"Wolfgang"
Song by Stray Kids
from the EP Kingdom <Final: Who Is the King?> and the album Noeasy
Language
  • Korean
  • English
ReleasedMay 28, 2021 (2021-05-28)
StudioJYPE Studios (Seoul)
GenreHip hop
Length3:10
Label
Composer(s)
  • Bang Chan
  • Changbin
  • Han
  • Versachoi
Lyricist(s)
  • Bang Chan
  • Changbin
  • Han
Audio video
"Wolfgang" (Kingdom) on YouTube
"Wolfgang" (Noeasy) on YouTube

"Wolfgang" (stylized in all caps) is a song recorded by South Korean boy band Stray Kids. It was released on May 28, 2021, through Stone Music Entertainment and distributed by Genie Music from the extended play Kingdom <Final: Who Is the King?>. Written by the band's producer 3Racha and Versachoi, it featured as a song for the group's final competition of the television program Kingdom: Legendary War.

Background

The pre-listening of "Wolfgang" for the Mnet's television show Kingdom: Legendary War's final competition song of 6-team contestants was unveiled after part 2 of the round 3 competition was finished on May 27, 2021.[1] The full song was released on May 28, 12:00 PM (KST), together with other 5 songs from 5 contestants.[2] Stray Kids ends up as a winner of the show.[3]

Later, the song was included on the group's second studio album Noeasy, which was released on August 23.[4] The album version of the song includes member Hyunjin, who was in hiatus for most of the program.

Lyrics and composition

The title "Wolfgang" was inspired from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (left) while the lyrics compare with a wolf pack (right).

"Wolfgang" was written by the group's producer 3Racha (Bang Chan, Changbin, and Han), and co-composed with Versachoi,[5] in the key of D minor, 162 beats per minute with a running time of 3 minutes and 10 seconds.[6] The title refers to the Austrian composer of the Classical period, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The song describes a wolf pack making music by following Wolfgang and compares the habit of a wolf to hunt for prey in a group to Stray Kids. It was intended to imprint a cohesive and solid appearance and unstoppable will toward the goal.[2][7]

Commercial performance

On May 30, "Wolfgang" entered the Apple Music's Global Top 100 chart at number 98, becoming Stray Kids' first song entering. Additionally, the group becomes the fourth Korean artist to enter the chart after BTS, Blackpink, and Twice.[8][7]

In South Korea, "Wolfgang" entered the 22nd week of the Gaon Digital Chart at number 163,[9] becoming the group's first-ever song to appear on the chart. The song also charted at number 13 on the component Download Chart,[10] and number 22 on the BGM Chart.[11] On its 23rd week, it jumped to number 138 on the Digital Chart,[12] number 8 on the Download Chart,[13] and number 5 on the BGM Chart,[14] becoming Stray Kids' highest charts on Gaon's song charts. For the Billboard's charts issue date of June 12, 2021, the song also entered at number 53 on the K-pop 100,[15] number 4 on the World Digital Song Sales,[16] and number 109 on the Global Excl. US.[17]

Live performance

The song was performed for the first time on the final episode of Kingdom: Legendary War on June 3, 2021.[18] The stage was decorated with a wolf concept, expressing the characteristics of a group of wolves.[19] The song also performed on Noeasy comeback showcase from the final episode of Kingdom Week <No+>, a television variety show that benefits the winner of Kingdom: Legendary War, along with the lead single "Thunderous", the B-side "The View", and "Grow Up" from the debut EP I Am Not (2018).[20] The group performed "Wolfgang" at 36th Golden Disc Awards on January 8, 2022, alongside "Thunderous", and "Top".[21]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Melon.[5]

Recording and management
Personnel
  • Stray Kids – primary vocals
    • Bang Chan (3Racha) – background vocals, lyrics, composition, arrangement
    • Changbin (3Racha) – background vocals, lyrics, composition
    • Han (3Racha) – background vocals, lyrics, composition
  • Versachoi – composition, arrangement, all instruments
  • KayOne Lee – vocals editing
  • Gu Hye-jin – recording
  • Tony Maserati - mixing
  • David K. Younghyun – mix engineering
  • Chris Gehringer – mastering
    • Will Quinnell – mastering assistant

Charts

Chart performance for "Wolfgang"
Chart (2021) Peak
position
Global Excl. US (Billboard)[22] 109
Malaysia (RIM)[23] 6
Singapore Top Regional (RIAS)[24] 15
South Korea (Gaon)[12] 138
South Korea (K-Pop 100)[25] 53
US World Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[26] 4

