The Gaon Digital Chart, now known as the Circle Digital Chart, is a chart that ranks the best-performing singles in South Korea. Managed by the domestic Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST), its data is compiled by the Korea Music Content Industry Association and published by the Gaon Music Chart. [1] [2] The ranking is based collectively on each single's download sales, stream count, and background music use. [2] In mid-2008, the Recording Industry Association of Korea ceased publishing music sales data. [3] The MCST established a process to collect music sales in 2009, and began publishing its data with the introduction of the Gaon Music Chart the following February. [4] With the creation of the Gaon Digital Chart, digital data for individual songs was provided in the country for the first time. [3] Gaon provides weekly (listed from Sunday to Saturday), monthly, and yearly charts.
Twenty singles reached number one on the Digital Chart in 2021. "VVS" was the first song to top the ranking, doing so for two consecutive weeks. [5] IU had four number-ones on the chart during the year—"Celebrity", "Lilac", "Nakka" (with AKMU), and "Strawberry Moon". "Celebrity" spent six consecutive weeks at number one and was the best-performing song of the year per Gaon's year-end report published in January 2022. [6] "Rollin'" by Brave Girls became a sleeper hit, going viral in February and entering the chart in March for the first time in the four years since its release. It spent five non-consecutive weeks at number one, [7] and ranked second on the year-end chart. [8] "Stay" by Australian singer the Kid Laroi, and Canadian singer Justin Bieber, became the first song by an all non-South Korean act to top Gaon's weekly chart since its inception in 2010. "Celebrity", "Rollin'", "Butter" by BTS, "Foolish Love" by M.O.M, and "Stay" were the only songs to spend at least five weeks atop the chart.
On the monthly charts, IU had three number-one songs during the year: "Celebrity" topped the chart for February, "Lilac" for April, and "Strawberry Moon" for November. [9] Brave Girls is the only artist to top the monthly chart twice with the same song: "Rollin'" was number one for March and May. [10]
† | Indicates best-performing single of 2021 [8] |
Week ending date | Song | Artist(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
January 2 | "VVS" | Mirani, Munchman, Khundi Panda, Mushvenom featuring Justhis | [11] |
January 9 | [12] | ||
January 16 | "Shiny Star (2020)" (밤하늘의 별을(2020)) | KyoungSeo | [13] |
January 23 | [14] | ||
January 30 | "Celebrity" † | IU | [15] |
February 6 | [16] | ||
February 13 | [17] | ||
February 20 | [18] | ||
February 27 | [19] | ||
March 6 | [20] | ||
March 13 | "My Starry Love" (별빛 같은 나의 사랑아) | Lim Young-woong | [21] |
March 20 | "Rollin' " (롤린) | Brave Girls | [22] |
March 27 | [23] | ||
April 3 | "Lilac" (라일락) | IU | [24] |
April 10 | [25] | ||
April 17 | "Antidote" | Kang Daniel | [26] |
April 24 | "Rollin'" (롤린) | Brave Girls | [27] |
May 1 | [28] | ||
May 8 | [29] | ||
May 15 | "Hot Sauce" (맛) | NCT Dream | [30] |
May 22 | "Dun Dun Dance" | Oh My Girl | [31] |
May 29 | "Butter" | BTS | [32] |
June 5 | [33] | ||
June 12 | [34] | ||
June 19 | [35] | ||
June 26 | [36] | ||
July 3 | "Foolish Love" (바라만 본다) | M.O.M (MSG Wannabe) | [37] |
July 10 | [38] | ||
July 17 | [39] | ||
July 24 | [40] | ||
July 31 | [41] | ||
August 7 | "Nakka" (낙하) | AKMU with IU | [42] |
August 14 | "Traffic Light" (신호등) | Lee Mu-jin | [43] |
August 21 | [44] | ||
August 28 | [45] | ||
September 4 | "Stay" | The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber | [46] |
September 11 | [47] | ||
September 18 | [48] | ||
September 25 | [49] | ||
