"Bam Yang Gang" (Korean: 밤양갱; lit. Korean chestnutyanggaeng) is a song by South Korean singer Bibi. It was produced by Chang Ki-ha and released on February 13, 2024, through Feel Ghood Music. The song immediately became a huge commercial success in South Korea, topping the Circle Digital Chart for several weeks and earning the artist a perfect all-kill.[2][3] The song's title is the name of a Korean snack, which is a jelly made of chestnuts and red beans.[4]
A music video for the song was released the same day.[5] A week later on February 20, 2024, the music video for "Sugar Rush" which was written by Bibi and produced by Kyle Buckley was also released.[6][5] "Sugar Rush" garnered attention for its explicit lyrics and return to her signature sound with playful lyrics comparing sweetness to candy and desserts with a warning to not get too close. It emphasized independence and self-sufficiency, rejecting unwanted advances and celebrating individuality.[7]
Background
Bibi said on the departure from her dark concepts and signature sound she became known for that she sang this song while remembering the sweet taste of bean jelly that her grandmother bought her when she was young. She sang the song with simple, repetitive melodies with a retro feel, so she doesn't burden anyone, regardless of gender or age.[8] She sang the song while imagining what it would have been like if she were born 50 years ago and were a singer of that era. She worked on it, thinking about how that era would have interpreted the song.[9]
Chang Ki-ha stated that he wrote the song years ago as an answer song to "Side by Side", a 2018 song by Kiha & The Faces.[10]
Composition
"Bam Yang Gang" is a "breezy song with a touch of waltz" written by singer-songwriter Chang Ki-ha. It depicts memories of past love. Through the lyrics, Bibi says that what she expected from her ex-boyfriend was not a grand feast but rather a traditional Korean treat "bamyanggaeng," or sweet chestnut red bean jelly, a metaphor for "simple yet authentic love".[11]
Reception
Park Su-jin of IZM rated the song 3.5 out of 5 stars. She wrote that the song "melts listeners' hearts from the start" by mixing waltz rhythm with marching snare drum sounds.[12] In South Korea, the success of the song also increased sales of bamyanggaeng by 40% in confectionery stores.[13] The song was heavily boosted by a singing challenge. Many people sang the song while eating the chestnut jelly while popular singers such as Lee Hyori attempted to sing the song with soft vocals similar to Bibi.[3]
Music videos
"Bam Yang Gang"
The music video stars Bibi as the protagonist and Chang as her ex-boyfriend.[5] A fantasy-short that opens with the break-up scene, the woman is alone and sad in her home at night, but as soon as she falls asleep she’s visited by a witch also played by Bibi, who takes her into a magical realm, so that they can cook the bamyanggaeng together with the ubiquitous and friendly mice helping out. At the end she finally gets to eat the bamyanggaeng.[14]
"Sugar Rush"
The Alice in Wonderland-inspired music video for "Sugar Rush" includes appearances by (G)I-dle's Soyeon and Choi Ye-na. Bibi is shown in a colorful dress dancing with two people dressed as grey wolves in a candy land. She is seen inside of a table filled with candies, Yena and Soyeon sit at it as she watches them devour the sweet goodies in front of her. As well as in bubbles that are similar to those popped from bubble gum. At the end she is seen in a simple look with red hair and a white top.[15]
^ abLee, Ha-na (March 16, 2024). '밤양갱' 열풍 비비 '음악중심' 1위, 하이라이트→웬디·청하 컴백[종합] ['Bam Yang Gang craze Bibi takes first place on 'Music Core', Highlight→Wendy and Chungha comeback [Comprehensive]] (in Korean). Newsen. Retrieved March 16, 2024 – via Naver.
^ abAhn, Yoon-ji (March 17, 2024). '인기가요' 비비 '밤양갱' 1위..하이라이트·웬디→청하 컴백 [★밤TView] [‘Inkigayo’ Bibi’s ‘Bam Yang Gang’ takes first place...Highlight, Wendy→Chungha comeback [★Bam TView]] (in Korean). Star News. Retrieved March 17, 2024 – via Naver.
