"Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Blackpink | ||||
from the EP Square Up | ||||
Language |
| |||
Released | June 15, 2018 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:31 | |||
Label | YG | |||
Songwriter(s) | Teddy Park | |||
Producer(s) |
| |||
Blackpink singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" on
YouTube "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du (JP Ver.)" on YouTube |
"Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" ( Korean: 뚜두뚜두; RR: Ttuduttudu) is a song recorded by South Korean girl group Blackpink. It was released on June 15, 2018, through YG Entertainment, as the lead single for the group's first Korean extended play, Square Up. It was written by YG collaborator Teddy Park, whilst production and composition were handled by Teddy, 24, Bekuh Boom and R. Tee. The Japanese version of the single was released through YGEX on August 22, 2018, and was distributed in three physical formats. A EDM trap and pop rap song infused with bubblegum pop sounds, "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" utilizes oriental percussion rhythms and whistling while its title imitates the sound of a gunshot. Its lyrics contain messages of strength and self-assurance.
"Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" was a commercial success in South Korea, where it peaked at number one on the Gaon Digital Chart for three weeks, marking Blackpink's second number-one single in the country. The song reached number one in Singapore, Malaysia, as well as on the Billboard K-pop Hot 100 and World Digital Songs charts. It peaked at number 55 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and became the first song by a K-pop girl group to enter the UK Singles Chart. It was certified double platinum for streaming and platinum for digital sales in South Korea, platinum in Japan, gold in the United States, and silver in the United Kingdom. It was named the Song of the Year through a public survey conducted by Gallup Korea in 2018, and appeared on Melon and Rolling Stone's lists of the best Korean pop songs of all time.
Its accompanying music video was uploaded to the group's official YouTube channel on the same day and soon became the most viewed online video in the first 24 hours by a Korean act, and the second most watched music video of all time within 24 hours. It has since become the first music video by a K-pop group to reach one billion as well as two billion views, and remains the most-viewed music video by a K-pop group on YouTube to date. It also became one of the most-liked videos on YouTube with over 23 million likes on the platform. Blackpink promoted "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" with appearances on the music programs Show! Music Core and Inkigayo in South Korea, with the song's "finger gun" choreography becoming a viral dance move.
On June 4, 2018, YG Entertainment confirmed via YG Life that Blackpink will release their debut Korean-language mini-album, Square Up, on June 15, with "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" serving as its single. It marked the group's first original release in a year since " As If It's Your Last" in June 2017. [1] The name of the track attracted attention from fans due to the song's name being reminiscent of an onomatopoeia, and sparked curiosity regarding its genre and concept. [2] Following a series of concept photos and teasers, Blackpink were reported saying, "as it is our debut mini-album and comeback after one year, we prepared each song with a lot of sincerity and affection." Additionally, member Jennie commented, "I am confident and I look forward to our comeback. I am happy to be able to express the musicality of Blackpink in various ways." [3]
"Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" was made available via digital download and streaming on June 15, 2018, in conjunction with the release of Square Up. It was written and produced by Teddy Park and co-produced by Park, Bekuh Boom, 24 and R. Tee. On August 17, YGEX announced that a Japanese version of the track would be released as the group's debut single in Japan on August 22. It was subsequently distributed in three physical formats: a CD-only regular edition, a limited edition CD+DVD, and a CD member edition. The regular and limited editions include all the tracks from Square Up, in addition to the Japanese version of the single. The limited edition DVD contains behind the scenes footage from the music video as well as a dance practice video. The member edition was packaged as a four-version CD single—one version for each member, and contains only the original version of the track. [4] On April 5, 2019, a remix of "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" was included as an album track on Blackpink's second Korean extended play, Kill This Love. [5]
Music journalists have characterized "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" as a "fierce pop-rap track" that "features a prominent trap beat" infused with bubblegum pop sounds. [6] [7] It combines instrumentations of oriental percussion rhythms and whistling on top of the bassline. [8] Yonhap News Agency described the single's production as primarily hip-hop laced with "aggressive trap" beats, [9] while The Korea Herald noted how the song's title resembled the sound of a gunshot, but also likened it to that of "a spell". Jennie commented how the group reacted when they were given the demo for the song: "When we first listened to the lead track 'Ddu-du Ddu-du,' we all thought, 'This is it.'" [10]
The song opens with a chord progression which makes use of EDM and trap synths, which is repeated multiple times throughout the first verse. Music producer Azodi commented that its "biggest riff" is already heard in the beginning, "but keeps a lot of space in the verses and chorus for a strong lead vocal line". [11] Its production makes use of percolating synthesizers while the chorus sees the group members delivering the refrain: "hit you with that 'ddu-du ddu-du'". [12] [13] Azodi observed that, "By the time the chorus is here, you would've heard the hook about four to eight times roughly so it's already been passively drilled into your skull without you realizing". [11] Its lyrical content, such as "In my hands is a fat check/ If you're curious, do a fact check", celebrate the member's success and offer feelings of strength and self-assurance. [14] [15]
"Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" was met with generally favorable reviews from music critics. Hwang Seon-up, a critic from South Korean webzine IZM, awarded the song a 3.5 out of 5; he noted the unexpected blend of an "ordinary trap beat" with synth instrumentals, which he felt created an "outstanding" climax in the "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" drop. [16] Chase McMullen, writing for The 405, described the song as both "boisterous" and "beautifully ludicrous", and regarded the chorus to be "essentially nonsense". He emphasized that "what's being said [is] less important than how they say it", and praised the song for its "irresistible cadences" and its seamless flow of verses. [17] Jeff Benjamin, writing for Paper, commended the song's musical arrangement and placed it at number 13 on their Top 20 K-Pop Songs of 2018 list, remarking that the song perfectly blended "hard hip-hop, honeyed harmonies", and a touch of hazy EDM. Furthermore, Benjamin added that "from the opening shoutout of their group name, Blackpink delivers one of the year's strongest anthems." [18]
Writing for NME, Rhian Daly ranked "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" the best song in the group's discography in May 2019, writing that "it's a no-holds-barred, powerful anthem packed full of supreme self-confidence and swagger." [19] She ranked it the 26th best K-pop song of all time in a piece published by The Forty-Five in May 2023, remarking that "Few intros in K-pop are as instantly recognisable as the siren entrance of 'Ddu-Du Ddu-Du'", and complimented the "perfect combination of rap braggadocio from Jennie and Lisa and powerhouse vocals from Rosé and Jisoo". [20] Taylor Glasby from British GQ felt the song embodied the essence of "over the top" K-pop, highlighting the "catchy title refrain", the rappers' sly confidence in the verses, and the emotional build into the chorus that gave the members space to demonstrate their vocal ability. [21] On the other hand, Business Insider's Palmer Haasch was not impressed with the song's production, opining that despite its "dramatic" flair and overflowing confidence, it lacked the "thematic substance" found in songs like "Kill This Love", even though it followed a similar structure. She further noted that the "bridge and final bars don't feel like a particularly satisfying conclusion". [22]
Critic/Publication | Year | List | Rank | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
British GQ | 2019 | Best K-Pop songs of the decade | No order | [21] |
The Forty-Five | 2023 | The 45 best K-pop songs of all-time | 26 | [20] |
Melon | 2021 | Top 100 K-pop Songs of All Time | 13 | [23] |
The New York Times | 2018 | The 65 Best Songs of 2018 | 31 | [24] |
Paper | Top 20 K-pop Songs of 2018 | 13 | [18] | |
Rolling Stone | 10 Best Music Videos of 2018 | 8 | [25] | |
2023 | 100 Greatest Songs in the History of Korean Pop Music | 6 | [26] | |
YouTube Rewind | 2018 | Top 10 Most Popular Music Videos In Korea From 2018 | 2 | [27] |
"Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" won 11 first place awards on South Korean music programs, including a quadruple crown on Show! Music Core and triple crowns on Inkigayo and M Countdown. It additionally won three weekly Melon Popularity Awards from July 2 to July 16, 2018. [28]
Year | Organization | Award | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | Genie Music Awards | Best Female Dance Performance | Nominated | [29] |
Song of the Year | Nominated | |||
Korea Popular Music Awards | Best Group Dance | Nominated | [30] | |
Song of the Year | Nominated | |||
Melon Music Awards | Best Dance – Female | Won | [31] | |
Song of the Year | Nominated | |||
Mnet Asian Music Awards | Song of the Year | Nominated | [32] | |
Best Dance Performance Female Group | Nominated | |||
Best Music Video | Nominated | |||
MTV Video Music Awards Japan | Best Dance Video | Won | [33] | |
2019 | Gaon Chart Music Awards | Artist of the Year – Digital Music (June) | Won | [34] |
Golden Disc Awards | Best Digital Song (Bonsang) | Won | [35] | |
Song of the Year (Daesang) | Nominated | |||
Teen Choice Awards | Choice Song: Group | Won | [36] | |
2020 | Bugs Music Awards | 20th Anniversary – Most Loved Music | Won | [37] |
Program | Date | Ref. |
---|---|---|
Show! Music Core | June 23, 2018 | [38] |
June 30, 2018 | [39] | |
July 7, 2018 | [40] | |
July 14, 2018 | [41] | |
Inkigayo | June 24, 2018 | [42] |
July 1, 2018 | [43] | |
July 8, 2018 | [44] | |
M Countdown | June 28, 2018 | [45] |
July 5, 2018 | [46] | |
July 12, 2018 | [47] | |
Music Bank | June 29, 2018 | [48] |
In South Korea, "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" debuted at number three on the Gaon Digital Chart for the week of June 16. The following week, the song ascended to the number one position, becoming Blackpink's second number-one single in the country. It broke the highest weekly points in the Gaon Digital Chart, previously held by labelmate Big Bang with the single " Flower Road". [49] "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" also achieved a perfect all-kill upon its release, retaining the status for eleven consecutive days. [50] It remained atop the Gaon Digital Chart for three weeks and subsequently spent over 50 weeks in the top 100. [51] It was then certified platinum for both download and streaming by the Korea Music Content Association (KMCA) for 100 million streams on November 8, 2018, and 2.5 million digital sales on April 11, 2019. [52] [53] The Japanese version of the single debuted at number 6 on the Japanese Oricon Daily Singles Chart and peaked at number 2 six days later, selling 3,725 units. [54] [55] On the chart's weekly issue, the song debuted at number 7 with 24,385 copies sold. [56] The song was certified gold for 50 million streams by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) in July 2021. [57]
