Play (stylized in all caps) is the debut studio album by South Korean brother-sister duo, AKMU, and their first release since winning K-pop Star 2 in 2012. It was released through YG Entertainment on April 7, 2014.

Play
Digital edition cover
Studio album by
ReleasedApril 7, 2014 (2014-04-07)
Recorded2013–2014
Genre
Length38:17
LanguageKorean
Label
ProducerLee Chan-hyuk
AKMU chronology
Play
(2014)
Spring
(2016)
Singles from Play
  1. "200%"
    Released: April 7, 2014
  2. "Melted"
    Released: April 14, 2014
  3. "Give Love"
    Released: May 2, 2014
Alternative cover
Physical edition
Physical edition

Background

edit

On March 31, 2014, YG Entertainment revealed the first teaser picture.[2] On April 1, the second teaser picture was revealed, followed by the album's track list[3] on April 2.

Composition

edit

Lee Chan-hyuk produced and wrote all the songs on the Play album. YG Entertainment's CEO Yang Hyun-suk explained,

"Up to now, I was in charge of producing albums for many singers. However, Akdong Musician's was the hardest for me. The musical genres I had mainly worked with were hip hop and R&B. However, Akdong Musician's genre is folk. It was a genre I have never tried before, so it was only right that they did it themselves. The two members of Akdong Musician debuted at an extremely young age. This year, Chan-hyuk will be 18 and Su-hyun will be 15. Because they are so young, if I were to order them to do this and that, their purity could get ruined. I decided it might actually be much more effective if the siblings personally [produced] it. As you can see by the results, this was verified after the album came out.[4]

Promotion and release

edit

The album was digitally released on April 7, 2014. The album, consisting of 11 songs, was released worldwide through iTunes, Melon, Genie, and other online music portals. The physical album hit stores on April 9. The group's first stage comeback was on K-pop Star 3 on April 6. "200%" and "Melted" had been chosen directly as the title tracks, and the third title track, "Give Love", was chosen on April 14 after a round of fan voting.[citation needed]

Accolades

edit

In 2024, EBS named Play one of the 100 best Korean popular music albums since 2004.[5]

Music program awards for "200%"
Program Date Ref.
M! Countdown April 17, 2014 [6]
April 24, 2014 [7]
May 1, 2014 [8]
Show! Music Core April 19, 2014 [9]
April 26, 2014
May 3, 2014
May 10, 2014
Inkigayo April 20, 2014 [10]
April 27, 2014 [11]
May 4, 2014 [12]

Track listing

edit

All tracks are written by Lee Chan-hyuk

No.TitleArrangementLength
1."Give Love"
  • Seogi
  • Shin Seung-ik
2:56
2."200%"
  • Rovin
  • Lee Chan-hyuk
3:13
3."Melted" (얼음들[a])Rovin3:55
4."On the Subway" (지하철에서[b])
  • Rovin
  • Lee Chan-hyuk
3:41
5."Hair Part" (가르마[c])Rovin3:46
6."Artificial Grass" (인공잔디[d])Rovin3:45
7."Don't Hate Me" (안녕[e])Philtre3:47
8."Little Star" (작은별[f])Rovin3:47
9."Anyway" (길이나[g])
  • Seogi
  • Shin Seung-ik
3:09
10."Idea" (소재[h])Rovin3:19
11."Galaxy"
  • Seogi
  • Shin Seung-ik
2:59
Total length:38:17

Charts

edit

Release history

edit
Country Date Format Label
Various April 7, 2014
South Korea April 9, 2014 CD

Notes

edit
  1. ^ Eoreumdeul lit. "Ice"
  2. ^ Jihacheor-eseo
  3. ^ Gareuma
  4. ^ In-gong Jandi
  5. ^ Annyeong lit. "Hello"
  6. ^ Jageun Byeol
  7. ^ Girina
  8. ^ Sojae

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c Benjamin, Jeff (11 September 2014). "Akdong Musician: 21 Under 21 (2014)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  2. ^ "Akdong Musician release first teaser picture for upcoming debut + YG updates on more comebacks". Allkpop. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
  3. ^ "Akdong Musician reveals play list for upcoming debut album". Allkpop. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
  4. ^ "Yang Hyun Suk explains why he did not produce Akdong Musician's album". Allkpop. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
  5. ^ "2000년대 한국 대중음악 명반 100 (2004–2023)" [Top 100 Korean pop music albums of the 2000s (2004–2023)]. EBS (in Korean). 2024-04-01. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
  6. ^ Choi, Ji-ye (April 19, 2014). 악동뮤지션, 결방된 '엠카'서 데뷔 후 첫 1위 [Akdong Musician, first place after debut in 'M-Countdown']. My Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 13, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020 – via Naver.
  7. ^ Moon, Wan-sik (April 24, 2014). 악동뮤지션, 결방 '엠카'서 2주 연속 1위 [Akdong Musician, ranked 1st in Gyeolbang 'M-Countdown' for 2 consecutive weeks]. StarNews (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 13, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020 – via Naver.
  8. ^ Sun, Mi-kyung (May 2, 2014). 악동뮤지션, 결방 '엠카'서 3주 연속 1위 [Akdong Musician, ranked 1st in Gyeolbang 'M-Countdown' for 3 consecutive weeks]. Osen (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 13, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020 – via Naver.
  9. ^ 음중차트 [Music Core Chart] (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 22, 2021. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  10. ^ <4월 셋째 주 인기가요 차트 > [Inkigayo chart for the 3rd week of April]. Seoul Broadcasting System (in Korean). April 20, 2014. Archived from the original on April 28, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  11. ^ <4월 넷째 주 인기가요 차트> [Inkigayo chart for the 4th week of April]. Seoul Broadcasting System (in Korean). April 27, 2014. Archived from the original on April 28, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  12. ^ <5월 첫째 주 인기가요 차트> [Inkigayo chart for the 1st week of May]. Seoul Broadcasting System (in Korean). May 8, 2014. Archived from the original on April 28, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  13. ^ "2014년 16주차 Album Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  14. ^ "2014년 Album Chart". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Retrieved January 26, 2021.
edit