Die 4 You

This article is about the Dean song. For Bring Me the Horizon song, see Die4U. For other uses, see Die for You.

"Die 4 You"
Single by Dean
Language
  • Korean
  • English
ReleasedNovember 18, 2023 (2023-11-18)
GenreAlternative R&B
Length3:14
Label
Composer(s)
Lyricist(s)Deanfluenza
Producer(s)
  • Deanfluenza
  • T.Y
  • Galdive
Dean singles chronology
"Sugar Dive"
(2023) 		"Die 4 You"
(2023)
Music video
"Die 4 You" on YouTube

"Die 4 You" (stylized in all caps) is a song recorded by South Korean musician Dean. It was released on November 18, 2023, by Universal Music Group and distributed by Joombas Company. An alternative R&B track, it was issued as a stand-alone single and Dean's first as a lead artist in four and a half years. The song peaked at number nine of South Korea's national Circle Digital Chart and entered the New Zealand Hot Singles at number 15. "Die 4 You" also received the R&B Track of the Year award at the 2024 Korean Hip-hop Awards.

Background and composition

Dean began writing songs for other artists in 2013 and embarked on a solo career two years later. He released his debut single "I'm Not Sorry" in 2015 and issued a handful of successful singles thereafter.[1] His work earned him the Best R&B and Soul Song award for "Pour Up" featuring Zico at the 18th Korean Music Awards in 2016 and the R&B Track of the Year award at the inaugural Korean Hip-hop Awards for "D (Half Moon)" with Gaeko the following year.[2] Dean began working on an album in 2019 and updated on its progress in September 2021.[3] Eight years after debuting, he had yet to produce a full-length solo album. In early 2023, Dean deactivated his social media accounts, leading to speculation about his retirement from the industry.[1]

"Die 4 You" is an alternative R&B song with a refined melody.[4] The lyrics were penned by Dean (under the pseudonym Deanfluenza), who composed the track with T.Y, Osvaldo Aritonang, and Tanisha T. Sadewo.[5] Record production was handled by Deanfluenza, T.Y, and Indonesian electronica duo Galdive.[6][7] The winter song opens with a lonely acoustic guitar and music is layered in the chorus.[2] Thematically, "Die 4 You" deals with lost love.[8]

Release and promotion

Beginning in November 2023, flyers reporting Dean's disappearance were disseminated throughout downtown Seoul.[9] On November 10, Dean reactivated his Instagram account after a lengthy period of inactivity and uploaded a video of himself singing a cover of Shiloh Dynasty's "I'm Drunk and Confused" while playing the piano.[10] Three days later, Universal Music Group confirmed the release of an upcoming single, Dean's first as a lead artist in four and a half years since "Howlin' 404" in May 2019.[11] The single's title was unveiled a day ahead of its release.[12] "Die 4 You" and its visualizer video were released on November 18, 2023,[2] followed by its music video on December 23.[13]

Reception

Rating "Die 4 You" three and a half stars out of five, Lee Seung-won of online magazine IZM described it as both "chillingly cold and warm like a fireplace". He noted that Dean minimizes the music's highs and lows while sustaining a "comfortable mood" throughout the track.[14]

On the chart dated November 12–18, 2023, "Die 4 You" debuted at number 191 on South Korea's national Circle Digital Chart.[15] In its second week, it rose to number nine.[16] On the New Zealand Hot Singles chart, the song opened at number 15.[17] The song won the R&B Track of the Year award at the 2024 Korean Hip-hop Awards.[18]

Charts

References

  1. ^ a b Jang, In-yeong (November 17, 2023). AI 아니고 진짜 딘…난데없는 '실종설' 깨고 4년 6개월만 컴백 [엑's 이슈]. xportsnews (in Korean). xportsmedia. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Lee, Hyun-pa (November 23, 2023). 4년 6개월의 공백 깼다, 모두가 기다린 그 이름. OhmyStar (in Korean). Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  3. ^ Chin, Carmen (September 22, 2021). "Dean tells fans to "hang in there just a little longer" for long-awaited album". NME (in Korean). Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  4. ^ Lee, Tae-su (November 18, 2023). 딘, 4년 반만의 신곡 '다이 4 유'…차트 상위권 직행. Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  5. ^ "Die 4 You – Dean" (in Korean). Melon. November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  6. ^ "Die 4 You – Single by Dean" (in Korean). Spotify. November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  7. ^ Oh, Gi-ppeum (November 17, 2023). 딘이 온다. Vogue Korea (in Korean). Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  8. ^ Yeo, Gladys (November 20, 2023). "Dean drops 'Die 4 You', his first solo release in four years". NME (in Korean). Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  9. ^ La, Hyo-jin (November 11, 2023). 사이버 가수? AI? 무려 4년 6개월 만에 컴백하는 딘 신곡 정보. Elle Korea (in Korean). Heast Joongang. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  10. ^ Jung, Eun-yeong (November 11, 2023). '4년째 앨범 無' 가수 딘, 인스타그램 활동 재개…컴백 암시?. Top Star News (in Korean). Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  11. ^ 딘, 4년 6개월 만에 돌아오다...18일 싱글 발매. Star Today (in Korean). Maekyung Media Group. November 13, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  12. ^ Lee, Mi-ji (November 17, 2023). 딘, 18일 'Die 4 You'로 컴백..4년6개월만 신보(공식). Herald Pop (in Korean). Herald Corporation. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  13. ^ Jung, Hyeon-tae (December 26, 2023). 딘, 4년 6개월만 신곡 'DIE 4 YOU' MV 공개. Single List (in Korean). Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  14. ^ Lee, Mi-ji (December 2023). "Die 4 You". IZM (in Korean). Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  15. ^ "Digital Chart 2023 Weeks 46" (in Korean). Circle Chart. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  16. ^ a b "Digital Chart 2023 Weeks 47" (in Korean). Circle Chart. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  17. ^ a b "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. November 27, 2023. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  18. ^ Choi, Hyeon-jeong (February 27, 2024). 빈지노, 한국 힙합 어워즈 '올해의 아티스트' 선정. ET News (in Korean). Electronic Times Internet. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  19. ^ "Digital Chart – November 2023". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved December 7, 2023.