Haegeum (song) explained

Haegeum
Border:yes
Type:single
Artist:Agust D
Album:D-Day
Language:Korean
Released:April 21, 2023
Genre:Hip hop
Length:2:48
Label:Big Hit
Producer:Agust D
Chronology:Agust D
Prev Title:People Pt. 2
Prev Year:2023

"Haegeum" is a song by South Korean rapper Agust D, better known as Suga of BTS. It was released on April 21, 2023, through Big Hit Music, as the second single from the rapper's debut studio album D-Day. Written and produced by Agust D, the song is a hip hop track that addresses themes of freedom and liberation.

Music and lyrics

"Haegeum" is a heavy hip hop song that includes the use of a South Korean traditional two-stringed fiddle called haegeum in its instrumentation[1] —D-2s "Daechwita" also featured the instrument.[2] Its title is a word play that references both the instrument and an interpretation of liberation specific to the song—"to advocate for freedom in a reality built on unspoken societal expectations and restrictions echoed in today's online culture". In Korean, Agust D asks listeners to question their own liberation ("What is it, exactly, that's been restricting us? / Maybe we do it to ourselves. Slaves to capitalism, slaves to money, slaves to hatred and prejudice")[3] and the role they play in that of others ("Freedom of expression / Could be reason for somebody's death / Could you still consider that freedom?"), making a case for "doing away 'with the nonsense' that clutters online" and reality.[1] He then addresses the internet culture that both "fascinates and destroys": "Endless influx of information prohibits freedom of imagination/ And seeks conformity of thought/ All these painful noises blind you."[4]

Commercial performance

In Japan, "Haegeum" entered the daily issue of Oricon's Digital Singles Chart for April 21, 2023, at number three with 3,524 sales.[5] It debuted on the subsequent weekly chart at number seven, with 9,482 cumulative sales for the period dated April 17–23.[6] The single was the seventh most-downloaded song of its release week on Billboard Japans Download Songs chart[7] and entered the domestic Hot 100 at number 81;[8] it rose to number 66 on the latter the following week.[9]

"Haegeum" sold 32,000 copies and accumulated 4.6 million streams in its opening week in the United States. It debuted at number 58 on the May 6, 2023, issue of the Billboard Hot 100 and earned Agust D his first top-10 entry on the corresponding issue of the Hot Rap Songs chart (number nine) as well as his fourth number-one on the Rap Digital Song Sales chart.[10] The song also entered the Global 200 at number 15; the Global Excl. US chart at number 12; and four of Billboards Hits of the World charts: Indonesia Songs at number 19, Singapore Songs at number 20, South Korea Songs at number 24, and Philippines Songs at number 25.[11]

Music video

A "climactic" teaser preceded the music video on April 20. Set as a modern day follow-up to "Daechwita", Agust D plays a character referred to as the Exister (a gangster) who is "out for blood".[12] [13] Accompanied by a group of men, he enters a rundown building and appears to stab an unseen person.

Reception

The Los Angeles Times described the music video as "deliciously grisly" and "Oldboy-worthy".

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2023)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[14] 74
Global 200 (Billboard)[15] 15
Greece International (IFPI)[16] 39
Hungary (Single Top 40)[17] 4
India International Singles (IMI)[18] 5
Indonesia (Billboard)[19] 19
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[20] 66
Japan Digital Singles (Oricon)[21] 7
Japan Streaming (Oricon)[22] 45
Lithuania (AGATA)[23] 48
Malaysia International (RIM)[24] 17
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[25] 7
Philippines (Billboard)[26] 25
Singapore (RIAS)[27] 16
South Korea (Circle)[28] 69
UK Singles (OCC)[29] 77
US Billboard Hot 100[30] 58
US World Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[31] 1
Vietnam (Vietnam Hot 100)[32] 5

