Singularity (song)

{{Infobox song

| name = Singularity

| cover =

| alt =

| type = song

| artist = BTS

| album = Love Yourself: Tear

| released = {{start date|2018|05|07}}

| recorded = 2017–2018

| studio =

Dogg Bounce
Carrot Express

| venue =

| genre = R&B, neo soul, jazz

| length = 3:17

| label = Big Hit Entertainment

| writer = {{hlist|Charlie J. Perry|RM{{cite web |title=LOVE YOURSELF 結 'Answer' |url=https://music.naver.com/album/index.nhn?albumId=2508125 |website=Naver |access-date=9 October 2018}}

}}

| producer = {{hlist|Charlie J. Perry|RMLove Yourself: Answer (in Korean and English) (Original ed.). Big Hit Entertainment. 24 August 2018. p. 66 of 114

}}

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|p8npDG2ulKQ|"'Singularity' Comeback Trailer"}}

| type = song

}}

"Singularity" is a song by South Korean boy band BTS, sung as a solo by member V. It was released on May 7, 2018, as part of the album Love Yourself: Tear. It was written by Charlie J. Perry and RM, with Charlie J. Perry being the sole producer. The song was released a second time on the compilation album Love Yourself: Answer on August 24, 2018.

Background and release

The music video for "Singularity" was released as a teaser for the then upcoming album Love Yourself: Tear.{{cite web |title=BTS (방탄소년단) LOVE YOURSELF 轉 Tear 'Singularity' Comeback Trailer |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8npDG2ulKQ |website=YouTube |access-date=8 September 2018}} The video reached over ten million views in less than fifteen hours.{{cite web |title=BTS' "Singularity" is the fastest solo K-pop MV to hit 10 million views |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/popasia/blog/2018/05/08/bts-singularity-fastest-solo-k-pop-mv-hit-10-million-views |website=SBS |access-date=8 September 2018}} According to Dictionary.com, searches for the word also increased 7,558%.{{cite web |title=Toadyism And Other Trending Words This Week |url=https://www.dictionary.com/e/trending-words-2018-5-4-11/ |website=Dictionary |access-date=8 September 2018}}

Promotion

The song was promoted at the 2018 KBS Song Festival on December 29, 2018.{{cite web |title='2018 KBS 가요대축제' 방탄소년단X엑소 최초 공개 무대부터 워너원의 눈물까지 (종합) |url=http://tenasia.hankyung.com/archives/1629364 |website=Tenasia |access-date=December 28, 2018 |language=ko |date=December 29, 2018}}

V has performed Singularity at "KBS Daejun 2018".

Music video

Goldbin and Soohyoun Nam, writing for Mnews, described the setting of the music video as an enclosed space in which member V moves between areas of light and shadow, and, later, a dark room filled with flowers. They interpreted the "restrained" choreography, performed with white masks, as symbolising that he has concealed his true self to attain love, and the images of broken ice as indicating his realisation that he has been acting in a way that isn't genuine.{{cite web |title=BTS's MV 'Singularity' Exceeds 20 Million Views in Just Four Days |url=https://mnews.joins.com/article/22610493?IgnoreUserAgent=y#home |website=Mnews |access-date=8 September 2018}} Billboard's Tamar Herman pointed out that he seemed to be acting out the Greek tale of Narcissus, whose love of his own reflection caused his death.{{cite web |last1=Herman |first1=Tamar |title=BTS' V Reveals Haunting New Song 'Singularity' Ahead of 'Love Yourself: Tear' Album Release: Watch |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/8454687/bts-v-singularity-video-love-yourself-tear |website=Billboard |access-date=8 September 2018}}

It was revealed that the choreographer who made the dance was Keone Madrid, who has worked with BTS on several other dances such as "Dope", "Fire", "Not Today" and "Blood Sweat & Tears".{{cite web |title=Who's the choreographer behind BTS' "Singularity"? |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/popasia/blog/2018/05/07/whos-choreographer-behind-bts-singularity |website=SBS |access-date=8 September 2018}} The director for the music video was Choi Yongseok from Lumpens.{{cite web |title=YouTube: BTS estrenó el video oficial de "Fake Love" |url=https://elcomercio.pe/luces/musica/kpop-bts-youtube-video-oficial-fake-love-album-love-yourself-tear-noticia-520891 |access-date=12 September 2018}} The assistant directors were Lee Wonju, Jeong Minje, and Park Hyejeong 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, editor Park Hyejeong, and the art directors Park Jinsil and Kim Bona of MU:E.{{cite web|title=BTS (방탄소년단) LOVE YOURSELF 轉 Tear 'Singularity' Comeback Trailer|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8npDG2ulKQ|website=YouTube|access-date=6 October 2018}}

