BTS “Dynamite” debuted at #1

Dynamite BTS

Writer(s): David Stewart, Jessica Agombar (see lyrics here) Released: August 21, 2020 First Charted: September 5, 2020 Peak: 13 BB, 118 DG, 16 AC, 10 A40, 3 UK, 2 CN, 2 AU (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 5.0 US, 0.6 UK, 7.61 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 2566.60 video, 1941.92 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: “Foreign language hits have generally been received as novelties in the United States” BR but the Internet “atomized American into smaller and more segmented audiences” BR which meant “radio programmers had a harder time determining what counted as pop and what didn’t, and sounds from outside the anglophone mainstream could charge their way up the Hot 100. That, more or less, is what happened with the South Korean genre known as K-pop.” BR K-pop is a “hypermodernized take on the old Motown charm-school model” BR “Young pop idols are trained with military precision…go[ing] through years of lessons in singing, dancing, speaking foreign languages, and interacting with the media.” BR The greatest benefactor of this approach was BTS (short for Bangtan Sonyeondan, which roughly translates to “Bulletproof Boy Scouts). The seven-member South Korean boy band formed in 2010 with Jin, Sugar, J-Hope, Rap Monster (later RM), Jimin, V, and Jung Kook. They released their first album, 2 Cool 4 Skool, in 2013 and landed their first #1 in South Korea in 2016 with “Blood, Sweat & Tears.” The next year, “DNA” became their first chart hit in the U.S., peaking at #67 on the Billboard Hot 100. Even after reaching the top 10 with “Fake Love” in 2018, the group wasn’t focused on recording in English. RM said, “We don’t want to change our identity or our genuineness to get the #1. Like, if we suddenly sing in full English…then that’s not BTS.” BR However, after another couple of top-ten hits and the band being forced to cancel touring plans because of the Covid-19 pandemic, they did exactly that. While they “were reluctant to record ‘Dynamite’…they felt it was a necessary move…to record in English to avoid losing its pandemic momentum.” BR As their first English-language single, “Dynamite” was “created specifically to dominate the American charts” BR and did exactly that – it debuted atop the Billboard Hot 100. The song was written by David Stewart and Jessica Agombar, “two British pop-industry professionals who’d previously worked with American stars like the Jonas Brothers and Hailee Steinfeld.” BR They focused on creating a song that was “uptempo, fun, [and would] not take itself too seriously.” BR It “needed to grab listeners’ attention immediately.” BR The result was “a bright, ingratiating piece of disco-pop…[that] was perfectly in tune with its moment on the American pop charts.” BR Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for BTS BR Tom Breihan (2022). The Number Ones. Hachete Books: New York, NY. Pages 293-311. WK Wikipedia First posted 3/24/2024; last updated 10/14/2024.

Foreigner “Double Vision” released

Double Vision Foreigner

Writer(s): Lou Gramm, Mick Jones (see lyrics here) Released: September 8, 1978 First Charted: September 22, 1978 Peak: 2 US, 5 CB, 8 HR, 2 RR, 2 CL, 7 CN, 97 AU, 3 DF (Click for codes to singles charts.) Sales (in millions): 1.0 US Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 5.7 video, -- streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: Guitarist and songwriter Mick Jones formed Foreigner in 1976 with Ian McDonald, formerly of King Crimson, along with drummer Dennis Elliott. Those three were British while singer Lou Gramm, keyboardist Al Greenwood, and bassist Ed Gagliardi were American. Their self-titled debut was released in 1977. It reached #4 on the Billboard album chart and sold five million copies in the U.S. Matching such feats on a sophomore release was a daunting challenge, but Foreigner outdid themselves. 1978’s Double Vision got to #3 and outsold its predecessor with seven million copies sold in America. Like the Foreigner album, Double Vision also generated two top-ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100 and a third top-20 hit. The first single, “Hot Blooded,” reached #3. The title song was released as the second single and went a rung higher, peaking at #2. Gramm said, “A lot of people think it’s about being intoxicated or being high.” WK He said he was watching a New York Rangers game while in the vocal booth at the studio. WK Jones, however, says they were at the game. Both of them, however, agreed that a player was knocked out and it was later announced that he wouldn’t returning because he was experiencing double vision. SF Cash Box said the song has “slashing guitars and a mean, ticking beat.” WK Joseph Bensoua of the San Pedro News-Pilot said it has “just the right hooks, phrasing and simple lyrics needed for controlled rock ‘n’ roll.” WK Kim McAuliffe of the Detroit Free Press described it as “one of those ditties…that imprints itself on your brain whether you want it to or not.” WK Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Foreigner SF Songfacts WK Wikipedia Related Links: First posted 7/10/2022.