Let's Not Fall in Love

Written and composed by member G-Dragon and Teddy Park, "Let's Not Fall in Love" is a pop-rock tune with a classic sentimental dance sound, that was compared to the group's early single "Blue."[2][3] The track also features "a variety of vocal samplings, acoustic melodies, and hazy synths."[4] The song was described as gentle and sweet unlike the previous releases from the band, having a solemn tone with a mid-tempo and gentle vocals with a sad mode.[5]

The lyrics speak of a young, hesitant romance that is ultimately more self-centered and defensive than caring, capturing the subtle insecurities of teenage love.[2] Billboard felt that the lyrical content of "Let's Not Fall in Love" encompasses "the scary moments that accompany the start of a relationship", depicting "the pressures and worries of starting a new relationship and committing to a person, and the potential pain that accompanies the risk of opening up to someone." The magazine concluded that the song gives a message "that if you like someone you still will want them to stay despite the fears."[6]

Acting as a complement of the lyrics, the music video highlights the happiness of falling in love through the use of bright colours, and fun and innocent depictions of dates, which is contradicted by the close up shots that emphasise the member's worried faces. While the under exposed and dreamy tone reflects the video as fragments of a memory.[7] The pastel-colored, dreamlike video features the five members running around a hazily-lit school courtyard, each taking on the role of boyfriend to five different models.[2]

This song was well received by both the public and critics. Billboard said that "Let's Not Fall in Love" "showcases the boy band at their most sentimental", and has a classic Big Bang song feel but with a unique sound because of the "lack of a definitive chorus and T.O.P and G-Dragon showing off new vocal colors instead of their usual personality-driven raps."[8] The magazine chose the track as Big Bang's fourth best song,[4] praising the group versatility after nearly a decade on top.[3] Korean website Osen complimented "Let's Not Fall in Love" for being "filled with joyful and fluttering emotions with a young and fresh beauty that was expressed based on a sorrowful emotion."[9]

Fuse called the song "a gem" and praised its "lush production that evokes a range of emotions."[10] Philippine Daily Inquirer admired the group, stating "while most K-pop boy groups safely opt for either the sweet, forever-giving boyfriend role or the dangerously attractive bad boy image, Big Bang continues to explore more complex themes while still maintaining popular appeal" and completed that Big Bang "has struck a genuine and elusive emotional chord" with "Let's Not Fall in Love."[2]

"Let's Not Fall in Love" sold 314,944 digital copies in its first week on the Gaon Chart, the fourth highest first week sales of 2015, and peaked at number one in both the Digital and Download charts. The song debuted at the third position on the Streaming Chart with over 4.797 million streams, the fourth on Mobile Chart and eleventh on BGM Chart.[11][12][13][14][15] On the second week the song stayed at number one on Digital Chart, selling 145,026 copies, and raised to a new peak of number one on the Streaming Chart with over 6.263 million streams.[16][17]

The single charted first on Billboard's World Digital Songs chart, being it the group's third number one on the chart which made them the Korean act with the most songs that topped the World Digital Songs, along with Psy.[18][19]

On the Chinese music service QQ Music the song took the number one spot on the music video chart.[20] In Taiwan, the song ranked fifth on the most popular Korean singles list of 2015 by music streaming service KKBOX.[21]

• BIGBANG - Let's Not Fall in Love M/V on YouTube