In the United States, "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" debuted and peaked at number 55 on the US Billboard Hot 100 on June 30, 2018. It became the highest-charting song by a Korean girl group on the chart, breaking the record previously held by " Nobody" by Wonder Girls in 2009. Within its first week, the song accumulated 12.4 million streams and sold more than 7,000 digital units in the country. [58] According to Nielsen, the song received 113 million on-demand streams in 2018. [59] On August 23, 2019, the song was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), for track equivalent sales of 500,000 units, thus becoming the first Korean girl group and third Korean artist overall to receive the certification, after Psy and BTS. [60] In Canada, "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" debuted at number 22 on the Canadian Hot 100 and remained on the chart for ten weeks. [61] In Europe, the song peaked at number 32 on the Scottish Singles and Albums Charts [62] and number 78 on the UK Singles Chart, making them the first K-pop girl group in history to enter the chart. [63] The track reached 13.7 million streams in the UK as of April 2019, and 45.5 million streams as of September 2022, becoming the group's most-streamed song in the country. [64] [65] In June 2021, the song was awarded a silver certification in the country by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for track-equivalent sales of 200,000 units. [66]
The music video for "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" was uploaded to the group's official YouTube channel along with the release of Square Up on June 15. [67] It soon became the most viewed online video in the first 24 hours by a Korean act, and the second most watched music video of all time with more than 36.2 million views within 24 hours after release, surpassing Psy's " Gentleman" (2013) and second only to Taylor Swift's " Look What You Made Me Do" (2017). [68] The music video hit 100 million views in 10 days, making “Ddu-Du Ddu-Du” the only music video by an all-female group to achieve the feat within the timeframe. [69] In November 2018, five months after release, it became the fastest music video by a K-pop group to reach 500 million views and the fifth most viewed K-pop video of all time at the time. [70] A dance practice video for the song was released on June 18, 2018. [71]
Rolling Stone named it the eighth best music video of 2018, describing it as "a feat of bonkers, maximalist creativity that includes the best use of a tank in a music video since Master P's " Make 'Em Say Uhh!" (1998). [25] On January 21, 2019, the video became the most-viewed music video by a K-pop group on YouTube, with 620.9 million views; the video averaged 2.5 million views per day since its release, with 1.95 million daily views in January 2019. [72] On November 11, 2019, the music video surpassed one billion views, making Blackpink the first K-pop group, second girl group, and fourth music group overall to achieve the milestone. [73] The video subsequently surpassed two billion views on January 4, 2023, making it the first K-pop group video to achieve the milestone, and the second K-pop video overall to achieve the feat, after " Gangnam Style" (2012) by Psy. [74]
As part of promotions for Square Up, Blackpink premiered the song on live television along with " Forever Young" on Show! Music Core on June 16, 2018. Osen contrasted the "refreshing and melodic" performance of "Forever Young" with the strong hip-hop concept of "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du". [8] They subsequently appeared on Inkigayo for the first time the next day. [75] On June 22, the group was slated to perform the track at the Lotte Duty Free Family Concert 2018; however after several songs, their performance was abruptly halted before having a chance to perform "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" due to "safety concerns". Fans expressed discontent regarding the handling of the situation as many in the audience paid tickets to see the group and they did not return after being escorted off the stage. The event organizers soon apologized for the incident. [76]
"Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" was used as the opening number for the group's first two headlining concert tours, the Blackpink Arena Tour 2018 and the In Your Area World Tour (2018–2020). [77] [78] They also performed the song at the TGC Kitakyushu 2018 festival by Tokyo Girls Collection in Kitakyushu, Japan on October 6, [79] and the SBS Super Concert in Suwon on October 14. [80] At year-end award ceremonies and festivals, Blackpink performed the song live at the 2018 Melon Music Awards on December 1, where they won the award for best female dance performance. [81] On December 25, Jennie performed her single "Solo" at the annual SBS Gayo Daejeon before reuniting with the rest of the members for the performance of "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" and "Forever Young". [82] The following month, the group made performances with the song at the 33rd Golden Disc Awards on January 5, 2019, [83] and the 8th Gaon Chart Music Awards on January 23. [84]
On February 9, 2019, the group performed in the United States for the first time at Universal Music's Grammy Artist Showcase with "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" and "Forever Young". [85] Two days later, Blackpink made their American television debut in New York City on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert; their performance on the show coincided with the 55th anniversary of The Beatles' American television debut at the same theater. [86] They also made a performance with the song on Good Morning America the following day. [87] At the April 2019 Coachella Festival in Indio, California, "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" was also used for the opening performance. [88] On January 31, 2021, the group performed the song as part of their set list for their virtual concert The Show; the stage was decorated with a display of fire and pyrotechnics and was transformed into a shallow pool. Teen Vogue wrote that the performance was "one of the greatest spectacles of the concert". [89] Billboard noted how "the fire and water elements shine" and deemed it one of the concert's standout moments. [90] "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" was also included in the set list for the group's second world tour, the Born Pink World Tour (2022–2023). [91]
