Sailing (album)

This article is about the AKMU album. For the Kim Carnes album, see Sailin'.

Sailing (Korean: 항해; RR: Hanghae) is the third studio album by South Korean brother-sister duo AKMU. It was released on September 25, 2019, through YG Entertainment. All the tracks' lyrics and music were written by member Lee Chan-hyuk. The album was supported by the single "How Can I Love the Heartbreak, You're the One I Love", which reached atop on the Gaon Digital Chart and Billboard's K-pop Hot 100.^[2][3] Sailing received generally positive reviews from music critics, many of whom complimented AKMU's stylistic shift from their previous releases to more musical maturity.

Sailing
Studio album by AKMU
Released	September 25, 2019 (2019-09-25)
Recorded	2019
Genre	K-pop ballad^[1] rock/metal^[1] folk/blues^[1]
Length	34:55
Language	Korean
Label	YG
Producer	Lee Chan-hyuk
AKMU chronology
Summer Episode (2017) Sailing (2019) AKMU 'Sailing' Tour Live (2020)
Singles from Sailing
"How Can I Love the Heartbreak, You're the One I Love" Released: September 25, 2019

Background

In September 2017, AKMU member–Lee Chan-hyuk–went on hiatus to enlist for his obligatory military service; he was discharged in May 2019.^[4] On September 5, 2019, AKMU's agency YG Entertainment released a poster notifying their comeback in two years and two months, since Summer Episode in July 2017.^[5] Next day, disclosing a teaser video, YG Entertainment announced the release of AKMU's third full-length album, titled Sailing.^[4] On September 9, YG Entertainment informed that the album would be released on 25th, and unveiled a teaser poster.^[6]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
IZM	^[7]

In an article for Korea JoongAng Daily, Kim Eun-jin wrote that AKMU "takes a sharp turn from the bright and bubbly tones that characterized their earlier music. ... With lyrics that discuss topics like freedom expressed through sentimental melodies and acoustic sounds, Sailing is an album that reflects the depth and maturity."^[8] In the album review, IZM's Park Soo-jin gave a four-star rating out of five, and said that "this album backslashes genres and expresses them without boundaries," and concluded by writing that Sailing "will be the pinnacle of broadening AKMU's spectrum."^[7] Tamar Herman of Billboard said that the "album features songs that show the pair's artistic development, exploring a variety of new genres all the while still incorporating their distinctly vibrant, soulful folk-pop sound."^[9] The publication additionally ranked "How Can I Love the Heartbreak, You're the One I Love" number 7 in their list of 25 Best K-pop Songs of 2019.^[10]

Accolades

Awards and nominations

Year	Awards ceremony	Category	Nominee	Result
2019	11th Melon Music Awards	Best Rock Track	"Freedom"	Nominated
	21st Mnet Asian Music Awards	Best Vocal Performance – Group	"How Can I Love the Heartbreak, You're the One I Love"	Nominated
2020	34th Golden Disc Awards	Digital Daesang		Nominated
		Digital Bonsang		Won^[11]
	9th Gaon Chart Music Awards	Song of the Year – September		Won^[12]
	17th Korean Music Awards	Song of the Year		Nominated
		Best Pop Song		Nominated
		Best Pop Album	Sailing	Nominated

Music program wins

Song	Program	Date	Ref.
"How Can I Love the Heartbreak, You're the One I Love"	Inkigayo (SBS)	October 20, 2019	^[13]
		October 27, 2019	^[14]
	Music Bank (KBS)	October 21, 2019	^[15]
	Show! Music Core (MBC)	October 26, 2019	^[16]

Track listing

Credits adapted from Melon^[1] and Apple Music.^[17]

All tracks are written by Lee Chan-hyuk.

