Circus (Stray Kids song)

"Circus" is a song recorded by South Korean boy band Stray Kids. It appears as the first track on their second Japanese-language extended play (EP) of the same name. The song was released on June 10, 2022, through Epic Records Japan, as the third and lead single of the EP after the Japanese version of "Maniac", and "Your Eyes". The Korean version was included on their seventh Korean-language EP Maxident.

"Circus"
Single by Stray Kids
from the EP Circus
Language	Japanese
Released	June 10, 2022 (2022-06-10)
Genre	Hip hop dance
Length	3:14
Label	Epic Japan
Composer(s)	Bang Chan Changbin Han Earattack Chan's Darm
Lyricist(s)	Bang Chan Changbin Han KM-Markit
Stray Kids singles chronology
"Your Eyes" (2022) "Circus" (2022) "Mixtape: Time Out" (2022)
Music video
"Circus" on YouTube

Release and composition

Stray Kids' second Japanese-language extended play (EP), was announced on April 4, 2022.^[1] Later the title Circus and track listing were revealed on May 16, including the first track of the same name, "Circus".^[2] The song was released to digital music and streaming platforms on June 10, in conjunction with its accomapying music video premiere.^[3] The Korean version of the song was included on the group's seventh Korean-language EP Maxident, scheduled for release on October 7.^[4]

"Circus" is a hip hop-dance song written by Stray Kids' in-house production team, 3Racha, with Earattack, Chan's and Darm,^[5] composed in the key of F minor, 98 beats per minute with a running time of three minutes and fourteen seconds.^[6] The song centered on the circus theme, featuring word playing, "vaulting" pluck bass, "addictive" vocal chops, and "solid" drums, which make sounds like "elephant footsteps in the circus".^[7]

Commercial performance

"Circus" entered the Billboard Japan Hot 100 in the chart issue dated June 15, 2022, at number 96^[8] and ascended to number 47 on the next week.^[9] On its component charts, the song peaked at number 81 on the Download Chart,^[10] and number 27 on the Streaming Songs.^[11] The song landed at number 43 on the Oricon Combined Singles Chart.^[12] Internationally, "Circus" entered the RMNZ Hot Singles Chart at number 29.^[13] The Korean version debuted at number 34 on the Circle Download Chart.^[14]

Music video

An accompanying music video for "Circus", directed by Bang Jae-yeob, was premiered alongside the single release on June 10, 2022, preceded by two teasers.^[3] It depicts Stray Kids members performing in a circus tent with real circus performers. The members are divided into two circuses, and 16 members, using compositing technology.^[7] The music video surpassed 100 million views on YouTube, becoming their first Japanese original song's music video to do so.^[15]

Live performances

Stray Kids gave the debut performance of "Circus" on June 11, 2022, at their first show of Maniac World Tour in Japan at World Memorial Hall, Kobe.^[16] The group also appeared on the morning show Sukkiri on June 14 to give an interview and perform the song.^[17] The group performed "Circus" at Buzz Rhythm 02 on July 9, alongside "Back Door",^[18] the two-hour special episode of Music Station on August 5,^[19] and Best Artist 2022 on December 3, along with "Maniac".^[20] The Korean version was performed for the first time their "Seoul Special (Unveil 11)" of Maniac World Tour on September 17,^[21] as well as the 2022 MBC Gayo Daejejeon alongside "Case 143" on January 1, 2023.^[22]

Credits and personnel

Personnel

• Stray Kids – vocals, background vocals
  • Bang Chan (3Racha) – lyrics, composition, all instruments, computer programming, vocal directing, digital editing
  • Changbin (3Racha) – lyrics, composition, vocal directing
  • Han (3Racha) – lyrics, composition, vocal directing
• KM-Markit – Japanese lyrics
• Earattack – background vocals, composition, arrangement, all instruments, computer programming, vocal directing
• Chan's – composition, arrangement, all instruments, computer programming
• Darm – composition, arrangement, all instruments, computer programming
• Goo Hye-jin – recording
• Lee Kyeong-won – digital editing
• Lee Tae-sub – mixing
• Kwon Nam-woo – mastering

Locations

• Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc. – publishing
• JYP Publishing (KOMCA) – publishing
• Music Cube Inc. – publishing
• Cube Entertainment Inc. – publishing
• Fujipacific Music Korea Inc. – publishing
• JYPE Studios – recording, mixing
• KayOne Sounds – digital editing
• 821 Sound Mastering – mastering

Charts

Chart performance for "Circus"

Chart (2022)	Peak position
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[9]	47
Japan Combined Singles (Oricon)[12]	43
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[13]	29
South Korea Download (Circle)[14] Korean version	34

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Circus"

Region	Date	Format	Label	Ref.
Various	June 10, 2022	Digital download streaming	Epic Japan	[23]

