Top (song) explained

Top
Cover:Stray_Kids_-_Top_(Korean_ver.).jpg
Caption:Korean version and First Press Limited B cover
Type:single
Artist:Stray Kids
Album:Go Live All In
B-Side:"Slump"
Released:
  • (Korean)
  • (English)
  • (Japanese)
Studio:W Sound
Genre:
Label:
Lyricist:
  • Armadillo
  • Bang Chan
  • Changbin
  • Han
  • KM-Markit (Japanese)
  • Sophia Pae (English)
Composer:
  • Armadillo
  • Bang Chan
  • Changbin
  • Han
  • Rangga
  • Gwon Yeong-chan
Prev Title:Mixtape: On Track
Prev Year:2020
Next Title:God's Menu
Next Year:2020

"Top" (stylized in all caps) is a song recorded by South Korean boy band Stray Kids. It was released in three languages. The Korean version and English version were released digitally on May 3 and 20, 2020, respectively, through JYP Entertainment, and distributed by Dreamus. The Japanese version was released on June 3, as their first Japanese single, titled "Top -Japanese ver.-", through Epic Records Japan. The song was featured as an opening theme song for the anime television series Kami no Tō -Tower of God-, together with its B-side "Slump", as an ending theme song.

The song debuted atop the Oricon Singles Chart with 37,000 copies and topped at number eight on the Billboard Japan Hot 100. The song also received a gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan.

Release and promotion

On March 25, 2020, "Top" appeared for the first time on the promotional opening video for the anime television series Kami no Tō -Tower of God-. The Japanese version was announced to be released on June 3 under title "Top -Japanese ver.-",[1] in 5 physical-format editions: First Press Limited edition A, First Press Limited edition B, Production Limited edition (anime), Regular edition, and Complete Limited edition (cassette).[2] The stand-alone single version of "Top" and "Slump" were released on April 28 and May 6, respectively,[3] [4] and released officially digitally on May 26.[5]

The Korean and English versions of "Top" were announced on May 11, 2020. The Korean version was released on May 13, 2020 and the English on May 20, 2020 to digital and streaming platform only.[6] The Korean version of "Top" and "Slump" were later included on Stray Kids' first studio album Go Live, while the Japanese versions were included on their first Japanese extended play, All In.