Monthly charts

Chart (2023)! scope="col"
Peak
position
South Korea (Circle)[33] 121

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Agust D – 'D-DAY' review: lessons and liberation reign on final part of BTS rapper's trilogy. Daly. Rhian. April 21, 2023. NME. https://web.archive.org/web/20230421171126/https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/suga-d-day-review-agust-d-bts-3433720 . April 21, 2023. live. April 21, 2023.
  2. News: BTS' Suga fills 1st solo album 'D-Day' with honest thoughts. Yoo. Hong. April 21, 2023. The Korea Herald. https://web.archive.org/web/20230421062533/https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20230421000492. April 21, 2023. live. May 6, 2023.
  3. Web site: Agust D's D-DAY Triumphantly Caps Off the Trilogy from SUGA of BTS: Review. Siroky. Mary. April 21, 2023. Consequence. https://web.archive.org/web/20230422021643/https://consequence.net/2023/04/d-day-suga-bts-agust-d-review/. April 22, 2023. live. April 21, 2023.
  4. News: BTS' Suga on going solo, his love of hip-hop and the band's future: 'We're real brothers, period'. Brown. August. May 9, 2023. Los Angeles Times. https://web.archive.org/web/20230509150615/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2023-05-09/bts-suga-agust-d-day. May 9, 2023. live. May 9, 2023.
  5. Web site: https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/dis/d/2023-04-21/. ja:デイリー デジタルシングル (単曲) ランキング 2023年04月21日付. Daily Digital Single ranking dated April 21, 2023. Oricon. ja. https://web.archive.org/web/20230422093351/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/dis/d/2023-04-21/. April 22, 2023. live. April 22, 2023.
  6. Web site: https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/dis/w/2023-05-01/. ja:週間 デジタルシングル (単曲) ランキング 2023年05月01日付 (2023年04月17日～2023年04月23日). Oricon. ja. Weekly Digital Single Ranking May 1, 2023 (From April 17, 2023 to April 23, 2023). https://web.archive.org/web/20230426051720/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/dis/w/2023-05-01/. April 26, 2023. live. April 26, 2023.
  7. Web site: https://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=dlsongs&year=2023&month=05&day=01. ja:Hot 100 [2023/04/26 付け ]. Billboard Japan. ja. Download Songs [dated 2023/04/26]. https://web.archive.org/web/20230426155117/https://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=dlsongs&year=2023&month=05&day=01. April 26, 2023. live. May 6, 2023.
  8. Web site: https://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot100&year=2023&month=05&day=01. ja:Hot 100 [2023/04/26 付け ]. Billboard Japan. ja. Hot 100 [dated 2023/04/26]. https://web.archive.org/web/20230426050525/https://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot100&year=2023&month=05&day=01. April 26, 2023. live. May 6, 2023.
  9. Web site: https://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot100&year=2023&month=05&day=08. ja:Hot 100 [2023/05/03 付け ]. Billboard Japan. ja. Hot 100 [dated 2023/05/03]. https://web.archive.org/web/20230503044227/https://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot100&year=2023&month=05&day=08. May 3, 2023. live. May 6, 2023.
  10. Suga's Agust D Album 'D-Day' Launches at No. 1 on Top Rap Albums Chart. subscription. Anderson. Trevor. May 4, 2023. Billboard. https://web.archive.org/web/20230505163112/https://www.billboard.com/pro/suga-d-day-agust-d-number-1-rap-albums-chart/. May 5, 2023. live. May 6, 2023.
  11. Agust D Sets New High for BTS Members on Global Charts. subscription. Frankenberg. Eric. May 5, 2023. Billboard. https://web.archive.org/web/20230505173252/https://www.billboard.com/pro/suga-agust-d-bts-members-new-high-global-charts/. May 5, 2023. live. May 6, 2023.
  12. Web site: BTS' SUGA unveils 'Being' and 'Exister' themed concept photos for his upcoming album D-DAY. Yadav. Monica. April 18, 2023. Bollywood Hungama. https://web.archive.org/web/20230418134228/https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/international/bts-suga-unveils-exister-themed-concept-photos-upcoming-album-d-day/. April 18, 2023. live. July 14, 2023.
  13. Web site: BTS' SUGA is out for blood in a climactic teaser of 'Haegeum' from D-DAY, watch video. April 20, 2023. Bollywood Hungama. https://web.archive.org/web/20230420100117/https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/international/bts-suga-blood-climactic-teaser-haegeum-d-day-watch-video/. April 20, 2023. live. May 9, 2023.
  14. Billboard Canadian Hot 100 (The week of May 6, 2023). Billboard. https://web.archive.org/web/20230502090934/https://www.billboard.com/charts/canadian-hot-100/2023-05-06/. May 2, 2023. live. May 2, 2023.
