"Top" (stylized in

all caps In typography, all caps (short for "all capitals") refers to text or a font in which all letters are capital letters, for example: "THIS TEXT IS IN ALL CAPS". All caps may be used for emphasis (for a word or phrase). They are commonly seen in ...

) is a song recorded by South Korean boy band

Stray Kids Stray Kids (; often abbreviated as SKZ) is a South Korean boy band formed by JYP Entertainment through the 2017 reality show of the same name. The group is composed of eight members: Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin ...

. 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 JYP Entertainment Corporation () is a South Korean multinational entertainment and record label conglomerate founded in 1997 by J. Y. Park. It is one of the largest entertainment companies in South Korea, and operates as a record label, tale ...

, and distributed by

Dreamus Dreamus is an electronics and entertainment company founded in 1999 originally as ReignCom. Currently headquartered in South Korea (and formerly in the United States), it is the parent company of South Korean-based iRiver, Astell & Kern and FLO ...

. The Japanese version was released on June 3, as their first Japanese single, titled "Top -Japanese ver.-", through

Epic Records Japan Epic Records Japan is a Japanese record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment Japan. Its founder was Shigeo Maruyama. Between 1978 and 1988 the label operated as a wholly owned subsidiary: Epic/Sony Inc. () was established in August 1978

. The song was featured as an opening

theme song Theme music is a musical composition that is often written specifically for radio programming, television shows, video games, or films and is usually played during the title sequence, opening credits, closing credits, and in some instances at so ...

for the anime television series '' Kami no Tō -Tower of God-'', together with its

B-side The A-side and B-side are the two sides of phonograph records and cassettes; these terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side usually features a recording that its artist, producer, or record compan ...

"Slump", as an ending theme song. The song debuted atop the

Oricon Singles Chart The Oricon Singles Chart is the Japanese music industry-standard singles popularity chart issued daily, weekly, monthly and yearly by Oricon. Chart rankings are based on physical singles' sales. Until 2017, Oricon did not track download sales. In J ...

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 The is an industry trade group composed of Japanese corporations involved in the music industry. It was founded in 1942 as the Japan Phonogram Record Cultural Association, and adopted its current name in 1969. The RIAJ's activities include pr ...

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.-", 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). The stand-alone single version of "Top" and "Slump" were released on April 28 and May 6, respectively, and released officially digitally on May 26. 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 Digital usually refers to something using discrete digits, often binary digits. Technology and computing Hardware *Digital electronics, electronic circuits which operate using digital signals **Digital camera, which captures and stores digital i ...

and

streaming Streaming media is multimedia that is delivered and consumed in a continuous manner from a source, with little or no intermediate storage in network elements. ''Streaming'' refers to the delivery method of content, rather than the content it ...

platform only. 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 M-Net (an abbreviation of Electronic Media Network) is a South African pay television channel established by Naspers in 1986. The channel broadcasts both local and international programming, including general entertainment, children's series, ...

's ''

M Countdown ''M Countdown'' () is a South Korean music program broadcast by Mnet. The show features appearances by popular music artists who also perform live on stage. It is broadcast from CJ E&M Center Studio in Sangam-dong, Mapo District, Seoul. Bro ...

'' and MBC's ''

Show! Music Core ''Show! Music Core'' (), or simply ''Music Core'' is a South Korean music television program broadcast by MBC. It airs live every Saturday at 15:30 (KST). The show features some of the latest and most popular artists who perform live on stage. ...

'' on June 18 and 20, respectively. The Japanese version of "Slump" was performed for the first time on the

YouTube YouTube is a global online video platform, online video sharing and social media, social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by ...

program channel ''The First Take'' on June 26, made Stray Kids the first foreign singer to appear in the program.

Lyrics and composition

"Top" is a

pop rock Pop rock (also typeset as pop/rock) is a fusion genre with an emphasis on professional songwriting and recording craft, and less emphasis on attitude than rock music. Originating in the late 1950s as an alternative to normal rock and roll, earl ...

and

EDM EDM or E-DM may refer to: Music * Electronic dance music * Early Day Miners, American band Science and technology * Electric dipole moment * Electrical discharge machining * Electronic distance measurement *Entry, Descent, and landing demonstrat ...

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 song expresses the powerful melody, full of fighting spirit lyrics and magnificent worldview of the anime, and composed in the key of

B minor B minor is a minor scale based on B, consisting of the pitches B, C, D, E, F, G, and A. Its key signature has two sharps. Its relative major is D major and its parallel major is B major. The B natural minor scale is: : Changes neede ...

, 98 beats per minute with a running time of 3 minutes and 5 seconds or 3 minutes and 8 seconds for the Japanese version. The B-side "Slump" is a

rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...

song written by Han from 3Racha and co-composed with Bang Chan. The Japanese version added KM-Markit to write the Japanese lyrics. The song describes inner anxiety and weak emotions, and composed in the key of

G major G major (or the key of G) is a major scale based on G, with the pitches G, A, B, C, D, E, and F. Its key signature has one sharp. Its relative minor is E minor and its parallel minor is G minor. The G major scale is: Notable compositi ...

