"Lalalala" (Korean; Hanja; RRRak; lit. 'pleasure') is a song by South Korean boy band Stray Kids, taken from their eighth Korean-language extended play Rock-Star. It was released as the EP's lead single on November 10, 2023, through JYP Entertainment and Republic Records. A drift phonk and Afrobeats track, the song was written by 3Racha, Versachoi, Cubeatz, and Luis Bacque about celebration of life and how to enjoy it. "Lalalala" peaked at number six on the Circle Digital Chart, became the group's first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 90, as well as first top ten on the Billboard Global 200.

"Lalalala"
Single by Stray Kids
from the EP Rock-Star
Language
  • Korean
  • English
ReleasedNovember 10, 2023
StudioJYPE (Seoul)
Genre
Length3:02
Label
Composer(s)
Lyricist(s)
  • Bang Chan
  • Changbin
  • Han
Stray Kids singles chronology
"Social Path"
(2023)
"Lalalala"
(2023)
"Lose My Breath"
(2024)
Music video
"Lalalala" on YouTube
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
IZM[1]

Background and composition

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"Lalalala" was written by 3Racha, an in-house production team of Stray Kids members Bang Chan, Changbin, and Han, and co-composed with Versachoi, Kevin Gomringer and Tim Gomringer from Cubeatz, and Luis Bacque in November 2022, and intended to be included the group's third studio album 5-Star as the lead single, but it was replaced by "S-Class". During the recording session, the group felt the song is suitable for being a lead single and performing on stage. Therefore, the song was outtaked from 5-Star, which included "Item" instead.[2]

On October 6, 2023, Stray Kids announced their eighth Korean-language extended play Rock-Star set to be released on November 10, 2023.[3] The EP's track list was revealed on October 9, marking the second track "Lalalala" as its lead single, as well as the rock version.[4] The song was first previewed on the EP's mashup video on November 6.[5] The song's Korean title " ()" (pronounced rak; means "pleasure") is a word play with "rock", expressing the meaning of "although you will feel any emotions in life, you hope the last emotion you choose will be pleasure".[6] Musically, "Lalalala" is a drift phonk[7] and Afrobeats track with "harsh" electric guitar, "lively" drums, and "thumping" bass, talking about celebration of their life,[8] pushing through all kinds of pain to find joy and release through music.[9]

Commercial performance

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In South Korea, "Lalalala" debuted at number 33 on the Circle Digital Chart for the issue dated November 5–11, 2023,[10] and rose to number six the next week, Stray Kids' first top ten and highest peak on the chart.[11] The song first entered the Billboard Japan Hot 100 dated November 15 at number 33 and ascended to number eight the next week,[12] and further peaked at number six on the Streaming Songs.[13] In Europe, "Lalalala" peaked at number 44 on the UK Singles Chart, and number 74 on the French Top Singles.[14]

The song landed at number ten on the Billboard Global 200 and number six on the Global Excl. US, dated November 25, 2023, making Stray Kids their first top-ten entries and highest peaks on both charts, surpassing "Maniac" (21 and 15, respectively). The song earned 44.7 million streams and 9,000 digital sales worldwide.[15] In the United States, "Lalalala" entered Billboard Hot 100 for the first time at number 90 with 3,000 downloads and 6.1 million streams in the United States, becoming the seventh South Korean group to do so, following Wonder Girls, BTS, Blackpink, Twice, NewJeans, and Fifty Fifty, as well as the second boy band after BTS.[16] Additionally, "Lalalala" was the fourth song to top the World Digital Song Sales after "Mixtape: Oh", "Maniac", and "Case 143".[17]

Music video

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An accompanying music video for "Lalalala" was uploaded on November 10, 2023, concurrently with the EP Rock-Star release,[18] preceded by one teaser video.[19] Directed by Bang Jae-yeob,[20] the visual depicts clash of inside emotions, and pleasure ultimately wins at the end.[2] It shows Stray Kids' dance performance in different sets: shipwreck, a bank robbery, an army, and a white background,[21] and alternate with gigantic smoke-like creature attempts to attack both Stray Kids and a marching band of young boys during performing. At the end, the group and backup dancers salute to the marching band through a portal.[22] Teen Vogue chosen the music video for "Lalalala" is one of the best K-pop music video in 2023.[23] The music video reached 100 million views in January 2024.[24]