The music video surpassed 150 million views on Youtube on November 21, 2020, making it the most viewed intro on the platform and BTS' first comeback trailer to cross the mark.{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=108&aid=0002912828|script-title=ko:방탄소년단 뷔 솔로곡 '싱귤래리티' MV 1억5천만+'이너차일드' 90개국 아이튠즈 1위..인기ing|last=Moon|first=Wan-shik|date=November 27, 2020|work=Star News|language=ko|trans-title=BTS V's solo song 'Singularity' MV 150 million + 'Inner child' is number one iTunes in 90 countries. Popular|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128234257/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=108&aid=0002912828|archive-date=November 28, 2020|access-date=November 28, 2020}}

Composition

Musically, the song has been described as R&B with touches of neo soul and jazz by Rolling Stone India.{{cite web |last1=Chakraborty |first1=Riddhi |title=BTS Drop Intoxicating New Comeback Trailer 'Singularity' |url=http://rollingstoneindia.com/bts-comeback-trailer-singularity/ |website=Rolling Stone |access-date=8 September 2018}} Burlington County Times described it as "a relaxing beat supplemented by V's honey-like voice", which "gets better with every listen".{{cite web |last1=Blum |first1=Marjorie|last2=Maitland |first2= Anna |title=Latest BTS album worthy of all the hype |url=http://www.burlingtoncountytimes.com/entertainmentlife/20180605/latest-bts-album-worthy-of-all-hype |website=Burlington County Times |access-date=25 September 2018}} It is in the key of D♭ minor and is 104 beats per minute.{{cite web |title=Singularity |url=https://tunebat.com/Info/Singularity-BTS/3gpU0uqDonMBKEcJu4Rzsf |website=tunebat |access-date=28 September 2018}}

In an interview with Billboard, writer Charlie J. Perry recalled that the song started out as a poem and it was built up from there. They wanted it to have a Daniel Caesar/D'Angelo type of vibe in the realm of neo-soul.{{cite web |last1=Herman |first1=Tamar |title=Western Songwriters Discuss Working on BTS' 'Love Yourself: Answer' Album |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/bts/8491174/western-songwriters-discuss-working-on-bts-love-yourself-answer-album |website=Billboard |access-date=December 21, 2018 |date=December 22, 2018}} According to MTV News, the song is about V "questioning the mask he wears to conceal his true feelings, [asking himself], 'Did I lose myself, or did I gain you?'"{{cite web |last1=Bell |first1=Crystal |title=ALBUMS OF THE YEAR: BTS TRANSCEND LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL BARRIERS WITH LOVE YOURSELF: TEA |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/3106706/bts-love-yourself-tear-albums-of-year-2018/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181214220153/http://www.mtv.com/news/3106706/bts-love-yourself-tear-albums-of-year-2018/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 14, 2018 |website=MTV |access-date=December 23, 2018 |date=December 14, 2018}}

Reception

Overall, the song was received well, with Alexis Pedridis from The Guardian stating the song was "blessed with a particularly haunting tune, [pitching] its sound somewhere between vintage 70's soul and a latter-day R&B slow jam".{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/may/18/bts-love-yourself-tear-review-k-pop|title=BTS: Love Yourself: Tear review – K-pop's biggest band keep ploughing on|work=The Guardian|last=Petridis|first=Alex|date=May 18, 2018|access-date=May 24, 2018}} IZM stated the song added a distinctive neo soul voice to the album and spin.com said V provided a quiet confidence that set the tone to the album.References:

