Ceremony (Stray Kids song)

Last updated

"Ceremony"
Stray Kids - Ceremony Maximum Power Remixes.png
Maximum Power Remixes cover
Single by Stray Kids
from the album Karma
Language
  • Korean
  • English
ReleasedAugust 22, 2025
Studio
  • JYP (Seoul)
  • Channie's "Room" (Seoul)
Genre
Length2:44
Label
Composer(s)
Lyricist(s)
  • Bang Chan
  • Changbin
  • Han
Stray Kids singles chronology
"Hollow"
(2025)		"Ceremony"
(2025)
Music video
"Ceremony" on YouTube

"Ceremony" is a song by South Korean boy band Stray Kids from their fourth Korean-language studio album Karma (2025). It was released as the album's lead single through JYP Entertainment and Republic Records on August 22, 2025. The futuristic-sport-themed music video features a cameo from professional gamer Faker.

Contents

Background and release

Stray Kids announced their fourth Korean-language studio album Karma , set to be released on August 22, 2025. It accompanied by the sport-themed trailer depicting the members as a champion attending the "Karma Sports" competition in 2081, which spoiled some music. [1] The band revealed the album's track list four days later, confirming "Ceremony" as its lead single, alongside the "Festival" and English versions, [2] which was selected among the candidates "Creed", "In My Head", "Phoenix", and "Half Time". [3] Two remix EPs, titled Maximum Power Remixes and Celebrate Remixes, were released on August 25 and August 29, respectively. [4]

Composition

"Ceremony" was written by Stray Kids' in-house production team 3Racha–Bang Chan, Changbin, and Han–and co-composed with Versachoi as a "gift" to their fans. [5] Musically, the song is an EDM trap and baile funk track, expressing celebrations of the achievement and success forged through perseverance and hard work, as well as the journey of overcoming obstacles. [6] Rooted on sports culture, the song likens the group as athletes fighting for hard-earned wins. [7] In Intro: Karma video, Stray Kids described "Ceremony" as a celebration of their Dominate World Tour, which set various records, and returning to South Korea in triumph. [8]

Music video

South Korean professional gamer Faker (pictured) cameos on the "Ceremony" music video. Faker 2020 interview.jpg
South Korean professional gamer Faker (pictured) cameos on the "Ceremony" music video.

An accompanying music video for "Ceremony", directed by Seong Won-mo and produced by Digipedi, premiered on August 22, 2025, [9] concurrently with its parent album, preceded by two teaser videos. [10] [11] According to the group, the music video was inspired by stadiums where they previously held the concert, and "subversively expresses the image of multiple players as a team, giving their all in their respective positions toward the same goal." [12]

The video depicts each member in various sports with some physically impossible moves in futuristic landscape: mixed martial arts, tennis, car and motorcycle racing, American football, association football, basketball, b-boying, baseball, and table tennis. [13] [14] The scene also alternates to the group dancing, choreographed by We Dem Boyz, in futuristic sets. [15] [16] At the end of the video, it cameos professional gamer Faker, who was previously mentioned on the band's song "Hall of Fame". [17] He briefly appears as a gamer who controls all the sporting events in the video and doing his "shh" pose. [18] [19]

Live performances

Since the release, Stray Kids promoted "Ceremony" at music programs: Music Bank , [20] [21] Show! Music Core , [22] [23] Inkigayo , [24] and M Countdown . [25] The group also sung as part of Stray Kids' medley at the web show Killing Voice. [26] The band will perform the song outside South Korea for the first time at the 2025 The Fact Music Awards, to hold in Macau on September 25. [27]

Accolades

Music program awards for "Ceremony"
ProgramDateRef.
M Countdown August 28, 2025 [28]
Music Bank August 29, 2025 [29]
Show! Music Core August 30, 2025 [30]

Track listing

  1. "Ceremony" – 2:44
  2. "Ceremony" (Karma version) – 2:51
  3. "Ceremony" (sped up version) – 2:19
  4. "Ceremony" (slowed down version) – 3:04
  5. "Ceremony" (instrumental version) – 2:44
  1. "Ceremony" – 2:44
  2. "Ceremony" (Hip Hip version; English version) – 2:38
  3. "Ceremony" (Hooray version; English version) – 3:04
  4. "Ceremony" (English version) – 2:44
  5. "Ceremony" (Festival version; English version) – 2:52

