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Euphoria (BTS song)

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"Euphoria"
Song by BTS
from the album Love Yourself: Answer
ReleasedAugust 24, 2018 (2018-08-24)
Recorded2017–2018
Length3:49
LabelBig Hit
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Jordan "DJ Swivel" Young
Music video
"Euphoria: Theme of Love Yourself 起 Wonder" on YouTube

"Euphoria" is a song by South Korean boy band BTS, sung as a solo by member Jungkook. It was released on August 24, 2018, with the compilation album Love Yourself: Answer. It was written by DJ Swivel, Candace Nicole Sosa, "hitman" bang, Supreme Boi, Adora, and RM, with DJ Swivel being the sole producer. Although the music video was released in April, the song was not released until August when Love Yourself: Answer was put out.[1]

Background and release

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The music video was released as a theme for 起 Wonder, a part of the Love Yourself series. In a nine-minute depiction, the video continues the "Bangtan Universe" story line that is incorporated in many of BTS's music videos.[2] BTS had previously hinted at the song title by displaying the word Euphoria during their live stage at the 2017 Melon Music Awards.[3] Upon release, "Euphoria" trended worldwide and searches for the word increased 2883%.[4] The song was also featured on the soundtrack to HBO's season 1 finale of Euphoria .[5]

Promotion

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The song was promoted at the 2018 KBS Song Festival on December 29, 2018.[6]

Music video

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The video incorporates scenes from previous BTS music videos that continue their in-universe story, showing each member as a character with different backgrounds and struggles. Scenes from previous videos include member V jumping into the ocean, Jungkook getting beaten by thugs, and other members trapped in fires and rooms. Member Jin recalls the memories of the seven of them together. Debussy's Clair de lune plays in the background before the actual start of the song.

The song plays scenes of the members playing around together outdoors, happy and carefree, with parallels of certain scenes to previous videos. In one of these parallels, the song ends as the seven members revisit the seaside where V had jumped. The Clair de lune plays once again as this time, in a sort of alternate universe-like twist, Jin takes V's place at the top of the pier, ready to jump instead of V. While V appears to notice that something is off, Jin peers down at his friends and records them with his video camera. Seeming content, he smiles before his video camera topples into the ocean, implying that Jin has jumped.

The music video was directed by Yong Seok Choi of Lumpens.[7] The assistant director was Lee Wonju of Lumpens. Other key personnel were Nam Hyunwoo of GDW who was the director of photography, Song Hyunsuk from Real Lighting who was the gaffer, Emma Sungeun Kim of GE Production who was the producer, and the art directors Park Jinsil and Kim Bona of MU:E.[8]

Composition

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The song started as a sole work by Candace Nicole Sosa with the title "Killing Time". Sosa contacted DJ Swivel for writing advice. It turned out the DJ was very interested in the song.[9]

Musically, it has been described as a song with "future bass leanings" by Billboard.[10] In an interview DJ Swivel explained how "Euphoria" was made. A guitar combined with a piano leads the opening of the song, and then drums were added. There are four different sounds used for the drums in the beginning. For the B-section the aim was to make it sound open and bright. The featured instrument there is the synth string sound, with a sub base anchoring the section. In certain sections of the song, vocal chops were placed in it to complement the lead vocal. After B-section, the chorus becomes the most important part of the song, with it being built around a main stab chord sound.[11] The key of the song is in D major and is 105 beats per minute.[12]

In an interview with Billboard, writer Melanie Fontana recalled that she wanted the chorus to explode with something more "chanty" but the crowd could sing along easily too. DJ Swivel stated the song "goes through a lot of different emotions" from beginning to end.[13]

"Euphoria" embodied the "起" or "beginning" of the narrative sequence.[14]

Reception

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The Grammys described "Euphoria" as "an art-pop rabbit hole looking to the future" while Billboard stated it was a big statement piece and set the overall tone of Love Yourself: Answer as optimistic.[15][16] Rolling Stone included the song on its July 2020 list of the "75 Greatest Boy Band Songs of All Time", at number 34.[17]

In the United States, "Euphoria" sold 15,000 digital copies its opening week, and was the 12th best-selling song in the country.[18][19] In Canada, the song was the 19th best-seller upon release.[20] Worldwide, it came in at number two for best selling songs.[19]

Credits and personnel

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The song's credits are adapted from the CD liner notes of Love Yourself: Answer.[21]

  • Jordan "DJ Swivel" Young – producer, songwriter, all other instruments, mix engineer
  • Candace Nicole Sosa – songwriter, guitar
  • ”hitman” bang – songwriter
  • Supreme Boi – songwriter
  • Melanie Fontana – songwriter
  • Adora – songwriter, chorus, digital editing, recording engineer @ Adorable Trap
  • RM – songwriter
  • Jungkook – chorus
  • Slow Rabbit – additional production, vocal arrangement, recording engineer @ Carrot Express
  • Hiss noise – digital editing
  • Jeong Wooyeong – digital editing

