"Bad Love" is a song recorded by South Korean singer Key serving as the second single for his 2021 extended play of the same name. It was released on September 27, 2021, through SM Entertainment as the album's lead single. The song was written by Kenzie, who also handled the composition and arrangement with Adrian McKinnon.

"Bad Love"
Single by Key
from the EP Bad Love
LanguageKorean
ReleasedSeptember 27, 2021
Studio
  • SM SSAM Studio
  • Sound POOL Studios
  • SM Big Shot Studio
GenreDance-pop
Length3:25
LabelSM Entertainment
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Kenzie
  • Adrian McKinnon
Key singles chronology
"Hate That..."
(2021)
"Bad Love"
(2021)
"Gasoline"
(2022)
Music video
"Bad Love" on YouTube

Background and release

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On September 6, 2021, SM Entertainment announced the upcoming release date of Key's first Korean-language extended play, Bad Love, led by the single of the same name.[1] The first single from the EP, "Hate That...", had already been released a month prior.[2] Key showcased the song for the first time at his Beyond Live concert, Groks in the Keyland, on September 26, 2021, before releasing it alongside the album on the next day.[3] Two music video teasers were released on September 25 and September 26, respectively. The song together with the music video were released on September 27.[4]

Composition

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"Bad Love" was written by Kenzie. Musically, the song is described as a dance-pop song that creates a retro mood with a strong synth sound and a lively beat.[5] The lyrics revolve around "a tale of ecstatic love turned toxic".[6]

Critical reception

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"Bad Love" on year-end lists
Critic/Publication List Rank Ref.
Bollywood Hungama 25 Korean Songs that Defined 2021 Placed [7]
Dazed The best K-pop tracks of 2021 2 [8]
Marie Claire The 20 Best New K-Pop Songs of 2021 Placed [9]
NME The 25 best K-pop songs of 2021 3 [10]
Paper The 40 Best K-Pop Songs of 2021 5 [11]
PhilStar Life 21 K-pop Title Tracks That Defined 2021 20
The Ringer The Best K-pop Songs of 2021 1 [13]
Teen Vogue 21 Best K-Pop Music Videos of 2021 Placed [14]
Tone Deaf The best K-pop songs of 2021 Placed [15]

Accolades

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Music program wins for "Bad Love"
Program Date Ref.
Show! Music Core (MBC) October 9, 2021 [16]

Credits and personnel

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Credits adapted from the liner notes for Bad Love.[17]

Studio

Personnel

  • Key – vocals, background vocals
  • Junny – background vocals
  • Kenzie – vocal directing, lyrics, composition, arrangement
  • Adrian McKinnon – composition
  • Lee Min-gyu – recording
  • Jung Yu-ra – digital editing
  • No Min-ji – engineering for mix
  • Nam Koong-jin – mixing
  • Kwon Nam-woo – mastering

Charts

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Weekly chart performance for "Bad Love"
Chart (2021) Peak
position
South Korea (Gaon)[18] 34
South Korea (K-pop Hot 100)[19] 87
US World Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[20] 13

Release history

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Release history and formats for "Bad Love"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various September 27, 2021 [21]

References

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  1. ^ Jeong, Hee-yeon (September 6, 2021). 샤이니 키, 새 솔로 앨범 'BAD LOVE' 9월 27일 발매 [공식] [Shinee's Key will release new solo album 'Bad Love' on September 27 [Official]]. Sports Dong-A (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 13, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2021 – via Naver.
  2. ^ Yeo, Gladys (September 13, 2021). "Shinee's Key unveils cryptic teaser for upcoming solo mini-album 'Bad Love'". NME. Archived from the original on September 16, 2021. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  3. ^ Ko, Seung-ah (September 15, 2021). 샤이니 키 '비욘드 라이브' CGV서 생중계…극장 최초 [Shinee Key's 'Beyond Live' to be broadcast live at CGV... First time in a theater]. News1 (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 15, 2021. Retrieved September 16, 2021 – via Naver.
  4. ^ Kim, Na-young (September 24, 2021). 샤이니 키, 타이틀 곡 ‘BAD LOVE’ MV 티저 공개…매력 폭발 [Shinee's Key's title song "BAD LOVE" MV teaser will be released...So charming.]. MK Sports (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 25, 2021. Retrieved September 25, 2021 – via Naver.
  5. ^ Hong, Hye-min (September 15, 2021). 샤이니 키, 이번엔 레트로다 [Shinee's Key: this time it's retro]. Hankook Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 16, 2021. Retrieved September 16, 2021 – via Naver.
  6. ^ Glasby, Taylor (October 6, 2021). "Shinee's Key on sci-fi, military service, and Bowie". Archived from the original on October 10, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
  7. ^ Iyengar, Nandini (December 31, 2021). "From BTS to TWICE, SEVENTEEN to TXT, Baekhyun to IU – 25 Korean songs that defined 2021". Bollywood Hungama. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  8. ^ Glasby, Taylor (December 20, 2021). "The best K-pop tracks of 2021". Dazed. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  9. ^ LeGardye, Quinci (November 12, 2021). "The 20 Best New K-Pop Songs of 2021". Marie Claire. Archived from the original on November 12, 2021. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  10. ^ Webster, Abby; Suacillo, Angela Patricia; Oladele, Bashirat; Chin, Carmen; Yeo, Gladys; Ford, Lucy; Abanes, Mariel; ZiWei, Puah; Daly, Rhian; C, Ruby; Ramli, Sofiana; Raj, Tanu I.; Assis, Tássia (December 20, 2021). "The 25 best K-pop songs of 2021". NME. Archived from the original on December 20, 2021. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  11. ^ Bell, Crystal (December 31, 2021). "The 40 Best K-Pop Songs of 2021". Paper. Archived from the original on December 31, 2021. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  12. ^ Mallorca, Hannah (December 23, 2021). "21 K-pop title tracks that defined 2021". The Philippine Star L!fe. Archived from the original on December 23, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
  13. ^ Halliwell, Kate (December 13, 2021). "The Best K-pop Songs of 2021". The Ringer. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
  14. ^ Tatum, Chyenne (December 14, 2021). "21 Best K-Pop Music Videos of 2021". Teen Vogue. Archived from the original on December 14, 2021. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
  15. ^ "The best K-pop songs of 2021". Tone Deaf. December 30, 2021. Archived from the original on December 30, 2021. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  16. ^ Kang, Min-kyung (October 9, 2021). '음악중심' 샤이니 키, 'BAD LOVE'로 첫 1위 "절대 잊지 않을 것" 눈물[★밤TView] ['Show! Music Core' Shinee's Key takes first win with 'Bad Love' "Never forget" tears]. Star News (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 9, 2021. Retrieved October 9, 2021 – via Naver.
  17. ^ Bad Love (CD liner notes). South Korea: SM Entertainment. 2021.
  18. ^ "2021년 40주차 Digital Chart" [Digital Chart – Week 40, 2021]. Gaon Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association. September 26 – October 2, 2021. Archived from the original on October 7, 2021. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  19. ^ "Billboard K-pop 100". Billboard Korea (in Korean). October 9, 2021. Archived from the original on October 5, 2021. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
  20. ^ "World Digital Song Sales". Billboard. October 9, 2021. Archived from the original on October 5, 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  21. ^ "Bad Love – Key". Melon (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 27, 2021. Retrieved October 12, 2021.