"Scars" is a song recorded by South Korean boy band Stray Kids. It was released on October 13, 2021, as a double A-side Japanese second single together with the Japanese version of "Thunderous", through Epic Records Japan. Written by 3Racha, KM-Markit, and Armadillo, it shows the group's determination to continue to make deep and large scars to grasp a bigger dream even though they have a lot of them. The song peaked at number two on both Oricon Singles Chart, and Billboard Japan Hot 100, selling over 180,000 copies in the first week in Japan. The Korean version of "Scars" was released on December 23 as a lead single of their second compilation album SKZ2021.
On July 30, 2021, Stray Kids announced the release of their second Japanese single on October 13, with five physical editions: three first press limited (A, B, C), regular, and FC.[1][2] The group counted down to announce the single's title and details from September 3 to 8 with individual concept photos.[3] They announce the title on September 9, called "Scars" and the Japanese version of "Thunderous", as a double A-side single, with the B-side "Call", and the Japanese version of "My Pace" as a bonus track from the first press limited editions.[4] "Scars" was pre-released to digital music and streaming platform on October 6.[5] Stray Kids released the Korean version of "Scars" as a lead single of the compilation album SKZ2021 on December 21.[6]
"Scars" is described as an "energetic" and "touching" medium number (a ballad with a bit of more tempo) song,[4] composed in the key of C major, 80 beats per minute with a running time of 3 minutes and 21 seconds.[7] 3Racha (Bang Chan, Changbin, Han) written and co-composed the song with Armadillo. The Japanese lyrics were written by KM-Markit. Bang Chan and Versachoi are in charge of arrangement.[8] Lyrically, the song expresses Stray Kids' determination to continue making deep and large scars to grasp a bigger dream even though they already have a lot of them. It compares scars to the group's effort, tears and sweat.[4] The B-side "Call" is a pop song about a still lingering feeling of love.[4]
In Japan's Oricon charts, "Scars" landed at number 32 on the Combined Singles Chart dated October 18.[9] before combined with "Thunderous" (Japanese ver.) and peaked at number two in next week.[10] The double A-side single with the Japanese version of "Thunderous" debuted at number 2 on the Oricon Singles Chart dated October 25, selling 119,963 copies in the first week, surpassing 37,157 copies of "Top" (Japanese ver.).[11] For Billboard Japan Hot 100, "Scars" entered at number 39 for the dated issue of October 13,[12] before peaked at number 2 of October 20 due to the CD single release,[13] behide only Sakurazaka46's "Nagaredama".[14][15] The single was sold 182,405 CD copies (number two on the Top Singles Sales) in the first week, surpassing 49,329 copies of their first Japanese single,[16][17] 1,402 download units (number 46 on the Download Songs),[14][18] and earned 3,980,778 Japan streams (number 46 on the Streaming Songs) on the week.[14][19]
For international charts, "Scars" landed at number 7 on the BillboardWorld Digital Song Sales in the week ending October 16, 2021,[20] making Stray Kids' fifteenth top ten song on the chart,[21] and entered 40th week of Hungary's Single Top 40 at number 11.[22]
An accompanying music video of "Scars" was premiered on October 6, 2021.[23] It depicts the group journeying into a mysterious land and following a sparkle of fireflies that lead the group towards a giant box of light. The music video also features scenes of the group's sleek and powerful choreography.[24]
^"Stray Kidsが10月に日本2ndシングルリリース、FC盤購入者限定イベントも開催" [Stray Kids Will Release Japan 2nd Single in October, Holding a Limited Event to FC Board Purchasers]. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha Inc. July 30, 2021. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
^Park, Seo-hyun (August 2, 2021). "스트레이 키즈, 10월 13일 日새 앨범 발매..하반기 맹활약 예고(공식)" [Stray Kids Will Release a New Single in Japan on October 13th .. Prediction of a Big Success in the Second Half (Official)]. Herald Pop (in Korean). Herald. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
^ ab"10月6日(水)0時より、「Scars」の先行配信が決定！" ["Scars" Will Be Pre-Released on October 6 (Wed), 00:00!]. Stray Kids Japan Official Website (in Japanese). Epic JYP. October 5, 2021. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
^Hwang, Hye-jin (December 23, 2021). "스트레이 키즈, 오늘(23일) 디지털 앨범 'SKZ2021' 발매 '2021 성공적 마무리'" [Stray Kids, Today(23rd) Digital Album 'SKZ2021' Release '2021 Successful Completion']. Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved December 23, 2021.