Credits and personnel

Personnel

Locations

Charts

Chart performance for "Ceremony"
Chart (2025)Peak
position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) [31] 36
Germany (GfK) [32] 38
Ireland (IRMA) [33] 69
Japan (Japan Hot 100) [34] 63
Japan Digital Singles (Oricon) [35] 33
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [36] 65
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ) [37] 10
Russia Streaming (TopHit) [38] 71
South Korea (Circle) [39] 37
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan) [40] 4
UK Singles (OCC) [41] 37
UK Indie (OCC) [42] 6

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Ceremony"
RegionDateFormatVersionLabelRef.
VariousAugust 22, 2025
  • Original
  • Festival
  • English
 [43]
August 24, 2025Digital download
  • Original
  • Karma
  • sped up
  • slowed down
  • instrumental
 [44]
August 25, 2025
  • Digital download
  • streaming
Maximum Power Remixes
August 29, 2025
  • Digital download
  • streaming
Celebrate Remixes

References

  1. ↑ Lee, Ji-eun (July 25, 2025). "스트레이키즈, 8월 22일 정규 4집 '카르마'로 컴백". Newspim (in Korean). Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  2. ↑ Jang, Yu-jin (July 30, 2025). "스트레이 키즈, 컴백 타이틀곡은 '세리머니'...트랙리스트 공개". E Today (in Korean). Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  3. ↑ Kim, Ji-won (August 21, 2025). "스트레이 키즈, K팝 챔피언의 자축 '세리머니' D-1". Ten Asia (in Korean). Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  4. ↑ Park, Seo-hyun (August 24, 2025). "스트레이 키즈, 29일 'CEREMONY' 리믹스 싱글 발매..다채롭게 즐긴다". Herald Pop (in Korean). Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  5. ↑ Kim, Ji-won (August 21, 2025). "스트레이 키즈, K팝 챔피언의 자축 '세리머니' D-1". Ten Asia (in Korean). Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  6. ↑ Park, Hanbitnuri (August 22, 2025). "스트레이 키즈, 기록에 기록 세우고 2년 만의 정규 앨범 발매". Marie Claire Korea (in Korean). Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  7. ↑ Pyo, Kyung-min (August 22, 2025). "Stray Kids celebrates global reign with triumphant new album 'KARMA'". The Korea Times . Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  8. ↑ Park, Se-yeon (August 21, 2025). "스트레이 키즈 컴백 D-1...운명의 세리머니를 펼치다". Ilgan Sports (in Korean). Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  9. ↑ Taylor, Sam (August 22, 2025). "Stray Kids have released their fourth full-length album 'KARMA'". Dork . Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  10. ↑ Kim, Won-hee (August 16, 2025). "'컴백 D-6' 스트레이 키즈, 압도적 스케일 MV 티저 공개". Sports Kyunghyang (in Korean). Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  11. ↑ Goo, Min-ji (August 20, 2025). "스키즈, 대형 퍼포먼스 예고..."카르마 스포츠 개막한다"". Dispatch (in Korean). Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  12. ↑ Han, Su-jin (August 22, 2025). ""우여곡절이 많았음에도"...스트레이 키즈의 눈부신 업보". Ize (in Korean). Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  13. ↑ Lee, Won-kyung (August 22, 2025). "스트레이 키즈라는 'KARMA'라면 환영이요". Esquire Korea (in Korean). Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  14. ↑ Kaufman, Gil (August 22, 2025). "Stray Kids Drop Fourth LP, 'KARMA,' Along With Cinematic, Sporty 'Ceremony' Video". Billboard . Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  15. ↑ Singh, Surej (August 25, 2025). "Watch Stray Kids' powerful music video for 'Ceremony'". NME . Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  16. ↑ Saenz, Rome (August 26, 2025). "Stray Kids Release Fourth Full-Length Album 'KARMA' – Listen". Billboard Philippines . Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  17. ↑ Stewart, Jack (August 22, 2025). "Faker makes surprise appearance in Stray Kids K-pop music video". Esports News UK. Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  18. ↑ Xu, Davide "Dovi" (August 22, 2025). "Faker Makes Surprise Appereance On Stray Kids Latest Music Video". HotSpawn. Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  19. ↑ Weber, Rachel (August 29, 2025). "Yes, That's LoL Star Faker in the New Stray Kids K-Pop Video". IGN . Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  20. ↑ Lee, Nam-hee (August 22, 2025). "[뮤직뱅크] 스트레이 키즈, 컴백 무대 'CEREMONY'... 위풍당당 퍼포먼스". KBS Entertainment (in Korean). Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  21. ↑ Lee, Nam-hee (August 29, 2025). "[뮤직뱅크] 스트레이 키즈, 'CEREMONY' 통했다...컴백 1주 만에 1위". KBS Entertainment (in Korean). Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  22. ↑ Choi, Eun-joo (August 23, 2025). "'쇼 음악중심' 23일 조이·스트레이 키즈 등 컴백...출연진 라인업 명단". Gukje News (in Korean). Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  23. ↑ Lee, Soo-hyun (August 30, 2025). "'쇼 음악중심', MC 도훈 불참...30일 라인업 보니". Topstarnews (in Korean). Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  24. ↑ Kim, Soo-young (August 25, 2025). "하루 만에 200만장…스트레이 키즈, 본격 '세리머니'는 지금부터". The Korea Economic Daily (in Korean). Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  25. ↑ Im, Ye-bin (August 28, 2025). "'엠카' 오늘(28일) 아이브·스트레이 키즈·선미·AB6IX·틴탑". Celuv Media (in Korean). Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  26. ↑ Lee, Sang-sun (August 27, 2025). "스트레이 키즈, '킬링 보이스' 출연해 신곡 '세리머니' 라이브 공개". Raon News (in Korean). Retrieved August 27, 2025.
  27. ↑ "스트레이 키즈·아이브·에스파, TMA서 신곡 무대 최초 공개". GP Korea (in Korean). August 26, 2025. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  28. ↑ Kim, Sang-rok (August 29, 2025). "스트레이 키즈, 정규 4집 'KARMA' 초동 303만 장...2025년 K팝 앨범 초동 1위". Korea Dutyfree News (in Korean). Retrieved August 29, 2025.
  29. ↑ Im, Shi-ryeong (August 29, 2025). "스트레이 키즈, 블랙핑크 제치고 '뮤직뱅크' 1위 "스테이 덕분" [TV캡처]". Sports Today (in Korean). Retrieved August 29, 2025.
  30. ↑ Jeong, Won-hee (August 30, 2025). "스트레이 키즈, 'CEREMONY'로 '쇼! 음악중심' 1위...음방 3관왕". Celuv Media (in Korean). Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  31. ↑ "Single Charts vom 29. August 2025" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40 . Retrieved August 31, 2025.
  32. ↑ "Stray Kids – Ceremony" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved August 29, 2025.
  33. ↑ "IRMA – Irish Charts (Week 35, 2025)". Irish Recorded Music Association . Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  34. ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot 100 – Week of August 27, 2025". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved August 27, 2025.
  35. ↑ "Oricon Top 50 Digital Singles: 2025-09-01" (in Japanese). Oricon . Retrieved August 27, 2025.
  36. ↑ "Stray Kids – Ceremony" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved August 29, 2025.
  37. ↑ "Hot 40 Singles: August 29, 2025". Official Aotearoa Music Charts. August 29, 2025. Retrieved August 29, 2025.
  38. ↑ "Top All Internet Hits Russia Weekly Chart: Aug 28, 2025". TopHit. August 29, 2025. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  39. ↑ "Circle Digital Chart – Week 34 of 2025". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  40. ↑ "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 35, 2025" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan . Retrieved August 29, 2025.
  41. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  42. ↑ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  43. ↑ "Stray Kids(스트레이 키즈) "KARMA" Released Online". Stray Kids Official Website (in Korean). August 22, 2025. Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  44. ↑ "Stray Kids(스트레이 키즈) Digital Single "CEREMONY (Remixes)"". Stray Kids Official Website (in Korean). August 24, 2025. Retrieved August 25, 2025.
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