"Fantastic Baby" | ||||
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Single by Big Bang | ||||
from the EP Alive | ||||
Released | February 29, 2012 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:51 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) |
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Big Bang singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Fantastic Baby" on YouTube |
"Fantastic Baby" is a song recorded by South Korean boy band Big Bang. It was released as a single for digital download and streaming by YG Entertainment on February 29, 2012, in conjunction with the release of the band's fourth extended play (EP), Alive (2012). The song was written by members T.O.P, G-Dragon and long-time group collaborator Teddy Park, whilst production and composition was handled by the latter two contributors. A boisterous, sonic and dynamic EDM track, "Fantastic Baby" incorporates a multitude of hooks and catchphrases—most notably "Wow, fantastic baby" and "boom shakalaka".
"Fantastic Baby" was well received by music critics, with Rolling Stone and Billboard magazines naming it one of the greatest boy band songs of all-time. The song has also been recognized by Billboard as "one of the biggest K-pop hits ever", and was hailed as a highlight in the spread of the Korean wave around the world by The Smithsonian in 2013. The song was a commercial success, peaking at number three on both the Gaon Digital Chart and the Billboard World Digital Songs chart while placing within the top 10 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100.
Selling more than 4 million digital units in the band's native country by 2016, "Fantastic Baby" became one of the best-selling singles in South Korea. Additionally, the song sold 3 million units across China and Japan, and was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) in August 2015. The accompanying music video, directed by Seo Hyun-seung, was released on March 7, 2012 and became the first music video by a K-pop group to surpass 200 and 300 million views on YouTube.