  15. Billboard Global 200 (Week of May 6, 2023). subscription. Billboard. https://web.archive.org/web/20230503124856/https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-global-200/2023-05-06/. May 3, 2023. live. May 2, 2023.
  16. Web site: Official IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International) (Week: 17/2023). IFPI Greece. https://web.archive.org/web/20230503073834/https://www.ifpi.gr/digital_ien.html. May 3, 2023. dead. May 6, 2023.
  17. Web site: Single Top 40 slágerlista 2023. 17. hét (2023. 04. 21. - 2023. 04. 27.) No.: 1075. hu. Single (track) Top 40 list – Week 17 of 2023 (April 21, 2023 – April 27, 2023) No. 1075. https://web.archive.org/web/20230506021812/https://slagerlistak.hu/single-track-top-40-lista/2023/17. May 6, 2023. live. May 6, 2023.
  18. Web site: IMI International Top 20 singles for week ending 1st May 2023 – Week 17 of 52. Indian Music Industry. https://web.archive.org/web/20230504215041/https://imicharts.com/. May 4, 2023. dead. May 6, 2023.
  19. Indonesia Songs (Week of May 6, 2023). Billboard. https://web.archive.org/web/20230502095634/https://www.billboard.com/charts/indonesia-songs-hotw/2023-05-06/. May 2, 2023. live. May 6, 2023.
  20. Web site: https://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot100&year=2023&month=05&day=08. ja:Hot 100 [2023/05/03 付け ]. Billboard Japan. ja. Hot 100 [dated 2023/05/03]. https://web.archive.org/web/20230503044227/https://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot100&year=2023&month=05&day=08. May 3, 2023. live. May 6, 2023.
  21. Web site: https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/dis/w/2023-05-01/. ja:週間 デジタルシングル (単曲) ランキング 2023年05月01日付 (2023年04月17日～2023年04月24日). Oricon. ja. Weekly Digital Single Ranking May 1, 2023 (From April 17, 2023 to April 23, 2023). https://web.archive.org/web/20230426051720/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/dis/w/2023-05-01/. April 26, 2023. live. April 26, 2023.
  22. Web site: https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/st/w/2023-05-08/p/5/. ja:週間 ストリーミングランキング 2023年05月08日付 (2023年04月24日～2023年04月30日). Oricon. ja. Weekly Streaming Ranking May 8, 2023 (From April 24, 2023 to April 30, 2023). https://web.archive.org/web/20230503034018/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/st/w/2023-05-08/p/5/. May 3, 2023. live. May 22, 2023.
  23. Web site: 2023 17-os SAVAITĖS (balandžio 21-27 d.) SINGLŲ TOP100. April 28, 2023. AGATA. lt. 2023 Week 17 (April 21-27) Singles Top100. https://web.archive.org/web/20230428085115/https://www.agata.lt/lt/naujienos/s17-2/. April 28, 2023. live. May 6, 2023.
  24. Web site: TOP 20 Most Streamed International Singles In Malaysia Week 17 (21/04/2023-27/04/2023). May 6, 2023. RIM. https://archive.today/20230506193800/https://www.facebook.com/RecordingIndustryMalaysia/posts/pfbid0mJ6We4dPYGeG8PPRCKoFVUQtTHwDhT11HXFp2uaEu4CE2go33AnZunwa6a7LCZ. May 6, 2023. live. May 6, 2023. Facebook.
  25. Web site: NZ Hot Singles Chart. May 1, 2023. Recorded Music NZ. April 29, 2023.
  26. Philippines Songs (Week of May 6, 2023). Billboard. https://web.archive.org/web/20230505172631/https://www.billboard.com/charts/philippines-songs-hotw/2023-05-06/. May 5, 2023. live. May 6, 2023.
  27. Web site: RIAS Top Charts Week 17 (21 - 27 April 2023). RIAS. https://web.archive.org/web/20230503072236/https://www.rias.org.sg/rias-top-charts/. May 3, 2023. live. May 6, 2023.
  28. Web site: Digital Chart 2023 Weeks 17. Circle Chart. ko. May 6, 2023.
  29. Web site: Official Singles Chart Top 100 (28 April 2023 - 04 May 2023). Official Charts Company. https://web.archive.org/web/20230615050512/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20230428/7501/. June 15, 2023. live. April 30, 2023.
  30. Billboard Hot 100 (Week of May 6, 2023). Billboard. https://web.archive.org/web/20230502095032/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2023-05-06/. May 2, 2023. live. May 6, 2023.
  31. World Digital Song Sales (Week of May 6, 2023). subscription. Billboard. https://web.archive.org/web/20230502093445/https://www.billboard.com/charts/world-digital-song-sales/2023-05-06/. May 2, 2023. live. May 2, 2023.
  32. Web site: Billboard Vietnam Hot 100 (Chart Date: 2023-05-04). Billboard Vietnam. vi. https://web.archive.org/web/20230406053634/https://billboardvn.vn/billboard-vietnam-hot-100/. April 6, 2023. dead. May 6, 2023.
  33. Web site: Digital Chart – May 2023. June 21, 2024. Circle Chart. ko.

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