Top (song)

"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.

"Top"
Korean version and First Press Limited B cover
Single by Stray Kids
from the album Go Live and the EP All In
Language
  • Korean
  • English
  • Japanese
B-side"Slump"
Released
  • May 13, 2020 (2020-05-13) (Korean)
  • May 20, 2020 (2020-05-20) (English)
  • June 3, 2020 (2020-06-03) (Japanese)
Recording studioW Sound
Genre
Length3:05
Label
Composer(s)
  • Armadillo
  • Bang Chan
  • Changbin
  • Han
  • Rangga
  • Gwon Yeong-chan
Lyricist(s)
  • Armadillo
  • Bang Chan
  • Changbin
  • Han
  • KM-Markit (Japanese)
  • Sophia Pae (English)
Stray Kids singles chronology
"Mixtape: On Track"
(2020)		 "Top"
(2020)		 "God's Menu"
(2020)
Music videos
"Top" (Japanese version) on YouTube
Alternative covers
English version and First Press Limited A
Japanese version Regular edition and digital

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][3] The stand-alone single version of "Top" and "Slump" were released on April 28 and May 6, respectively,[4][5] and released officially digitally on May 26.[6]

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.[7] 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.[8][9] 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.[10]

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.[11] The Japanese version added KM-Markit to write the Japanese lyrics.[12] The English version's lyrics were adapted by Bang Chan and Sophia Pae.[13] The song expresses the powerful melody, full of fighting spirit lyrics and magnificent worldview of the anime,[7][14] 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.[15][16]

The B-side "Slump" is a rock song written by Han from 3Racha and co-composed with Bang Chan.[11] The Japanese version added KM-Markit to write the Japanese lyrics.[12] The English version's lyrics were adapted by Bang Chan and Sophia Pae.[17] The song describes inner anxiety and weak emotions,[7][14] 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.[18][19]

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").[20][21]

On Billboard Japan Hot 100, "Top" debuted at number 78.[22] In its second week dated June 15, 2020, the song jumped to number 8 due to releasing a physical format.[23][24] The song also peaked at number two on the Hot Animation,[25][26] and number one on the Top Singles Sales, selling 49,329 copies.[27][28] On the Billboard's World Digital Song Sales, "Top" charted and peaked at number 10,[29] and "Slump" peaked at number 17.[30]

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.[31]

Music video

The music video "Top" Japanese version was premiered on May 26, 2020, directed by Oui Kim.[32] 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.[33] The Korean version music video was uploaded on June 10, as a "unveil: track" of their debut studio album Go Live.[34]

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-.[35]

Track listing

Notes

  1. Does not appear on the first press limited edition B
  2. Does not appear on the first press limited edition A

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Melon.[11][36][12]

Recording and management
  • Recorded at W Sound
  • Mixed at JYPE Studios ("Top") and Glab Studios ("Slump")
  • Mastered at 821 Sound
Personnel

Charts

Accolades
Year-end lists
Critic/Publication List Work Rank Ref.
Spotify Anime Now's Best Anime Songs of 2020 "Slump" (Japanese version) 42 [43]
The Honey Pop 22 English K-pop Songs to Help Ease You into the Genre "Slump" (English version) Placed [44]

Certifications
Certifications for "Top"
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ)[45] Gold 100,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history
RegionDateFormatVersionLabelRef.
Various April 29, 2020
Japanese ("Top") Epic Japan [4]
May 6, 2020 Japanese ("Slump") [5]
May 13, 2020 Korean JYP [11]
May 20, 2020 English [36]
May 26, 2020 Japanese Epic Japan [46]
South Korea JYP [12]
Japan June 3, 2020 CD+DVD First Press Limited A (Japanese) Epic Japan [2]
CD+SpecialZine First Press Limited B (Japanese)
CD Production Limited (Anime) (Japanese)
CD Regular (Japanese)
Cassette tape Complete Limited (Japanese)

