Alive (Big Bang EP)

On January 27, 2012, the track listing and title of Big Bang's upcoming EP, Alive were announced.[1] 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 the EP 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.[2] They also announced the Alive World Tour in support of the album.[3][4]

The EP and its second single, "Bad Boy", were released simultaneously on February 29, 2012. Promotions began with televised performances from the EP on SBS's Inkigayo.[5] "Fantastic Baby" was the 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 tracks, in their original Korean language form, were also included on the album.

Alive garnered critical acclaim, being hailed as "trendsetting". 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."[6] 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".[7] Chicago Sun-Times noted that Alive included a more mature sound and "more interesting production techniques", and that it displayed Big Bang's diversity.[8] The Fader praised Alive for making "the most compelling case yet" for a rising K-pop act in the west.[9] 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."[10]

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.[11][12] It also charted at number four on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart,[13] at number twenty-two on the Independent Albums chart,[14] and number four on the World Albums chart.[15] 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".[16]

Alive reached number six on Japan's domestic Oricon weekly album chart as a Korean import.[17] In South Korea, both Alive and Still Alive debuted at number one on the Gaon Album Chart.[18][19] The EP finished 2012 as the second best-selling album of the year in South Korea, while the repackage was the sixth.[20] In Taiwan, the EP reached the number-one spot on G-Music chart[21] and managed to be certified double platinum.[22]

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.

• Big Bang Official Site