Idol (BTS song)

"Idol" (stylized in all caps) is a song recorded by South Korean boy band BTS, released on August 24, 2018, by Big Hit Entertainment as the lead single from their third compilation album Love Yourself: Answer (2018). An alternative version of the song, which features Nicki Minaj, was also included as a bonus track with the digital album.[4][5] The single debuted at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100, and the two versions combined sold 43,000 downloads in their first week of sale in the US.[6] It is certified gold by the RIAA.

"Idol"
Single by BTS
from the album Love Yourself: Answer
Released	August 24, 2018 (KOR version) July 3, 2019 (JPN version)
Studio	Dogg Bounce The Rock Pitt
Genre	EDM[1] samul nori[2] trap[3]
Length	3:43 4:20 (with Nicki Minaj)
Label	Big Hit
Songwriter(s)	Bang Si-hyuk Roman Campolo Kang Hyo-won Kim Nam-joon Shin Dong-hyuk Ali Tamposi Onika Maraj
Producer(s)	Pdogg
BTS singles chronology
"Fake Love" (2018) "Idol" (2018) "Waste It on Me" (2018)
Nicki Minaj singles chronology
"Goodbye" (2018) "Idol" (2018) "Woman Like Me" (2018)
Music video
"Idol" on YouTube "Idol (feat. Nicki Minaj)" on YouTube
Audio sample
A 30-second sample from "Idol" file help

On July 3, 2019, the Japanese version of the song was released as a B-side track, along with the Japanese version of "Boy with Luv" and an original Japanese track titled "Lights".[7][8]

Background and release

The day before the release of the single when its trailer was released, rumors about a collaboration track between BTS and Nicki Minaj had surfaced when Shazam identified the teaser video of the track as "Idol by BTS (feat. Nicki Minaj)".[5] On August 24, 2018, two hours before the official release of the album, Big Hit Entertainment confirmed that an alternative version of "Idol" featuring Nicki Minaj would be included in the digital version of the album as a bonus track.[9]

After its release, the song inspired an Internet dance challenge known as the "Idol Challenge", in which people dance to the chorus of the song, to try out the song's choreography.[10] The challenge has been done by different celebrities such as B.A.P member Zelo and Stephen "tWitch" Boss on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.[11]

Composition

As described by Billboard's Tamar Herman, "Idol" is a "traditionally inspired track" featuring different classical Korean instruments.[12] According to media outlets, the song and the music video were inspired by Korean genre pansori and John Woo's 1997 movie Face/Off.[13] Yonhap reported, "The song is electronic dance music in the style of South African dance music. The African beats are layered with traditional Korean rhythms, as well as the pounding of a Korean folk percussion instrument used in the performance of traditional Korean farmers' ensemble.[14] Rolling Stone India said, "According to the group’s label Big Hit Entertainment, “Idol” was inspired by gqom, a style of house music that originated in Durban, South Africa. Gqom combines powerful traditional thumping drum with bass and house synths in a balance between tradition and trend." adding, "The track’s blend of Korean instruments like the gakgung (the Korean horn-bow which explains the shehnai-like sounds) with African rhythms, trap rap and electronica contribute to expanding its culturally rich, diverse, global sound".[15]

"Idol" is in the key of C# minor and incorporates various styles such as pop, world, contemporary R&B, and K-pop.[16] Both versions are 126 beats per minute.[17] One of the writers, Ali Tamposi, stated the rep from Big Hit wanted the song to feel intense.[18]

Music video

On August 22, 2018, the teaser video of the track was released,[19] while the full music video was released on August 24.[20] YouTube's official tally saw the music video garner over 56 million views within 24 hours of its release, breaking Blackpink's previous record for "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du", of being the most viewed K-pop group music video within the first 24 hours[21] and making it the most watched music video within the first 24 hours,[22] surpassing American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift’s music video for “Look What You Made Me Do”, which recorded 43.2 million views in 2017.[23] On August 29, 2018, the music video became the fastest to reach 100 million views on YouTube in 2018.[24] The record was eventually broken in December 2018 by Ariana Grande, with the song "Thank U, Next".[25]

On September 6, 2018, the music video featuring Nicki Minaj was released. The music video is similar to the original music video, but with some additional scenes and Nicki Minaj rapping her part with Korean transliteration of the lyrics at her back. The video ends with several "Idol Challenge" video clips uploaded from their fans.[26]

