"Spring Day" (
Korean
Korean may refer to:
People and culture
* Koreans, ethnic group originating in the Korean Peninsula
* Korean cuisine
* Korean culture
* Korean language
**Korean alphabet, known as Hangul or Chosŏn'gŭl
**Korean dialects and the Jeju language
** ...
: 봄날;
RR: ''Bomnal'') is a song recorded by South Korean
boy band
A boy band is loosely defined as a vocal group consisting of young male singers, usually in their teenage years or in their twenties at the time of formation. Generally, boy bands perform Love song, love songs marketed towards girls and young ...
BTS
BTS (), also known as the Bangtan Boys, is a South Korean boy band formed in 2010 and debuting in 2013 under Big Hit Entertainment. The septet—consisting of members Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook—co-writes and co-produ ...
for their 2017 album ''
You Never Walk Alone
''Wings'' is the second Korean studio album by South Korean boy band BTS. The album was released on October 10, 2016, by Big Hit Entertainment. It is available in four versions and contains fifteen tracks, with " Blood Sweat & Tears" serving as ...
'', a repackage of their second Korean-language studio album, ''Wings'' (2016). The song was written by
"Hitman" Bang,
RM,
Suga
Suga may refer to:
* Suga, Iran, a village in Qazvin Province, Iran
* Suga language, a language of Cameroon
* Suga (rapper) (born 1993), South Korean rapper, songwriter, and record producer
* ''Suga'' (EP), 2020 EP by Megan Thee Stallion
* ''Sug ...
,
ADORA,
Arlissa Ruppert, Peter Ibsen, and its producer Pdogg. It was released for
digital download 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 ...
on February 13, 2017, as the album's
lead single
A lead single (also known as a debut single) is the first single to be released from a studio album by an artist or a band, usually before the album itself is released and also occasionally on the same day of the album's release date.
Release s ...
by
Big Hit Entertainment
Big Hit Music (; formerly Big Hit Entertainment) is a South Korean music label established in 2005 by Bang Si-hyuk. It was re-branded and re-structured into an independent label under Hybe Corporation (formerly Big Hit Entertainment Co., Ltd.) ...
. A
remix
A remix (or reorchestration) is a piece of media which has been altered or contorted from its original state by adding, removing, or changing pieces of the item. A song, piece of artwork, book, video, poem, or photograph can all be remixes. The o ...
of the song was subsequently released for free via
SoundCloud
SoundCloud is an online audio distribution platform and music sharing website that enables its users to upload, promote, and share audio. Founded in 2007 by Alexander Ljung and Eric Wahlforss, SoundCloud is one of the largest music streaming se ...
on June 4, 2018. A Japanese version of the song was issued on May 10, 2017, through
Universal Music Japan
, often referred to as just Universal Music Japan or UMJ, is a Japanese subsidiary of the Universal Music Group founded in 1990. It is the largest subsidiary for a foreign company in the country regarding music distribution. The company is resp ...
, as a
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 ...
of the
single album
''Single Album'' is the fourteenth studio album by the American punk rock band NOFX, released on February 26, 2021. It is the band's first studio album in nearly five years, since 2016’s '' First Ditch Effort'', marking the longest gap between ...
that included the tracks "
Blood Sweat & Tears
Blood, Sweat & Tears (also known as "BS&T") is a jazz rock music group founded in New York City in 1967, noted for a combination of brass with rock instrumentation. In addition to original music, the group has performed popular songs by Laura Ny ...
" and "
Not Today", both also in Japanese. The song is an
alternative hip hop
Alternative hip hop (also known as alternative rap) is a subgenre of hip hop music that encompasses a wide range of styles that are not typically identified as mainstream. AllMusic defines it as comprising " hip hop groups that refuse to confor ...
and
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 ...
power ballad
A sentimental ballad is an emotional style of music that often deals with romantic and intimate relationships, and to a lesser extent, loneliness, death, war, drug abuse, politics and religion, usually in a poignant but solemn manner.J. M. C ...
, which relies on
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 ...
instrumentation. The lyrics revolve around the themes of loss, longing, grief, and moving on.
The song received universal critical acclaim from
music critics
Music journalism (or music criticism) is media criticism and reporting about music topics, including popular music, classical music, and traditional music. Journalists began writing about music in the eighteenth century, providing commentary on w ...
, who praised its production, sentimental lyrics and BTS' vocal delivery. "Spring Day" received several accolades, including Song of the Year at the
2017 Melon Music Awards, and appeared on the decade-end list of best
K-pop
K-pop (), short for Korean popular music, is a form of popular music originating in South Korea as part of South Korean culture. It includes styles and genres from around the world, such as pop, hip hop, R&B, experimental, rock, jazz, gos ...
songs by ''
Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
''. ''
Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...
'' named it one of the greatest boy band songs of all time. Commercially, the song was a success in South Korea debuting at number one on the
Gaon Digital Chart
The Circle Digital Chart, previously known as the Gaon Digital Chart, is the music industry standard record chart ranking the 200 most popular singles in South Korea. It provides rankings on a weekly, monthly, and yearly basis, which is based o ...
, and it has since sold over 2.5 million copies in the country. The song also peaked at number 15 on the US ''Billboard''
Bubbling Under Hot 100
Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (also known as Bubbling Under the Hot 100) is a chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine in the United States. The chart lists the top songs that have not yet charted on the main ''Billboard'' Hot 100. Chart ...
