Wikipedia

S-Class (song)

"S-Class" (Korean: 특; RR: Teuk; lit. Special) is a song by South Korean boy band Stray Kids, taken from their third Korean-language studio album 5-Star. It was released as the album's lead single on June 2, 2023, through JYP Entertainment and Republic Records.

"S-Class"
Single by Stray Kids
from the album 5-Star
Language
  • Korean
  • English
ReleasedJune 2, 2023
StudioJYPE (Seoul)
GenreHip hop
Length3:16
Label
Composer(s)
  • Bang Chan
  • Changbin
  • Han
  • Chae Gang-hae
  • Restart
Lyricist(s)
  • Bang Chan
  • Changbin
  • Han
Stray Kids singles chronology
"The Sound"
(2023) 		"S-Class"
(2023) 		"Super Bowl (Japanese ver.)"
(2023)
Music video
"S-Class" on YouTube

Background and release

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Stray Kids' third Korean-language studio album 5-Star was first announced via a trailer on April 28, 2023, and set to be released on June 2.[1] The album's Solar System-styled track listing was posted two days later. Out of 12 songs, "S-Class" appears as the second track and is marked as the lead single.[2] JYP Entertainment described that the song "captures Stray Kids' newness and challenge itself throughout the song," as well as "overflowing with confidence."[3] In an Esquire Korea interview in May, member Hyunjin described the lead single as "a unique and special feeling that Stray Kids is good at."[4]

The song was first teased via the mashup video uploaded on May 26: "This is Seoul Special City / A special star rises among the hidden stars."[A][5] Member I.N revealed via the first episode of the album's documentary series Intro "5-Star" that it was around seven or eight nominated tracks for the lead single.[6] "S-Class" was released alongside its parent album 5-Star on June 2.[7]

Composition and reception

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"S-Class" was described as a primary hip hop track with the elements of boom bap, old school, and pop, written by 3Racha—an in-house production team of Stray Kids members Bang Chan, Changbin, and Han—and co-composed Chae Gang-hae and Restart, who are also in charge of arrangement with Bang Chan. In an interview with Dispatch, Changbin and Han told that "There are various genres, but it is difficult to decide on one genre. After all, is not 'S-Class' a genre unique to Stray Kids? The genre is Stray Kids." In the second verse, the song's BPM and beats have suddenly changed to a 90's old-school hip-hop arrangement.[8]

The song expresses Stray Kids' confidence and "emphasiz[ing] their specialness,"[9] containing the messages "the most eccentric among the unusual kids, and the brightest among the special kids,"[10] as well as comparing themselves as a "most special star in the sky."[11] NME's Crystal Bell described the song as "a mishmash of seemingly incongruous parts fused together by 3Racha's shapeshifting production prowess;" it was mixed between "booming rap, thrumming bass, sultry electro, '90s hip-hop, sparkling pop and grimy club."[11] Writing for Nylon, Steffanee Wang called the song "sounds like listening to three different songs at once. In a good way."[12]

Music video

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An accompanying music video for "S-Class" was uploaded on June 2, 2023, in conjunction with the single release.[13] It was directed by Bang Jae-yeob[14] and preceded by two teasers.[15][16] Described as a "blockbuster movie", the music video shows Stray Kids surrounded by cloaked figures when a massive team of soldiers burst into action, killing an octopus monster at the indoor swimming pool with the boyband leading the way. The dance performance parts were additionally shot at a docking platform installed in the middle of Han River, a neighborhood setting, an underground chamber, and a bank after hours. Some parts also referred to the group's previous music videos of "God's Menu" and "Thunderous".[17][18][19] The music video became the tenth music video to reach 100 million views on August 8,[20] and the fifth to reach 200 million views on June 2, 2024.[21]

Live performances

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Starting on June 2, the release date, Stray Kids performed "S-Class" at several music programs in South Korea, such as Music Bank,[22][23] Show! Music Core,[24][25] Inkigayo,[26][27] and M Countdown.[28] The group also performed "S-Class" at 2023 MTV Video Music Awards on September 12,[29] and 2023 Billboard Music Awards on November 19, the latter alongside "Lalalala".[30] Billboard ranked the former show the sixth best performance of the award show,[31] while USA Today thirteenth.[32] They performed the song and "Social Path" with Lisa at Music Station Super Live 2023 on December 22.[33] In May 2024, the group appeared at the 2024 YouTube Brandcast in New York City and performed "S-Class".[34]