The music video was created by the director Choi Yong-seok of Lumpens. Assistant directors include Guzza, MinJe, Jeong, Park Hye-heong all from Lumpens. The director of photohgraphy was Man Hyun-woo from GDW. Other key personnel are Song Hyun-seok who controlled the gaffer, Kim Bona and Park Jin-sil as art directors, Ahn Ye-min and Lee Hyun-seung making up the art team. Song Sukki as the construction manager, Ma Seung-keun working the show light, and Kang Jong working the lift operator. The key scenic artists were Hong Yeong-jun, Lim Kwang-hyun, and Seo Sang-hyeok.[27] As of November 2019, the video has surpassed over 570 million views on YouTube.

Critical reception

Raisa Bruner of Time described the song as "a clubby, beat-heavy track that pulses with energy and a sax melody line off the top", with the song being "hard-charging" during its runtime. Regarding the collaboration with Minaj, Bruner thought that the "collaboration mark[s] the beginning of BTS’ impending arrival on the U.S. scene."[28]

Commercial performance

In the United States, "Idol" debuted at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was ranked first in sales for the week, the two versions combined selling 43,000 downloads in their first week of sales, and generated 24.4 million first-week streams combined.[6][29] The song dropped 70 positions in its second week, charting at number 81.[30] PopBuzz ranked it on their list "The best music videos of 2018 (so far)".[31]

In January 2019 it was announced that BTS would collaborate with the manufacturer Mattel to create dolls modeled off the outfits from the music video "Idol".[32]

Accolades

Year-end lists

Critic/Publication	List	Rank	Ref.
Los 40	10 Music Videos of 2018 That Remain in Our Memory	N/A	[33]
CelebMix	CelebMix's Top Music Videos Of 2018		[34]
Elite Daily	The 12 Best New Songs Of 2018	7	[35]
Entertainment Tonight	Best Music Videos of 2018	N/A	[36]
Gallup Korea	The Best Songs in 2018	2	[37]
Hypable	10 great K-Pop songs from 2018	N/A	[38]
Philippine Daily Inquirer	Most covered K-Pop Songs of 2018	2	[39]
JawaPos	9 K-Pop Songs Popular Throughout 2018	8	[40]
KultScene	Best K-Pop Music Videos of 2018	N/A	[41]
MTV	20 Music Videos That (Should've) Got Everyone Talking In 2018		[42]
Nación Rex	Top 10: The Best Music Videos of 2018	3	[43]
Playground	The best songs of 2018	4	[44]
SBS PopAsia	Top 100 Asian pop songs of 2018	1	[45]
Spotify	Best of 2018: K-Pop	16	[46]
YouTube Rewind	Top 10 Most Popular Music Videos in Korea Released in 2018	9	[47]
	Top 10 Most Popular Music Videos in Korea From 2018	4	[48]

Awards

Year	Organization	Award	Result	Ref.
2018	E! People's Choice Awards	Song of the Year	Won	[49]
		Music Video of the Year	Won
	Korea Popular Music Awards	Best Digital Song	Nominated	[50]
	Mnet Asian Music Awards	TikTok Best Music Video	Won	[51]
		Favorite Music Video	Won
	MBC Plus X Genie Music Awards	Dance Track (Male)	Won	[52][53]
		Song of the Year	Nominated
		Best Music Video	Won
2019	Gaon Chart Music Awards	Song of the Year – August	Nominated	[54][55][56]
	Korean Music Awards	Song of the Year	Nominated	[57]
		Best Pop Song	Nominated

Music program awards Program Date Ref. Music Bank (KBS) August 31, 2018 [58] September 7, 2018 [59] September 14, 2018 [60] Inkigayo (SBS) September 2, 2018 [61] September 9, 2018 [62] September 16, 2018 [63] Show Champion (MBC M) September 5, 2018 [64] September 12, 2018 [65]

Melon Popularity Award Award Date (2018) Ref. Weekly Popularity Award September 3 [66] September 10 September 17 September 24 October 1

