A Japanese version of the song was included on Kang's Japanese debut EP titled Joy Ride which was released on October 5, 2022 through Warner Music Japan.[1] The original Korean track was later reissued on November 24, 2022 via an album repackage, The Story: Retold.[2]
Background and composition
"Upside Down" is a medium tempo song that allows a Rhodes piano and heavy guitar sound to coexist.[3] Lyrically, it contains Kang's "pleasant solution and message" to situations that are not going as planned. This is conveyed when he sings "I feel like I'm living in a world that's upside down / I need to change it back / Turn everything around".[4] He expanded on the meaning by sharing that "There are days when you can't do anything [right]. The song is about one's determination to turn everything upside down on such days".[5]
As a teaser for the title track, Konnect Entertainment released an interactive website designed by social media platform Behance on May 15, 2022.[6] The specific team responsible for the design and development of the website additionally stated that "Upside Down" contains the message that "Even if things don't go according to our will, we don't succumb to reality and create our own world at our own pace. Finding [your] own color by creating a world that suits [you] rather than adjusting to the world's standards."[7]
Music video
The music video for "Upside Down" was directed by Wooje Kim of ETUI and premiered on Konnect Entertainment's YouTube channel at 18:00 (KST) on May 24, 2022.[8] It was preceded by two teasers released on the same platform on May 20 and 23.[9][10]
The song's official release is accompanied by a vibrant music video that takes place in various locations, including a neon-lit barbershop, a rooftop carpark, and a laundromat. It also features KANGDANIEL and his team of talented dancers delivering an astounding choreography with hip-hop and street dance elements.
— LionhearTV describing the "Upside Down" music video[11]
It exceeded 10 million views in 10 hours, besting Kang's previous record.[12] It was also included in a list titled "K-Pop Videos: Best of 2022" created by Tidal.
Commercial performance
"Upside Down" peaked at number two on the Gaon Digital Chart for the chart issue dated May 22 to 28 in 2022.[13] The song also took first place on MBC's Show! Music Core on June 4.[14]
Critical reception
"Upside Down" was included in a hand-picked selection of songs and videos by the subscription-based streaming service, Tidal. The latter list was described as "the best this year brought from the magical world of K-pop visuals that only enhance your listening experience".[15][16]
^강다니엘, 제자리 공중 360도 회전 퍼포먼스 '경악' "특별한 리듬감" [Kang Daniel's 360-degree rotation performance in the air 'Amazing' "Special sense of rhythm"]. Star News (in Korean). May 23, 2022. Archived from the original on June 5, 2022. Retrieved June 5, 2022 – via Naver.
^@woojeda (May 24, 2022). "KANGDANIEL - Upside Down MV". Instagram. Archived from the original on April 12, 2023. Retrieved June 15, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^'컴백 D-1' 강다니엘, 가장 강다니엘답게 돌아온다 ['Comeback D-1' Kang Daniel, the most Kang Daniel-like comeback]. OSEN [ko] (in Korean). May 23, 2022. Archived from the original on June 15, 2022. Retrieved June 15, 2022 – via Naver.
^강다니엘, 'Upside Down' 뮤직비디오 1000만뷰 돌파…자체 최단 기록 [Kang Daniel's 'Upside Down' music video surpasses 10 million views... shortest personal record]. Xports News (in Korean). May 25, 2022. Archived from the original on May 25, 2022. Retrieved May 25, 2022 – via Naver.
^ ab강다니엘, 세븐틴·싸이 제치고 1위…조유리 스페셜 MC 활약 ('음악중심')[종합] [Kang Daniel beats Seventeen and Psy to take 1st place... Jo Yu-ri's special MC activity ('Music Core') [General]]. MyDaily [ko] (in Korean). June 4, 2022. Archived from the original on June 4, 2022. Retrieved June 4, 2022 – via Naver.