.
The
music video
A music video is a video of variable duration, that integrates a music song or a music album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a m ...
for the song was directed by YongSeok Choi and premiered on February 12, 2017. Inspired by
Ursula K. Le Guin
Ursula Kroeber Le Guin (; October 21, 1929 – January 22, 2018) was an American author best known for her works of speculative fiction, including science fiction works set in her Hainish universe, and the '' Earthsea'' fantasy series. She was ...
's novella "
The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas
"The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" is a 1973 work of short philosophical fiction by American writer Ursula K. Le Guin. With deliberately both vague and vivid descriptions, the narrator depicts a summer festival in the utopian city of Omelas, ...
" (1973) and
Bong Joon-ho
Bong Joon-ho (, ; Hanja: 奉俊昊; born September 14, 1969) is a South Korean film director, producer and screenwriter. The recipient of four Academy Awards, his filmography is characterised by emphasis on social themes, genre-mixing, black h ...
's movie ''
Snowpiercer
''Snowpiercer'' () is a 2013 Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction, post-apocalyptic science fiction action film based on the French climate fiction graphic novel ''Le Transperceneige'' by Jacques Lob, Benjamin Legrand and Jean-Marc Rochette ...
'' (2013), the video explores the concepts of death, afterlife and closure. The visual was acclaimed by critics for its heavy symbolism and was awarded
Best Music Video
The Grammy Award for Best Music Video is an honor presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to performers, directors, and producers of quality short form music videos. Hon ...
at the
2017 Mnet Asian Music Awards. BTS promoted "Spring Day" with televised live performances on various South Korean
music programs, including ''
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 ...
'', ''
Music Bank
Music Bank may refer to:
* ''Music Bank'' (TV program), a South Korean music program by KBS
**''Music Bank World Tour
The ''Music Bank'' World Tour is a worldwide live concert tour of South Korean music show '' Music Bank'' by the Korean Broa ...
'', and ''
Inkigayo
''Inkigayo'' ( ko, 인기가요; English title: ''The Music Trend'', previously ''Popular Song'') is a South Korean music program broadcast by SBS. It airs live every Sunday. The show features some of the latest and most popular artists who p ...
''. The song was also included on the
set list
A set list, or setlist, is typically a handwritten or printed document created as an ordered list of songs, jokes, stories and other elements an artist intends to present during a specific performance.
A setlist can be made of nearly any materi ...
of the band's second worldwide
concert tour
A concert tour (or simply tour) is a series of concerts by an artist or group of artists in different cities, countries or locations. Often concert tours are named to differentiate different tours by the same artist and to associate a specific to ...
,
The Wings Tour
The Wings Tour, also known as 2017 BTS Live Trilogy Episode III (Final Chapter): The Wings Tour, was the second worldwide concert tour headlined by the South Korean boy band BTS to promote their second Korean studio album, ''Wings'' (2016). The ...
(2017).
Background and release
BTS released their second
Korean-language
Korean (South Korean: , ''hangugeo''; North Korean: , ''chosŏnmal'') is the native language for about 80 million people, mostly of Korean descent. It is the official and national language of both North Korea and South Korea (geographically Ko ...
studio album ''
Wings
A wing is a type of fin that produces lift while moving through air or some other fluid. Accordingly, wings have streamlined cross-sections that are subject to aerodynamic forces and act as airfoils. A wing's aerodynamic efficiency is expresse ...
'' in October 2016, which charted at number one on South Korea's
Gaon Album Chart
The Circle Album Chart, previously known as the Gaon Album Chart, is a record chart ranking the 100 most popular albums, extended plays and single albums in South Korea based on their Record sales, pure sales. It is a part of the Circle Chart, pr ...
and became the best-selling album of 2016 in the country. Following the success of ''Wings'',
Big Hit Entertainment
Big Hit Music (; formerly Big Hit Entertainment) is a South Korean music label established in 2005 by Bang Si-hyuk. It was re-branded and re-structured into an independent label under Hybe Corporation (formerly Big Hit Entertainment Co., Ltd.) ...
announced in January 2017 that a sequel to the album, titled ''You Never Walk Alone'', would be served as a
reissue
In the music industry, a reissue (also re-release, repackage or re-edition) is the release of an album or Single (music), single which has been released at least once before, sometimes with alterations or additions.
Reasons for reissue
New aud ...
. "Spring Day" was confirmed to be slated for release on the reissue when the band subsequently shared the track-listing of the album. On February 10, 2017, the song was announced as the
lead single
A lead single (also known as a debut single) is the first single to be released from a studio album by an artist or a band, usually before the album itself is released and also occasionally on the same day of the album's release date.
Release s ...
from the album.
Band member
RM created the main melody of the song, which he wrote between November and December 2016 during a walk at Saetgang Eco Park in
Yeouido
Yeouido (Hangul: 여의도, en, Yoi Island or Yeoui Island) is a large island (or eyot) on the Han River in Seoul, South Korea. It is Seoul's main finance and investment banking district. Its 8.4 square kilometers are home to some 30,988 people ...
, taking inspiration from the dried leaves that were blown off trees by the wind.
"Hitman" Bang, RM,
Suga
Suga may refer to:
* Suga, Iran, a village in Qazvin Province, Iran
* Suga language, a language of Cameroon
* Suga (rapper) (born 1993), South Korean rapper, songwriter, and record producer
* ''Suga'' (EP), 2020 EP by Megan Thee Stallion
* ''Sug ...
