2U (Kang Daniel song) explained

2U
Border:yes
Type:single
Artist:Kang Daniel
Album:Cyan
Recorded:2019[1]
Genre:K-pop
Length:3:15
Label:
Producer:Chancellor
Prev Title:Touchin'
Prev Year:2019
Next Title:Refresh
Next Year:2020

"2U" is a song by South Korean singer Kang Daniel. It was released on March 24, 2020 by Konnect Entertainment and distributed by Sony Music Korea. The song serves as the lead single from his second EP Cyan.

Background and composition

The lead single's name is a play on the English meaning "going to you" and the literal Korean pronunciation sounding similar to the word "reason" .[2] "2U" contains a message to a weary or lonely person running after their dreams: There are those who stay by your side who love you because you are you.[3]

"2U" was written and composed by Korean-American artist Chancellor with Kang in mind from the onset. Even during Chancellor's initial working stages with the song, Kang thought it matched him well. He described "2U" as a hybrid of pop and hip-hop genres with a "gentle and comfortable" sound well-suited for spring, and MTV News pointed out the single had "R&B flourishes" as well.[4] Writing for IZM, Hwang In-ho described it as house track incorporating a synth-based rhythm, R&B beats and slow tempo.[5] As part of Grazia Koreas May cover story, Kang was asked if there was a specific reason for choosing groovy title tracks such as "2U" despite others thinking of him as an artist with powerful, strong performances. He replied that he wanted to show what he is capable of step-by-step to heighten the sense of tension.

Music video

A music video teaser emulating a movie poster composition was revealed on March 20.[6] The full music video directed by VM Project Architecture was released alongside the song. Doug Riggs, Caspar von Winterfeldt, and Brian Scott Robinson headed the US crew.[7] It was filmed in one day at the Los Angeles Theatre. Kang found the filming location's inspiration and vibe to be well-connected to the song's concept and himself.

Commercial performance

"2U" is Kang's first top ten single on the Gaon Digital Chart, peaking at number 7.[8] According to the Korea Music Content Association, Kang achieved a Gaon triple crown during the thirteenth week of 2020 in part due to "2U" ranking first in the download and BGM charts.[9] Those sales were further reflected in the Gaon monthly charts for March 2020 with "2U" topping the download chart and ranking number 15 in the subsequent BGM chart.[10] [11] The song also took first place on five music shows: The Show, Music Bank, Show! Music Core, Show Champion, and M Countdown.[12]