, 160 beats per minute with a running time of 2 minutes and 14 seconds or 2 minutes and 17 seconds for the Japanese version.

Commercial performance

The Japanese version of "Top" debuted number one on the

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 Jang Keun-suk () is a South Korean actor and singer. He is best known for starring in the Korean television dramas ''Beethoven Virus'' (2008), '' You're Beautiful'' (2009), ''Mary Stayed Out All Night'' (2010), '' Love Rain'' (2012), ''Pretty M ...

(" Let Me Cry"),

Exo Exo ( ko, 엑소; stylized in all caps) is a South Korean-Chinese boy band based in Seoul formed by SM Entertainment in 2011 and debuted in 2012. The group consists of nine members: Xiumin, Suho, Lay, Baekhyun, Chen, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai ...

(" Love Me Right (Romantic Universe)"), and

iKon iKon (), stylized as iKON, is a South Korean boy band formed in 2015 by YG Entertainment, consisting of six members: Jay, Song, Bobby, DK, Ju-ne and Chan. Originally a seven-piece band, leader B.I departed from the group in June 2019. Init ...

Dumb & Dumber ''Dumb and Dumber'' is a 1994 American buddy comedy film directed by Peter Farrelly, who cowrote the screenplay with Bobby Farrelly and Bennett Yellin. It is the first installment in the ''Dumb and Dumber'' franchise. Starring Jim Carrey a ...

"). On ''Billboard Japan'' Hot 100, "Top" debuted at number 78. In its second week dated June 15, 2020, the song jumped to number 8 due to releasing a physical format. The song also peaked at number two on the Hot Animation, and number one on the Top Singles Sales, selling 49,329 copies. On the ''Billboard'''s

World Digital Song Sales The World Digital Song Sales chart (formerly World Digital Songs) is a weekly record chart compiled by Nielsen SoundScan and published by '' Billboard'' magazine. Established in 2010—with the issue dated January 23—as one of 21 genre-specific s ...

, "Top" charted and peaked at number 10, and "Slump" peaked at number 17. On April 10, 2021, "Top" (Japanese version) received a gold certification from the

(RIAJ), denoting shipments of 100,000 copies, making Stray Kids' first Japanese release achieve it.

Music video

The music video "Top" Japanese version was premiered on May 26, 2020, directed by Oui Kim. 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. The Korean version music video was uploaded on June 10, as a "unveil: track" of their debut studio album ''Go Live''. 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-''.

Track listing

* Digital download / streaming – Korean version # "Top" (''Tower of God'' OP) – 3:05 # "Slump" (''Tower of God'' ED) – 2:14 * Digital download / streaming – English version # "Top" (English version) – 3:05 # "Slump" (English version) – 2:14 * CD single / cassette / digital download / streaming – Japanese version (except production limited edition) # "Top" (Japanese version) – 3:08 # "Slump" (Japanese version) – 2:17 # "Top" (instrumental) – 3:08 # "Slump" (instrumental) – 2:17 * CD single – Japanese version (production limited edition) # "Top" (Japanese version) – 3:08 # "Slump" (Japanese version) – 2:17 # "Top" (Japanese version; ''Kami no Tō -Tower of God-'' version) – 1:31 # "Slump" (Japanese version; ''Kami no Tō -Tower of God-'' version) – 1:29 * DVD – Japanese version (first press limited A) # "2019.12.1 "Tokyo" Behind the Scenes Video" # "2019.12.2 ''

SKZ2020 ''SKZ2020'' is the first compilation album by South Korean boy band Stray Kids. It was released on March 18, 2020, through Epic Records Japan, and JYP Entertainment, as the group's Japanese debut release. This consists of twenty-seven tracks tha ...

'' Jacket Making of Video" # "2019.12.2–3 Stray Kids Japan Showcase 2019 "Hi-Stay" Documentary" # "2020.3.19 "Top (Japanese ver.)" Jacket Making of Video" Notes

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from

Melon A melon is any of various plants of the family Cucurbitaceae with sweet, edible, and fleshy fruit. The word "melon" can refer to either the plant or specifically to the fruit. Botanically, a melon is a kind of berry, specifically a "pepo". The ...

. ;Recording and management *Recorded at W Sound *Mixed at JYPE Studios and Glab Studios *Mastered at 821 Sound ;Personnel ;"Top" *

– 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 * 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 * Seoko IM – digital editing, recording * Ejo IM – recording * Shin Bong-won – mixing * Kwon Nam-woo – mastering

Charts

Weekly charts

Monthly charts

Year-end charts

Accolades

Certifications

Release history

References

External links

* {{Stray Kids 2020 singles 2020 songs Animated series theme songs Anime songs English-language South Korean songs Japanese-language songs JYP Entertainment singles Korean-language songs Oricon Weekly number-one singles Stray Kids songs