Shoong! Explained

Shoong!
Cover:Taeyang - Shoong!.jpg
Caption:Promotional graphic
Type:song
Artist:Taeyang featuring Lisa of Blackpink
Ep:Down to Earth
Released:April 25, 2023
Recorded:2023
Studio:The Black Label (Seoul)
Length:3:25
Label:

"Shoong!" is a song by South Korean singer Taeyang featuring Thai rapper and singer Lisa of South Korean girl group Blackpink. It was released through The Black Label on April 25, 2023, as the second track on Taeyang's second extended play Down to Earth (2023).

A performance video for "Shoong!" with the two artists performing choreography together was released on The Black Label's YouTube channel simultaneously with the EP's release. The song reached the top ten in Hungary and Singapore and the top 15 in Malaysia, Taiwan, and the US Billboard World Digital Song Sales chart.

Background

On December 26, 2022, it was announced that Big Bang member Taeyang had left his longtime agency YG Entertainment and signed a new contract with YG Entertainment's subsidiary The Black Label.[1] In January 2023, media outlets reported that Taeyang would be making a comeback with a pre-release single from his upcoming album.[2] The single, "Vibe", featuring BTS member Jimin, was officially released on January 13.[3] This marked the singer's first release in over five years since White Night (2017).[4] On March 28, The Black Label confirmed that Taeyang was currently preparing an album to be released in April.[5] On April 12, it was announced through Osen that Blackpink member Lisa would feature on a track on the album and appear in its music video as well.[6] This marked Lisa's first release in over a year since her DJ Snake collaboration "SG" (2021).[7] It is also the artists' second time working together, after Lisa appeared as a backup dancer in the music video for Taeyang's 2013 single "Ringa Linga".[8] On April 13, Taeyang's album was officially announced to be an extended play entitled Down to Earth with a release date of April 25.[9] The collaboration with Lisa was revealed as "Shoong!" on April 19 with a teaser poster of the performance video.[10] On April 22, a teaser video for the performance video was released.[11] On April 23, the artist dropped a tracklist poster which detailed the credits of the song.[12] "Shoong!" was released for digital download and streaming as the second track of Down to Earth on April 25, 2023, by The Black Label.[13]

Production

"Shoong!" was written by Taeyang, Kush, Vince, and Bekuh Boom and composed by the latter three alongside Dominsuk. It is described as an R&B and trap song with "addictive melodies and trendy hip-hop beats."[14] The song's title "Shoong!" is an onomatopoeia used for cars passing by in Korean, which inspired the racing concept of the video.[15]

In an interview with Rolling Stone, Taeyang explained how following his discharge from military service, he felt lost about the direction to take his music. The Black Label's producers brought him "Shoong!", and the song came to fruition when they created a melody together by throwing out words and lyrics jokingly. From the track, Taeyang realized his vision for the rest of the album. The collaboration with Lisa happened very quickly, with the Blackpink rapper agreeing right away to be part of the project. The song's arrangement and producing was finished in under a month, with the initial intention of making it the lead single of the album.[15]

Performance video

An accompanying performance video for the song was uploaded to The Black Label's official YouTube channel in conjunction with the release of the extended play. It was preceded by a 17-second long teaser released two days earlier on April 23.[11] In the video, Taeyang and Lisa perform the song’s choreography on a futuristic set with pink and orange neon lights.[16] The choreography for the song was done by Bailey Sok, who also did "Vibe."[15] Upon release, the performance video topped YouTube's trending worldwide chart and exceeded 10 million views in 15 hours, more than doubling the views achieved by the album's title track "Seed."[17]

Live performances

On April 30, Taeyang performed "Shoong!" for the first time live on SBS's Inkigayo alongside the title track "Seed."[18]

Credits and personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2023)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Global 200 (Billboard)[19] 143
Hong Kong (Billboard)[20] 24
Malaysia (Billboard)[21] 11
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[22] 31
Singapore (RIAS)[23] 9
South Korea (Circle)[24] 119
Taiwan (Billboard)[25] 13
UK Singles Sales (OCC)[26] 75
US World Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[27] 11
Vietnam (Vietnam Hot 100)[28] 35

