Midnight Blue (Love Streaming)

On March 15, 2021, 131 Label announced the release of the debut single album of B.I with a surprise teaser via their official YouTube channel.{{Cite web|title=B.I 비아이 - '깊은 밤의 위로 (Midnight Blue)' Donation Film Teaser|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-g0mxMfOn8&list=PLhUJS4O7kh1jV-vUVDKMsXwT3mi1maBxs&index=4&ab_channel=131LABELOFFICIAL|date=March 15, 2021|website=YouTube|access-date=July 12, 2021|archive-date=July 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210712032756/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-g0mxMfOn8&list=PLhUJS4O7kh1jV-vUVDKMsXwT3mi1maBxs&index=4&ab_channel=131LABELOFFICIAL|url-status=live}} The teaser clip featured an animated character, presumably a representation of B.I himself, explaining what the song is about through the use of sign language.

"Midnight Blue" is a song that gives a warm embrace to the audience with a calm piano melody and warm vocal tone," says the animated character in sign language, according to the video's YouTube description. "Like the lyrics 'I will cover your heart with a blanket in the dark midnight', hope this track can be a comfort to anyone who is enduring its wound alone."

The three-track single album is written and composed by B.I, with collaborations from other producers on compositions and arrangements. All the tracks were released partially as demos via B.I's SoundCloud over the course of 2020–2021.{{Cite web|title=B.I's SoundCloud: 131|url=https://soundcloud.com/user-337673291|access-date=2021-07-13|website=SoundCloud|archive-date=July 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210718044719/https://soundcloud.com/user-337673291|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=비아이 "면죄부 아닌 자숙의 방향성"…오늘(19일) 기부 앨범 발매|url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/410/0000770452|access-date=2021-07-14|website=n.news.naver.com|language=ko|archive-date=July 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210717090906/https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/410/0000770452|url-status=live}}

All the promotions before the release were handled through the social media accounts of 131 Label. A surprise teaser for the "Midnight Blue (Donation Project)" music video was released on March 15, 2021. A project poster was released on March 16, 2021. Then, on March 17, 2021, the album was made available for pre-order. 131 label announced that the donation album is limitedly produced to 10,000 physical albums only.

• {{cite tweet|user=131_label_|number=1371476389522640900|title=B.I Midnight Blue M/V Teaser|access-date=2021-07-12}}
• {{cite tweet|user=131_label_|number=1371838698417971200|title=B.I Midnight Blue Project Poster|access-date=2021-07-12}}
• {{cite tweet|user=131_label_|number=1372378022246936577|title=B.I Midnight Blue Pre-Order Links|access-date=2021-07-12}}
• {{cite tweet|user=131_label_|number=1372389952772661248|title=B.I Midnight Blue Notice|access-date=2021-07-12}}

*{{cite web|url=https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/kim-hanbin-new-single-midnight-blue|title=Kim Hanbin returns with new single 'Midnight Blue'|website=Rappler|date=March 21, 2021|access-date=July 13, 2021|archive-date=July 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713035229/https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/kim-hanbin-new-single-midnight-blue|url-status=live}}

The single album was released to digital music and streaming platforms on March 19, 2021, alongside an animated music video for the lead single "Midnight Blue". The single album's CDs were released the same day.

After learning about the emergency relief child support project through World Vision (a humanitarian aid, development, and advocacy organization) in early 2021, B.I decided to carry out the Midnight Blue (Love Streaming) donation project in the hope to convey the warmth of the world through music. He pledged to donate all the proceeds of the sound sources, recordings, and copyright fees to World Vision's domestic and international relief efforts for children in crisis.{{Cite web|title=비아이, 신곡 '깊은 밤의 위로' 발매… 수익금 전액 기부|url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/018/0004877650|access-date=2021-07-14|website=n.news.naver.com|language=ko|archive-date=July 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715080348/https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/018/0004877650|url-status=live}}

On May 4, 2021, B.I personally met with chairman Cho Myung-hwan at the World Vision Office (an NGO) in Seoul, to donate all the profits from the sale of 10,000 limited edition single albums of Midnight Blue (Love Streaming). In addition, B.I promised to continuously donate all the revenue from the digital music sales and copyright fees that the single album would accrue.{{Cite web|author=Choi Hee-jae|title=B.I donated album proceeds to World Vision|url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/311/0001294941|access-date=2021-07-13|website=Naver|language=ko|archive-date=August 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220829181247/https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/311/0001294941|url-status=live}}

{{Album ratings

| rev1 = NME

| rev1score = {{rating|4|5}}

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NME stated that "B.I manages to imbue the song with layered emotional states and perspectives, shifting from reflection ("Having grown up too fast / Our hearts are too fragile") to consolation ("I'll pretend I don't know / So go ahead and cry") and even despair ("Everyone seems to live like that, with a bruised heart"). His delicate vocals are able to convey a comforting assurance, though this is briefly broken during the song's midpoint with a sudden switch to a harsher rap voice that pierces the gentle cadence. Thankfully, he’s able to refine that balance and make the transitions more seamless as the EP progresses."{{Cite web|date=2021-03-24|title=B.I – 'Midnight Blue (Donation Project)' EP review: an emotion-filled project perfect for late-night listening|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/b-i-midnight-blue-love-streaming-ep-review-2906880|access-date=2021-07-12|website=NME|language=en-GB|archive-date=January 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230120233155/https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/b-i-midnight-blue-love-streaming-ep-review-2906880|url-status=live}}

All three songs featured on B.I's single album Midnight Blue (Love Streaming) debuted on Billboard's World Digital Song Sales chart. "Midnight Blue" charted at #14, followed by "Blossom" at #17, and "Remember Me" at #18.{{Cite web|last=McIntyre|first=Hugh|title=BTS, Itzy, ATEEZ And B.I: Essential Moves On This Week's World Songs Chart|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2021/04/01/bts-itzy-ateez-and-bi-essential-moves-on-this-weeks-world-songs-chart/|access-date=2021-07-12|website=Forbes|language=en|archive-date=July 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210712043848/https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2021/04/01/bts-itzy-ateez-and-bi-essential-moves-on-this-weeks-world-songs-chart/|url-status=live}} In South Korea, Midnight Blue (Love Streaming) debuted at #14 on the Gaon Album Chart.

{{Track listing

| headline = Midnight Blue (Love Streaming) track listing

| extra_column = Arrangement

| title1 = Midnight Blue

| note1 = 깊은 밤의 위로; Gipeun Bamui Wiro [{{abbreviation|lit.|literally}} "Consolation of the Deep Night"]) (Donation Project

| lyrics1 = B.I

| music1 = {{hlist|B.I|Kim Chang Hoon}}

| extra1 = {{hlist|Kim Chang Hoon}}

| length1 = 3:44

| title2 = Remember Me

| note2 = Donation Project

| lyrics2 ={{hlist|B.I|Sihwang}}

| music2 = {{hlist|B.I|Sihwang}}

| extra2 = Sihwang

| length2 = 2:40

| title3 = Blossom

| note3 = 내 걱정; Nae Geokjeong [{{abbreviation|lit.|literally}} "My worries"]) (Donation Project

| lyrics3 = B.I

| music3 = {{hlist|B.I|Padi|General Sound}}

| extra3 = Padi

| length3 = 3:31

| total_length = 09:56

}}

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{{Reflist|30em}}

The official website for Midnight Blue (Love Streaming) is: https://www.131online.net/donationproject

{{B.I}}

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Category:B.I (rapper) albums

Category:2020s Korean-language albums

Category:2021 debut albums

Category:Single albums

Category:Charity albums