The Korean version of "Top" was performed along with the lead single from Go Live, "God's Menu" on Mnet's M Countdown and MBC's Show! Music Core on June 18 and 20, respectively.[7]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: TOP -Japanese ver.- . . Oricon News . December 27, 2020 . ja.
  2. News: Stray Kids、TVアニメ「神之塔」OP＆ED曲収めた日本1stシングル発売決定. Stray Kids to release Japan's 1st single containing OP & ED songs from TV anime "Tower of God". Natalie. April 1, 2020. October 8, 2020.
  3. News: Stray Kids「TOP -Japanese ver.-」が4月28日(火)0時より先行配信決定！ . June 13, 2021 . Stray Kids Japan Official Website . Epic JYP . ja . April 24, 2020.
  4. News: Stray Kids「SLUMP -Japanese ver.-」が5月6日(水)0時より先行配信決定！ . June 13, 2021 . Stray Kids Japan Official Website . Epic JYP . ja . May 4, 2020.
  5. Stray Kids Japan Official . Stray_Kids_JP . 1264934498182901762 . May 26, 2020 . ついにStray Kids『TOP -Japanese ver.-』のアルバム配信がスタート！配信を記念して韓国にいるメンバーよりコメントが届きました！みなさんたくさん聞いてください♪ . ja . June 13, 2021.
  6. News: Lee . Seung-hoon . 스트레이키즈, 웹툰 '신의 탑' OST 한국어·영어 버전 순차적 공개 [공식] ]. June 13, 2021 . Naver . Osen . Naver Corp. . May 13, 2020 . ko.
  7. June 20, 2020 . [쇼! 음악중심] 스트레이 키즈 -탑 (Stray Kids -TOP) 20200620 ]. June 13, 2021 . MBCkpop . YouTube.
  8. News: Stray Kids「THE FIRST TAKE」に韓国から出演、「SLUMP -Japanese ver.-」世界初披露 . June 13, 2021 . Natalie . Natasha Inc. . June 25, 2020 . ja.
  9. Tower of God - Opening TOP English ver.. May 21, 2020. YouTube video. Crunchyroll. February 19, 2023. 1:02.
  10. Web site: Stray Kids - TOP . Stray Kids Official Website . JYP Entertainment . June 13, 2021 . ko.
  11. Web site: Key, BPM of TOP ("Tower of God" OP) by Stray Kids . Musicstax . June 13, 2021.
  12. Web site: Key, BPM of TOP -Japanese ver.- by Stray Kids . Musicstax . June 13, 2020.
  13. Tower of God - Ending SLUMP English ver.. May 21, 2020. YouTube video. Crunchyroll. February 19, 2023. 1:16.
  14. Web site: Key, BPM of SLUMP ("Tower of God" ED) by Stray Kids . Musicstax . June 13, 2021.
  15. Web site: Key, BPM of SLUMP -Japanese ver.- by Stray Kids . Musicstax . June 13, 2020.
  16. News: 6/15付週間シングルランキング1位はStray Kidsの「TOP -Japanese ver.-」 . June 13, 2021 . Oricon . Oricon ME . June 12, 2020 . ja.
  17. Web site: 週間 シングルランキング 2020年06月15日付. Weekly Single Chart June 15, 2020. Oricon. ja. https://web.archive.org/web/20200610042129/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/js/w/2020-06-15/. June 10, 2020. June 10, 2020.
  18. Web site: Hot 100 [2020/06/08 付け ]]. June 3, 2020. ja. June 13, 2021. Billboard Japan . Hanshin Contents Link.
  19. News: 【ビルボード】YOASOBI「夜に駆ける」総合首位3連覇達成 TWICE「MORE & MORE」総合3位に初登場 . June 13, 2021 . Billboard Japan . Hanshin Contents Link . June 10, 2020 . ja.
  20. Web site: Hot 100 [2020/06/15 付け ]]. June 10, 2020. ja. Billboard Japan . Hanshin Contents Link. June 13, 2021.
  21. News: 【ビルボード】LiSA「紅蓮華」が10週連続アニメ首位、Stray Kids『神之塔』OP曲が2位 . June 13, 2021 . Billboard Japan . Hanshin Contents Link . June 10, 2020 . ja.
  22. Web site: Hot Animation. June 15, 2020. December 27, 2020. Billboard Japan . Hanshin Contents Link .
  23. News: 【ビルボード】Stray Kids『TOP -Japanese ver.-』が49,329枚を売り上げてSGセールス首位獲得 HKT48/Snow Man vs SixTONESが続く . June 13, 2021 . Billboard Japan . Hanshin Contents Link . June 13, 2021 . ja.
  24. Web site: Top Singles Sales [2020/06/15 公開] ]. Billboard Japan . Hanshin Contents Link . June 13, 2021 . ja . June 10, 2021.
  25. Word Digital Song Sales The Week of May 30, 2020. Billboard. May 30, 2020. October 29, 2020.
  26. Word Digital Song Sales The Week of May 23, 2020. Billboard. May 23, 2020. January 30, 2021.
  27. News: Stray Kids、日本1stシングル「TOP -Japanese ver.-」が"ゴールドディスク認定作品"にて初のゴールド認定 . June 13, 2021 . Yahoo News Japan . M-ON! Press . Yahoo Japan . April 13, 2021 . ja.
  28. secondfloor studio . secondfloor_vfx . CAwaMJtDeVB . May 29, 2020 . Stray Kids 『TOP -Japanese ver.-』 . August 19, 2021.
  29. News: Stray Kids、「TOP -Japanese ver.-」MVで激しいアクションシーンに挑戦 . June 13, 2021 . Barks . Japan Music Network . May 26, 2020 . ja.
  30. News: Kim . Mi-ji . '컴백' 스트레이키즈, 정규앨범 수록곡 'TOP' 퍼포먼스 영상 공개 . June 13, 2021 . Naver . XportNews . Naver Corp. . June 10, 2020 . ko.
  31. News: Stray Kids「神之塔」とコラボした「SLUMP -Japanese ver.-」MV . June 13, 2021 . Natalie . Natasha Inc. . May 11, 2020 . ja.
  32. Web site: TOP. Melon. December 4, 2020.
  33. Web site: TOP -English ver.-. Melon. December 4, 2020.
  34. Web site: Stray Kids 『TOP』 Special Site. Stray Kids Japan Official Website. Epic JYP. October 28, 2020.
  35. Web site: TOP -Japanese ver.-. Melon. December 4, 2020.
  36. Stray Kids Chart History (World Digital Song Sales). Billboard. July 16, 2023.
  37. Web site: Oricon Top 50 Singles: 2020-06 . . December 10, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200708095301/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/js/m/2020-06/ . July 8, 2020. dead.
  38. Web site: Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales Year-end 2020 . Billboard Japan . December 10, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201203191430/https://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=sales_year&year=2020 . December 3, 2020 . ja . live.
  39. Web site: 2020 Oricon Yearly Singles Chart. Oricon. ja. https://web.archive.org/web/20201224221123/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/js/y/2020/p/7/. December 24, 2020. live. December 26, 2020.
  40. Web site: Anime Now presents... Best Anime Songs of 2020. Spotify. January 30, 2021. December 1, 2020.
  41. News: Juu . 22 English K-Pop Songs To Help Ease You Into The Genre . December 28, 2021 . The Honey Pop . January 10, 2021.
  42. Web site: Stray Kids . Stray Kidsの「TOP -Japanese ver.- - EP」をApple Musicで . Apple Music . October 18, 2021 . ja . May 26, 2020.
  43. June 18, 2020 . [Stray Kids - TOP(Tower of God OP)] KPOP TV Show | M COUNTDOWN 200618 EP.670 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drCHPnS2_60 |access-date=June 13, 2021 |publisher=Mnet |via=YouTube}}[7] The Japanese version of "Slump" was performed for the first time on the YouTube program channel The First Take on June 26, made Stray Kids the first foreign singer to appear in the program.[8]