October 2 | [50] | ||
October 9 | [51] | ||
October 16 | "Love Always Runs Away" (사랑은 늘 도망가) | Lim Young-woong | [52] |
October 23 | "Strawberry Moon" | IU | [53] |
October 30 | [54] | ||
November 6 | [55] | ||
November 13 | "Breathe" (쉬어) | Anandelight, Unofficialboyy, Be'O, Geegooin and Mudd the Student featuring Mino | [56] |
November 20 | "Merry-Go-Round" (회전목마) | Sokodomo featuring Zion.T and Wonstein | [57] |
November 27 | "Limousine" (리무진) | Be'O featuring Mino | [58] |
December 4 | [59] | ||
December 11 | "Merry-Go-Round" (회전목마) | Sokodomo featuring Zion.T and Wonstein | [60] |
December 18 | "Counting Stars" | Be'O featuring Beenzino | [61] |
December 25 | [62] |
Month | Song | Artist(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
January | "Shiny Star (2020)" (밤하늘의 별을(2020)) | KyoungSeo | [63] |
February | "Celebrity" | IU | [64] |
March | "Rollin'" (롤린) | Brave Girls | [65] |
April | "Lilac" (라일락) | IU | [66] |
May | "Rollin'" (롤린) | Brave Girls | [67] |
June | "Butter" | BTS | [68] |
July | "Foolish Love" (바라만 본다) | M.O.M (MSG Wannabe) | [69] |
August | "Traffic Light" (신호등) | Lee Mu-jin | [70] |
September | "Stay" | The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber | [71] |
October | "Love Always Runs Away" (사랑은 늘 도망가) | Lim Young-woong | [72] |
November | "Strawberry Moon" | IU | [73] |
December | "Merry-Go-Round" (회전목마) | Sokodomo featuring Zion.T and Wonstein | [74] |
South Korean singer-songwriter IU has released five studio albums, eleven extended plays (EPs), 47 singles, five single albums, two remake albums and two compilation albums. In addition, the singer has collaborations and soundtracks for television series, films, and online games.
"Good Day" is a song recorded in two languages by South Korean singer IU. The Korean version was released on December 9, 2010, as the lead single for IU's third extended play (EP) Real. It was written by Kim Eana, while production was handled by Lee Min-soo. The Japanese version was originally included on IU's first Japanese extended play I□U, released on December 14, 2011, before being released on March 21, 2012, as IU's first single album Good Day.
Noel (Korean: 노을) is a South Korean boy band consisting of Jeon Woo-sung, Lee Sang-gon, Na Sung-ho and Kang Kyun-sung.
"Nagging" is a song recorded by South Korean singers IU and Lim Seulong. Written by Kim Eana and composed by Lee Min-soo, the pop ballad duet was used as one of the theme songs for the second season of the variety show, We Got Married, along with "We Fell in Love" by Jo Kwon and Ga-in.
"Palette" is a song recorded by South Korean singers IU and G-Dragon for the fourth studio album of the same title. IU herself composed the music and penned the lyrics with the collaboration of G-Dragon. The song was released on April 21, 2017, in conjunction with the release of the album as the album's third single, following "Through the Night" and "Can't Love You Anymore".
Sunwoo Jung-a is a South Korean musician, singer-songwriter, and record producer who has worked with numerous Korean artists including IU, Suran, GD & TOP, 2NE1, Lee Haeri, Lee Hi, and San E. She released her debut album, Masstige, on May 10, 2006.
"Eight" is a song recorded by South Korean singer-songwriter IU featuring South Korean rapper Suga of BTS. It was released as a digital single on May 6, 2020 by EDAM Entertainment. It is IU's first single following the release of her fifth EP Love Poem (2019). The song was written by IU, Suga, and El Capitxn and produced by Suga. Musically, "Eight" has been described as a "nostalgic" pop rock song with lyrics that find IU confessing as a twenty-eight year old, using a virtual figure and various analogies.