Charts

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Chart (2018) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[22] 86
Hungary (Single Top 40)[23] 9
French Downloaded Singles (SNEP)[24] 47
Finland Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[25] 7
Greece Digital Songs (Billboard)[26] 17
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[27] 76
Malaysia (RIM)[28] 17
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[29] 9
Scotland (OCC)[30] 49
Singapore (RIAS)[31] 18
South Korea (Gaon)[32] 11
South Korea (K-pop Hot 100)[33] 2
UK Independent (OCC)[34] 28
UK Singles Downloads (OCC)[35] 45
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 (Billboard)[36] 5
US World Digital Songs (Billboard)[37] 1

Certifications and sales

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom — 91,000[38]
United States — 15,000[18]
Streaming
Japan (RIAJ)[39] Platinum 100,000,000†

† Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^
    • "BTS (방탄소년단) 'Euphoria : Theme of LOVE YOURSELF 起 Wonder'". youtube.com. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
    • "Love Yourself 結 'Answer'". itunes.com. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  2. ^ "BTS (방탄소년단) 'Euphoria : Theme of LOVE YOURSELF 起 Wonder'". youtube.com. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  3. ^ "BTS release the video for "Euphoria: Theme of Love Yourself Wonder"". CelebMix. April 5, 2018. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  4. ^
  5. ^ *"Jungkook's BTS Solo "Euphoria" Was on the Soundtrack to HBO's "Euphoria" Season Finale". Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  6. ^ "'2018 KBS 가요대축제' 방탄소년단X엑소 최초 공개 무대부터 워너원의 눈물까지 (종합)". Tenasia (in Korean). December 29, 2018. Archived from the original on November 4, 2019. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
  7. ^ Merrill, Philip (April 5, 2018). "BTS Rise From Debussy To DJ Swivel With "Euphoria"". grammy.com. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  8. ^ "BTS (방탄소년단) 'Euphoria : Theme of LOVE YOURSELF 起 Wonder'". youtube.com. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
  9. ^ "How BTS' hit Euphoria began life as Candace Sosa's Killing Time". South China Morning Post. November 27, 2019. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  10. ^ Herman, Tamar. "BTS Reflect on Life & Love on Uplifting 'Love Yourself: Answer'". billboard.com. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  11. ^ Fu, Eddie. "The Making Of BTS' "Euphoria" With DJ Swivel". genius.com. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  12. ^ "Euphoria". tunebat.com. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  13. ^ Herman, Tamar (December 22, 2018). "Western Songwriters Discuss Working on BTS' 'Love Yourself: Answer' Album". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
  14. ^ Herman, Tamar (April 5, 2018). "BTS Tease Next Album In 'Love Yourself' Series With 'Euphoria' Theme Video". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 31, 2020. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  15. ^ Merrill, Philip (April 5, 2018). "BTS Rise From Debussy To DJ Swivel With "Euphoria"". grammy.com. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  16. ^ Herman, Tamar. "BTS Reflect on Life & Love on Uplifting 'Love Yourself: Answer'". billboard.com. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  17. ^ "75 Greatest Boy Band Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. July 4, 2020. Archived from the original on July 25, 2020. Retrieved March 6, 2022.
  18. ^ a b Benjamin, Jeff (September 6, 2018). "BTS Breaks Their Own Record for Most Simultaneous Hits on World Digital Song Sales Chart". Billboard. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  19. ^ a b "BTS Digital Song Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  20. ^ "Canadian Digital Song Sales". billboard.com. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  21. ^ Love Yourself: Answer (liner notes) (in Korean and English). BTS (Original ed.). South Korea: Big Hit Entertainment. August 24, 2018. p. 52 of 114.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  22. ^ "Canadian Hot 100: September 8, 2018". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  23. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
  24. ^ "Le Top de la semaine : Top Singles Téléchargés – SNEP (Week 35, 2018)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. January 25, 2014. Retrieved September 9, 2018.[permanent dead link]
  25. ^ "Finland Digital Song Sales". Billboard. September 8, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  26. ^ "Greece Digital Songs – September 8, 2018". Billboard. September 5, 2018. Retrieved September 13, 2018.(subscription required)
  27. ^ "BTS Japan Hot 100 History". billboard.com. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  28. ^ "Top 20 Most Streamed International & Domestic Singles In Malaysia" (PDF). Recording Industry Association of Malaysia. Recording Industry Association of Malaysia. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  29. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. September 3, 2018. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  30. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  31. ^ "Singapore Top 30 Digital Streaming Chart Week 26" (PDF). Recording Industry Association (Singapore). Archived from the original (PDF) on June 24, 2018. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  32. ^ "2018년 21주차 Digital Chart". gaon.co.kr. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  33. ^ "KPOP HOT 100". billboard.com. Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  34. ^ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". officialcharts.com. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  35. ^ "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100: September 8, 2018". OCC. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  36. ^ "BTS Chart History: Bubbling Under Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  37. ^ "BTS Chart History: World Digital Song Sales". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 13, 2021. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  38. ^ Griffiths, George (July 14, 2021). "BTS' Top 5 most popular non-singles in the UK revealed". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  39. ^ "Japanese single streaming certifications – BTS – Euphoria" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved February 28, 2024. Select 2024年1月 on the drop-down menu
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