Monthly charts

Chart (2023)! scope="col"
Position
South Korea (Circle)[29] 144

Notes and References

  1. News: Yeo . Gladys . Big Bang members Taeyang and Daesung end contracts with YG Entertainment . . January 4, 2023 . December 27, 2022.
  2. News: Yoon . So-yeon . Big Bang's Taeyang to release single titled 'Vibe' next week featuring BTS's Jimin . . January 4, 2023 . January 4, 2023.
  3. News: 태양, 방탄소년단(BTS) 지민과 컴백…신곡 'VIBE' 티저 이미지 공개 . Taeyang's comeback with Jimin of BTS ... teaser image for new song 'Vibe' released . Nate . Top Star News . January 4, 2023 . ko . January 4, 2023.
  4. News: Hicap . Jonathan . Big Bang's Taeyang, BTS' Jimin's 'Vibe' set for release . . January 4, 2023 . January 4, 2023.
  5. Web site: Lee. Min-ji. March 28, 2023. 태양 측 "4월 컴백 목표로 앨범 준비 중" [공식]]. Taeyang’s side “Preparing an album with the goal of making a comeback in April” [Official]. March 28, 2023. Newsen. ko.
  6. Web site: Ji. Min-kyung. [단독] 블랙핑크 리사, 태양 새 앨범 참여..역대급 컬래버 예고]. [Exclusive] Blackpink Lisa, Taeyang participate in new album..Previous Collaboration Notice. April 12, 2023. Star News. ko. April 12, 2023.
  7. News: Megan Thee Stallion, Ozuna, and Lisa From Blackpink Go Global for 'SG'. Haylock. Zoe. November 13, 2021 . . November 13, 2021.
  8. Web site: 8 songs Blackpink members appeared in before debut. August 8, 2018. SBS. en. January 30, 2021. October 2, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201002055720/https://praew.com/beauty/177960.html. live.
  9. News: Cho . Young-jun . Taeyang to release second EP 'Down to Earth' on April 25 . . April 13, 2023 . April 13, 2023.
  10. Web site: 태양·리사 협업곡 '슝' 퍼포먼스 비디오 포스터 공개. Taeyang-Lisa Collaboration Song 'Shun' Performance Video Poster Released. April 19, 2023. Newsis. ko. April 19, 2023.
  11. Web site: Mathew. Anoushka. WATCH: BLACKPINK's Lisa and BIGBANG's Taeyang are a dynamic duo in the performance video teaser for Shoong. April 22, 2023. Pinkvilla. en. April 22, 2023.
  12. Web site: Panda. Shreya. Taeyang unveils full tracklist for Down To Earth featuring collab with BLACKPINK's Lisa, Bryan Chase and more. April 23, 2023. Pinkvilla. en. April 23, 2023.
  13. Bowenbank. Starr. Taeyang Releases Second EP '[Down to Earth]' & Sizzling Dance Video With BLACKPINK's Lisa]. April 25, 2023. Billboard. en. April 25, 2023.
  14. Web site: Kim. Ji-hye. 빅뱅 태양, 블랙핑크 리사와 특급 협업..넘사벽 아우라. Big Bang's Taeyang, Black Pink's Lisa and Special Collaboration.. April 19, 2023. Herald Pop. ko. April 19, 2023.
  15. Kwak. Kristine. How Taeyang Transformed a Tough Time into Tender Honesty on 'Down To Earth'. April 25, 2023. Rolling Stone. en. April 25, 2023.
  16. Web site: Ziwei. Puah. Watch Taeyang's music video for 'Shoong!' featuring BLACKPINK's Lisa. April 25, 2023. NME. en. April 25, 2023.
  17. Web site: Han. Hae-seon. '사실상 쓰리 타이틀곡'..태양, 지민·리사 안고 '슝 슝!' 날았다[★FOCUS]]. 'Actually three title songs'..Taeyang, Jimin and Lisa hugging 'Shuong Shun!' I flew[★FOCUS]. April 30, 2023. Star News. ko. April 30, 2023.
  18. Web site: Jang. Jin-ri. 압도적 카리스마 '슝!'→감동 보컬 '나의 마음에'…태양이 태양했다('인기가요'). Overwhelming charisma 'Shung!' → Touching vocal 'In My Heart'... The sun was the sun ('Inkigayo'). April 30, 2023. Spo TV News. ko. April 30, 2023.
  19. Taeyang Chart History (Global 200). Billboard. May 9, 2023.
  20. Taeyang Chart History (Hong Kong Songs). Billboard. May 9, 2022.
  21. Taeyang Chart History (Malaysia Songs). Billboard. May 9, 2022.
  22. Web site: NZ Hot Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. May 8, 2023. May 6, 2023.
  23. Web site: RIAS Top Charts Week 18 (28 Apr - 4 May 2023). RIAS. May 9, 2023. May 9, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230509065925/https://www.rias.org.sg/rias-top-charts/.
  24. Web site: Digital Chart – Week 18 of 2023. Circle Chart. ko. May 11, 2023.
  25. Taeyang Chart History (Taiwan Songs). Billboard. May 9, 2022.
  26. Web site: Official Singles Sales Chart Top 100 . . April 28, 2023.
  27. Taeyang Chart History (World Digital Song Sales). Billboard. May 9, 2023.
  28. Taeyang Chart History (Billboard Vietnam Hot 100). Billboard. May 5, 2023.
  29. Web site: Digital Chart – May 2023 . June 8, 2023 . . ko.