"Bbibbi" is a song recorded by South Korean singer-songwriter IU, released digitally on October 10, 2018, through Kakao M. The self-written song was produced by Son Myung-gab. It subsequently debuted at number one on the Gaon Digital Chart. The song was released in part to commemorate 10 years since IU's debut.
"Any Song" is a song recorded by South Korean rapper Zico for his third extended play, Random Box (2020). The song was written and produced by Zico, with additional production from Poptime. It was released for digital download and streaming as a single on January 13, 2020, through KOZ Entertainment and Kakao M. Lyrically devoid of any characteristic message, the dancehall and hip hop song features an addictive chorus and sees Zico switching between rapping and singing.
"Celebrity" is a song by South Korean singer-songwriter IU. It was released on January 27, 2021, through EDAM Entertainment via Kakao M, and serves as the lead single from her fifth Korean-language studio album, Lilac. A dance-pop and electropop track, "Celebrity" was written by IU, with additional composition by Chloe Latimer and Celine Svanback, and Ryan S. Jhun, Jeppe London Bilsby, Lauritz Emil Christiansen, —the last three also handled arrangement.
"Rollin'" is a song by South Korean girl group Brave Girls. It was released on March 7, 2017, as the lead single from the EP of the same name. Written by Brave Brothers, Two Champ, and Chakun, the song has been characterized as a dance-pop track that incorporates elements of tropical house. A rearranged version of the song titled "Rollin' " was released on August 11, 2018, as a thank-you to the group's fans for their support of the original version.
"Chi Mat Ba Ram" is a song recorded by South Korean girl group Brave Girls for their fifth extended play Summer Queen (2021). It was released on June 17, 2021, by Brave Entertainment as the album's lead single. An English version of the song was also included in the extended play.
"Lilac" is a song by South Korean singer-songwriter IU. It was released on March 25, 2021, by Edam Entertainment through Kakao M as the second single from her fifth studio album of the same name. The song is an upbeat pop song with a nostalgic sound.
"VVS" is a song by South Korean rappers Mirani, Munchman, Khundi Panda, and Mushvenom. It was released on November 21, 2020, through Stone Music Entertainment. It peaked at number one on the Gaon Digital Chart for seven consecutive weeks and won Hip-hop Track of the Year at the Korean Hip-hop Awards.
Romanticize is the second and final full-length studio album by the South Korean boyband NU'EST, released on April 19, 2021. This is NU'EST's first Korean full-length album since 2014's Re:Birth. The album has 10 tracks including the lead single "Inside Out".
"Strawberry Moon" is a song by South Korean singer-songwriter IU. It was released on October 19, 2021, through EDAM Entertainment via Kakao M. "Strawberry Moon" was both written and composed by IU, with additional composition credits by Jonghoon Lee and Lee Chae-gyu.
Yoo Chan-wook, known professionally as Be'O, is a South Korean rapper and songwriter. He first garnered attention when he appeared on the rap competition TV show Show Me the Money 10 in 2021.
"Wine" is a song by South Korean singer-songwriter Suran featuring rapper Changmo. Released as a digital single on April 27, 2017, by Million Market through Loen Entertainment, the song served as the first single from Suran's debut extended play (EP) Walkin', which was released in June. Produced by Suga of BTS, the song is a hip hop and R&B track with elements of electropop and future bass, and was written by Suran, Slow Rabbit, Changmo, and June. The song marked Suga's first independent production credit outside of personal projects and his work with BTS—additional production was provided by Slow Rabbit. Lyrically, the song is from the perspective of a person reminiscing about memories of a past relationship while drinking a glass of wine.
Kim Min-seok is a South Korean singer-songwriter. He is a member of South Korean duo MeloMance. His 2021 single "Drunken Confession", which was a remake of the 2005 single of the same name by South Korean singer Feel, spent five weeks at number one on South Korea's Gaon Digital Chart.