, Adora,
Arlissa Ruppert, Peter Ibsen, and Pdogg are credited as songwriters on "Spring Day", with the latter of the seven solely handling production. BTS recorded vocals for the track at Big Hit Studios,
Seoul
Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as stated iArticle 103 ...
, South Korea. The track was
engineered by Pdogg, Jeong Wooyeong, and Ibsen, while
mixing was handled by James F. Reynolds at Schmuzik Studios.
"Spring Day" was released for
digital download 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 ...
in various countries by
Big Hit Entertainment
Big Hit Music (; formerly Big Hit Entertainment) is a South Korean music label established in 2005 by Bang Si-hyuk. It was re-branded and re-structured into an independent label under Hybe Corporation (formerly Big Hit Entertainment Co., Ltd.) ...
on February 13, 2017, as the lead single from ''You Never Walk Alone''.
A "Brit Rock" remix version of the track was released for free to
SoundCloud
SoundCloud is an online audio distribution platform and music sharing website that enables its users to upload, promote, and share audio. Founded in 2007 by Alexander Ljung and Eric Wahlforss, SoundCloud is one of the largest music streaming se ...
on June 4, 2018. The remix has identical songwriting credits to the original version, though "Hitman" Bang serves as the producer.
A
Japanese
Japanese may refer to:
* Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia
* Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan
* Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture
** Japanese diaspor ...
version of the song was recorded, which was issued digitally for purchase on May 10, 2017 by
Universal Music Japan
, often referred to as just Universal Music Japan or UMJ, is a Japanese subsidiary of the Universal Music Group founded in 1990. It is the largest subsidiary for a foreign company in the country regarding music distribution. The company is resp ...
as a
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 ...
track of BTS' seventh Japanese-language
single album
''Single Album'' is the fourteenth studio album by the American punk rock band NOFX, released on February 26, 2021. It is the band's first studio album in nearly five years, since 2016’s '' First Ditch Effort'', marking the longest gap between ...
, together with the versions of their Korean
singles
Singles are people not in a committed relationship.
Singles may also refer to:
Film and television
* ''Singles'' (miniseries), a 1984 Australian television series
* ''Singles'' (1992 film), written and directed by Cameron Crowe
* ''Singles'' ...
"
Blood Sweat & Tears
Blood, Sweat & Tears (also known as "BS&T") is a jazz rock music group founded in New York City in 1967, noted for a combination of brass with rock instrumentation. In addition to original music, the group has performed popular songs by Laura Ny ...
" (2016) and "
Not Today" (2017) in the same language.
The single album was simultaneously released as a
CD single
A CD single (sometimes abbreviated to CDS) is a music single in the form of a compact disc. The standard in the Red Book for the term ''CD single'' is an 8 cm (3-inch) CD (or Mini CD). It now refers to any single recorded onto a CD of any si ...
in Japan. The lyrics for the Japanese version of "Spring Day" were written by
KM-MARKIT.
It was subsequently included as the tenth track on the band's third Japanese-language studio album ''
Face Yourself'' (2018).
Music and lyrics
Musically, "Spring Day" is a
midtempo
In musical terminology, tempo (Italian, 'time'; plural ''tempos'', or ''tempi'' from the Italian plural) is the speed or pace of a given piece. In classical music, tempo is typically indicated with an instruction at the start of a piece (often ...
alternative hip hop
Alternative hip hop (also known as alternative rap) is a subgenre of hip hop music that encompasses a wide range of styles that are not typically identified as mainstream. AllMusic defines it as comprising " hip hop groups that refuse to confor ...
and
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 ...
power ballad
A sentimental ballad is an emotional style of music that often deals with romantic and intimate relationships, and to a lesser extent, loneliness, death, war, drug abuse, politics and religion, usually in a poignant but solemn manner.J. M. C ...
,
with
Brit rock and
electronic
Electronic may refer to:
*Electronics, the science of how to control electric energy in semiconductor
* ''Electronics'' (magazine), a defunct American trade journal
*Electronic storage, the storage of data using an electronic device
*Electronic co ...
influences.
The song is composed in the
time signature
The time signature (also known as meter signature, metre signature, or measure signature) is a notational convention used in Western musical notation to specify how many beats (pulses) are contained in each measure (bar), and which note value ...
of time and the
key
Key or The Key may refer to:
Common meanings
* Key (cryptography), a piece of information that controls the operation of a cryptography algorithm
* Key (lock), device used to control access to places or facilities restricted by a lock
* Key (map ...
of
E major
E major (or the key of E) is a major scale based on E, consisting of the pitches E, F, G, A, B, C, and D. Its key signature has four sharps. Its relative minor is C-sharp minor and its parallel minor is E minor. Its enharmonic equivalent, ...
, with a tempo of 108 beats per minute. Constructed in
verse–chorus form
Verse–chorus form is a musical form going back to the 1840s, in such songs as "Oh! Susanna", "The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze", and many others. It became passé in the early 1900s, with advent of the AABA (with verse) form in the Tin ...
, the verses have an Eb–Gm–Cm/Cm7–Ab
chord progression
In a musical composition, a chord progression or harmonic progression (informally chord changes, used as a plural) is a succession of chords. Chord progressions are the foundation of harmony in Western musical tradition from the common practice ...