    Lyrics and composition

    "Top" is a pop rock and EDM song written by the group's producer 3Racha (Bang Chan, Changbin, Han) and Armadillo, and co-composed with Rangga and Gwon Yeong-chan. The Japanese version added KM-Markit to write the Japanese lyrics. The English version's lyrics were adapted by Bang Chan and Sophia Pae.[9] The song expresses the powerful melody, full of fighting spirit lyrics and magnificent worldview of the anime,[10] and composed in the key of B minor, 98 beats per minute with a running time of 3 minutes and 5 seconds or 3 minutes and 8 seconds for the Japanese version.[11] [12]

    The B-side "Slump" is a rock song written by Han from 3Racha and co-composed with Bang Chan. The Japanese version added KM-Markit to write the Japanese lyrics. The English version's lyrics were adapted by Bang Chan and Sophia Pae.[13] The song describes inner anxiety and weak emotions, and composed in the key of G major, 160 beats per minute with a running time of 2 minutes and 14 seconds or 2 minutes and 17 seconds for the Japanese version.[14] [15]

    Commercial performance

    The Japanese version of "Top" debuted number one on the Oricon Singles Chart for the chart issue date of June 15, 2020, selling 37,157 copies, made Stray Kids the fourth foreign male artist to debut at number one with the first single in history, after Jang Keun-suk ("Let Me Cry"), Exo ("Love Me Right (Romantic Universe)"), and iKon ("Dumb & Dumber").[16] [17]

    On Billboard Japan Hot 100, "Top" debuted at number 78.[18] In its second week dated June 15, 2020, the song jumped to number 8 due to releasing a physical format.[19] [20] The song also peaked at number two on the Hot Animation,[21] [22] and number one on the Top Singles Sales, selling 49,329 copies.[23] [24] On the Billboard's World Digital Song Sales, "Top" charted and peaked at number 10,[25] and "Slump" peaked at number 17.[26]

    On April 10, 2021, "Top" (Japanese version) received a gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ), denoting shipments of 100,000 copies, making Stray Kids' first Japanese release achieve it.[27]

    Music video

    The music video "Top" Japanese version was premiered on May 26, 2020, directed by Oui Kim.[28] The music video shows the members in action scenes, seems to have expressed a song image with Stray Kids' own strong intention to go for the top.[29] The Korean version music video was uploaded on June 10, as a "unveil: track" of their debut studio album Go Live.[30]

    The music video "Slump" in Japanese version was uploaded on May 11, 2020. It shows recording scenes alternate with anime scenes from Kami no Tō -Tower of God-.[31]

