Basquiat (song)
"Basquiat" (바스키아) is a song recorded by Pentagon, a South Korean boy group who participated in a reality boy group survival show, Road to Kingdom. It was released digitally on June 12, 2020. The song is the fourth song from the extended play Road to Kingdom FINAL.[1]
"Basquiat" | ||||
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Single by Pentagon | ||||
from the album Road to Kingdom FINAL | ||||
Released | June 12, 2020 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:18 | |||
Label | Stone Music Entertainment | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) |
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Pentagon singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"바스키아(Basquiat)" on YouTube |
Pentagon finished the show as the series second runner-up.[2]
Background, composition and lyrics
Basquiat is a dance song of the electronic rock genre. This song was inspired by Jean-Michel Basquiat's paintings,[3] and it is a song that contains a great message of "regaining freedom" to many who live in oppression and neglect.[4]
The specific lyrics "I'm the new Basquiat, look down at me / see the meaningless crown light down / Shine Mother Nature's View / God bless you / fly up in search of the answer." Member and composer Hui responded,
"I found myself contemplating such a song that I could win by competing like this. I felt like I was losing the identity of the music I was pursuing. I wrote lyrics containing the belief that I would walk."[2]
Reporter Son Hwa-sin wrote, "Pentagon talked about winning and losing, the shell of competition, and the meaninglessness of the crown. They conveyed this message through this song....The passage 'no meaning' is impressive. From the standpoint of Mother Nature and God, the fierce and bloody fights of humans may be really meaningless. And the really important thing is to fly up in search of your own answer."[2]
Track listing
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Arrangement | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Basquiat" |
|
| 3:18 | |
Total length: | 3:18 |
Credits and personnel
Credits are adapted from Melon.[4]
- Pentagon (except Jinho and Yan An) – vocals
- Hui – producing, songwriting
- Wooseok – producing, songwriting, rap arrangement
- 네이슨 (NATHAN) – producing, record engineering, piano, synthesizer, string
- Yunji – producing, record engineering, piano, synthesizer, string
- Soulman – chorus
- Kim Ho-hyun – guitar
- Jeon Hoon – guitar
- Jeon Jae-hee – chorus
- 전부연 (Cube Studio) – Recording
- Shin Jae-bin (Cube Studio) – mixed
- Kwon Nam-woo (821 Sound mastering) – mastering
Live performances
Pentagon performed "Basquiat" for the first time in the Road to Kingdom final live broadcast on June 18, 2020. The final stage started with an intro video of someone being chased or rebelliously screamed by someone. Hui showcased his sixth treble in the second half of the song gave an exhilarating thrill and said, "I resist the gaze created by the times / My crown, I write and write for myself" and ended with Pentagon members who raised their hands toward the sky, leaving a strong reverberation and afterglow for those who go beyond the spleen.[5] At the end of the stage, the following phrase appeared as a message penetrating this song, "I resist the gaze created by the times. My crown is made and written by myself."[2]
Receptions
Several Korean media wrote, "Pentagon built the genre of 'Pentagon' with energetic performance and music in 'Road to Kingdom', and captured the hearts of the viewers perfectly, making it a strong winner."[5]
Promotions
"Basquiat" intro VCR was released on June 19.[6]
Pentagon released a group concept image and video of the song "Basquiat" through their official homepage and SNS on June 22. The posts uploaded contain images of the members' backs, short videos moving forward with black flags in the blazing wasteland, with description "#Pentagon 'Basquiat' Coming soon".[7]
On June 21, 2020, the group performed the single on KCON:TACT 2020 Summer.[8]
After releasing the track "Basquiat" on music streaming sites on June 12, a concept image and videos were released beginning June 23 until June 30, 2020.[9]
Release history
Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Worldwide | June 12, 2020 | [10][11] |
References
- Kim Ji-won (June 18, 2020). '로드 투 킹덤' 파이널, 운명 가를 마지막 경연곡 살펴보면?. SportsQ.
- 헐뜯기, 비난하기는 '그만'... 착한 경연에 마음까지 훈훈 [To blame, to blame'Stop'... good heartwarming contest]. Oh My News. June 19, 2020.
- Park Dong-sun (June 19, 2020). Mnet '로드투킹덤' 마무리…역대급 카리스마 대전 속 '더보이즈' 1위 [Mnet'Road to Kingdom' finish… Ranked 1st in'The Boyz' in all-time charisma]. RPM9.
- 로드 투 킹덤 FINAL [Road to Kingdom FINAL]. www.melon.com (in Korean). June 12, 2020.
- '로드 투 킹덤' 펜타곤, '바스키아'로 화려한 피날레 "멈추지 않을 것" ['Road to Kingdom' Pentagon's Basquiat, the gorgeous finale "Never stop"]. News1. June 19, 2020.
- 펜타곤(PENTAGON) - '바스키아(Basquiat)' Intro VCR. PENTAGON 펜타곤 (Official YouTube Channel). June 19, 2020.
- ‘로드 투 킹덤’ 펜타곤, 경연곡 ‘바스키아’ 특별 영상 공개 ['Road to Kingdom' Pentagon, 'Basquia' special video released]. Sports World. June 22, 2020.
- '케이콘택트 2020 서머' 화려한 개막...오늘(22일) 아이즈원·SF9·온앤오프 등 출격. 하비엔 (Javien). June 19, 2020.
- 펜타곤 '바스키아(Basquiat)' Concept Teaser Crown. PENTAGON 펜타곤 (Official Twitter) @CUBE_PTG. June 22, 2020.
- "Basquiat by PENTAGON on Spotify". Spotify. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
- "Road to Kingdom FINAL - EP by Various Artist on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved June 27, 2020.