, whilst the
chorus
Chorus may refer to:
Music
* Chorus (song) or refrain, line or lines that are repeated in music or in verse
* Chorus effect, the perception of similar sounds from multiple sources as a single, richer sound
* Chorus form, song in which all verse ...
follows an Eb-Gm-Ab-Abm sequence.
The song relies on
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 ...
instrumentation that consists primarily of
keyboards
Keyboard may refer to:
Text input
* Keyboard, part of a typewriter
* Computer keyboard
** Keyboard layout, the software control of computer keyboards and their mapping
** Keyboard technology, computer keyboard hardware and firmware
Music
* Musi ...
,
synthesizer
A synthesizer (also spelled synthesiser) is an electronic musical instrument that generates audio signals. Synthesizers typically create sounds by generating waveforms through methods including subtractive synthesis, additive synthesis and ...
, guitar and
bass.
Band member
Jungkook
Jeon Jung-kook (; born September 1, 1997), known mononymously as Jungkook (stylized as Jung Kook), is a South Korean singer. He is the youngest member and vocalist of the South Korean boy band BTS.
Jungkook has released three solo tracks as p ...
provided backing vocals for the track alongside Arlissa Ruppert.
The production of the song makes use of
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 ...
synths, thick
compressed bass and piano.
It further utilizes a "mechanical hissing"
percussion
A percussion instrument is a musical instrument that is sounded by being struck or scraped by a beater including attached or enclosed beaters or rattles struck, scraped or rubbed by hand or struck against another similar instrument. Exc ...
and "whining" electronic sounds, which provide "an enveloping
airlock
An airlock, air-lock or air lock, often abbreviated to just lock, is a compartment with doors which can be sealed against pressure which permits the passage of people and objects between environments of differing pressure or atmospheric compo ...
."
The song consists of "rap-breaks," "dreamy" vocals and "half-spoken" deliveries, for which BTS' vocal range spans from
B3 to B
5.
The verses are driven by "dense" chords, "pain-shredding" guitar
strum
In music, strumming is a way of playing a stringed instrument such as a guitar, ukulele, or mandolin. A strum or stroke is a sweeping action where a finger or plectrum brushes over several strings to generate sound. On most stringed instrument ...
s and "whirring" synths.
A reviewer from ''
The Singles Jukebox
''Stylus Magazine'' was an American online music and film magazine, launched in 2002 and co-founded by Todd L. Burns. It featured long-form music journalism, four daily music reviews, movie reviews, podcasts, an MP3 blog, and a text blog.
Addi ...
'' compared the chords in the composition to that of
Flo Rida
Tramar Lacel Dillard (born September 16, 1979), better known by his stage name Flo Rida (, ), is an American rapper and singer. His 2007 breakout single " Low" was number one for 10 weeks in the United States and broke the record for digital dow ...
"s song "
Wild Ones" (2011).
Speaking about the concept and meaning behind "Spring Day" during a
V Live
V Live (stylized as VLIVE), sometimes referred to as V App, is a South Korean live video streaming service that allows celebrities based in the country to broadcast live videos such as live chat sessions with fans, performances, reality shows ...
broadcast, RM stated that he wrote the lyrics when thinking of his middle and high-school mates, from whom he hadn't heard in a long time. RM compared the song's mood to that of the band's 2015 singles, "
I Need U" and "
Run
Run(s) or RUN may refer to:
Places
* Run (island), one of the Banda Islands in Indonesia
* Run (stream), a stream in the Dutch province of North Brabant
People
* Run (rapper), Joseph Simmons, now known as "Reverend Run", from the hip-hop group ...
".
Lyrically, the song uses a seasonal metaphor to compare the longing and separation from loved ones to "internal winter."
The verses use "snow-y
imagery
Imagery is visual symbolism, or figurative language that evokes a mental image or other kinds of sense impressions, especially in a literary work, but also in other activities such as psychotherapy.
Forms
There are five major types of sensory ima ...
" to explore themes of loss, yearning, grief, and moving on: "I wanna hold your hand/ And go to the other side of the earth/ Wanna put an end this winter/ How much do I have to long for you like snow piles up on the ground/ Until the spring days come?"
The line, "Like a snowpiercer, I was left alone" is a reference to
Bong Joon-ho
Bong Joon-ho (, ; Hanja: 奉俊昊; born September 14, 1969) is a South Korean film director, producer and screenwriter. The recipient of four Academy Awards, his filmography is characterised by emphasis on social themes, genre-mixing, black h ...
's movie ''
Snowpiercer
''Snowpiercer'' () is a 2013 Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction, post-apocalyptic science fiction action film based on the French climate fiction graphic novel ''Le Transperceneige'' by Jacques Lob, Benjamin Legrand and Jean-Marc Rochette ...
'' (2013), while "I hate even this moment that is passing by" is a line used to suggest the "ephemerality" of life.
The track's lyrics also speak of "a mature society that can embrace the wounds of others," and they touch upon themes of mental health and depression.
During the chorus, the line "I want to see you" is repeated several times.
Towards the end of the song, the band relay comfort and warmth to the listener by being hopeful of a reunion: "No darkness, no season/ Can last forever."