Promotion

BTS promoted the song on various music programs in South Korea including M Countdown, Music Bank, Show! Music Core, and Inkigayo garnering a total of eight wins despite its short promotion. On December 1, 2018, BTS performed the single at the Melon Music Awards.[67] In the same month they promoted it at SBS Gayo Daejeon.[68] The song was promoted at the 2018 MBC Plus X Genie Music Awards and MBC Gayo Daejejeon as well.[69] In 2019 it was performed at the Seoul Music Awards.[70]

BTS performed the single on America's Got Talent Season 13 semi-final which was aired September 12, 2018.[71] They also performed it on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Good Morning America.[72]

On October 12, 2018, the group performed the single on The Graham Norton Show in the UK.[73]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Idol"	"Hitman" Bang Ali Tamposi RM Roman Campolo Supreme Boi	Pdogg	3:43

Digital bonus track

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Idol" (featuring Nicki Minaj)	"Hitman" bang Ali Tamposi Onika Maraj Pdogg RM Roman Campolo Supreme Boi	Pdogg	4:20

Credits and personnel

Korean version

The song's original credits are adapted from the CD liner notes of Love Yourself: Answer.[74]

• Pdogg – producer, keyboard, synthesizer, vocal & rap arrangement, digital editing, recording engineer @ Dogg Bounce
• Supreme Boi – producer, chorus, gang vocal, vocal & rap arrangement, digital editing, recording engineer @ The Rock Pitt
• ”Hitman” Bang – producer
• Ali Tamposi – producer
• Roman Campolo – producer
• RM – producer, gang vocal
• Jungkook – chorus, gang vocal
• J-Hope – gang vocal
• ADORA – digital editing
• Hiss noise – digital editing
• James F. Reynolds – mix engineer

Usage in media

"Idol" is featured in the heavily panned YouTube Rewind 2018: Everyone Controls Rewind.[75]

Charts

Weekly charts Original version Chart (2018) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[76] 35 Estonia (Eesti Tipp-40)[77] 38 Hungary (Single Top 40)[78] 2 Hungary (Stream Top 40)[79] 20 Ireland (IRMA)[80] 33 Japan Hot 100 (Billboard Japan)[81] 11 Malaysia (RIM)[82] 1 New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[83] 2 Scotland (OCC)[84] 10 Singapore (RIAS)[85] 1 Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[86] 61 South Africa (EMA)[87] 5 South Korea (Gaon)[88] 1 South Korea (Kpop Hot 100)[89] 1 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[90] 71 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[91] 60 UK Independent Singles[92] 3 UK Singles (OCC)[93] 21

Version featuring Nicki Minaj Chart (2018) Peak position Argentina (Argentina Hot 100)[94] 48 Argentina Anglo (Monitor Latino)[95] 14 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[96] 26 Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[97] 26 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[98] 5 Euro Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[99] 8 France (SNEP)[100] 103 Finland Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[101] 1 Germany (Official German Charts)[102] 43 Greece Digital Songs (Billboard)[103] 1 Italy (FIMI)[104] 88 Japan Hot 100 (Billboard Japan)[105] 47 Mexico Ingles Airplay (Billboard)[106] 24 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[107] 96 Portugal (AFP)[108] 47 South Korea (Gaon)[88] 86 South Korea (Kpop Hot 100)[89] 10 Sweden Digital Songs (Billboard)[109] 1 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[110] 45 US Billboard Hot 100[6] 11

Year-end charts Chart (2018) Position South Korea (Gaon)[111] 70 Chart (2019) Position Japan (Japan Hot 100)[112] 92 South Korea (Gaon)[113] 49 Chart (2020) Position South Korea (Gaon)[114] 164

Chart (2019) Position Portugal (AFP)[115] 1473

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[116]	Gold	35,000
South Korea (KMCA)[117]	Platinum	2,500,000^*
United States (RIAA)[118]	Platinum	1,000,000
Streaming
Japan (RIAJ)[119]	Silver	30,000,000
South Korea (KMCA)[120]	Platinum	100,000,000
^* Sales figures based on certification alone. Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Version	Label	Ref.
Various	August 24, 2018	Digital download streaming	Original	Big Hit	[121]
United Kingdom	September 28, 2018	Contemporary hit radio	Nicki Minaj Remix	Big Hit RED Music	[122]

See also

• List of number-one songs of 2018 (Malaysia)
• List of number-one songs of 2018 (Singapore)

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