On (song)
"On" (stylized in all caps) is a song recorded by South Korean boy band BTS. It was released on February 21, 2020, as the second single from the band's fourth Korean-language album Map of the Soul: 7.[1][2] A version featuring Australian singer Sia was also released and features on the digital and streaming version of the album.[3]
This article is about the BTS song. For the Bloc Party song, see A Weekend in the City. For other uses, see On (disambiguation)."On"
February 21, 2020
4:06
- Antonina Armato
- August Rigo
- J-Hope
- Julia Ross
- Krysta Youngs
- Melanie Fontana
- Michel Schulz
- Pdogg
- RM
- Suga
Pdogg
Background and release[edit]
On January 7, 2020, BTS announced their fourth Korean-language studio album Map of the Soul: 7.[4] The following day, the group shared a "comeback" map revealing a schedule split into four phases, with two singles. The first of which, "Black Swan" was released on January 17, 2020.[5] Exactly a month later, the group released the album's tracklist, revealing "On" as the album's lead single and a remix of the song featuring Australian singer Sia. According to Big Hit, the group organized the collaboration.[2]"On" and the remix with Sia were made available for Music download and streaming in various locations on February 21, 2020, through Big Hit. The tracklist for BTS' fourth Japanese studio album Map of the Soul: 7 ~ The Journey ~, was published on May 8, and included a Japanese version of "On".[6] The track was made available digitally simultaneously with the album on July 14, 2020, through Def Jam, Virgin and Big Hit.[7]
Composition[edit]
"On" was written by RM, August Rigo, Melanie Fontana, Michel Schulz, Suga, J-Hope, Antonina Armato, Krysta Youngs, Julia Ross, and its producer Pdogg. The song is composed in the key of A minor in a tempo of 106 beats per minute and runs for 4:06.[8][9][10] Lyrically, the song talks about how their success changed their lives, the sacrifices that they have made, and having the strength to continue their career despite "the unknown future."[11]
Reception[edit]
In her review for Clash magazine, Deb Aderinkomi called "On" a "quintessential BTS song".[12] Jae-Ha Kim of Variety, described the song as "anthemic, stadium-ready quality".[13] Writing for Time, Raisa Bruner noted that "On is already massive, kicking off with gospel-influenced organ, featuring propulsive percussion and a snare drum sing-along and tearing things up with an uplifting refrain" but Sia's presence "speaks to their ambitions to be taken seriously as a chart-topping pop act, regardless of language".[14]
Promotion[edit]
On February 19, it was announced that the band would release a 30-second video teaser of the lead single on TikTok, 12 hours ahead of the official release of the song on February 21.[15] The day after the song release, a Commentary Film was released showing the work UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music's Bruin Marching Band directors and team members had in the production of some of the songs on the album, and the essence of BTS' message.[16]
The band performed the song at the main concourse of Grand Central Station on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on February 24, 2020,[17] for what has been called "one of the most high-production episodes" of the show.[18] They also appeared in the Carpool Karaoke segment on The Late Late Show with James Corden.[19]
Commercial performance[edit]
In South Korea, "On" debuted at number eleven on the eighth issue of the Gaon Digital Chart, for the period February 16–22, with less than two days of tracking.[20] The following week, the single reached number one, becoming BTS' sixth track to do so.[21] It spent six weeks in the chart's top ten and was the 22nd best-performing song of February, peaking at number four on the Gaon Monthly Chart in March 2020.[22][23] On the Billboard K-pop Hot 100, the single debuted at number 41 on the chart issue dated February 29, 2020. It peaked atop the chart the following week and maintained the lead position for three consecutive weeks.[24] In Malaysia, the song debuted atop the RIM Charts, while the Sia remix peaked at number five on the chart.[25]
In the United States, "On" debuted at number four on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the highest-charting song by a Korean group in the country, with over 86,000 digital downloads sold in its release week.[26] It ranked at number 68 in its second week and left the chart afterwards.[27]