Critical reception
"Spring Day" was met with widespread critical acclaim from
music critics
Music journalism (or music criticism) is media criticism and reporting about music topics, including popular music, classical music, and traditional music. Journalists began writing about music in the eighteenth century, providing commentary on w ...
and fans. Jeff Benjamin of ''
Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
'' praised the track's lyrical content and BTS' vocal delivery, writing that the song "showed an artistic turning point for the band, who have now evolved past a one-track mind with their music and lyrics, as the guys set the groundwork for their biggest material to date."
In another review for the same magazine, Benjamin stated that while the song keeps up with the "hard-hitting beats, buttery vocals and punchy rap verses-- as one would expect from any BTS release, it's "newfound maturity and enlightenment that makes the single stand out so much."
Caitlin Kelley, also of ''Billboard'', cited the track as one of the best songs by BTS and said that it "packs an emotional wallop as the lyrics hover in the bargaining stage of coping with the absence of a loved one."
Taylor Glasby of ''
Dazed
''Dazed'' (''Dazed & Confused'' until February 2014) is a bi-monthly British style magazine founded in 1991. It covers music, fashion, film, art, and literature. Dazed is published by Dazed Media, an independent media group known for producing ...
'' lauded the song's production and the band's vocal delivery, regarding the track as "an intelligent, compelling and elegantly restrained study of loss and longing" that "deliberately avoids cliché pomp and drama."
Glasby also wrote an article for ''
Vogue
Vogue may refer to:
Business
* ''Vogue'' (magazine), a US fashion magazine
** British ''Vogue'', a British fashion magazine
** ''Vogue Arabia'', an Arab fashion magazine
** ''Vogue Australia'', an Australian fashion magazine
** ''Vogue China'', ...
'', in which she called the song an "epic ballad."
''
IZM''s Hyo-beom Jeong acclaimed the track, highlighting the "high degree of perfection" in its music and he regarded the track as a "smooth lyric progression, easy listening melody, and lyrical song that spans generations." Jeong added, "this is a delicate and sad sensibility different from the intense 'BTS'
hip-hop style. Among the songs they released this year, 'Spring Day' was the reason why they consistently received popular love."
Jacques Peterson of
Idolator
An idolator is a practitioner of idolatry.
Idolater or Idolator may also refer to: Books
*''Os Idólatras'', 1968 Portuguese novel by Maria Judite de Carvalho Music
* Idolator (website), an American music blog
* ''Idolator'' (album), third album ...
said the band "tugged on the heartstrings with this hit," which he felt is "
K-pop
K-pop (), short for Korean popular music, is a form of popular music originating in South Korea as part of South Korean culture. It includes styles and genres from around the world, such as pop, hip hop, R&B, experimental, rock, jazz, gos ...
's answer to the
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey (; born March 27, 1969) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and record producer. Referred to as the " Songbird Supreme", she is noted for her five-octave vocal range, melismatic singing style and signature use of the whi ...
classic '
One Sweet Day
"One Sweet Day" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey and vocal group Boyz II Men. The song was released on as the second single from Carey's fifth studio album, ''Daydream'' (1995) by Columbia Records. The artists co- ...
'." In ''
The Malaysia Star'', Chester Chin regarded the song as "the most vulnerable cut" on ''You Never Walk Alone'' and opined that it "sees the boys baring their soul, shedding light on a more sentimental side of the group." Reviewing for ''
Vulture
A vulture is a bird of prey that scavenges on carrion. There are 23 extant species of vulture (including Condors). Old World vultures include 16 living species native to Europe, Africa, and Asia; New World vultures are restricted to North and ...
'', T.K. Park and Youngdae Kim felt that the song "opened a new chapter in
TS'aesthetics" by "substituting the group's previous calling card in hip-hop with the romanticism in
pop and rock." They further wrote that "each component of the song contains a clear melody, evoking overwhelming nostalgia and longing."
Music journalist Youngdae Kim said that the track displayed significant growth in the band's sound, lyricism and aesthetics by embodying nostalgia and sorrow.
Rhian Daly of ''
NME
''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming, and culture website and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a 'rock inkie', the NME would become a magazine that ended up as a f ...
'' listed it as BTS' best song, labelling the track an "absolutely gorgeous, a stirring piece of alt-pop." He also praised the track's lyrical content and said that it is "a classic – a glistening jewel in a canonical crown bedazzled with them."
Hyun-su Yim from ''
The Korea Herald
''The Korea Herald'' is a leading English-language daily newspaper founded in 1953 and published in Seoul, South Korea. The editorial staff is composed of Korean and international writers and editors, with additional news coverage drawn from int ...
'' acclaimed the song, stating that it "has beautiful melodies without getting too soppy, as crisp vocals and clean guitar riffs aided by sentimental lyrics make for easy listening." On the other hand, Sungmi Ahn, of the same publication, described the song as an "emotional pop rock tune."
Theresa Reyes of ''
Vice
A vice is a practice, behaviour, or habit generally considered immoral, sinful, criminal, rude, taboo, depraved, degrading, deviant or perverted in the associated society. In more minor usage, vice can refer to a fault, a negative character tra ...
'' was impressed by "the ballad's complex metaphors on love, life, and death." Malvika Padin from ''
Clash'' also enjoyed the track and considered it "always-emotive."
''Billboard'', ''Dazed'' and ''IZM'' selected "Spring Day" as one of the best
K-pop
K-pop (), short for Korean popular music, is a form of popular music originating in South Korea as part of South Korean culture. It includes styles and genres from around the world, such as pop, hip hop, R&B, experimental, rock, jazz, gos ...
songs of 2017 on their respective lists.