{{cite web|url=http://www.izm.co.kr/contentRead.asp?idx=29169&bigcateidx=1&subcateidx=3&view_tp=1&view_sort=1| script-title=ko:방탄소년단 (BTS) – Love Yourself 轉 'Tear': Album Review|work=IZM|language=ko|access-date=May 18, 2018}}
{{cite news |last1=Méndez |first1=Blanca |title=BTS 'Love Yourself: Tear' Review |url=https://www.spin.com/2018/05/bts-love-yourself-tear-album-review/ |access-date=January 26, 2019 |work=spin.com |date=18 May 2018}} Pitchfork called "Singularity" the album's thesis.{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/bts-love-yourself-tear/|title=BTS: Love Yourself 轉 'Tear', Album Review|work=Pitchfork|last=Pearce|first=Sheldon|date=May 24, 2018|access-date=May 24, 2018}} In a blog post, journalist Monique Jones described "Singularity" as "pure R&B" and "a song tailor made for Taehyung's voice".{{cite web|url=http://colorwebmag.com/2018/05/08/bts-new-single-singularity-impresses-with-its-smooth-rb-sound/|title=BTS' new single, "Singularity" impresses with its smooth R&B sound|date=8 May 2018}}

The song was ranked at number thirteen for digital sales in the United States upon release and sold more than 10,000 copies.{{cite web |last1=Benjamin |first1=Jeff |title=BTS Breaks Their Own Record for Most Simultaneous Hits on World Digital Song Sales Chart |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/8473971/bts-most-simultaneous-hits-world-digital-song-sales |website=Billboard |access-date=8 September 2018}}

Accolades

class="sortable wikitable"

|+Year-end lists

! Critic/Publication

! List

! Rank

! Ref.

align="center"| Los Angeles Times

| align="center"| Best of 2018

| align="center"| 4

| {{cite web |last1=Wood |first1=Mikael |title=Best of 2018: The 10 (or so) songs that demanded to be replayed, featuring Cardi B, Ariana Grande, John Mayer and Sophie |url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-best-of-2018-songs-20181224-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times| access-date=December 31, 2018 |date=December 24, 2018}}

align="center"| The New York Times

| align="center"| The 65 Best Songs of 2018

| align="center"| 20

| {{cite web |last1=Jon Pareles |first1=Jon Caramanica |title=The 65 Best Songs of 2018 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/06/arts/music/best-songs.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=7 December 2018 |date=6 December 2018}}

align="center"| SBS

| align="center"| Top 100 Asian pop songs of 2018

| align="center"| 24

|{{cite web |title=PopAsia's Top 100 Asian pop songs of 2018: 50-1 |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/popasia/blog/2018/12/20/popasias-top-100-asian-pop-songs-2018-50-1 |website=SBS |publisher=Popasia |access-date=January 3, 2019 |date=December 24, 2018}}

Credits and personnel

The song's credits are adapted from the CD liner notes of Love Yourself: Answer.{{cite book |title=Love Yourself: Answer |date=24 August 2018 |publisher=Big Hit Entertainment |page=66 of 114 |edition=Original|language=ko, en}}

Charlie J. Perry- Producer, Keyboard, Bass
RM- Producer
Pdogg- Vocal Arrangement, Recording Engineer @ Dogg Bounce
Slow Rabbit- Vocal Arrangement, Recording Engineer @ Carrot Express
ADORA- Digital Editing
Hiss noise- Digital Editing
Yang Ga- Mix Engineer @ Big Hit Studio

Charts

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" ! Chart (2018) ! Peak position
scope="row" \| France Download (SNEP){{cite web\|url=http://www.snepmusique.com/tops-semaine/top-singles-telecharges/?ye=2018&we=21\|title=Le Top de la semaine : Top Singles Téléchargés – SNEP (Week 21, 2018)\|publisher=Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique\|language=fr\|access-date=May 29, 2018}} \| 100
scope="row" \| Hungary (Single Top 40){{cite web\|url=http://zene.slagerlistak.hu/single-track-top-40-lista/2020/219\|title="Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ"\|language=hu\|website=zene.slagerlistak.hu\|access-date=May 14, 2020 }} \| 4
scope="row" \| Japan Hot 100 (Billboard Japan){{cite web\|url=http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot100&year=2018&month=05&day=21\|title=Billboard Japan Hot 100 2018年9月3日\|work=Billboard Japan\|language=ja\|access-date=September 8, 2018}} \| 34
scope="row" \| South Korea (Gaon){{cite web\|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=ALL&targetTime=21&hitYear=2018&termGbn=week\|script-title=ko:2018년 21주차 Digital Chart\|trans-title=Digital Chart Week 21 of 2018\|website=Gaon\|language=ko\|access-date=September 8, 2018}} \| 54
scope="row" \| South Korea (K-pop Hot 100){{cite web\|url=http://billboard.co.kr/index_subpage.html?mainwhat=1&subwhat=0&nchart_pos=45\|title=Kpop Hot 100 The week of May 21, 2018-May 27\|work=Billboard Korea\|language=ko\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622220328/http://www.billboard.co.kr/index_subpage.html?mainwhat=1&subwhat=0&pchart_pos=45\|archive-date=June 22, 2018\|url-status=dead\|access-date=May 13, 2021}} \| 10
scope="row" \| US World Digital Songs (Billboard){{cite web\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/world-digital-song-sales/2021-05-08\|title=World Digital Song Sales (The week of May 8, 2021)\|work=Billboard\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504092433/https://www.billboard.com/charts/world-digital-song-sales/2021-05-08\|archive-date=May 4, 2021\|url-status=live\|access-date=May 13, 2021\|url-access=subscription}} \| 1

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

! Chart (2018)

! Peak
position

scope="row" | France Download (SNEP){{cite web|url=http://www.snepmusique.com/tops-semaine/top-singles-telecharges/?ye=2018&we=21|title=Le Top de la semaine : Top Singles Téléchargés – SNEP (Week 21, 2018)|publisher=Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique|language=fr|access-date=May 29, 2018}}

| 100

scope="row" | Hungary (Single Top 40){{cite web|url=http://zene.slagerlistak.hu/single-track-top-40-lista/2020/219|title="Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ"|language=hu|website=zene.slagerlistak.hu|access-date=May 14, 2020 }}

| 4

scope="row" | Japan Hot 100 (Billboard Japan){{cite web|url=http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot100&year=2018&month=05&day=21|title=Billboard Japan Hot 100 2018年9月3日|work=Billboard Japan|language=ja|access-date=September 8, 2018}}

| 34

scope="row" | South Korea (Gaon){{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=ALL&targetTime=21&hitYear=2018&termGbn=week|script-title=ko:2018년 21주차 Digital Chart|trans-title=Digital Chart Week 21 of 2018|website=Gaon|language=ko|access-date=September 8, 2018}}

| 54

scope="row" | South Korea (K-pop Hot 100){{cite web|url=http://billboard.co.kr/index_subpage.html?mainwhat=1&subwhat=0&nchart_pos=45|title=Kpop Hot 100 The week of May 21, 2018-May 27|work=Billboard Korea|language=ko|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622220328/http://www.billboard.co.kr/index_subpage.html?mainwhat=1&subwhat=0&pchart_pos=45|archive-date=June 22, 2018|url-status=dead|access-date=May 13, 2021}}

| 10

scope="row" | US World Digital Songs (Billboard){{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/world-digital-song-sales/2021-05-08|title=World Digital Song Sales (The week of May 8, 2021)|work=Billboard|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504092433/https://www.billboard.com/charts/world-digital-song-sales/2021-05-08|archive-date=May 4, 2021|url-status=live|access-date=May 13, 2021|url-access=subscription}}

| 1

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

! Version

! Country

! Date

! Format

! Label

Intro version

! scope="row" rowspan="2"| Various

| May 18, 2018

| rowspan="2"| {{hlist|digital download|streaming}}

| rowspan="2"| {{hlist|Big HitReferences:

{{cite web |last1=Herman |first1=Tamar |title=5 Things to Know About BTS' 'Love Yourself: Tear' Album |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/8455752/bts-love-yourself-tear-album-facts |website=Billboard |access-date=8 September 2018}}
{{cite web |last1=Herman |first1=Tamar |title=BTS Unveils Tracklist for 'Love Yourself: Answer' Album |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/8470917/bts-love-yourself-answer-album-tracklist |website=Billboard |access-date=8 September 2018}}}}

Regular version

| August 24, 2018

References

Category:2018 songs

Category:BTS songs

Category:Music videos directed by Lumpens

Category:Songs written by RM (musician)

Category:Song recordings produced by RM (musician)