The song was featured in the fourth episode of season three of Freeform series The Bold Type in April 2019 and the fifth episode of the tvN television series Mr. Queen in December 2020. [92] [93] South Korean boy band Stray Kids performed "God's Ddu-Du Ddu-Du", a Deadpool-themed mashup of "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" with their own song " God's Menu", during the 2021 Mnet competition show Kingdom: Legendary War. [94] "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" was featured in the dance rhythm game, Just Dance 2019, [95] and was covered on the girl group survival show Universe Ticket in 2023. [96] In November 2023, members of the British royal band performed a cover of "Ddu-Du-Ddu-Du" at the gates of the Buckingham Palace in recognition of the group members receiving honorary MBEs from King Charles III. [97]
"Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" was named the Song of the Year by South Korean research company Gallup Korea's annual public survey conducted in 2018. [98] In January 2019, The Korea Herald revealed that "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" was covered more times than any other K-pop song in 2018, with the "gun-shooting hand gesture" move attracting the interest of K-pop fans around the world to film cover videos. [99] In December 2019, British GQ named it amongst the best K-pop songs of the 2010s and the highlight work of the genre from 2018. [21] Lucy Ford, from the same publication, acknowledged that Blackpink cemented "the badass, empowered 'girl crush' concept" in K-pop with the release of "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du", a concept previously propelled by 2NE1 in the industry. [100] Writing for Sisa Journal, music critic Kim Young-dae observed that Blackpink's "sophisticated and edgy image", as showcased through the song and its "finger gun choreography", went on to become one of the most emblematic representations of girl groups globally. [101]
In 2021, a panel of 35 music experts curated by Melon and newspaper Seoul Shinmun pleaced "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" at number 13 on their list of the top 100 K-pop songs of all time. KBS Radio director Soyeon Kang commented that the song "ignited a global signal" leading to Blackpink's emergence as the girl group capturing worldwide attention. Kang highlighted Blackpink's record-breaking achievements and distinguished "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" as the work that established the group's musical identity, characterized by its EDM trap beats and strong hooks. [23] [102] Rolling Stone ranked it sixth in their list of the 100 greatest songs in the history of Korean pop music in 2023, recognizing the song as one of the works that perfected and popularized the "EDM trap template" in K-pop, and the group's role in elevating the sound to "global heights". [26]
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Arrangement | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" |
|
|
| 3:29 |
Total length: | 3:29 |
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Arrangement | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" |
|
|
| 3:29 |
2. | "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" (뚜두뚜두; Korean version) | Teddy |
|
| 3:31 |
3. | "Forever Young" (Korean version) | Teddy |
|
| 3:57 |
4. | "Really" (Korean version) |
|
| Choice37 | 3:17 |
5. | "See U Later" (Korean version) | Teddy |
|
| 3:18 |
Total length: | 14:03 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" (music video) | |
2. | "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" (behind the scenes) | |
3. | "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" (dance practice video) |
Weekly charts
|
Monthly charts
Year-end charts
|
Note: In Australia, the EP Square Up ranked at number 61 on the singles chart, but the single was not recognised separately.
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia ( ARIA) [124] | Platinum | 70,000‡ |
France ( SNEP) [125] | Gold | 100,000‡ |
Japan Physical album |
— | 29,388 [126] |
Poland ( ZPAV) [127] | Gold | 25,000‡ |
South Korea ( KMCA) [128] | Platinum | 2,500,000* |
United Kingdom ( BPI) [66] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
United States ( RIAA) [129] | Gold | 500,000‡ |
Streaming | ||
Japan ( RIAJ) [57] | Platinum | 100,000,000† |
South Korea ( KMCA) [130] | 2× Platinum | 200,000,000† |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Region | Date | Version | Format(s) | Label(s) | Catalogue | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Various | June 15, 2018 | Korean | YG | Various | [131] | |
August 22, 2018 | Japanese | YGEX | [132] | |||
Japan | CD single | AVCY-58711 | [133] | |||
CD + DVD | AVCY-58710 | [134] | ||||
Various | October 16, 2019 | Remix (Japanese) | Various | [135] |
"Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Blackpink | ||||
from the EP Square Up | ||||
Language |
| |||
Released | June 15, 2018 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:31 | |||
Label | YG | |||
Songwriter(s) | Teddy Park | |||
Producer(s) |
| |||
Blackpink singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" on
YouTube "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du (JP Ver.)" on YouTube |
"Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" ( Korean: 뚜두뚜두; RR: Ttuduttudu) is a song recorded by South Korean girl group Blackpink. It was released on June 15, 2018, through YG Entertainment, as the lead single for the group's first Korean extended play, Square Up. It was written by YG collaborator Teddy Park, whilst production and composition were handled by Teddy, 24, Bekuh Boom and R. Tee. The Japanese version of the single was released through YGEX on August 22, 2018, and was distributed in three physical formats. A EDM trap and pop rap song infused with bubblegum pop sounds, "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" utilizes oriental percussion rhythms and whistling while its title imitates the sound of a gunshot. Its lyrics contain messages of strength and self-assurance.
"Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" was a commercial success in South Korea, where it peaked at number one on the Gaon Digital Chart for three weeks, marking Blackpink's second number-one single in the country. The song reached number one in Singapore, Malaysia, as well as on the Billboard K-pop Hot 100 and World Digital Songs charts. It peaked at number 55 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and became the first song by a K-pop girl group to enter the UK Singles Chart. It was certified double platinum for streaming and platinum for digital sales in South Korea, platinum in Japan, gold in the United States, and silver in the United Kingdom. It was named the Song of the Year through a public survey conducted by Gallup Korea in 2018, and appeared on Melon and Rolling Stone's lists of the best Korean pop songs of all time.
Its accompanying music video was uploaded to the group's official YouTube channel on the same day and soon became the most viewed online video in the first 24 hours by a Korean act, and the second most watched music video of all time within 24 hours. It has since become the first music video by a K-pop group to reach one billion as well as two billion views, and remains the most-viewed music video by a K-pop group on YouTube to date. It also became one of the most-liked videos on YouTube with over 23 million likes on the platform. Blackpink promoted "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" with appearances on the music programs Show! Music Core and Inkigayo in South Korea, with the song's "finger gun" choreography becoming a viral dance move.
On June 4, 2018, YG Entertainment confirmed via YG Life that Blackpink will release their debut Korean-language mini-album, Square Up, on June 15, with "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" serving as its single. It marked the group's first original release in a year since " As If It's Your Last" in June 2017. [1] The name of the track attracted attention from fans due to the song's name being reminiscent of an onomatopoeia, and sparked curiosity regarding its genre and concept. [2] Following a series of concept photos and teasers, Blackpink were reported saying, "as it is our debut mini-album and comeback after one year, we prepared each song with a lot of sincerity and affection." Additionally, member Jennie commented, "I am confident and I look forward to our comeback. I am happy to be able to express the musicality of Blackpink in various ways." [3]
"Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" was made available via digital download and streaming on June 15, 2018, in conjunction with the release of Square Up. It was written and produced by Teddy Park and co-produced by Park, Bekuh Boom, 24 and R. Tee. On August 17, YGEX announced that a Japanese version of the track would be released as the group's debut single in Japan on August 22. It was subsequently distributed in three physical formats: a CD-only regular edition, a limited edition CD+DVD, and a CD member edition. The regular and limited editions include all the tracks from Square Up, in addition to the Japanese version of the single. The limited edition DVD contains behind the scenes footage from the music video as well as a dance practice video. The member edition was packaged as a four-version CD single—one version for each member, and contains only the original version of the track. [4] On April 5, 2019, a remix of "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" was included as an album track on Blackpink's second Korean extended play, Kill This Love. [5]
Music journalists have characterized "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" as a "fierce pop-rap track" that "features a prominent trap beat" infused with bubblegum pop sounds. [6] [7] It combines instrumentations of oriental percussion rhythms and whistling on top of the bassline. [8] Yonhap News Agency described the single's production as primarily hip-hop laced with "aggressive trap" beats, [9] while The Korea Herald noted how the song's title resembled the sound of a gunshot, but also likened it to that of "a spell". Jennie commented how the group reacted when they were given the demo for the song: "When we first listened to the lead track 'Ddu-du Ddu-du,' we all thought, 'This is it.'" [10]
The song opens with a chord progression which makes use of EDM and trap synths, which is repeated multiple times throughout the first verse. Music producer Azodi commented that its "biggest riff" is already heard in the beginning, "but keeps a lot of space in the verses and chorus for a strong lead vocal line". [11] Its production makes use of percolating synthesizers while the chorus sees the group members delivering the refrain: "hit you with that 'ddu-du ddu-du'". [12] [13] Azodi observed that, "By the time the chorus is here, you would've heard the hook about four to eight times roughly so it's already been passively drilled into your skull without you realizing". [11] Its lyrical content, such as "In my hands is a fat check/ If you're curious, do a fact check", celebrate the member's success and offer feelings of strength and self-assurance. [14] [15]
"Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" was met with generally favorable reviews from music critics. Hwang Seon-up, a critic from South Korean webzine IZM, awarded the song a 3.5 out of 5; he noted the unexpected blend of an "ordinary trap beat" with synth instrumentals, which he felt created an "outstanding" climax in the "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" drop. [16] Chase McMullen, writing for The 405, described the song as both "boisterous" and "beautifully ludicrous", and regarded the chorus to be "essentially nonsense". He emphasized that "what's being said [is] less important than how they say it", and praised the song for its "irresistible cadences" and its seamless flow of verses. [17] Jeff Benjamin, writing for Paper, commended the song's musical arrangement and placed it at number 13 on their Top 20 K-Pop Songs of 2018 list, remarking that the song perfectly blended "hard hip-hop, honeyed harmonies", and a touch of hazy EDM. Furthermore, Benjamin added that "from the opening shoutout of their group name, Blackpink delivers one of the year's strongest anthems." [18]
Writing for NME, Rhian Daly ranked "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" the best song in the group's discography in May 2019, writing that "it's a no-holds-barred, powerful anthem packed full of supreme self-confidence and swagger." [19] She ranked it the 26th best K-pop song of all time in a piece published by The Forty-Five in May 2023, remarking that "Few intros in K-pop are as instantly recognisable as the siren entrance of 'Ddu-Du Ddu-Du'", and complimented the "perfect combination of rap braggadocio from Jennie and Lisa and powerhouse vocals from Rosé and Jisoo". [20] Taylor Glasby from British GQ felt the song embodied the essence of "over the top" K-pop, highlighting the "catchy title refrain", the rappers' sly confidence in the verses, and the emotional build into the chorus that gave the members space to demonstrate their vocal ability. [21] On the other hand, Business Insider's Palmer Haasch was not impressed with the song's production, opining that despite its "dramatic" flair and overflowing confidence, it lacked the "thematic substance" found in songs like "Kill This Love", even though it followed a similar structure. She further noted that the "bridge and final bars don't feel like a particularly satisfying conclusion". [22]
Critic/Publication | Year | List | Rank | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
British GQ | 2019 | Best K-Pop songs of the decade | No order | [21] |
The Forty-Five | 2023 | The 45 best K-pop songs of all-time | 26 | [20] |
Melon | 2021 | Top 100 K-pop Songs of All Time | 13 | [23] |
The New York Times | 2018 | The 65 Best Songs of 2018 | 31 | [24] |
Paper | Top 20 K-pop Songs of 2018 | 13 | [18] | |
Rolling Stone | 10 Best Music Videos of 2018 | 8 | [25] | |
2023 | 100 Greatest Songs in the History of Korean Pop Music | 6 | [26] | |
YouTube Rewind | 2018 | Top 10 Most Popular Music Videos In Korea From 2018 | 2 | [27] |
"Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" won 11 first place awards on South Korean music programs, including a quadruple crown on Show! Music Core and triple crowns on Inkigayo and M Countdown. It additionally won three weekly Melon Popularity Awards from July 2 to July 16, 2018. [28]
Year | Organization | Award | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | Genie Music Awards | Best Female Dance Performance | Nominated | [29] |
Song of the Year | Nominated | |||
Korea Popular Music Awards | Best Group Dance | Nominated | [30] | |
Song of the Year | Nominated | |||
Melon Music Awards | Best Dance – Female | Won | [31] | |
Song of the Year | Nominated | |||
Mnet Asian Music Awards | Song of the Year | Nominated | [32] | |
Best Dance Performance Female Group | Nominated | |||
Best Music Video | Nominated | |||
MTV Video Music Awards Japan | Best Dance Video | Won | [33] | |
2019 | Gaon Chart Music Awards | Artist of the Year – Digital Music (June) | Won | [34] |
Golden Disc Awards | Best Digital Song (Bonsang) | Won | [35] | |
Song of the Year (Daesang) | Nominated | |||
Teen Choice Awards | Choice Song: Group | Won | [36] | |
2020 | Bugs Music Awards | 20th Anniversary – Most Loved Music | Won | [37] |
Program | Date | Ref. |
---|---|---|
Show! Music Core | June 23, 2018 | [38] |
June 30, 2018 | [39] | |
July 7, 2018 | [40] | |
July 14, 2018 | [41] | |
Inkigayo | June 24, 2018 | [42] |
July 1, 2018 | [43] | |
July 8, 2018 | [44] | |
M Countdown | June 28, 2018 | [45] |
July 5, 2018 | [46] | |
July 12, 2018 | [47] | |
Music Bank | June 29, 2018 | [48] |
In South Korea, "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" debuted at number three on the Gaon Digital Chart for the week of June 16. The following week, the song ascended to the number one position, becoming Blackpink's second number-one single in the country. It broke the highest weekly points in the Gaon Digital Chart, previously held by labelmate Big Bang with the single " Flower Road". [49] "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" also achieved a perfect all-kill upon its release, retaining the status for eleven consecutive days. [50] It remained atop the Gaon Digital Chart for three weeks and subsequently spent over 50 weeks in the top 100. [51] It was then certified platinum for both download and streaming by the Korea Music Content Association (KMCA) for 100 million streams on November 8, 2018, and 2.5 million digital sales on April 11, 2019. [52] [53] The Japanese version of the single debuted at number 6 on the Japanese Oricon Daily Singles Chart and peaked at number 2 six days later, selling 3,725 units. [54] [55] On the chart's weekly issue, the song debuted at number 7 with 24,385 copies sold. [56] The song was certified gold for 50 million streams by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) in July 2021. [57]