The former of the three ranked it at number 37 on their decade-end list of the 100 best K-pop songs of the 2010s.
On behalf of the publication, L.Singh wrote that the existence of the song "is probably the most accurate representation of BTS's artistry."
''
Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...
'' placed it at number 19 on their 2020 list of the greatest boy-band songs of all time and called the song "a sentiment as timeless as BTS have become."
Awards
"Spring Day" won the Song of the Year award at the
2017 Melon Music Awards.
It won the Digital Bonsang at the
32nd Golden Disc Awards.
The song also achieved the top spot on various South Korean
weekly music programs, garnering a total of four awards.
It also achieved a
Melon Weekly Popularity Award for the week of February 20, 2017, due to the substantial success of the song on digital platforms.
Commercial performance
"Spring Day" was a commercial success in South Korea. Upon release, it topped eight of the major South Korean online music charts including
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 ...
,
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, ...
,
Genie Music
Genie Music (), a subsidiary of KT Corporation, is a South Korean company that specializes in the production and distribution of music content. Its music streaming service is the second most used in South Korea with 2.5 million subscribers as ...
and Olleh. The song went on to debut atop the country's
Gaon Digital Chart
The Circle Digital Chart, previously known as the Gaon Digital Chart, is the music industry standard record chart ranking the 200 most popular singles in South Korea. It provides rankings on a weekly, monthly, and yearly basis, which is based o ...
for the chart issue dated February 12–18, 2017.
It also peaked at number one on the component
Download Chart, selling 215,224 digital units in the first week of release. "Spring Day" was the sixth best-performing song for the February 2017 issue of the Gaon Monthly Digital Chart based on digital sales, streaming, and background music (instrumental track) downloads.
For 2017's year-end chart, it was the 13th best-performing song in South Korea.
As of September 2018, the song has sold over 2.5 million digital copies in the country.
"Spring Day" is the longest-charting song on Melon's digital chart to date.
In the United States, the song failed to enter the
''Billboard'' Hot 100, but charted at number 15 on the
Bubbling Under Hot 100
Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (also known as Bubbling Under the Hot 100) is a chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine in the United States. The chart lists the top songs that have not yet charted on the main ''Billboard'' Hot 100. Chart ...
, though lasted only one week on the chart.
The song peaked at number one on the US ''Billboard''
World Digital Songs
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 ...
chart for the week of March 4, 2017, selling 14,000 copies in its first week and giving BTS their third number one on the chart.
The song further peaked at number 24 and 38 on the
UK Independent Singles Chart
The UK Independent Singles Chart and UK Independent Albums Chart are charts of the best-selling independent singles and albums, respectively, in the United Kingdom. Originally published in January 1980, and widely known as the indie chart, the rele ...
and
''Billboard Japan'' Hot 100, respectively.
Music video
Background
The
music video
A music video is a video of variable duration, that integrates a music song or a music album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a m ...
for "Spring Day" premiered via Big Hit's
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 ...
channel on February 12, 2017; it was preceded by a teaser, which was released to the same platform on February 9.
The video was directed by YongSeok Choi of Lumpens, with WonJu Lee serving as the assistant director. HyunWoo Nam of GDW was credited as the
director of photography
The cinematographer or director of photography (sometimes shortened to DP or DOP) is the person responsible for the photographing or recording of a film, television production, music video or other live action piece. The cinematographer is the ch ...
, while Emma SungEun kim received credit as the producer. HyunSuk Song served as the
gaffer and JinSil Park was the
art director
Art director is the title for a variety of similar job functions in theater, advertising, marketing, publishing, fashion, film industry, film and television, the Internet, and video games.
It is the charge of a sole art director to supervise and ...
.
Filming for the music video took place in
Hwaseong,
Yangju
Yangju () is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Yangju is located south of Dongducheon and north of Uijeongbu, not far from Seoul.
History
* 1395 - Renamed to Yangju.
* January 1, 1963 - Uijeongbu is separated and becomes a city.
* Apr ...
, and
Gangneung
Gangneung () is a municipal city in the province of Gangwon-do, on the east coast of South Korea. It has a population of 213,658 (as of 2017).Gangneung City (2003)Population & Households. Retrieved January 14, 2006. Gangneung is the economic ...
.
The video was inspired by
Ursula K. Le Guin
Ursula Kroeber Le Guin (; October 21, 1929 – January 22, 2018) was an American author best known for her works of speculative fiction, including science fiction works set in her Hainish universe, and the '' Earthsea'' fantasy series. She was ...
's 1973 short philosophical fiction "
The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas
"The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" is a 1973 work of short philosophical fiction by American writer Ursula K. Le Guin. With deliberately both vague and vivid descriptions, the narrator depicts a summer festival in the utopian city of Omelas, ...
", as well as the movie ''Snowpiercer''. The five-minute long visual is heavily loaded with symbolism and explores the concepts of "death, afterlife and closure."
Synopsis
The music video opens with
V standing in the middle of a snow-capped railway station, which has rusty signboards and a faded slate roof.
In the station, he steps onto the tracks and leans down to the ground to listen to an oncoming train.
The clip then zooms out to depict a train running in the middle of winter, carrying suitcases of passengers who are not present themselves.
