Lee Gyu-lee is a business writer at The Korea Times, focusing primarily on IT & telecommunications, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and KOTRA. Prior to this, she has covered a wide range of cultural news, from film, television and K-pop to lifestyle and fashion.
Rose's 'APT.' turns spotlight again on '80s hit song of same name
Rose and Bruno Mars released a collaboration song "APT." on Oct. 18. Courtesy of The Black Label
By Lee Gyu-lee
BLACKPINK's Rose and Bruno Mars' new song, “APT.,” which has generated a global sensation, has unexpectedly brought attention to the 1980s hit, “Apartment,” by Yoon Soo-il, resulting in its resurgence on music charts.
Singer-songwriter Yoon Soo-il / Korea Times file
The rock song, released in 1982, has been drawing listeners’ attention, as it shares the same title as the latest hit song.
"I am grateful for Rose and Bruno Mars for 'reconstructing' my song," Yoon said during a recent interview with Yonhap.
Yoon’s self-written song, “Apartment,” was one of the biggest hits of the early '80s with its fast beat, catchy rhythm and relatable lyrics, indirectly criticizing the apartment boom in the Gangnam area during the era. It topped KBS’ “Gayo Top 10,” one of the most influential music chart shows at the time, for five weeks in a row.
The song occasionally appeared in the media with singers like Kim Gun-mo and Kangnam releasing a remake or doing a cover on music shows. It was also used as one of the soundtracks for tvN’s hit series “Reply 1988” (2015).
The song is also a popular anthem at Korean baseball games and has become a ubiquitous choice, with most teams adopting it to energize their fans and players alike.
On the music platform Melon, the streaming counts for Yoon's “Apartment” increased by over 360 percent after the release of "APT." Mashups of both songs have also been trending on social media and YouTube.
"Young people are becoming interested in my original version of 'Apartment' as they listen to Rose's 'APT.' I'm very happy that my music is also getting attention alongside it,” Yoon said.
“The collaboration of Rose and Bruno Mars worked out excellently and produced a great song. As a senior artist, I'm happy, and I offer my congratulations, (as I) see people around the world enjoying it."
“APT.” has taken the world by storm since its release on Oct. 18, bringing record-breaking success to Rose.
The song topped the Billboard Global 200 and landed eighth on the Billboard Hot 100, which is the highest ranking by a K-pop female artist on the chart. The singer also claimed another record, becoming the first K-pop female artist to debut at No. 4 on the U.K. Official Singles Chart.