    Track listing

    • Digital download / streaming – Korean version[32]
    1. "Top" (Tower of God OP) – 3:05
    2. "Slump" (Tower of God ED) – 2:14
    • Digital download / streaming – English version[33]
    1. "Top" (English version) – 3:05
    2. "Slump" (English version) – 2:14
    • CD single / cassette / digital download / streaming – Japanese version (except production limited edition)[34] [35]
    1. "Top" (Japanese version) – 3:08
    2. "Slump" (Japanese version) – 2:17
    3. "Top" (instrumental) – 3:08
    4. "Slump" (instrumental) – 2:17
    • CD single – Japanese version (production limited edition)
    1. "Top" (Japanese version) – 3:08
    2. "Slump" (Japanese version) – 2:17
    3. "Top" (Japanese version; Kami no Tō -Tower of God- version) – 1:31
    4. "Slump" (Japanese version; Kami no Tō -Tower of God- version) – 1:29
    • DVD – Japanese version (first press limited A)
    1. "2019.12.1 "Tokyo" Behind the Scenes Video"
    2. "2019.12.2 SKZ2020 Jacket Making of Video"
    3. "2019.12.2–3 Stray Kids Japan Showcase 2019 "Hi-Stay" Documentary"
    4. "2020.3.19 "Top (Japanese ver.)" Jacket Making of Video"

    Notes

    Credits and personnel

    Credits adapted from Melon.

    Recording and management
    • Recorded at W Sound
    • Mixed at JYPE Studios and Glab Studios
    • Mastered at 821 Sound
    Personnel
    "Top"
    • Stray Kids – lead vocals
      • Bang Chan (3Racha) – lyrics, composition, arrangement, computer programming, background vocals
      • Changbin (3Racha) – lyrics, composition, background vocals
      • Han (3Racha) – lyrics, composition, background vocals
    • Armadillo – lyrics, composition, arrangement, computer programming, piano
    • Rangga – composition, arrangement, computer programming
    • Gwon Yeong-chan – composition, arrangement
    • KM-Markit – Japanese lyrics
    • Sophia Pae – English lyrics
    • PLZY – background vocals
    • Jung Yu-ra – digital editing
    • Ejo IM – recording
    • Lee Tae-sub – mixing
    • Kwon Nam-woo – mastering
    "Slump"
    • Stray Kids – lead vocals
      • Han (3Racha) – lyrics, composition, background vocals
      • Bang Chan (3Racha) – composition, arrangement, computer programming, background vocals
    • KM-Markit – Japanese lyrics
    • Sophia Pae – English lyrics
    • Seoko IM – digital editing, recording
    • Ejo IM – recording
    • Shin Bong-won – mixing
    • Kwon Nam-woo – mastering

    Charts

    Weekly charts

    Chart (2020)! scope="col"
    Peak
    position
    Japan Hot Animation (Billboard Japan)2
    US World Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[36] 10
    Chart (2020)! scope="col"
    Peak
    position
    US World Digital Song Sales (Billboard)17

    Monthly charts

    Chart (2020)! scope="col"
    Peak
    position
    Japan (Oricon)[37] 5

    Year-end charts

    Chart (2020)! scope="col"
    Peak
    position
    Japan Top Singles Sales (Billboard Japan)[38] 64
    Japan (Oricon)[39] 68

    Accolades

    Ref.
    SpotifyAnime Now Best Anime Songs of 2020"Slump" (Japanese version)42[40]
    The Honey Pop22 English K-pop Songs to Help Ease You into the Genre"Slump" (English version)Placed[41]

    Release history

    Region! scope="col"
    DateFormatVersionLabel
    VariousApril 29, 2020Japanese ("Top")Epic Japan
    May 6, 2020Japanese ("Slump")
    May 13, 2020KoreanJYP
    May 20, 2020English
    May 26, 2020JapaneseEpic Japan[42]
    South KoreaJYP
    JapanJune 3, 2020CD+DVDFirst Press Limited A (Japanese)Epic Japan
    CD+SpecialZineFirst Press Limited B (Japanese)
    CDProduction Limited (Anime) (Japanese)
    CDRegular (Japanese)
    Cassette tapeComplete Limited (Japanese)

    See also

    External links

    .

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Top (song)".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.