In the United States, "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" debuted and peaked at number 55 on the US Billboard Hot 100 on June 30, 2018. It became the highest-charting song by a Korean girl group on the chart, breaking the record previously held by " Nobody" by Wonder Girls in 2009. Within its first week, the song accumulated 12.4 million streams and sold more than 7,000 digital units in the country. [58] According to Nielsen, the song received 113 million on-demand streams in 2018. [59] On August 23, 2019, the song was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), for track equivalent sales of 500,000 units, thus becoming the first Korean girl group and third Korean artist overall to receive the certification, after Psy and BTS. [60] In Canada, "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" debuted at number 22 on the Canadian Hot 100 and remained on the chart for ten weeks. [61] In Europe, the song peaked at number 32 on the Scottish Singles and Albums Charts [62] and number 78 on the UK Singles Chart, making them the first K-pop girl group in history to enter the chart. [63] The track reached 13.7 million streams in the UK as of April 2019, and 45.5 million streams as of September 2022, becoming the group's most-streamed song in the country. [64] [65] In June 2021, the song was awarded a silver certification in the country by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for track-equivalent sales of 200,000 units. [66]
The music video for "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" was uploaded to the group's official YouTube channel along with the release of Square Up on June 15. [67] It soon became the most viewed online video in the first 24 hours by a Korean act, and the second most watched music video of all time with more than 36.2 million views within 24 hours after release, surpassing Psy's " Gentleman" (2013) and second only to Taylor Swift's " Look What You Made Me Do" (2017). [68] The music video hit 100 million views in 10 days, making “Ddu-Du Ddu-Du” the only music video by an all-female group to achieve the feat within the timeframe. [69] In November 2018, five months after release, it became the fastest music video by a K-pop group to reach 500 million views and the fifth most viewed K-pop video of all time at the time. [70] A dance practice video for the song was released on June 18, 2018. [71]
Rolling Stone named it the eighth best music video of 2018, describing it as "a feat of bonkers, maximalist creativity that includes the best use of a tank in a music video since Master P's " Make 'Em Say Uhh!" (1998). [25] On January 21, 2019, the video became the most-viewed music video by a K-pop group on YouTube, with 620.9 million views; the video averaged 2.5 million views per day since its release, with 1.95 million daily views in January 2019. [72] On November 11, 2019, the music video surpassed one billion views, making Blackpink the first K-pop group, second girl group, and fourth music group overall to achieve the milestone. [73] The video subsequently surpassed two billion views on January 4, 2023, making it the first K-pop group video to achieve the milestone, and the second K-pop video overall to achieve the feat, after " Gangnam Style" (2012) by Psy. [74]
As part of promotions for Square Up, Blackpink premiered the song on live television along with " Forever Young" on Show! Music Core on June 16, 2018. Osen contrasted the "refreshing and melodic" performance of "Forever Young" with the strong hip-hop concept of "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du". [8] They subsequently appeared on Inkigayo for the first time the next day. [75] On June 22, the group was slated to perform the track at the Lotte Duty Free Family Concert 2018; however after several songs, their performance was abruptly halted before having a chance to perform "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" due to "safety concerns". Fans expressed discontent regarding the handling of the situation as many in the audience paid tickets to see the group and they did not return after being escorted off the stage. The event organizers soon apologized for the incident. [76]
"Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" was used as the opening number for the group's first two headlining concert tours, the Blackpink Arena Tour 2018 and the In Your Area World Tour (2018–2020). [77] [78] They also performed the song at the TGC Kitakyushu 2018 festival by Tokyo Girls Collection in Kitakyushu, Japan on October 6, [79] and the SBS Super Concert in Suwon on October 14. [80] At year-end award ceremonies and festivals, Blackpink performed the song live at the 2018 Melon Music Awards on December 1, where they won the award for best female dance performance. [81] On December 25, Jennie performed her single "Solo" at the annual SBS Gayo Daejeon before reuniting with the rest of the members for the performance of "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" and "Forever Young". [82] The following month, the group made performances with the song at the 33rd Golden Disc Awards on January 5, 2019, [83] and the 8th Gaon Chart Music Awards on January 23. [84]
