The K-pop icons shared an emotional single to say goodbye (for now) to fans.
As the members of BIGBANG enlist in South Korea’s mandatory military service, the K-pop icons can take their hiatus knowing they’ve continued their glorious, history-making run.
The quintet’s new single “Flower Road” debuts at No. 1 on Billboard‘s World Digital Song Sales chart to become their fourth chart-topper on the list. The emotional electronic/hip-hop single sold 5,000 digital tracks in the week ending March 15, according to Nielsen Music, after its March 13 release.
K-Pop Icons BIGBANG Walk the ‘Flower Road’ In Final Single Before Hiatus
“Flower Road” joins BIGBANG’s 2015 singles “Loser,” “Bang Bang Bang” and “Let’s Not Fall in Love” as past No. 1s on World Digital Song Sales. To date, BIGBANG’s best first-week sales came when “Bang Bang Bang” moved nearly 11,000 downloads upon release.
BIGBANG now join their YG Entertainment label mate PSY by having four No. 1s on World Digital Song Sales. The two trailblazing K-pop acts now share the spot for second-most No. 1s on World Digital Song Sales among all artists with only boy band BTS having more No. 1s with their six.
Earlier this month, BIGBANG’s Taeyang and Daesung enlisted in South Korea’s military program marking the third and fourth members of the group to begin their required service following T.O.P and G-Dragon. Seungri, the youngest member, has shared his intention to join the military after finishing his scheduled work this year which is said to include a new solo album.
“Flower Path” is the song title BIGBANG as the group says goodbye (for now) to fans. A common Korean literature expression that’s a favorite for song titles, the “flower path” or “flower road” represents a point in life where one can walk forward in glory and success with the quintet certainly earning that spot after years as not only as one of biggest Korean-music sensations in Asia, but in America too. Through some of their most memorable and passionate raps and vocals to date, the men ask their loving fans — known as VIPs — to remember them in their current glory and remind them that they’ll return to them soon.
This is about 2 years, 9 months, 21 days, and 18 hours after the release on June 1, 2015 at 12 a.m. KST.