The scene switches to show Jungkook sitting inside the train as he waits for someone, while
Jimin
Park Ji-min (; born October 13, 1995), known mononymously as Jimin, is a South Korean singer and dancer. In 2013, he made his debut as a member of the South Korean boy band BTS, under the record label Big Hit Entertainment.
Jimin has release ...
is seen alone on an empty beach.
The following scene begins with a close-up shot of RM, who stands inside an empty train compartment as the opening line of "Spring Day" starts playing.
He runs out of the train towards
J-Hope
Jung Ho-seok (; born February 18, 1994), better known by his stage name J-Hope (stylized as j-hope), is a South Korean rapper, singer-songwriter, dancer, and record producer. He made his debut as a member of South Korean boy band BTS in 201 ...
and Suga, while they are sitting in front of a building with a neon signboard that reads "Omelas".
RM opens a green door that leads him back to the train and he passes by the chamber in which Jungkook is sitting.
RM opens another door when inside the train, which leads to a room where the rest of the members are enjoying a birthday party, throwing cakes and playing with each other.
The video then zooms in to depict a close-up shot of
Jin gazing up a staircase, on which the other members are ascending, eventually leaving him alone at the bottom.
Jungkook is seen standing in front an old, rusty amusement park ride that has the words "You Never Walk Alone" written on it.
The clip alternates between lonely, muted shots of each member, and contrasting bright and cordial group-shots of BTS as they spend time with one another.
In one scene, Suga is seen rapping as he sits on a mountain of laundry, while in another, J-Hope sits on top of the moving train as he flies a paper plane into the air.
At one point, Jungkook opens the door to the Omelas, as he reunites with the other members. He wakes up inside the train to see the members sitting together with him.
As the train stops, they step out into the daylight on a field where the snow is gradually melting.
The band walk together towards a solitary, bare tree that stands in the middle of the field, even though Jimin is the only member who is physically present there.
He hangs a pair of shoes on the tree's branches, which he had picked up from the shore.
The reunion of the seven members alludes to the beginning of "a new journey with their friendship as their salvation."
To end the visual, a closing shot is shown of the tree blooming with cherry blossom leaves, against the backdrop of blue spring sky, with the pair of shoes hanging from the branches.
Reception
Several fans and media publications speculated that the visual references the
Sewol Ferry Disaster
The ferry MV ''Sewol'' sank on the morning of April 16, 2014, en route from Incheon towards Jeju in South Korea. The 6,825-ton vessel sent a distress signal from about north of Byeongpungdo at 08:58 KST (23:58 UTC, April 15, 2014). Out of ...
that took place on April 16, 2014, which left more than 300 students missing or dead.
In this regard, RM stated that the video focuses on the visual representation of the song's lyrics and can be interpreted in many ways.
Tamar Herman of ''Billboard'' wrote that the music video "reflects the album's title and transmutes 'Spring Day' from a love song into an ode dedicated to the dead."
In his review for
Fuse
Fuse or FUSE may refer to:
Devices
* Fuse (electrical), a device used in electrical systems to protect against excessive current
** Fuse (automotive), a class of fuses for vehicles
* Fuse (hydraulic), a device used in hydraulic systems to protect ...
, Benjamin labelled the visual as "gorgeously cinematic and moving."
Glasby deemed the visual as a "slow motion, cinematic landscape of memories and wishes." Though she lauded the "external devices" used to "illustrate certain points," Glasby felt that "the most devastatingly evocative moments" in the video are "quietly simple."
Emlyn Travis of ''
PopCrush
Townsquare Media, Inc. (formerly Regent Communications until 2010) is an American radio network and media company based in Purchase, New York. The company started in radio and expanded into digital media toward the end of the 2000s, starting wi ...
'' opined that the clip "stunningly" captures "the idea of a loss of innocence that changes one's life forever."
The music video was awarded
Best Music Video
The Grammy Award for Best Music Video is an honor presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to performers, directors, and producers of quality short form music videos. Hon ...
at the
2017 Mnet Asian Music Awards and Fuse Video of the Year at the 2018
Annual Soompi Awards.
It was an instant success on YouTube, garnering over 10 million views in 24 hours, becoming the fastest K-pop video to do so at the time.
A week later, the music video for BTS' follow up single "
Not Today" overtook the record with 10 million views in a shorter period of time. The video for "Spring Day" also became the fastest K-pop group music video to reach 20 million views, achieving the feat in less than four days. It was the sixth most viewed K-pop music video of 2017 on YouTube. As of April 2021, the video has over 400 million views on the platform.
Live performances
BTS performed "Spring Day" live for the first time on February 18, 2017, as part of their setlist for the band's two-day stop during
The Wings Tour
The Wings Tour, also known as 2017 BTS Live Trilogy Episode III (Final Chapter): The Wings Tour, was the second worldwide concert tour headlined by the South Korean boy band BTS to promote their second Korean studio album, ''Wings'' (2016). The ...
at
Gocheok Sky Dome
The Gocheok Sky Dome () is a domed baseball stadium located in Gocheok-dong, Seoul, South Korea. It is the home ballpark of KBO club Kiwoom Heroes. The stadium is primarily used for baseball and has a capacity for 16,744 spectators for baseball ...
, Seoul. To promote the song and ''You Never Walk Alone'', BTS made several appearances on South Korean music programs in February 2017. The band gave their first televised live performance of the song for ''
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 ...
