Bam Yang Gang

"Bam Yang Gang" (Korean: 밤양갱; lit. Korean chestnut yanggaeng) 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]

"Bam Yang Gang"
Single by Bibi
Language	Korean
A-side	"Sugar Rush"
Released	February 13, 2024
Recorded	September 2023^[1]
Length	2:26
Label	Feel Ghood
Songwriter(s)	Chang Ki-ha
Producer(s)	Chang Ki-ha
Bibi singles chronology
"Amigos" (2023) "Bam Yang Gang" (2024)
Music video
"Bam Yang Gang" on YouTube

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.^[14]

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.^[15]

"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.^[16]

Accolades

On South Korean music programs, "Bam Yang Gang" achieved first place win on the March 16 episode of Show! Music Core,^[17] and March 17 episode of Inkigayo.^[18] It was Bibi's first ever win on a music show.

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Bam Yang Gang" Chart (2024) Peak position Global 200 (Billboard)^[19] 79 South Korea (Circle)^[20] 1

Monthly charts Monthly chart performance for "Bam Yang Gang" Chart (2024) Position South Korea (Circle)^[21] 1

References

1. "아이유·태연 밀어내고 양갱 품귀 사태...비비 '밤양갱' 다디단 열풍". February 29, 2024.
2. 조선일보 (March 3, 2024). "아이유 이긴 비비, 밤양갱 열풍 [여기힙해]". 조선일보 (in Korean). Retrieved March 4, 2024.
3. "이효리도 '밤양갱' 커버…'음지의 아이유'가 차트 싹 쓸었다". 중앙일보 (in Korean). March 1, 2024. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
4. Chin, Carmen (February 14, 2024). "BIBI celebrates Valentine's Day with new single 'Bam Yang Gang'". NME. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
5. "BIBI makes a sweet comeback with 'Bam Yang Gang' and 'Sugar Rush' — watch". Bandwagon Asia. February 14, 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
6. Chin, Carmen (February 21, 2024). "BIBI enlists (G)I-DLE's Soyeon and Choi Yena for 'Sugar Rush' music video". NME. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
7. "BIBI - Sugar Rush Official M/V | Playful Lyrics, Independence, and Individuality - Video Summarizer - Glarity". Video Summarizer. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
8. 시인·대중음악평론가, 오광수 (March 3, 2024). "[노래와 세상]밤양갱". 경향신문 (in Korean). Retrieved March 4, 2024.
9. "아이유·태연 밀어내고 양갱 품귀 사태...비비 '밤양갱' 다디단 열풍". m.hankookilbo.com. February 29, 2024. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
10. Hwang, Ji-yeong (March 1, 2024). "장기하 손잡은 '음지의 아이유', 차트 휩쓸다…'밤양갱' 돌풍". Joongang Ilbo (in Korean).
11. Dong, Sun-hwa (February 26, 2024). "Bibi sweeps music charts with 'Bam Yang Gang'". The Korea Times. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
12. Park, Su-jin (February 2024). "밤양갱". IZM.
13. 서정민 (March 4, 2024). "비비·장기하 '밤양갱' 음원 성적도 다디달다…돌풍 요인은". 비비·장기하 ‘밤양갱’ 음원 성적도 다디달다…돌풍 요인은 (in Korean). Retrieved March 4, 2024.
14. "이효리도 '밤양갱' 커버…'음지의 아이유'가 차트 싹 쓸었다". 중앙일보 (in Korean). March 1, 2024. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
15. 비비 (BIBI) - 밤양갱(Bam Yang Gang) Official M/V, retrieved March 1, 2024
16. 비비 (BIBI) - Sugar Rush Official M/V, retrieved March 4, 2024
17. Lee, 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.
18. Ahn, 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.
19. "Billboard Global 200: Week of March 9, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
20. "Digital Chart – February 2024". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved March 1, 2024.
21. "Digital Chart – March 2024". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved April 11, 2024.