References

  1. ↑ Jung, Hye-jin (May 28, 2021). "'킹덤' 스트레이 키즈, 최종 왕좌 등극 청신호..신곡 '울프강'에 기대감 UP". Naver (in Korean). Naver Corp. Herald Pop. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  2. 1 2 Hwang, Hye-jin (May 28, 2021). "'파죽지세' 스트레이 키즈, 파이널 음원도 상위권 안착 '우승 청신호'" ['Irresistible Force' Stray Kids, also Settles in the Top Tier of the Final Song 'Green Light to Victory']. Naver (in Korean). Naver Corp. Newsen. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  3. ↑ Hwang, Hye-jin (June 4, 2021). "스트레이 키즈 '킹덤' 우승 자격 충분한 'K-퍼포먼스 대장주'" [Stray Kids, "K-Performance Leader" who deserves to win "Kingdom"]. Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  4. ↑ Hwang, Hye-jin (August 12, 2021). "'컴백' 스트레이 키즈 타이틀곡=소리꾼, 쓰리라차 14곡 전곡 참여" ['Comeback' Stray Kids Title Track=Thunderous, 3Racha Participates in All 14 Tracks]. Newsen (in Korean). Newsen. Newsen. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  5. 1 2 "킹덤 〈FINAL : WHO IS THE KING?〉". Melon (in Korean). Kakao Corp. May 28, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Key, BPM of WOLFGANG by Stray Kids". Musicstax. Musicstax. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  7. 1 2 Lee, Seul (May 31, 2021). "스트레이 키즈, '킹덤' 경연곡 '울프강' 국내외 차트 상위권 차지 [공식입장]". Naver (in Japanese). Naver Corp. Xport News. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  8. ↑ Scott, Mhaliya (May 31, 2021). "Stray Kids' 'WOLFGANG' for Mnet's 'Kingdom' Finale Debuts on Various Global Charts". Kpopstarz. Kpopstarz. Kpopstarz. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  9. ↑ "2021년 22주차 Digital Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). KMCA. June 3, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  10. ↑ "2021년 22주차 Download Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). KMCA. June 6, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  11. ↑ "2021년 22주차 BGM Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). KMCA. June 6, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  12. 1 2 "2021년 23주차 Digital Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). KMCA. June 10, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  13. ↑ "2021년 23주차 Download Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). KMCA. June 10, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  14. ↑ "2021년 23주차 BGM Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). KMCA. June 10, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  15. ↑ "Billboard K-pop 100 The week of June 12, 2021". Billboard. Billboard Media, LLC. June 12, 2021. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  16. ↑ "World Digital Song Sales the week of June 12, 2021". Billboard. Billboard Media, LLC. June 12, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  17. ↑ "Billboard Global Excl. US the week of June 12, 2021". Billboard. Billboard Media, LLC. June 12, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  18. ↑ Seon, Mi-gyeong (June 3, 2021). "스트레이 키즈, 오늘(3일) '킹덤' 파이널 경연..전세계 압도할 퍼포먼스 예고". Naver (in Korean). Naver Corp. Osen. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  19. ↑ Park, Ha-na (June 4, 2021). "스트레이키즈, '킹덤' 우승으로 최종 '킹' 등극…대장정 마무리(종합)". News1 (in Korean). News1 Korea. News1. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  20. ↑ Lee, Seung-hoon (August 24, 2021). "스트레이 키즈, '킹덤위크' 화려한 피날레→'소리꾼' 무대 최초 공개..상승세 확실한 쐐기" [Stray Kids, 'Kingdom Week' Grand Finale→'Thunderous' Debut Stage..Uptrend Definite Wedge]. Osen (in Korean). Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  21. ↑ Golden Disc Awards (November 12, 2021). [제36회 골든디스크] Stray Kids - '소리꾼 + TOP + WOLFGANG'♪｜JTBC 220108 방송 (video). Golden Disc Awards. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
  22. ↑ "Stray Kids Chart History (Billboard Global Excl. US)". Billboard. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
  23. ↑ "Top 20 Most Streamed International + Domestic Songs Week 22 (28/05/2021-03/06/2021)". RIM. June 11, 2021. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  24. ↑ "RIAS Top Charts Week 22 (28 May - 3 Jun 2021)". June 3, 2021. Archived from the original on June 8, 2021.
  25. ↑ "Stray Kids Chart History (Billboard K-Pop 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
  26. ↑ "Stray Kids Chart History (World Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
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