2U (Kang Daniel song)

"2U" is a song by South Korean singer Kang Daniel. It was released on March 24, 2020 by Konnect Entertainment and distributed by Sony Music Korea. The song serves as the lead single from his second EP Cyan.

"2U"
Single by Kang Daniel
from the album Cyan
ReleasedMarch 24, 2020 (2020-03-24)
Recorded2019[1]
GenreK-pop
Length3:15
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Chancellor
  • Jin Ho-hyun
Producer(s)Chancellor
Kang Daniel singles chronology
"Touchin'"
(2019)		 "2U"
(2020)		 "Refresh"
(2020)
Music video
"2U" on YouTube

Background and composition

The lead single's name is a play on the English meaning "going to you" and the literal Korean pronunciation sounding similar to the word "reason" (Korean: 이유; RR: iyu).[2] "2U" contains a message to a weary or lonely person running after their dreams: There are those who stay by your side who love you because you are you.[3]

"2U" was written and composed by Korean-American artist Chancellor with Kang in mind from the onset. Even during Chancellor's initial working stages with the song, Kang thought it matched him well.[2][3] He described "2U" as a hybrid of pop and hip-hop genres with a "gentle and comfortable" sound well-suited for spring, and MTV News pointed out the single had "R&B flourishes" as well.[2][4] Writing for IZM, Hwang In-ho described it as house track incorporating a synth-based rhythm, R&B beats and slow tempo.[5] As part of Grazia Korea's May cover story, Kang was asked if there was a specific reason for choosing groovy title tracks such as "2U" despite others thinking of him as an artist with powerful, strong performances. He replied that he wanted to show what he is capable of step-by-step to heighten the sense of tension.[1]

Music video

A music video teaser emulating a movie poster composition was revealed on March 20.[6] The full music video directed by VM Project Architecture was released alongside the song. Doug Riggs, Caspar von Winterfeldt, and Brian Scott Robinson headed the US crew.[7] It was filmed in one day at the Los Angeles Theatre. Kang found the filming location's inspiration and vibe to be well-connected to the song's concept and himself.[2]

Commercial performance

"2U" is Kang's first top ten single on the Gaon Digital Chart, peaking at number 7.[8] According to the Korea Music Content Association, Kang achieved a Gaon triple crown during the thirteenth week of 2020 in part due to "2U" ranking first in the download and BGM charts.[9] Those sales were further reflected in the Gaon monthly charts for March 2020 with "2U" topping the download chart and ranking number 15 in the subsequent BGM chart.[10][11] The song also took first place on five music shows: The Show, Music Bank, Show! Music Core, Show Champion, and M Countdown.[12]

Charts
Chart (2020) Peak
position
South Korea (Gaon)[8] 7
South Korea (Kpop Hot 100)[13] 81

Awards and nominations

Music program awards
Program Network Date Ref.
The Show SBS MTV March 31, 2020 [14]
Music Bank KBS2 April 3, 2020 [15]
Show! Music Core MBC April 4, 2020 [16]
Show Champion MBC Music April 8, 2020 [17]
M Countdown Mnet April 9, 2020 [18]

Release history
Region Date Format Label
Various March 24, 2020
  • Konnect Entertainment
  • Sony Music
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References
  1. "Kang Daniel Next Door". Grazia (in Korean). April 24, 2020. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  2. "Kang Daniel Had To Step Away From The Stage To Remember Why He Loved It". MTV News. April 2, 2020. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  3. "'CYAN' 강다니엘 "타이틀곡 '2U', 나한테 잘 맞은 옷 찾은 느낌" [일문일답]". Sports Donga (in Korean). March 24, 2020. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  4. "Kang Daniel Discusses New 'Cyan' Album, Stress Management And Balancing Life As A K-Pop Star & CEO". Forbes. March 26, 2020. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  5. Hwang, In-ho. "2U- Kang Daniel". IZM (in Korean). Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  6. ""영화 포스터 연상"…'컴백 D-4' 강다니엘, 타이틀곡 '2U' MV 티저 공개". Xports News (in Korean). March 20, 2020. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  7. Paranoid Paradigm (April 23, 2020). "KANGDANIEL - 2U". Vimeo.
  8. "Week 13, 2020 Digital Chart". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  9. "[DA:차트] 강다니엘 'CYAN', 가온차트 1위…13주차 3관왕 달성". Sports Donga (in Korean). April 2, 2020. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  10. "March 2020 Download Chart". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  11. "March 2020 BGM Chart". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  12. "강다니엘, 미니 1집 활동 성공적 마무리 #안녕다니엘#5관왕#안방1열 소통". OSEN (in Korean). April 13, 2020. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  13. "Kang Daniel Chart History: Billboard Korea K-Pop 100". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  14. Park, Yun-jin (April 1, 2020). '더쇼' 강다니엘, 컴백과 동시에 1위…"힘든 시기, 다들 건강하길" ['The Show' Kang Daniel, No. 1 at the same time as comeback… "Hard times, I hope everyone is healthy"]. My Daily (in Korean). Retrieved April 24, 2020 – via Naver.
  15. Kim, Nara (April 3, 2020). [종합] '뮤직뱅크' 강다니엘, NCT127 꺾고 1위…엑소 수호 솔로 데뷔X홍진영 컴백 [[Comprehensive] 'Music Bank' Kang Daniel beat NCT127, 1st place… EXO Suho Solo debut X Hong Jin-young comeback]. My Daily (in Korean). Retrieved April 24, 2020 – via Naver.
  16. Park, So-yeon (April 4, 2020). '음중' 강다니엘, '2U'로 1위…임영웅 신곡 최초 공개·수호 솔로 컴백 [종합] ['Dark' Kang Daniel, 1st in '2U'… Im Young-woong's first new song released and protected as a solo comeback [Comprehensive]]. Xports News (in Korean). Retrieved April 24, 2020 – via Naver.
  17. Kim, Mi-ji (April 9, 2020). '쇼챔' 강다니엘, '2U' 막방도 1위로 마무리…임영웅·홍진영 출격[종합] ['Show Champion' Kang Daniel, '2U' Makbang also finished in 1st place… Lim Young-woong and Hong Jin-young scramble [total]]. Xports News (in Korean). Retrieved April 24, 2020 – via Naver.
  18. Park, Su-in (April 9, 2020). ‘엠카운트다운’ 강다니엘, 세정 꺾고 출연없이 1위 ['M Countdown' Kang Daniel wins cleansing, No. 1 appearance]. Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved April 24, 2020 – via Naver.
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