Bibi sweeps charts with ‘Bam Yang Gang’
Singer Bibi’s latest single, “Bam Yang Gang,” has landed atop Korea’s major streaming charts.
As of Monday afternoon, “Bam Yang Gang” has taken first place on the real-time charts of Melon, Genie, Bugs and YouTube Music, among others, just 13 days after its release. It edged out “Love Wins All” by K-pop diva IU, which had dominated the charts at home and abroad since its release on Jan. 24.
Composed by singer-songwriter Chang Kiha, “Bam Yang Gang” is a breezy song with a touch of waltz that portrays the memories of past love. Through the lyrics, Bibi says that what she expected from her ex-boyfriend was not a sumptuous feast but just a traditional Korean dessert, “bamyanggaeng,” or sweet chestnut red bean jelly, a metaphor for simple yet authentic love.
The popularity of “Bam Yang Gang” is primarily due to its expressive lyrics, but its success cannot be solely attributed to this factor. Numerous fans and critics point out that Bibi’s musical makeover has played a vital role in promoting her tune. Since her debut in 2019, the 25-year-old has predominantly rolled out songs with dark themes, such as “Kazino” (2020), which eventually earned her the moniker “the dark IU.”
This time, however, she has brought her unexplored side to the fore, highlighting her loveliness and bubbliness.
“It is amazing to see how she has transformed herself, showing a totally different side of her,” an online user said. “She looks like a genius.”
Bibi’s management company, Feel Ghood Music, said that Bibi and Chang have created great synergy.
“Bibi has mostly been known for her unconventional style, but this time, her loveliness has met Chang’s catchy and attractive lyrics,” it said. “’Bam Yang Gang’ is bright yet sorrowful.”
As of Monday afternoon, the music video for “Bam Yang Gang” has exceeded 6 million views on YouTube.