Airplane Pt. 2

"Airplane Pt. 2" is a song recorded by South Korean boy group BTS, released as a B track on the album Love Yourself: Tear. On November 7, 2018, the Japanese version of the song was released through Def Jam as their ninth Japanese single.[2]

"Airplane Pt. 2"
Cover of BTS' Fake Love / Airplane pt. 2 Japanese Single. The BTS logo, two trapezoids with the flat end facing each other, are in the middle, made out of pink (left) and blue (right) tinted glass. Various rectangles of tinted glass, in pink, purple, orange, and black, surround the logo. A black version of the logo is on the bottom right, and the worst "BTS Fake Love / Airplane pt. 2" is written at the top.
Japanese single cover
Single by BTS
from the album Love Yourself: Tear
Released
  • May 18, 2018 (KOR version)
  • November 7, 2018 (JPN version)
GenreK-pop[1]
Length3:38
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Pdogg
BTS Japanese singles chronology
"Don't Leave Me"
(2018)
"Airplane Pt. 2"
(2018)
"Lights/Boy With Luv"
(2019)
Music video
"Airplane pt.2" on YouTube

Background and release

It was confirmed by Big Hit Entertainment once the tracklist for Love Yourself: Tear was released that "Airplane Pt. 2" is a follow-up to the song "Airplane" which was off J-Hope's mixtape Hope World.[3] In a behind the scene's album review member RM said that when CEO Bang Si-hyuk first heard J-Hope's song it sounded like a BTS song, inspiring them to write a part two.[4]

Promotion

BTS promoted the Korean version of the song on various music programs in South Korea including Music Bank, Show! Music Core, Inkigayo, and M Countdown. The Korean version was also promoted live on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on May 25, although it was only released online.[5]

On December 1, 2018, BTS performed the song at the 2018 Melon Music Awards in Seoul and in the same month they performed it at the 2018 Mnet Asian Music Awards in Hong Kong.[6]

Reception

Overall, the reception for the song was positive. Per Pearl Shin at thirdcoastreview, "Airplane Pt. 2" has an addictive hook that is perfect for the summer months.[7] The popular Korean album reviewer IZM called it trendy and full of Latin rhythm while Elias Leight of Rolling Stone said "Airplane Pt. 2" rejuvenated the swanky strut of 50 Cent’s “P.I.M.P.”.[8]

In the review for Pitchfork, Sheldon Pearce claimed that the song "reads like an analog for being a pop-star".[9] MTV's Crystal Bell echoed these sentiments additionally characterizing the song as "catchy and current, a dreamy analog for the pop-star life" and praising "But to watch BTS perform the song live is to watch seven idols in full command of their artistry, where every subtle movement is part of a larger story".[10]

Writing for The Guardian Alexis Petridis was a bit ambiguous about his review stating it sounded like a regular British pop song, with all the good and bad that entailed.[11]

Upon release the Korean version of the song sold more than 10,000 copies in the United States.[12]

Accolades

Year-end lists
Critic/PublicationListRankRef.
SpotifyBest of 2018: K-Pop21[13]

Composition

Airplane pt 2 is in the key of C minor. It is 140 beats per minute and 3:30 minutes long.[14] It is a Latin-pop inspired song with lyrics that talks about how far they've come, from wishing to succeed to being able to travel around the world singing their music.[1]

Credits and personnel

Korean version

The original credits are adapted from the CD liner notes of Love Yourself: Tear.[15]

  • Pdogg – producer, keyboard, synthesizer, vocal and rap arrangement, digital editing, recording engineer
  • RM – producer
  • Ali Tamposi – producer
  • Liza Owen – producer
  • Roman Campolo – producer
  • "hitman" bang – producer, keyboard
  • Suga – producer
  • J-Hope – producer
  • Jungkook – chorus
  • ADORA – chorus, recording engineer
  • Lee Taewook – guitar
  • Lee Jooyeong – bass
  • Slow Rabbit – vocal arrangement, recording engineer
  • Supreme Boi – rap arrangement, recording engineer
  • Hiss noise – digital editing
  • Jaycen Joshua – mix engineer

Charts

Korean version

Chart (2018)Peak
position
France Download (SNEP)[16]111
Hungary (Single Top 40)[17]18
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[18]25
Malaysia (RIM)[19]7
South Korea (Billboard Hot 100)[20]8
South Korea (Gaon)[21]37
UK Independent Singles (Official Charts Company)[22]40
US World Digital Songs (Billboard)[23]4

Japanese version

Chart (2018)Peak
position
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[24]25

Certifications and sales

Sales and certifications for "Airplane Pt. 2"
RegionCertificationCertified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[25]Gold20,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References