Accolades

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Awards and nominations for "S-Class"
Ceremony Year Award Result Ref.
Asian Pop Music Awards 2023 Best Music Video Nominated [35]
[36]
Best Arranger[B] Nominated
Top 20 Songs of the Year Won
iHeartRadio Music Awards 2024 K-pop Song of the Year Nominated [37]
MAMA Awards 2023 Song of the Year Nominated [38]
Best Dance Performance – Male Group Nominated
Best Music Video Nominated
MTV Video Music Awards 2023 Best K-Pop Won [39]
Music program awards for "S-Class"
Program Date Ref.
Show Champion June 7, 2023 [40]
June 14, 2023 [41]
M Countdown June 8, 2023 [42]
June 15, 2023 [43]
Music Bank June 9, 2023 [23]
June 16, 2023 [44]

Credits and personnel

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Personnel

  • Stray Kids – vocals, background vocals
  • Chae Gang-hae – composition, arrangement, all instruments, computer programming
  • Restart – composition, arrangement, all instruments, computer programming, digital editing
  • Goo Hye-jin – recording
  • Manny Marroquin – mixing
  • Chris Galland – mix engineering
    • Ramiro Fernandez-Seoane – assistant
  • Dave Kutch – mastering

Locations

Charts

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Certifications

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Certifications for "S-Class"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Streaming
Japan (RIAJ)[64] Gold 50,000,000†

† Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

Notes

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  1. ^ Korean: 여긴 Seoul 특별시 / 가려진 별들 사이 떠오르는 특별; RR: Yeogin Seoul Teukbyeolsi / Garyeojin byeoldeul sai tteooreuneun teukbyeol
  2. ^ Credited as Chae Gang-hae, Restart, and Bang Chan (3Racha)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Ahn, Jin-yong (April 28, 2023). "스트레이 키즈, 6월 2일 컴백…정규 '★★★★★ (5-STAR)' 발매" [Stray Kids, June 2 Comeback… Full-Length '★★★★★ (5-STAR)' Release]. Munhwa Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  2. ^ Kim, Ha-young (May 1, 2023). "[공식] 6월 2일 컴백…스트레이 키즈, 타이틀곡 '특'" [[Official] June 2 Comeback… Stray Kids, Title Track 'S-Class']. Sports Kyunghyang (in Korean). Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  3. ^ Jeon, Hyo-jin (May 12, 2023). "스트레이 키즈, 수록곡 'FNF' 티저 영상 공개" [Stray Kids, Side Track 'FNF' Teaser Video Released]. Sports Donga (in Korean). Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  4. ^ Oh, Sung-yoon (May 22, 2023). "Part 1. 스트레이 키즈 현진은 이제 '스스로 볼 때 멋있는가' 하는 부분이 가장 중요하다고 했다" [Part 1. Stray Kids Hyunjin Said That the Most Important Part Is 'Are You Cool When You Look at Yourself']. Esquire Korea (in Korean). Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  5. ^ Seon, Min-kyung (May 26, 2023). "'컴백' 스트레이 키즈, 전곡 매시업 하이라이트 영상 공개..보는 맛 극대화". Osen (in Korean). Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  6. ^ Kim, Young-jin (June 1, 2023). "스트레이 키즈 "신보 '★★★★★', 자신감 담긴 앨범"" [Stray Kids "New Album '★★★★★', an Album Full of Confidence"]. Asia Today (in Korean). Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  7. ^ Park, Seo-hyun (June 2, 2023). "[팝's신곡]"빛깔 뻔쩍 빛깔 뻔쩍"..스트레이 키즈, 더 별나게 돌아왔다 '특'" [[Pop's New Song] "Flashy Flashy".. Stray Kids, Come Back Even More Bizarrely 'S-Class']. Herald Pop (in Korean). Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  8. ^ Park, Hye-jin (June 3, 2023). "[D-eye] "음악을 갖고 논다는 것"…SKZ가 구축한 특★한 K팝" [[D-eye] "Playing with Music"… Special K-Pop Built by SKZ]. Dispatch (in Korean). Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  9. ^ Lee, Seul (June 2, 2023). ""별난 놈" 스트레이 키즈, 'K팝 최고' 선주문 513만 장 증명할 '특' (쥬크박스)[종합]" ["Special Guy" Stray Kids, 'S-Class' to Prove 5.13 Million Pre-Orders for 'K-Pop Best' (Jukebox) [Comprehensive]]. Xportsnews (in Korean). Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  10. ^ Kim, Soo-jung (June 2, 2023). "[일문일답]'선주문 513만장' 스키즈 "'특', 스테이 기 살려줄 노래"" [[Q&A] 'Pre-Order 5.13 Million Copies' SKZ "'S-Class', a Song That Will Save Your Stay"]. Nocut News (in Japanese). Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  11. ^ a b Bell, Crystal (June 5, 2023). "Stray Kids - '5-Star' review: cementing their superstar status". NME. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  12. ^ Wang, Steffanee (June 5, 2023). "Stray Kids' "S-Class" & 9 Other New Songs Out This Week". Nylon Japan. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  13. ^ Park, Se-yeon (June 2, 2023). "스트레이 키즈 정규 3집 선주문 513만장 'K팝 새 지평'" [Stray Kids' 3rd Studio Album with 5.13 Million Pre-Orders, 'K-Pop New Horizon']. Star Today (in Korean). Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  14. ^ "Stray Kids - S-Class — BANGJAEYEOB FILM". bangjaeyeob.com. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  15. ^ Son, Jin-ah (May 29, 2023). "스트레이키즈, '특' MV 티저 공개…예측 불가 서사" [Stray Kids, 'S-Class' MV Teaser Released… An Unpredictable Narrative]. MK Sports (in Korean). Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  16. ^ Lee, Nam-kyung (May 30, 2023). "스트레이 키즈, 신곡 '특' 두 번째 MV 티저 공개…중독성 강한 사운드" [Stray Kids Released Second MV Teaser for New Song 'S-Class'… Addictive Sound]. MBN (in Korean). Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  17. ^ Kim, Ye-seul (June 3, 2023). "한계 넘어 새 길로… 더 '특'별해진 스트레이 키즈" [Beyond the Limits on a New Path... Stray Kids Became More 'S-Class']. Kuki News (in Korean). Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  18. ^ Yeo, Gladys (May 29, 2023). "Stray Kids drop action-packed teaser for 'S-Class' music video". NME. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  19. ^ ANC613 (June 7, 2023). "[REVIEW] Stray Kids Take a Risk to Prove their S-Class Status". Genius. Retrieved June 7, 2023.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  20. ^ Seon, Mi-kyung (August 8, 2023). "스트레이 키즈, '특' MV도 1억뷰 돌파..통산 10번째 기록[공식]" [Stray Kids, 'S-Class' MV Also Surpassed 100 Million Views… The 10th Record [Official]]. Osen (in Korean). Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  21. ^ Jang, Da-hee (June 3, 2024). "스키즈, '특' 뮤직비디오로 통산 5번째 '2억 뷰' 기록 달성!" [SKZ Achieves 200 Million Views for the 5th Time with the Music Video for 'S-Class'!]. MBC Entertainment (in Korean). Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  22. ^ Shim, Min-kyung (June 2, 2023). "[뮤직뱅크] 빛나는 애들 중 가장 빛나는 스트레이 키즈의 '특'별한 무대 ♪특" [[Music Bank] Stray Kids' Special Stage Shining the Most Among the Shining Kids ♪ S-Class]. KBS Star Entertainment (in Korean). Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  23. ^ a b Im, Shi-ryeong (June 9, 2023). "'뮤직뱅크' 스트레이 키즈, 압도적인 점수로 1위 "겸손하게 활동할 것" [TV캡처]" ['Music Bank' Stray Kids, No. 1 with an Overwhelming Score "I Will Work Humbly" [TV Capture]]. Sports Today (in Korean). Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  24. ^ Kim, Bo-young (June 3, 2023). "(여자)아이들, '퀸카'로 '음중' 2주 연속 1위…화려한 활동 피날레" [(G)I-DLE, Won for 2 Weeks in a Row on 'Music Core' with 'Queencard'… Colorful Action Finale]. Edaily (in Korean). Retrieved June 3, 2023.
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  27. ^ Jeong, Ji-won (June 11, 2023). "'인기가요' (여자)아이들 트리플 크라운 1위, 음방 10관왕" ['Inkigayo' (G)I-DLE Triple Crown, 10 Music Show Wins]. Joynews24 (in Korean). Retrieved June 11, 2023.
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  29. ^ Grow, Kory; Paul, Larisha (September 12, 2023). "Stray Kids Beam During 'S-Class' Performance at 2023 MTV VMAs for Show Debut". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
  30. ^ Bowenbank, Starr (November 20, 2023). "Stray Kids Light Up the Stage With 'S-Class' & 'LALALALA' Performances at Billboard Music Awards". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
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