'' on February 23, 2017. The following three days, they appeared on ''
Music Bank
Music Bank may refer to:
* ''Music Bank'' (TV program), a South Korean music program by KBS
**''Music Bank World Tour
The ''Music Bank'' World Tour is a worldwide live concert tour of South Korean music show '' Music Bank'' by the Korean Broa ...
'', ''
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. ...
'', and ''
Inkigayo
''Inkigayo'' ( ko, 인기가요; English title: ''The Music Trend'', previously ''Popular Song'') is a South Korean music program broadcast by SBS. It airs live every Sunday. The show features some of the latest and most popular artists who p ...
'', where they also performed "Not Today". BTS performed the song at the 2017 Melon Music Awards alongside "
DNA" (2017) on December 2, 2017. On December 29 of that year, the band performed the remix version of the track at the ''
KBS Song Festival
The ''KBS Song Festival'' () is an annual South Korean music show that airs on the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) at the end of every year. It first aired in 1965 as an awards show, but KBS discontinued the awards ceremony in 2006. It has co ...
''. They performed the song at the 32nd Golden Disc Awards on January 10, 2018. BTS sang it as part of their three-song set for YouTube's ''Dear Class of 2020'' online graduation ceremony on June 7, 2020, at the
National Museum of Korea
The National Museum of Korea is the flagship museum of Korean history and art in South Korea and is the cultural organization that represents Korea. Since its establishment in 1945, the museum has been committed to various studies and research a ...
, with the band wearing soft pastel-coloured outfits. It was also included in the setlist at the 2020
iHeartRadio Music Festival
The iHeartRadio Music Festival is a two-day music concert festival held every year in September since 2011 by iHeartRadio along the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States.
From 2011 to 2015, the festival was held at the MGM Gran ...
on September 18. A studio live band rendition of the track was performed at
NPR
National Public Radio (NPR, stylized in all lowercase) is an American privately and state funded nonprofit media organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It differs from other ...
's
Tiny Desk (Home) Concert on September 21 with an intro from RM, "It's been the roughest summer ever, but we know that spring will come," offering comfort and optimism during the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...
.
Track listings
Credits and personnel
Korean / Japanese version
Credits are adapted from the CD
liner notes
Liner notes (also sleeve notes or album notes) are the writings found on the sleeves of LP record albums and in booklets that come inserted into the compact disc jewel case or the equivalent packaging for cassettes.
Origin
Liner notes are desce ...
of ''You Never Walk Alone'' and ''Chi, Ase, Namida''.
*
BTS
BTS (), also known as the Bangtan Boys, is a South Korean boy band formed in 2010 and debuting in 2013 under Big Hit Entertainment. The septet—consisting of members Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook—co-writes and co-produ ...
primary vocals
*
"Hitman" Bang songwriting
*
RM songwriting
*
Suga
Suga may refer to:
* Suga, Iran, a village in Qazvin Province, Iran
* Suga language, a language of Cameroon
* Suga (rapper) (born 1993), South Korean rapper, songwriter, and record producer
* ''Suga'' (EP), 2020 EP by Megan Thee Stallion
* ''Sug ...
songwriting
*
Adora songwriting
*
Arlissa Ruppert songwriting, chorus
* Peter Ibsen songwriting, record engineering
*
Pdogg
Kang Hyo-won ( Korean: 강효원; born September 19, 1983), known professionally as Pdogg (Korean: 피독), is a South Korean record producer, composer, and lyricist for Big Hit Music. He has produced and composed for artists such as 8Eight, ...
songwriting, production, synthesizer, keyboard, vocal arrangement, rap arrangement, record engineering
*
KM-MARKIT songwriting (Japanese version)
*
Jungkook
Jeon Jung-kook (; born September 1, 1997), known mononymously as Jungkook (stylized as Jung Kook), is a South Korean singer. He is the youngest member and vocalist of the South Korean boy band BTS.
Jungkook has released three solo tracks as p ...
chorus
* Jeong Jaepil guitar
* Lee Jooyeong bass
* Jeong Wooyeong record engineering
* James F. Reynolds mix engineering
Brit Rock Remix
Credits are adapted from
SoundCloud
SoundCloud is an online audio distribution platform and music sharing website that enables its users to upload, promote, and share audio. Founded in 2007 by Alexander Ljung and Eric Wahlforss, SoundCloud is one of the largest music streaming se ...
.
* BTS primary vocals
* "Hitman" Bang production, songwriting
* RM songwriting
* Suga songwriting
* Adora songwriting
* Arlissa Ruppert songwriting
* Peter Ibsen songwriting, record engineering
* Hiss Noise additional rhythm programming
* DOCSKIM band arrangement
* KHAN band arrangement
* Yang Ga mix engineering
Charts
Weekly charts
Monthly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications and sales
Release history
See also
*
List of Gaon Digital Chart number ones of 2017
The Gaon Digital Chart is a chart that ranks the best-performing singles in South Korea. Managed by the domestic Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST), its data is compiled by the Korea Music Content Industry Association and published by ...
Notes
References
{{Melon Music Award for Song of the Year
2010s ballads
2017 singles
2017 songs
BTS songs
Gaon Digital Chart number-one singles
Songs written by Bang Si-hyuk
Songs written by Adora (singer)
Songs written by Pdogg
Music videos directed by Lumpens
Songs written by RM (rapper)
Pop rock songs
Songs written by Suga (rapper)
Songs written by Arlissa
Hybe Corporation singles
Pop ballads
Rock ballads