Fly (Epik High song)
{{Infobox song
| name = Fly
| cover =
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| type = single
| artist = Epik High
| album = Swan Songs
| released = {{Start date|2005|10|4}}
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| genre = K-pop, Hip hop/rap
| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=22}}
| label = * Woollim
| composer = Tablo
| lyricist = Tablo, Mithra Jin
| producer =
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Fly is a song by South Korean hip hop group Epik High, released on October 4, 2005 as one of the promoted tracks from their third studio album Swan Songs. It features singer Amin J., one of the vocalists of the R&B indie group {{ill|Soulciety|ko|소울사이어티}}.{{cite news|title=[인디코스터] '다이아몬드만큼이나 값진 무대를 보여준 소울사이어티' - @뮤즈라이브 Welcome to the Soulciety / 2013년 6월 17일|url=https://blog.naver.com/kocca_music/221791557553|publisher=Korea Creative Content Agency Official Naver blog|date=January 31, 2020|language=ko}}
Composition
The song incorporates elements of R&B and electronica and utilizes a vocalist to sing the refrain in between Tablo and Mithra Jin's raps. The introduction includes scratching by turntablist DJ Tukutz, who performed live with the other members during their music program promotions. The lyrics were a departure from Epik High's trademark social commentary and instead offers encouragement to "those who are having a hard time in life that even those without wings can fly".{{cite news|title='에픽하이', "춤추는 힙합 편견 버려!… 이번엔 부드럽게"|url=https://www.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2005/10/31/2005103170160.html|work=The Chosun Ilbo|date=October 31, 2005|language=ko}}
The music video features all three members acting in a realistic parody of a police hostage situation and was filmed in Gwangju. However, it was subsequently banned from being broadcast on terrestrial television networks due to "scenes that encourage juvenile delinquency".{{cite news|title=인질극 소재 에픽하이 뮤비, '지상파 방송불가' 판정|url=https://www.starnewskorea.com/stview.php?no=2005092914491721274|work=Star News|date=September 29, 2005|language=ko}}
Reception
The album was released with the expectation that it would be Epik High's final album due to the lack of commercial success of their first two albums. "Fly" unexpectedly became a hit due to its departure from the R&B or bubblegum pop that was more prevalent in mainstream Korean music at that time. Its success in the charts led Epik High to reconsider disbandment and spawned a reissue album and a Japanese remake. While it garnered them broader public recognition, the song also drew some backlash from the underground hip hop community for incorporating elements of pop music and collaborating with a singer rather than another rapper. The Epik High members acknowledged the criticism but reiterated their position on not being defined by any specific genre.
=Accolades=
"Fly" is the first song by a hip hop artist to win first place on a music program, having won on the very first episode of MBC's revamped Show! Music Core and went on to win a "Triple Crown".{{cite news|script-title=ko:'데뷔 20주년' 에픽하이, 홍대 지하서 코첼라 위…"우린 서 있어 HERE"|url=https://www.newsis.com/view/NISX20231023_0002492016|publisher=Newsis|date=October 23, 2023|language=ko}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+Music program awards ! width="80" |Song ! width="155" |Program ! width="145" |Date |
| rowspan="5" |"Fly"
| rowspan="3" |Show! Music Core |October 29, 2005 |
| November 5, 2005 |
| November 12, 2005 |
| M Countdown
|November 10, 2005 |
| Inkigayo
|November 27, 2005 |
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+Awards and nominations ! scope="col" |Year ! scope="col" |Organization ! scope="col" |Category ! scope="col" |Work ! scope="col" |Result ! class="unsortable" |{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
| rowspan="3" |2005
| Hip-Hop Award | rowspan="4" |"Fly" | {{won}} | style="text-align:center" | {{Cite web |date=December 8, 2005 |title=SG워너비 골든디스크상 대상 차지 |trans-title=SG Wannabe Golden Disc Award Grand Prize Winner |url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=001&aid=0001168413 |access-date=December 11, 2021 |website=Yonhap News Agency |publisher=Naver |language=ko}} |
| Melon Music Awards
| {{won}} | style="text-align:center" | {{cite web |title=2005 Melon Music Awards Winners |url=https://www.melon.com/mma/result.htm?mmaYear=2005 |access-date=November 28, 2021 |publisher=Melon |language=ko}} |
| Mnet KM Music Video Festival
| {{won}} |
| 2006
| Best Hip Hop Song | {{nom}} |
In popular culture
The song was featured in the soundtrack of the video game FIFA 07 the following year.{{cite news|title=EA Takes to the Pitch with the Sounds of FIFA 07; International In-Game Soundtrack Takes Players Around the Globe|url=https://ir.ea.com/press-releases/press-release-details/2006/EA-Takes-to-the-Pitch-with-the-Sounds-of-FIFA-07-International-In-Game-Soundtrack-Takes-Players-Around-the-Globe/default.aspx|publisher=Electronic Arts|date=August 18, 2006}}
References
{{reflist}}
External Links
- [https://www.melon.com/song/detail.htm?songId=933372 Track Information] ― Melon Music
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHqLlyBlmQI Audio] on Epik High official YouTube channel
{{Epik High}}
{{MAMA Award for Best Rap & Hip Hop Performance}}