Charts

Chart (2020)Peak
position
South Korea (Gaon)7
South Korea (Kpop Hot 100)[13] 81

Accolades

Music program awards

ProgramDateRef.
The Show March 31, 2020[14]
Music BankApril 3, 2020[15]
Show! Music CoreApril 4, 2020[16]
Show Champion April 8, 2020[17]
M Countdown April 9, 2020[18]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kang Daniel Next Door. April 24, 2020. Grazia. April 25, 2020. ko. May 6, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200506000522/https://www.smlounge.co.kr/grazia/article/44808. dead.
  2. Web site: Kang Daniel Had To Step Away From The Stage To Remember Why He Loved It. April 2, 2020. MTV News. April 25, 2020. April 6, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200406221004/http://www.mtv.com/news/3161984/kang-daniel-cyan-interview/. dead.
  3. Web site: 'CYAN' 강다니엘 "타이틀곡 '2U', 나한테 잘 맞은 옷 찾은 느낌" [일문일답]]. 'CYAN' Kang Daniel "Title song '2U', the feeling of finding clothes that suit me well" [Japanese Q&A]. March 24, 2020. Sports Donga. Naver. April 25, 2020. ko. January 8, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210108090745/https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/382/0000807756. live.
  4. Web site: Kang Daniel Discusses New 'Cyan' Album, Stress Management And Balancing Life As A K-Pop Star & CEO. March 26, 2020. Forbes. April 25, 2020. April 1, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200401203810/https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffbenjamin/2020/03/26/kang-daniel-interview-cyan-album-2u-konnect-entertainment/. live.
  5. Web site: 2U- Kang Daniel. Hwang. In-ho. IZM. May 8, 2020. ko. April 9, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200409175728/http://izm.co.kr/contentRead.asp?idx=30087&bigcateidx=8&subcateidx=10&view_tp=1. live.
  6. News: "영화 포스터 연상"…'컴백 D-4' 강다니엘, 타이틀곡 '2U' MV 티저 공개. "Reminiscent of a movie poster"... 'Comeback D-4' Kang Daniel, title song '2U' MV teaser released. Xports News. Naver. March 20, 2020. April 25, 2020. ko. September 14, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200914181258/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=311&aid=0001125491. live.
  7. Web site: KANGDANIEL - 2U. Paranoid Paradigm. Vimeo. April 23, 2020. April 25, 2020. May 16, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200516130538/https://vimeo.com/410580303. live.
  8. Web site: Week 13, 2020 Digital Chart. Gaon Chart. ko. April 2, 2020. May 10, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200510190859/http://www.gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=ALL&targetTime=13&hitYear=2020&termGbn=week. live.
  9. Web site: [DA:차트] 강다니엘 'CYAN', 가온차트 1위…13주차 3관왕 달성]. [DA: Chart] Kang Daniel 'CYAN', Gaon Chart 1st place... achieved 3 crowns in the 13th week. April 2, 2020. Sports Donga. Naver. April 25, 2020. ko. April 3, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200403045846/https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/382/0000810084. live.
  10. Web site: March 2020 Download Chart. Gaon Chart. ko. April 25, 2020.
  11. Web site: March 2020 BGM Chart. Gaon Chart. ko. April 25, 2020.
  12. Web site: 강다니엘, 미니 1집 활동 성공적 마무리 #안녕다니엘#5관왕#안방1열 소통. Kang Daniel, successful completion of 1st mini album activities #HelloDaniel#5Crowns. April 13, 2020. OSEN. Naver. April 25, 2020. ko. January 8, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210108213742/https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/109/0004191475. live.
  13. Kang Daniel Chart History: Billboard Korea K-Pop 100. Billboard. April 15, 2020. May 10, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200510174638/https://www.billboard.com/music/kang-daniel/chart-history/KPO. live.
  14. Web site: https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=117&aid=0003348108. ko: '더쇼' 강다니엘, 컴백과 동시에 1위…"힘든 시기, 다들 건강하길". 'The Show' Kang Daniel, No. 1 at the same time as comeback… "Hard times, I hope everyone is healthy". Park. Yun-jin. My Daily. April 1, 2020. April 24, 2020. ko. Naver. September 14, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200914181356/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=117&aid=0003348108. live.
  15. Web site: https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=117&aid=0003349126. ko: [종합] '뮤직뱅크' 강다니엘, NCT127 꺾고 1위…엑소 수호 솔로 데뷔X홍진영 컴백. [Comprehensive] 'Music Bank' Kang Daniel beat NCT127, 1st place… EXO Suho Solo debut X Hong Jin-young comeback. Kim. Nara. My Daily. April 3, 2020. April 24, 2020. ko. Naver. September 14, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200914182716/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=117&aid=0003349126. live.
  16. Web site: https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=311&aid=0001130941. ko: '음중' 강다니엘, '2U'로 1위…임영웅 신곡 최초 공개·수호 솔로 컴백 [종합]. 'Dark' Kang Daniel, 1st in '2U'… Im Young-woong's first new song released and protected as a solo comeback [Comprehensive]. Park. So-yeon. Xports News. April 4, 2020. April 24, 2020. ko. Naver. September 14, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200914184158/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=311&aid=0001130941. live.
  17. Web site: https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=311&aid=0001132548. ko: '쇼챔' 강다니엘, '2U' 막방도 1위로 마무리…임영웅·홍진영 출격[종합]. 'Show Champion' Kang Daniel, '2U' Makbang also finished in 1st place… Lim Young-woong and Hong Jin-young scramble [total]. Kim. Mi-ji. Xports News. April 9, 2020. April 24, 2020. ko. Naver. September 14, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200914183842/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=311&aid=0001132548. live.
  18. Web site: https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=609&aid=0000265506. ko: ‘엠카운트다운’ 강다니엘, 세정 꺾고 출연없이 1위. 'M Countdown' Kang Daniel wins cleansing, No. 1 appearance. Park. Su-in. Newsen. April 9, 2020. April 24, 2020. ko. Naver. September 14, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200914185119/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=609&aid=0000265506. live.

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