Suga's Interlude

"Suga's Interlude"
Promotional single by Halsey and Suga of BTS
from the album Manic and the EP Collabs
A-side"Finally // Beautiful Stranger"
ReleasedDecember 6, 2019 (2019-12-06)
GenreK-pop[1][2]
Length2:18
LabelCapitol
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Halsey promotional singles chronology
"Finally // Beautiful Stranger"
(2019) 		"Suga's Interlude"
(2019) 		"The End"
(2024)
Audio video
"Suga's Interlude" on YouTube

"Suga's Interlude" (Suga being stylized in all upper case)[3][4] is a song by American singer Halsey and South Korean rapper Suga of BTS. It was released on December 6, 2019 through Capitol Records as the third promotional single from Halsey's third studio album, Manic (2020). The song was released simultaneously with the album's second promotional single "Finally // Beautiful Stranger".[5][6]

Background and composition

In an Instagram live, Halsey explained why she included Suga on the track, stating "Yoongi is really introspective and has this really intelligent perspective on where we are and what we are doing in our unique lifestyles".[7] "Suga's Interlude" is a "downtrodden"[8] K-pop[1][2] ballad based around a "somber piano melody",[8] exploring themes of fulfilment, self-loathing and egotism while "encouraging fans to keep pursuing their dreams and look to the future".[9]

Critical reception

Lexi Lane from Atwood Magazine mentioned that the "combination of rap and Halsey's slower singing parts mesh well together sonically and provide a bridge between languages and cultures".[10] Sara Delgado, writing for Teen Vogue, described the track as a "soft tempo track" that "mixes piano keys with airy synths", along with "Halsey's soulful vocals with Suga's sharp rap skills".[7] In an article for Consequence of Sound, Nara Corcoran called the track a "downtrodden ballad" with Halsey "singing sorrowfully over a somber piano melody", and Suga "rapping in Korean quickly but gently" for various verses.[11] Jason Lipshutz of Billboard described the production as "mournful, piano-led" that sees "Halsey [unfurl] a full chorus that focuses on inner struggle" while "Suga flies in with quick-hitting rhymes". Lipshutz also mentioned the "creative chemistry on display" that suggested a "fruitful partnership", as a possible reason why Suga appeared on the track.[12]

Charts

Chart performance for "Suga's Interlude"
Chart (2019) Peak
position
Australia Digital Tracks (ARIA)[13] 27
Canada Hot Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[14] 25
Finland Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[15] 1
Greece Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[16] 4
Hungary (Single Top 40)[17] 9
Malaysia (RIM)[18] 15
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[19] 18
Norway Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[20] 8
Scotland (OCC)[21] 61
Singapore (RIAS)[22] 29
South Korea (Gaon)[23] 194
Sweden Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[24] 2
UK Singles Downloads (OCC)[25] 34
US Pop Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[26] 9

Certifications

Certifications for "Suga's Interlude"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[27] Gold 20,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format Label Ref
Various December 6, 2019 Digital download, streaming Capitol
[28]

References

  1. ^ a b Wood, Mikael (January 16, 2020). "Review: Who's the real Halsey? On genre-hopping new album 'Manic,' elusiveness is a strength". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  2. ^ a b Hughes, Mary (January 16, 2020). "ALBUM REVIEW: Halsey reveals her bruised heart on 'Manic'". RIFF Magazine. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  3. ^ "SUGA's Interlude". Spotify. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  4. ^ "Halsey: SUGA's Interlude - Music on Google Play". Google Play Music. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  5. ^ "Halsey Shares 'Finally' & Evocative 'Suga's Interlude' Featuring BTS's Suga: Stream It Now". Billboard. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  6. ^ Zemler, Emily (December 6, 2019). "Hear Halsey Collaborate With BTS' SUGA on 'SUGA's Interlude'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  7. ^ a b Delgado, Sara (6 December 2019). "Halsey and Suga's New Song Has Fans Feeling a Lot of Feelings". Teen Vogue. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  8. ^ a b Corcoran, Nina (December 6, 2019). "Halsey shares new songs "Suga's Interlude" and "Finally // Beautiful Stranger": Stream". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  9. ^ Martin, Annie. "Halsey, BTS member Suga team up on new song". UPI. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  10. ^ Lane, Lexi (13 December 2019). "THIS JUST IN: HALSEY DISPLAYS DUALITY IN NEW SONGS "FINALLY // BEAUTIFUL STRANGER" AND "SUGA'S INTERLUDE"". Atwood Magazine. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  11. ^ Corcoran, Nara (6 December 2019). "Halsey shares new songs "Suga's Interlude" and "Finally // Beautiful Stranger": Stream". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  12. ^ Lipshutz, Jason. "First Stream: New Music From Camila Cabello, Taylor Swift, Halsey Feat. BTS' Suga & More". Billboard. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  13. ^ "ARIA Australian Top 40 Digital Tracks" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. December 16, 2019. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  14. ^ "Canadian Hot Digital Songs Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-01-10.
  15. ^ "Finland Digital Song Sales - Week 19/12/21". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-01-10.
  16. ^ "Greece Digital Song Sales - Week 19/12/21". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-01-10.
  17. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
  18. ^ "Top 20 Most Streamed International & Domestic Singles In Malaysia". Recording Industry Association of Malaysia. Recording Industry Association of Malaysia. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  19. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. December 16, 2019. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  20. ^ "Norway Digital Song Sales - Week 19/12/21". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-01-10.
  21. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  22. ^ "RIAS International Top Charts Week 50". Recording Industry Association (Singapore). Archived from the original on December 19, 2019.
  23. ^ "2019년 49주차 Digital Chart". gaon.co.kr. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  24. ^ "Sweden Digital Song Sales - Week 19/12/21". Billboard. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  25. ^ "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  26. ^ "Halsey Chart History". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 7, 2019. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
  27. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Halsey – SUGA's Interlude" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  28. ^ "Spotify". Spotify. December 10, 2019. Archived from the original on May 5, 2020. Retrieved May 5, 2020.