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"Haegeum" (Korean: 해금; lit. Unblock) is a song by South Korean rapper Agust D, better known as Suga of BTS. It was released on April 21, 2023, through Big Hit Music, as the second single from the rapper's debut studio album D-Day. Written and produced by Agust D, the song is a hip hop track that addresses themes of freedom and liberation.

Music and lyrics

"Haegeum" is a heavy hip hop song that includes the use of a South Korean traditional two-stringed fiddle called haegeum in its instrumentation—D-2's "Daechwita" also featured the instrument. Its title is a word play that references both the instrument and an interpretation of liberation specific to the song—"to advocate for freedom in a reality built on unspoken societal expectations and restrictions echoed in today's online culture". In Korean, Agust D asks listeners to question their own liberation ("What is it, exactly, that's been restricting us? / Maybe we do it to ourselves. Slaves to capitalism, slaves to money, slaves to hatred and prejudice") and the role they play in that of others ("Freedom of expression / Could be reason for somebody's death / Could you still consider that freedom?"), making a case for "doing away 'with the nonsense' that clutters online" and reality. He then addresses the internet culture that both "fascinates and destroys": "Endless influx of information prohibits freedom of imagination/ And seeks conformity of thought/ All these painful noises blind you."

Commercial performance

In Japan, "Haegeum" entered the daily issue of Oricon's Digital Singles Chart for April 21, 2023, at number three with 3,524 sales. It debuted on the subsequent weekly chart at number seven, with 9,482 cumulative sales for the period dated April 17–23. The single was the seventh most-downloaded song of its release week on Billboard Japan's Download Songs chart and entered the domestic Hot 100 at number 81; it rose to number 66 on the latter the following week.

"Haegeum" sold 32,000 copies and accumulated 4.6 million streams in its opening week in the United States. It debuted at number 58 on the May 6, 2023, issue of the Billboard Hot 100 and earned Agust D his first top-10 entry on the corresponding issue of the Hot Rap Songs chart (number nine) as well as his fourth number-one on the Rap Digital Song Sales chart. The song also entered the Global 200 at number 15; the Global Excl. US chart at number 12; and four of Billboard's Hits of the World charts: Indonesia Songs at number 19, Singapore Songs at number 20, South Korea Songs at number 24, and Philippines Songs at number 25.

Music video

A "climactic" teaser preceded the music video on April 20. Set as a modern day follow-up to "Daechwita", Agust D plays a character referred to as the Exister (a gangster) who is "out for blood". Accompanied by a group of men, he enters a rundown building and appears to stab an unseen person.

Reception

The Los Angeles Times described the music video as "deliciously grisly" and "Oldboy-worthy".

Charts

References

1. ^ Daly, Rhian (April 21, 2023). "Agust D – 'D-DAY' review: lessons and liberation reign on final part of BTS rapper's trilogy". NME. Archived from the original on April 21, 2023. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
2. Yoo, Hong (April 21, 2023). "BTS' Suga fills 1st solo album 'D-Day' with honest thoughts". The Korea Herald. Archived from the original on April 21, 2023. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
3. Siroky, Mary (April 21, 2023). "Agust D's D-DAY Triumphantly Caps Off the Trilogy from SUGA of BTS: Review". Consequence. Archived from the original on April 22, 2023. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
4. ^ Brown, August (May 9, 2023). "BTS' Suga on going solo, his love of hip-hop and the band's future: 'We're real brothers, period'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on May 9, 2023. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
5. デイリー デジタルシングル (単曲) ランキング 2023年04月21日付 [Daily Digital Single ranking dated April 21, 2023] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on April 22, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
6. 週間 デジタルシングル (単曲) ランキング 2023年05月01日付 (2023年04月17日～2023年04月23日) [Weekly Digital Single Ranking May 1, 2023 (From April 17, 2023 to April 23, 2023)] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on April 26, 2023. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
7. Hot 100 [ 2023/04/26 付け ] [Download Songs ]. Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on April 26, 2023. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
8. Hot 100 [ 2023/04/26 付け ] [Hot 100 ]. Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on April 26, 2023. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
9. Hot 100 [ 2023/05/03 付け ] [Hot 100 ]. Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on May 3, 2023. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
10. Anderson, Trevor (May 4, 2023). "Suga's Agust D Album 'D-Day' Launches at No. 1 on Top Rap Albums Chart". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 5, 2023. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
11. Frankenberg, Eric (May 5, 2023). "Agust D Sets New High for BTS Members on Global Charts". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 5, 2023. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
12. Yadav, Monica (April 18, 2023). "BTS' SUGA unveils 'Being' and 'Exister' themed concept photos for his upcoming album D-DAY". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on April 18, 2023. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
13. "BTS' SUGA is out for blood in a climactic teaser of 'Haegeum' from D-DAY, watch video". Bollywood Hungama. April 20, 2023. Archived from the original on April 20, 2023. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
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16. "Official IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International) (Week: 17/2023)". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on May 3, 2023. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
17. "Single Top 40 slágerlista 2023. 17. hét (2023. 04. 21. - 2023. 04. 27.) No.: 1075" [Single (track) Top 40 list – Week 17 of 2023 (April 21, 2023 – April 27, 2023) No. 1075] (in Hungarian). Archived from the original on May 6, 2023. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
18. "IMI International Top 20 singles for week ending 1st May 2023 – Week 17 of 52". Indian Music Industry. Archived from the original on May 4, 2023. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
19. "Indonesia Songs (Week of May 6, 2023)". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 2, 2023. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
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21. 週間 デジタルシングル (単曲) ランキング 2023年05月01日付 (2023年04月17日～2023年04月24日) [Weekly Digital Single Ranking May 1, 2023 (From April 17, 2023 to April 23, 2023)] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on April 26, 2023. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
22. 週間 ストリーミングランキング 2023年05月08日付 (2023年04月24日～2023年04月30日) [Weekly Streaming Ranking May 8, 2023 (From April 24, 2023 to April 30, 2023)] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on May 3, 2023. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
23. "2023 17-os SAVAITĖS (balandžio 21-27 d.) SINGLŲ TOP100" [2023 Week 17 (April 21-27) Singles Top100] (in Lithuanian). AGATA. April 28, 2023. Archived from the original on April 28, 2023. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
24. "TOP 20 Most Streamed International Singles In Malaysia Week 17 (21/04/2023-27/04/2023)". RIM. May 6, 2023. Archived from the original on May 6, 2023. Retrieved May 6, 2023 – via Facebook.
25. "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. May 1, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
26. "Philippines Songs (Week of May 6, 2023)". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 5, 2023. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
27. "RIAS Top Charts Week 17 (21 - 27 April 2023)". RIAS. Archived from the original on May 3, 2023. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
28. "Digital Chart 2023 Weeks 17". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved May 6, 2023.
29. "Official Singles Chart Top 100 (28 April 2023 - 04 May 2023)". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on June 15, 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
30. "Billboard Hot 100 (Week of May 6, 2023)". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 2, 2023. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
31. "World Digital Song Sales (Week of May 6, 2023)". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 2, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
32. "Billboard Vietnam Hot 100 (Chart Date: 2023-05-04)". Billboard Vietnam (in Vietnamese). Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
33. "Digital Chart – May 2023". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved June 21, 2024.

• 2023 songs
• 2023 singles
• Suga songs
• Hybe Corporation singles
• Songs in Korean
• Songs written by Suga
• Song recordings produced by Suga