References

1. "Stray Kids、来日する6月に日本2ndミニアルバムをリリース" [Stray Kids Will Release Japan 2nd Mini Album in June When They Come to Japan]. Natalie (in Japanese). April 4, 2022. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
2. "Stray Kids、日本2ndミニアルバム名は『CIRCUS』 アートワーク&収録曲一挙公開" [Stray Kids, Japan 2nd Mini-Album title is "CIRCUS", Artwork & Recorded Songs Released at Once]. Oricon (in Japanese). May 16, 2022. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
3. "Stray Kids、「CIRCUS」の先行配信＆Music Videoの公開がスタート!" [Stray Kids Pre-Delivered "CIRCUS" from the Mini Album "CIRCUS" & Released MV]. The First Time (in Japanese). June 10, 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
4. Lee, Se-bin (September 13, 2022). "스트레이 키즈, 신보 '맥시던트' 트랙리스트 공개…타이틀곡 '케이스 143'" [Stray Kids, New 'MAXIDENT' Track List Released…Title Track 'CASE 143']. Ilgan Sports (in Korean). Retrieved September 13, 2022.
5. "Stray Kids、サーカス小屋でメンバーが分身する「CIRCUS」MV公開". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). June 10, 2022. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
6. "Key, BPM of Circus by Stray Kids". Musicstax. June 1, 2022. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
7. "Stray Kids、リード曲「CIRCUS」MV公開＆先行配信がスタート！メンバーが16人に分身？パフォーマンスに注目" [Stray Kids, Lead Song "CIRCUS" MV Release & Pre-Delivery Started! Is There 16 Members? Focus on Performance]. Kstyle (in Japanese). June 10, 2022. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
8. "Billboard Japan Hot 100 – Week of June 15, 2022". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). June 15, 2022. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
9. "Billboard Japan Hot 100 – Week of June 22, 2022". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). June 22, 2022. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
10. "Download Songs – Week of June 15, 2022". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). June 15, 2022. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
11. "Streaming Songs – Week of June 22, 2022". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). June 22, 2022. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
12. "Weekly Combined Singles Chart – June 27, 2022" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
13. "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. June 20, 2022. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
14. "Download Chart – Week 41 of 2022". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved October 13, 2022.
15. "Stray Kids(ストレイキッズ)「CIRCUS」MVの再生回数が1億回を突破! 日本オリジナル楽曲ではK-POP第4世代グループ史上初" [Stray Kids' "CIRCUS" MV Has Been Viewed Over 100 Million Times! First Japanese Original Song in the History of K-POP 4th Generation Group]. The First Times (in Japanese). February 13, 2024. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
16. "Stray Kids、2年7ヵ月ぶり来日公演に感激「本当に幸せ」世界初披露の楽曲も" [Stray Kids Was Thrilled to be Performing in Japan for the First Time in 2 Years and 7 Months]. Modelpress (in Japanese). June 12, 2022. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
17. "Stray Kids「スッキリ」で流暢な日本語トークを披露！新曲「CIRCUS」の生パフォーマンスも…ウエンツ瑛士との記念ショットを公開" [Stray Kids Show Off their Fluent Japanese Talk at "Sukkiri"! Live Performance of the New Song "CIRCUS"…Showing a Commemorative Shot with Eiji Wentz]. Kstyle (in Japanese). June 14, 2022. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
18. "「バズリズム02」トークにStray Kids初登場！ バンチャンの部屋はきれいすぎて「何もありません」" [Stray Kids First Appearance in "Buzz Rhythm 02" Talk! Bang Chan's Room Is Too Clean and "Nothing"]. Natalie (in Japanese). July 8, 2022. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
19. "「Mステ」2時間SPにNiziU、ジャニーズWEST、King Gnu、スキズ、大黒摩季、ポルノら" [NiziU, Johnny's WEST, King Gnu, Stray Kids, Maki Oguro, Porno Graffitti, etc. in "Music Station" 2 Hours SP]. Natalie (in Japanese). July 29, 2022. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
20. "『ベストアーティスト2022』出演順タイムテーブル 全39組が出演" ["Best Artist 2022" Timetable in Order of All 39 Artists Appearance]. Mynavi (in Japanese). December 3, 2022. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
21. Woo, Bin (September 19, 2022). "스트레이 키즈, KSPO DOME 입성 "꿈꿔온 순간, 현실이 됐다"" [Stray Kids, KSPO DOME Entering "The Moment I Dreamed Of, Became a Reality"]. TenAsia (in Korean). Retrieved September 29, 2022.
22. Cho, S. (December 31, 2022). "Watch: Performances From The 2022 MBC Music Festival". Soompi. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
23. "Stray Kids、「CIRCUS」の先行配信＆Music Videoの公開がスタート!" [Stray Kids, "CIRCUS" Pre-Delivery & Music Video Released!]. Stray Kids Official Website (in Japanese). Epic JYP. June 10, 2022. Retrieved June 13, 2022.