^"週間 合算シングルランキング 2021年10月18日付" [Weekly Combined Singles Chart October 18, 2021] (in Japanese). Oricon. October 18, 2021. Archived from the original on October 13, 2021. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
^ ab"週間 合算シングルランキング 2021年10月25日付" [Weekly Combined Singles Chart October 25, 2021] (in Japanese). Oricon. October 25, 2021. Archived from the original on October 22, 2021. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
^"週間 シングルランキング 2021年10月25日付" [Weekly Singles Chart October 25, 2021] (in Japanese). Oricon. October 25, 2021. Archived from the original on October 20, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
^"Hot 100 [2021/10/13 公開]". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). October 13, 2021. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
^"Hot 100 [2021/10/20 公開]". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). October 20, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
^ abc"【ビルボード】櫻坂46「流れ弾」407,334枚を売り上げ、初登場首位" [[Billboard] Sakurazaka46 "Nagare Dama" Debut Atop with 407,334 Copies Sold]. Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Hanshin Contents Link. October 20, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
^"【ビルボード】櫻坂46『流れ弾』初週40.7万枚でシングル・セールス首位" [[Billboard] Sakurazaka46 "Nagare Dama" No. 1 on Single Sales with 407,000 Copies in the First Week]. Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Hanshin Contents Link. October 18, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
^ ab"Stray Kids、10月12日のNHK「沼にハマってきいてみた」で新曲「Scars」世界初パフォーマンス決定！MVは本日YouTubeプレミア公開" [Stray Kids, Will Show the World's First Performance of the New Song "Scars" on NHK Numa ni Hamatte Kiite Mita on October 12th! MV Will Be Released Today on YouTube Premiere]. Kstyle (in Japanese). October 6, 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
^"Stray Kids、あす12日放送の『沼ハマ』に登場 新曲「Scars」を日本初披露" [Stray Kids, Tomorrow 12th New Song "Scars" Debut Performance in Japan at "Numa Hama"]. Oricon (in Japanese). October 11, 2021. Retrieved October 11, 2021.
^"Stray Kids、千葉雄大と韓国語で掛け合いも！日テレ「MUSIC BLOOD」リモート出演で大盛り上がり" [Yudai Chiba Talks with Stray Kids in Korean! NTV "MUSIC BLOOD" Remote Appearance Makes a Big Excitement]. Kstyle (in Japanese). October 15, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
^"Stray Kids、約1年ぶりにフジテレビ「Love music」に登場！新曲パフォーマンス＆スペシャルインタビューも" [Stray Kids Appears on Fuji TV's "Love music" for the First Time in About a Year! New Song Performance & Special Interview]. Kstyle (in Japanese). October 25, 2021. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
^"Stray Kids「THE FIRST TAKE」に再登場 日本オリジナルの最新曲「Scars」特別なアレンジで披露へ" [Stray Kids appeared again in "THE FIRST TAKE", The Latest Japanese Original Song "Scars" Will Be Unveiled with a Special Arrangement]. Oricon (in Japanese). November 10, 2021. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
^Seon, Min-kyung (February 14, 2022). "스트레이 키즈, 3월 18일 컴백 확정..새 앨범 'ODDINARY' 발매[공식]" [Stray Kids, March 18 Comeback Confirmed..New Album 'ODDINARY' Release [Official]]. Osen (in Korean). Retrieved February 14, 2022.