Live performances

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Stray Kids promoted and performed "Lalalala" at several domestic music programs from November 10 to 19: Music Bank,[25][26] Show! Music Core,[27][28] Inkigayo,[29][30] and M Countdown.[31] The group performed the song and "S-Class" at the 2023 Billboard Music Awards on November 19.[32] "Lalalala" was also performed at several award shows and year-end music festivals, including Asia Artist Awards,[33] KBS Song Festival,[34] and SBS Gayo Daejeon.[35]

Accolades

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Billboard named "Lalalala" number 11 in their list of The 25 Best K-pop Songs of 2023, writing that it speaks "to pushing through all kinds of pain to find joy and release as they do through music and to 'just feel the rock.'"[9] Nylon named its remix the "Best Rock Remix" in K-pop of 2023.[36]

Awards and nominations for "Lalalala"
Ceremony Year Award Result Ref.
MAMA Awards 2024 Song of the Year Nominated [37]
Best Dance Performance – Male Group Nominated
MTV Video Music Awards 2024 Best K-Pop Nominated [38]
Music program awards for "Lalalala"
Program Date Ref.
Show Champion November 15, 2023 [39]
Music Bank November 17, 2023 [26]
Show! Music Core November 18, 2023 [28]

Credits and personnel

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Personnel

  • Stray Kids – lead vocals, background vocals
    • Bang Chan (3Racha) – lyrics, composition, arrangement, all instruments
    • Changbin (3Racha) – lyrics, composition
    • Han (3Racha) – lyrics, composition
  • Versachoi – composition, arrangement, all instruments, programming
  • Cubeatz (Kevin and Tim Gomringer) – composition, arrangement, all instruments
  • Luis Bacque – composition, publishing
  • Nickko Young – arrangement (rock version), guitar (rock version)
  • Lee Jae-myung – bass guitar (rock version)
  • Lee Kyeong-won – digital editing
  • Goo Hye-jin – recording
  • Lee Tae-sub – mixing
  • Dave Kutch – mastering

Locations

Charts

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Certifications

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Certifications for "Lalalala"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Streaming
Japan (RIAJ)[69] Gold 50,000,000

Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Jang, Jun-hwan (November 2023). "락 (樂)". IZM (in Korean). Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  2. ^ a b JYP Entertainment (November 9, 2023). Stray Kids [INTRO "樂-STAR"] (video). Retrieved November 9, 2023 – via YouTube.
  3. ^ Ji, Min-kyung (October 6, 2023). "스트레이 키즈, 11월 10일 새 앨범 '樂-STAR' 발매..5개월 만에 컴백 [공식]" [Stray Kids to Release New Album 'ROCK-STAR' on November 10... Comeback After 5 Months [Official]]. Osen (in Korean). Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  4. ^ Lee, Seung-hoon (October 9, 2023). "스트레이 키즈, 신곡명은 '락(樂)'..3RACHA 전곡 작업 참여 [공식]" [Stray Kids, New Track Is Titled 'Lalalala'.. 3RACHA Participated in All Tracks]. StarNews (in Korean). Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  5. ^ Hwang, Yeon-do (November 6, 2023). "스트레이 키즈, 신곡 미리듣기 공개...빨리 컴백해 줘요, 현기증 난단 말이에요" [Stray Kids Releases Preview of New Songs... Please Make a Comeback Quickly, I'm Dizzy]. AtStar1 (in Korean). Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  6. ^ Ji, Min-kyung (November 9, 2023). "'컴백 D-1' 스트레이 키즈 "마지막에 남는 건 樂..'헉!' 하고 놀랄 퍼포먼스"" ['Comeback D-1' Stray Kids "What Remains at the End Is Music.. A 'Breathtaking' Performance"]. Osen (in Korean). Retrieved November 9, 2023.
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  25. ^ Shim, Min-kyung (November 10, 2023). "[뮤직뱅크] 어떤 고민이나 역경이 와도 계속되는 스트레이 키즈 ♪락(樂)" [[Music Bank] Stray Kids Continues No Matter What Troubles or Adversity They Face ♪ Lalalala]. KBS Star Entertainment (in Korean). Retrieved November 11, 2023.
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  27. ^ Lee, Ha-na (November 11, 2023). "'음악중심' 태민 1위 "샤이니월드 고마워"‥스트레이 키즈·에스파 컴백[종합]" [Taemin Takes First Place on 'Music Core' "Thank You, SHINee World"... Stray Kids and Aespa Comeback [Comprehensive]]. Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved November 11, 2023.
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