See also

References
  1. "TOP -Japanese ver.-". Oricon News (in Japanese). Oricon News. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  2. "Stray Kids 『TOP』 Special Site". Stray Kids Japan Official Website. Epic JYP. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  3. "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. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  4. "Stray Kids「TOP -Japanese ver.-」が4月28日(火)0時より先行配信決定！". Stray Kids Japan Official Website (in Japanese). Epic JYP. April 24, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  5. "Stray Kids「SLUMP -Japanese ver.-」が5月6日(水)0時より先行配信決定！". Stray Kids Japan Official Website (in Japanese). Epic JYP. May 4, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  6. Stray Kids Japan Official [@Stray_Kids_JP] (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♪" (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved June 13, 2021 – via Twitter.
  7. Lee, Seung-hoon (May 13, 2020). "스트레이키즈, 웹툰 '신의 탑' OST 한국어·영어 버전 순차적 공개 [공식]". Naver (in Korean). Naver Corp. Osen. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  8. [Stray Kids - TOP(Tower of God OP)] KPOP TV Show | M COUNTDOWN 200618 EP.670. Mnet. June 18, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2021 – via YouTube.
  9. [쇼! 음악중심] 스트레이 키즈 -탑 (Stray Kids -TOP) 20200620. MBCkpop. June 20, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2021 – via YouTube.
  10. "Stray Kids「THE FIRST TAKE」に韓国から出演、「SLUMP -Japanese ver.-」世界初披露". Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha Inc. June 25, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  11. "TOP". Melon. Melon. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  12. "TOP -Japanese ver.-". Melon. Melon. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  13. Tower of God - Opening | TOP English ver (YouTube video). Crunchyroll. May 21, 2020. Event occurs at 1:02. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  14. "Stray Kids - TOP". Stray Kids Official Website (in Korean). JYP Entertainment. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  15. "Key, BPM of TOP ("Tower of God" OP) by Stray Kids". Musicstax. Musicstax. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  16. "Key, BPM of TOP -Japanese ver.- by Stray Kids". Musicstax. Musicstax. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  17. Tower of God - Ending | SLUMP English ver (YouTube video). Crunchyroll. May 21, 2020. Event occurs at 1:16. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  18. "Key, BPM of SLUMP ("Tower of God" ED) by Stray Kids". Musicstax. Musicstax. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  19. "Key, BPM of SLUMP -Japanese ver.- by Stray Kids". Musicstax. Musicstax. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  20. "6/15付週間シングルランキング1位はStray Kidsの「TOP -Japanese ver.-」". Oricon (in Japanese). Oricon ME. June 12, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  21. "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 (in Japanese). Archived from the original on June 10, 2020. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  22. "Hot 100 [ 2020/06/08 付け ]". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Hanshin Contents Link. June 3, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  23. "【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". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Hanshin Contents Link. June 10, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  24. "Hot 100 [ 2020/06/15 付け ]". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Hanshin Contents Link. June 10, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  25. "【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". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Hanshin Contents Link. June 10, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  26. "Hot Animation". Billboard Japan. Hanshin Contents Link. June 15, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  27. "【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". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Hanshin Contents Link. June 13, 2021. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  28. "Top Singles Sales [2020/06/15 公開]". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Hanshin Contents Link. June 10, 2021. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  29. "Word Digital Song Sales The Week of May 30, 2020". Billboard. May 30, 2020. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  30. "Word Digital Song Sales The Week of May 23, 2020". Billboard. May 23, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  31. "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". Yahoo News Japan (in Japanese). Yahoo Japan. M-ON! Press. April 13, 2021. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  32. secondfloor studio [@secondfloor_vfx] (May 29, 2020). "Stray Kids 『TOP -Japanese ver.-』". Retrieved August 19, 2021 – via Instagram.
  33. "Stray Kids、「TOP -Japanese ver.-」MVで激しいアクションシーンに挑戦". Barks (in Japanese). Japan Music Network. May 26, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  34. Kim, Mi-ji (June 10, 2020). "'컴백' 스트레이키즈, 정규앨범 수록곡 'TOP' 퍼포먼스 영상 공개". Naver (in Korean). Naver Corp. XportNews. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  35. "Stray Kids「神之塔」とコラボした「SLUMP -Japanese ver.-」MV". Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha Inc. May 11, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  36. "TOP -English ver.-". Melon. Melon. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  37. TOP -Japanese ver.- – Oricon Oricon News. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  38. "Stray Kids Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
  39. "Stray Kids Chart History (World Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
  40. "Oricon Top 50 Singles: 2020-06". Oricon. Archived from the original on July 8, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  41. "Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales Year-end 2020". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on December 3, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  42. "2020 Oricon Yearly Singles Chart" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on December 24, 2020. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  43. "Anime Now presents... Best Anime Songs of 2020". Spotify. December 1, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  44. Juu (January 10, 2021). "22 English K-Pop Songs To Help Ease You Into The Genre". The Honey Pop. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  45. "Japanese single certifications – Stray Kids – Top -Japanese ver.-" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved April 9, 2021. Select 2021年3月 on the drop-down menu
  46. Stray Kids (May 26, 2020). "Stray Kidsの「TOP -Japanese ver.- - EP」をApple Musicで". Apple Music (in Japanese). Retrieved October 18, 2021.
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