Skool Luv Affair is the second extended play by South Koreanboy bandBTS. The ten-track album was released on February 12, 2014 with "Boy in Luv" as its lead single. Two music videos, including a choreography only version, accompanied the single's release. A second single, "Just One Day", was promoted in April. Four different music videos were subsequently released in support of the song. A limited edition repackage of the album, Skool Luv Affair Special Addition, was released on May 14. The physical copy of the repackage contained eighteen tracks, including two new songs: "Miss Right" and "I Like It (Slow Jam Remix)", and six instrumentals. After remaining out of print for six years, Big Hit reissued the repackage on October 13, 2020 due to popular demand.
Background and release
On January 26, 2014, Big Hit Entertainment released a countdown clock[2] on BTS's official website and uploaded a comeback trailer[3] on February 2 on YouTube in preparations for this album and comeback promotions. It featured a colorful array of animations flashing on the screen, accompanied by RM's rap.[4] Three days later, Big Hit Entertainment released the track list[5] and concept photo[6] for BTS's upcoming album on their official Twitter account and Facebook page. They also released the design and details of the physical album which would be accompanied with its photobook and photocard.[7] They released an album preview a day later,[8] revealing that "Boy in Luv" would be their lead single.[9] Big Hit Entertainment released one track, "Just One Day," on February 6, 2014 for free pre-streaming[10] ahead of BTS's comeback. They released an MV teaser of the song much later on April 2.[11]
Skool Luv Affair Special Addition
A limited edition repackage of the album, titled Skool Luv Affair Special Addition, was announced by Big Hit on May 7, 2014. Pre-orders began the same day and the album was released on May 14.[12] This 3-disc version contained an 18-track CD with two new songs, "Miss Right" and "I Like It (Slow Jam Remix)",[12] followed by the original 10-song tracklist and six additional instrumentals found only on the physical album, as well as two DVDs featuring footage from BTS' showcase held in February that year and making of content.[12][13]
After the initial pressing sold out, the album remained out of print for six years. On September 7, 2020, Big Hit announced that the repackaged edition would be reprinted and re-released on October 13 due to the overwhelming response from the band's fandom in a survey conducted by the label in August through Weverse—data collected indicated that the Special Addition album was the number one piece of out of stock merchandise fans wanted made available again.[14][15] Pre-orders took place from September 8 until the previously announced October release date.[16]
Music videos
The music video for "Boy in Luv" was released on February 11, 2014. It features the members as students, acting out various scenes that showed their interest in the female lead character (Go So-hyun).[17] On February 20, BTS released the dance version of "Boy in Luv"[18] in the middle of promoting on music programs. The music video for "Just One Day (하루만)" was then released on April 6 in preparation for the group's follow-up promotions. The music video showed a lighter contrast from "Boy in Luv"; it featured the members sitting in the light and shadows as well as dancing with chairs on a white background.[19] Various version's of the 'Just One Day' MV were released after the original version, such as the choreography version, the facial expressions version, etc. The choreography of "Boy In Luv" was created by GRV Crew, David Lim.[20] Both "Boy in Luv" and "Just One Day" music videos were produced and directed by Lumpens[21] and GDW.[22]
Promotions
BTS held a press conference and comeback showcase on February 11, 2014, performing "Boy in Luv" and "Jump"[23] prior to their promotion on music programs[24] starting February 13. The group later then revealed to continue their promotion with "Just One Day" on April 9.[25] BTS held the first fan meeting titled BTS Global Official Fanclub A.R.M.Y 1ST Muster on March 29 and performed their new songs[26] from Skool Luv Affair album at the concert.
Commercial performance
BTS entered the Billboard World Digital Songs chart for the second time, with three songs from the album ranking on the chart. Lead single "Boy In Luv" charted at number five,[27] and secondary single "Just One Day" charted at number 25 during its promotional period in April.[28] On February 23, "Boy In Luv" was nominated for first place on South Korean music program SBSInkigayo.[29] The album debuted at number three on South Korea's Gaon Weekly Chart and rose to number one two months later during "Just One Day" promotions.[30] The album also peaked at number three on the Billboard World Albums Chart,[31] marking the first time a BTS album appeared on international charts. The repackaged album debuted at number one on the Gaon Weekly Chart in the second week of May.[32]Skool Luv Affair was the Gaon chart's twentieth best-selling album of 2014.[33]
The 2020 reissue of the repackaged edition debuted at number 12 on the US Billboard 200 chart issue dated October 31 with 28,000 equivalent album units sold.[34] Of this number, 26,000 were pure copies, which landed the album at number four on the Top Album Sales chart.[35] "Boy in Luv", "Just One Day", and "Tomorrow" re-entered the World Digital Songs chart, for the same issue date, and achieved new peaks at numbers three, five, and seven respectively.[36] In South Korea, the album re-entered the Gaon monthly album chart for October at number four,[37] and by the end of the year had sold 670,500 copies, making it the tenth best-selling album of 2020.[38] In Japan, the album debuted at number three on Oricon's Weekly Album Chart issue dated October 26 for the period October 12–18 with 37,689 copies sold.[39] By the end of October, it sold 40,829 copies and ranked at number 10 on the Monthly Album chart.[40]
^ abcYoon, Eun-ho (May 7, 2014). 방탄소년단 '스쿨 러브 어페어' 선주문 소식... 한류팬 "빨리 나와라" [BTS Pre-order news for "School Love Affair"... Hallyu fans, "Come out quickly."]. Korea Economic Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 9, 2017. Retrieved January 9, 2021 – via Naver.
^Hwang, Hye-jin (September 16, 2020). 방탄소년단, 6년 전 '스쿨 러브 어페어' 앨범 재발매 "팬들 압도적 지지" [BTS re-release "School Love Affair" from 6 years ago, "Fans overwhelmingly supportive"]. Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 9, 2021. Retrieved January 8, 2021 – via Naver.
^Kim, Hyo-jeong (October 27, 2020). 방탄소년단, 6년전 앨범으로 '빌보드 200' 깜짝 12위 [BTS, Surprise 12th place on "Billboard 200" with album from 6 years ago] (in Korean). Yonhap News. Archived from the original on January 9, 2021. Retrieved January 8, 2021 – via Naver.
^ abHan, Jeong-soo (February 23, 2014). '인기가요' 1위 후보, S.M.더 발라드 vs 소유X정기고 vs 방탄소년단 ['Inkigayo' No. 1 candidate, S.M. The Ballad vs Soyou X Jungigo vs BTS]. Money Today (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 28, 2021. Retrieved March 28, 2021 – via Naver.
^ ab月間 アルバムランキング 2020年10月度 [Monthly Album Ranking – October 2020]. Oricon News (in Japanese). Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
2021년 02월 Album Chart (See #53) [February 2021 Album Chart]. Gaon Album Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 11, 2021. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
^Skool Luv Affair Special Addition Gaon Chart sales:
