Alive (EP)

Alive
EP by Big Bang
Released February 29, 2012 (2012-02-29)
June 3, 2012 (2012-06-03) (Special edition)
Recorded 2011 - 2012
Genre
Length 23:41
Label
Producer
Big Bang chronology
Big Bang 2
(2011)		 Alive
(2012)		 Alive (Japanese)
(2012)
Singles from Alive
  1. " Blue"
    Released: February 22, 2012
  2. "Bad Boy"
    Released: February 29, 2012
  3. "Fantastic Baby"
    Released: March 7, 2012
Singles from Still Alive
  1. "Monster"
    Released: June 3, 2012
Special Edition 'Still Alive'

Alive is the fifth Korean-language extended play by South Korean group Big Bang. It was released on February 29, 2012 by YG Entertainment. Big Bang members G-Dragon and T.O.P wrote the music and lyrics, respectively, for nearly all tracks on the album.[1] The EP had three singles,"Blue", "Fantastic Baby", and "Bad Boy". A repackaged version of the EP entitled Still Alive was released on June 3, 2012, and featured the single, "Monster". Both EP versions and their singles achieved commercial success on music charts in South Korea, and the EP became the first K-Pop album to chart on the United States' Billboard 200.

Release and promotion

On January 27, 2012, the track listing and title of Big Bang's upcoming EP, Alive were announced.[2] Teddy Park of YG Entertainment and Big Bang member G-Dragon produced the majority of the music for the EP with the help of other producers such as DJ Murf and Peejay. G-Dragon also wrote the majority of the songs on this album with the help of T.O.P. and Teddy Park.

"Blue" was released on February 22, 2012, as the EP's lead single, and thereafter Big Bang released previews of other tracks on YouTube every day from February 23–28.[3] They also announced the Alive World Tour, in support of the album.[4][5]

The EP and its second single, "Bad Boy" were released simultaneously on February 29, 2012. Promotions began with televised performances from the album on SBS's Inkigayo.[6] "Fantastic Baby" was the album's third single, released on March 7, 2012.

The EP was repackaged as a special edition with additional songs and re-titled as Still Alive. The special edition and its single "Monster", were released June 3, 2012. "Blue", "Bad Boy", "Fantastic Baby", and "Monster" were also re-recorded with Japanese lyrics and included on Big Bang's full-length Japanese album, Alive. Other album tracks, in their original Korean language form, were also included on the album.

Critical reception

Fuse named Alive one of the best albums of the year, the only non-english album on the list, writing that the record "blurs the lines between traditional K-pop, dance pop, R&B and just about every other genre", and calling it "one of Big Bang's most well-rounded releases to date."[7] Billboard called the EP and its repackage "objectively one of the group’s best eras," and noted how "each song is iconic in its own way."[8] Chicago Sun-Times noted that Alive included a more mature sound and "more interesting production techiniques," and that it displayed Big Bang's diversity.[9] The Fader praised Alive for making "the most compelling case yet" for a rising K-Pop star in the west.[10] The Borneo Post declared that "Alive is a humble manifesto that declares Big Bang’s efforts to grow into Kpop legends who live in the now. They've certainly proven before that they're a cut above the usual" and stated "this album is everywhere, and everyone-friendly."[11]

Commercial performance

Alive became the first Korean album or EP to chart on the United States' Billboard 200 and at its time of release, held the record for being the best selling K-Pop album ever in the United States, selling over 4,100 copies in its first week of release.[12][13] It also charted at number four on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart,[14] at number twenty-two on the Independent Albums chart,[15] and number four on the World Albums chart.[16] On March 9, 2012, it was revealed that Big Bang was the first act to occupy 5 out of the top 10 spots on Billboard's K-pop Hot 100 with "Blue," "Bad Boy," "Fantastic Baby," "Ain't No Fun," and "Love Dust."[17]

Alive reached to number six on Japan's domestic Oricon weekly album chart as a Korean import.[18] In South Korea, both Alive and Still Alive debuted at number one on the Gaon Album Chart.[19][20] The EP finished 2012 as the second best-selling album of the year in South Korea, while the repackage was the sixth.[21] In Taiwan, the EP reached number-one spot on G-Music[22] and managed to be certified double platinum.[23]

As of December 2016, according to the Gaon Chart, Oricon and the Chinese music service KuGou, songs from the album have sold over 24 million downloads.

Track listing

Alive[24]
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."Intro (Alive)" (Intro)G-Dragon, Teddy, T.O.PDee.P, G-Dragon, TeddyDee.P0:48
2."Blue"G-Dragon, Teddy, T.O.PTeddy, G-DragonTeddy3:53
3."Love Dust" (사랑먼지; Sarangmeonji)G-Dragon, Teddy, T.O.PG-Dragon, TeddyTeddy3:52
4."Bad Boy"G-Dragon, T.O.PG-Dragon, Choice37Choice373:57
5."Ain't No Fun" (재미없어; Jaemieobseo)G-Dragon, T.O.PG-Dragon, D.J Murf, PeejayD.J Murf, Peejay3:42
6."Fantastic Baby"G-Dragon, T.O.P, TeddyG-Dragon, TeddyG-Dragon, Teddy3:51
7."Wings" (날개; Nalgae; Daesung solo)G-Dragon, DaesungG-Dragon, Choi Pil-kangChoi Pil-kang, Dee.P3:43
Total length:23:41
Still Alive – Special Edition[25]
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."Still Alive"G-Dragon, Teddy, T.O.PDee.P, G-Dragon, TeddyDee.P3:18
2."Monster"G-Dragon, T.O.PG-Dragon, Choi Pil-kangChoi Pil-kang, Dee.P3:51
3."Feeling" (Korean version)G-Dragon, T.O.PBoys Noize, G-Dragon, T.O.PBoys Noize3:35
4."Fantastic Baby"G-Dragon, T.O.PG-Dragon, TeddyG-Dragon, Teddy3:52
5."Bad Boy"G-Dragon, T.O.PG-Dragon, Choice37Choice373:58
6."Blue"G-Dragon, Teddy, T.O.PTeddy, G-DragonTeddy3:55
7."Bingle Bingle" (빙글빙글; Binggeul Binggeul)G-Dragon, T.O.PTeddy, G-Dragon, Seo Won-jinTeddy, Seo Won-jin3:00
8."Ego" (Korean version)G-Dragon, T.O.PG-Dragon, Ham Seung-cheon, Kang Wook-jinHam Seung-cheon, Kang Wook-jin3:25
9."Love Dust" (사랑먼지; Sarangmeonji)G-Dragon, Teddy, T.O.PG-Dragon, TeddyTeddy3:51
Total length:32:45

Charts

Sales

Release history

Country Date Label(s) Format
South Korea February 29, 2012 YG Entertainment digital download, CD
Worldwide digital download
Taiwan March 27, 2012 Warner Music Taiwan CD
South Korea June 3, 2012 (Still Alive) YG Entertainment digital download
Worldwide
South Korea June 6, 2012 (Still Alive) CD
Taiwan June 29, 2012 (Still Alive) Warner Music Taiwan