On February 9, 2019, the group performed in the United States for the first time at Universal Music's Grammy Artist Showcase with "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" and "Forever Young". [85] Two days later, Blackpink made their American television debut in New York City on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert; their performance on the show coincided with the 55th anniversary of The Beatles' American television debut at the same theater. [86] They also made a performance with the song on Good Morning America the following day. [87] At the April 2019 Coachella Festival in Indio, California, "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" was also used for the opening performance. [88] On January 31, 2021, the group performed the song as part of their set list for their virtual concert The Show; the stage was decorated with a display of fire and pyrotechnics and was transformed into a shallow pool. Teen Vogue wrote that the performance was "one of the greatest spectacles of the concert". [89] Billboard noted how "the fire and water elements shine" and deemed it one of the concert's standout moments. [90] "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" was also included in the set list for the group's second world tour, the Born Pink World Tour (2022–2023). [91]
The song was featured in the fourth episode of season three of Freeform series The Bold Type in April 2019 and the fifth episode of the tvN television series Mr. Queen in December 2020. [92] [93] South Korean boy band Stray Kids performed "God's Ddu-Du Ddu-Du", a Deadpool-themed mashup of "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" with their own song " God's Menu", during the 2021 Mnet competition show Kingdom: Legendary War. [94] "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" was featured in the dance rhythm game, Just Dance 2019, [95] and was covered on the girl group survival show Universe Ticket in 2023. [96] In November 2023, members of the British royal band performed a cover of "Ddu-Du-Ddu-Du" at the gates of the Buckingham Palace in recognition of the group members receiving honorary MBEs from King Charles III. [97]
"Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" was named the Song of the Year by South Korean research company Gallup Korea's annual public survey conducted in 2018. [98] In January 2019, The Korea Herald revealed that "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" was covered more times than any other K-pop song in 2018, with the "gun-shooting hand gesture" move attracting the interest of K-pop fans around the world to film cover videos. [99] In December 2019, British GQ named it amongst the best K-pop songs of the 2010s and the highlight work of the genre from 2018. [21] Lucy Ford, from the same publication, acknowledged that Blackpink cemented "the badass, empowered 'girl crush' concept" in K-pop with the release of "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du", a concept previously propelled by 2NE1 in the industry. [100] Writing for Sisa Journal, music critic Kim Young-dae observed that Blackpink's "sophisticated and edgy image", as showcased through the song and its "finger gun choreography", went on to become one of the most emblematic representations of girl groups globally. [101]
In 2021, a panel of 35 music experts curated by Melon and newspaper Seoul Shinmun pleaced "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" at number 13 on their list of the top 100 K-pop songs of all time. KBS Radio director Soyeon Kang commented that the song "ignited a global signal" leading to Blackpink's emergence as the girl group capturing worldwide attention. Kang highlighted Blackpink's record-breaking achievements and distinguished "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" as the work that established the group's musical identity, characterized by its EDM trap beats and strong hooks. [23] [102] Rolling Stone ranked it sixth in their list of the 100 greatest songs in the history of Korean pop music in 2023, recognizing the song as one of the works that perfected and popularized the "EDM trap template" in K-pop, and the group's role in elevating the sound to "global heights". [26]
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Arrangement | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" |
|
|
| 3:29 |
Total length: | 3:29 |
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Arrangement | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" |
|
|
| 3:29 |
2. | "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" (뚜두뚜두; Korean version) | Teddy |
|
| 3:31 |
3. | "Forever Young" (Korean version) | Teddy |
|
| 3:57 |
4. | "Really" (Korean version) |
|
| Choice37 | 3:17 |
5. | "See U Later" (Korean version) | Teddy |
|
| 3:18 |
Total length: | 14:03 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" (music video) | |
2. | "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" (behind the scenes) | |
3. | "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" (dance practice video) |
Weekly charts
|
Monthly charts
Year-end charts
|
Note: In Australia, the EP Square Up ranked at number 61 on the singles chart, but the single was not recognised separately.
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia ( ARIA) [124] | Platinum | 70,000‡ |
France ( SNEP) [125] | Gold | 100,000‡ |
Japan Physical album |
— | 29,388 [126] |
Poland ( ZPAV) [127] | Gold | 25,000‡ |
South Korea ( KMCA) [128] | Platinum | 2,500,000* |
United Kingdom ( BPI) [66] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
United States ( RIAA) [129] | Gold | 500,000‡ |
Streaming | ||
Japan ( RIAJ) [57] | Platinum | 100,000,000† |
South Korea ( KMCA) [130] | 2× Platinum | 200,000,000† |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Region | Date | Version | Format(s) | Label(s) | Catalogue | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Various | June 15, 2018 | Korean | YG | Various | [131] | |
August 22, 2018 | Japanese | YGEX | [132] | |||
Japan | CD single | AVCY-58711 | [133] | |||
CD + DVD | AVCY-58710 | [134] | ||||
Various | October 16, 2019 | Remix (Japanese) | Various | [135] |