Alive
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Sales
Alive
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Still Alive - Special Edition
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Release history
Country | Date | Label(s) | Format |
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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
- ↑ Big Bang reveals new track from upcoming album and release date!
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- ↑ http://tw.sports.yahoo.com/article/aurl/d/a/121221/35/9j0r.html
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