BTS member V has once again illuminated his solo career prowess as his latest track ‘FRI(END)S’ has reached number one in 100 countries on iTunes, setting a new record for K-pop releases in 2024. This achievement makes ‘FRI(END)S’ the first song of the year to hit the 100-country milestone on the iTunes Top Songs chart.
Released on May 11, ‘FRI(END)S’ initially clinched the top spot in Mauritius, marking the beginning of its global ascent on the iTunes charts. This song continues V’s legacy of hits achieving this feat, following his earlier tracks ‘Sweet Night’, ‘Inner Child’, ‘Christmas Tree’, and ‘Slow Dancing’ from his solo album ‘Layover’, each of which also topped iTunes in 100 countries.
Besides dominating iTunes, ‘FRI(END)S’ has also made impressive strides on Spotify, capturing the top position on the Worldwide iTunes Song and European iTunes Song charts.
The track has also made significant inroads into major Western music charts, debuting at number 65 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 5 on the Billboard Global 200, and number 3 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts. It continued to appear on these charts for six consecutive weeks.
In the UK, ‘FRI(END)S’ established the longest-charting record for a K-pop solo artist on the Official Chart, debuting at number 13 and maintaining its presence for two consecutive weeks. It also appeared for four weeks on the UK Official Singles Download and UK Official Singles Sales charts, setting another longevity record for a K-pop solo track.
‘FRI(END)S’ debuted at number 3 on the Official Big Top 40 chart in the UK and remained on this chart for five consecutive weeks, marking the longest presence for a K-pop song.
The song, released while V is serving in the military, explores the transition from a platonic to a romantic relationship and is noted for its soulful pop R&B melody, clever lyrics, and V’s smooth handling of both low and falsetto vocals, drawing critical acclaim for its artistic depth.
Source: starnewskorea.com