No.	Title	Arrangement	Length
1.	"Chantey" (뱃노래; Baennorae)	Jukjae	2:18
2.	"Fish In The Water" (물 만난 물고기; Mul mannan mulgogi)	Choi Ye-geun	3:36
3.	"How Can I Love the Heartbreak, You're the One I Love" (어떻게 이별까지 사랑하겠어, 널 사랑하는 거지; Eotteoke ibyeolkkaji saranghagesseo, neol saranghaneun geoji)	Lee Hyun-young	4:50
4.	"Moon" (달; Dal)	Jukjae	4:02
5.	"Freedom"	Lee Hyun-young	3:33
6.	"Should've Loved You More" (더 사랑해줄걸; Deo saranghaejulgeol)	Choi Ye-geun	3:07
7.	"Whale" (고래; Gorae)	Jukjae	3:19
8.	"Endless Dream, Good Night" (밤 끝없는 밤; Bam kkeudeomneun bam)	Denis Seo Shin Seung-ik	3:00
9.	"Farewell" (작별 인사; Jakbyeol insa)	Lee Su-hyun	3:28
10.	"Let's Take Time" (시간을 갖자; Siganeul gatja)	Hong So-jin	3:42
Total length:			34:55

Charts

Weekly chart performance for Sailing Chart (2019) Peak position South Korean Albums (Gaon)^[18] 4 Weekly chart performance for Sailing (LP) Chart (2021) Peak position South Korean Albums (Gaon)^[19] 43

Monthly chart performance for Sailing Chart (2019) Peak position South Korean Albums (Gaon)^[20] 26

Sales

Sales for Sailing

Region	Sales
South Korea (Gaon)^[a]	10,531

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label
Various	September 25, 2019	CD digital download streaming	YG
South Korea	October 8, 2021	LP

Notes

1. Sales figure as of October 2019.^[21]

References

1. "항해". Melon (in Korean). from the original on September 26, 2019. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
2. 2019년 40주차 Digital Chart. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
3. . Billboard. Archived from the original on October 25, 2019. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
4. "Brother-sister duo AKMU signals September comeback [VIDEO]". Retrieved July 15, 2019.
5. [공식] 악동뮤지션, 2년 2개월만 컴백…티저 기습공개 [[OFFICIAL] AKMU to Make Comeback in 2 Years and 2 Months… A Surprise Teaser Clip Revealed]. 17 July 2020. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
6. 악동뮤지션 25일 컴백 확정, 한층 성숙해진 매력 [AKMU Confirmed to Make Comeback on the 25th with More Matured Charms]. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
7. Park, Soo-jin. "Album review - 항해". IZM (in Korean). Retrieved July 15, 2021.
8. "AKMU is all grown up after two years out at sea: With 'Sailing,' the duo shows off a more mature side of their songwriting". 25 September 2019. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
9. "AKMU Return With Album 'Sailing', Poginant Music Video 'How Can I Love the Heartbreak, You're the One I Love'". Billboard. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
10. "The 25 Best K-pop Songs of 2019: Critics' Picks". Billboard. December 29, 2019. from the original on December 30, 2019. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
11. Jang, Woo-young (January 4, 2020). 방탄소년단, 디지털 음원 대상…마마무‧ITZY 2관왕 (종합) [2020 골든디스크] [BTS, Digital Sound Source Award... Mamamoo ‧ Itzy 2 Crowns (Comprehensive) [2020 Golden Disc]] (in Korean). Osen. from the original on January 5, 2020. Retrieved July 14, 2021 – via Naver.
12. 방탄소년단 3관왕 인기 입증, 청하·엑소·세븐틴·벤 2관왕(종합)[2020 가온차트] [Bulletproof Boy Scouts 3 crowns proved popular, Chunngha, Exo, Seventeen, Ben 2 crowns (general) [2020 Gaon Chart]]. Newsen (in Korean). January 8, 2020. from the original on January 8, 2020. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
13. '인가' 악뮤 1위→슈퍼주니어 컴백·케이 솔로 데뷔..새 MC 민혁x나은x재현 [종합]. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
14. <10월 마지막 주 인기가요 차트> (in Korean). Seoul Broadcasting System. October 27, 2019. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
15. 10월 3주<K-차트>순위 [Music Bank ranking for the third week of October]. KBS Music Bank (in Korean). October 21, 2019. from the original on May 29, 2021. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
16. '음악중심' 송하예 vs 악뮤 vs 헤이즈, 1위 대결. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
17. "SAILING". Apple Music. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
18. "2019년 39주차 Album Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
19. "2021년 41주차 Album Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
20. "2019년 09월 Album Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
21. "2019년 10월 Album Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved July 15, 2021.