References

  1. ↑ Big Bang reveals new track from upcoming album and release date!
  2. ↑ "Big Bang reveals new track from upcoming album and release date!". Allkpop. 6Theory. 1 February 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  3. ↑ "BIGBANG Unleashes Fifth Teaser for Alive with Electro Title Track "Fantastic Baby"". Soompi. 2012-02-26. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
  4. ↑ "Big Bang to hold 'ALIVE TOUR 2012′ around the world through Live Nation!". allkpop. 2012-02-06.
  5. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Blue - Single by BIGBANG". iTunes. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Big Bang To Perform On Inkigayo On March 11". hellokpop. 2012-02-27.
  7. ↑ "THE 40 BEST ALBUMS OF 2012: FUSE STAFF PICKS". Fuse. December 14, 2012. Archived from the original on 2017-07-02. Retrieved 2017-07-09.
  8. ↑ Tamar Herman. "BIGBANG 10 must listen songs". Billboard. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  9. ↑ "Big Bang's 10 best songs of the past 10 years". Sun-Times. 2016-02-05. Archived from the original on 2016-11-22. Retrieved 2017-01-14.
  10. ↑ Cooper, Duncan (2012-03-05). "Video: BIGBANG, "Bad Boy"".
  11. ↑ "Album Review: Big Bang's Alive". The Borneo Post. 2012-03-04.
  12. ↑ "Big Bang's 'Alive' charts on the Billboard 200". allkpop. 2012-05-23.
  13. 1 2 Benjamin, Jeff (2014-03-05). "2NE1 Sets New U.S. Record for Highest-Charting, Best-Selling K-Pop Album With 'Crush'". Billboard.
  14. ↑ "Big Bang chart history (Heatseekers)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  15. ↑ "Big Bang chart history (Independent)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  16. ↑ "Big Bang chart history (World)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  17. ↑ "Bigbang takes over Billboard Charts". allkpop. 9 March 2012.
  18. 1 2 "2012年03月05日～2012年03月11日のCDアルバム週間ランキング (Oricon's Weekly chart for March 19th)" (in Japanese). Oricon. March 13, 2012.
  19. 1 2 "2012년 10주차 Album Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Archived from the original on 9 February 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  20. 1 2 "2012년 24주차 Album Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Archived from the original on 9 February 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 "2012년 Album Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 8, 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  22. 1 2 "Combo Chart, Week 12". G-Music. June 1, 2012. Archived from the original on 4 April 2012.
  23. ↑ "Big Bang Reaches Double Platinum Status in Taiwan". Mwave. CJ DigitalMusic. April 6, 2012.
  24. ↑ "Alive - BIGBANG". Qobuz (in French). Retrieved 2017-02-28.
  25. ↑ "BIGBANG – New Album Release". YG LIFE BLOG. 2012-05-25. Archived from the original on 2012-05-24.
  26. ↑ "Gaon Album Chart 2012년 2월". Gaon (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  27. ↑ "Music Albums, Top 200 Albums & Music Album Charts / Billboard.com". Billboard. March 8, 2012.
  28. ↑ "Heatseekers Albums / Billboard.com". Billboard. March 8, 2012.
  29. ↑ "Independent Albums / Billboard.com". Billboard. March 8, 2012.
  30. ↑ "World Albums / Billboard.com". Billboard. March 8, 2012.
  31. ↑ "2013년 08주차 Album Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  32. ↑ "Gaon Album Chart 2013년 3월". Gaon (in Korean). Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  33. ↑ "2013년 12주차 Album Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  34. ↑ "2015년 20주차 Album Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  35. ↑ "2016년 05주차 Album Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  36. ↑ "2012년 06월 Album Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 10, 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  37. ↑ "Combo Chart, Week 26". G-Music. July 24, 2012. Archived from the original on 10 July 2012.
  38. ↑ "2013년 03주차 Album Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Archived from the original on 23 March 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  39. ↑ "Gaon Album Chart 2013년 01월". Gaon (in Korean). Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  40. ↑ "2012년 Album Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  41. ↑ "2013년 11주차 Album Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  42. ↑ "Gaon Album Chart 2014년 03월". Gaon (in Korean). Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  43. ↑ "2015년 34주차 Album Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  44. ↑ "2016년 16주차 Album Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Retrieved April 22, 2016.
  45. ↑ "Gaon Album Chart - 2013". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
  46. ↑ "Gaon Album Chart - December 2014". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
  47. ↑ "Gaon Album Chart - 2015". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
  48. 1 2 "2016 Gaon Album Chart - September". Retrieved October 7, 2016.
  49. ↑ http://tw.sports.yahoo.com/article/aurl/d/a/121221/35/9j0r.html%5Bpermanent+dead+link%5D
  50. ↑ "2013년 Album Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 9, 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  51. ↑ "Gaon Album Chart - 2014". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
  52. ↑ "Gaon Album Chart - 2015". Gaon Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
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