Counting Stars (Be'O song)

"Counting Stars" is a song by South Korean rapper Be'O featuring Beenzino. It was released on December 12, 2021, through FameUs Entertainment. It was nominated for Hip-Hop Track of the Year at the Korean Hip-Hop Awards and peaked at number one the Gaon Digital Chart.

"Counting Stars"
Single by Be'O
Language	Korean
Released	December 12, 2021 (2021-12-12)
Genre	Hip hop
Length	2:30
Label	FameUs Entertainment Genie Music Stone Music Entertainment
Composer(s)	Be'O Kevin Jacoutot
Lyricist(s)	Be'O Beenzino
Music video
"Counting Stars" on YouTube

Background

In October 2021, Be'O appeared on the rap competition TV show Show Me the Money 10 and performed "Counting Stars" in round two. The YouTube video of him singing the song went viral and amassed more than 10 million views.^[1] After Beenzino mentioned him and the song on his Instagram live, Be'O contacted him first and asked for a collaboration.^[2]

Music and lyrics

According to IZM, the hook singing "Counting Stars!" makes a strong impression. Be'O's trendy vocal captivates listeners and Beenzino's verse showing affection for his stepfather gives an urban vibe.^[3]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
IZM
Music Y

Lee Hong-hyeon of IZM rated "Counting Stars" 3 out of 5 stars. According to Lee, "although the mixing is causing controversy as it made the cool and clear voice of the performance version muffled and unclear, the song is good because there is no contrived accent nor pitch. It is a song where you can get immersed in the lofi mood comfortably."^[3]

Critics of Music Y also rated the song 3 out of 5 stars. According to Kim Seong-hwan, the composition of the hook focusing on metaphors rather than rhymes such as "Counting stars / Pearls in the night sky / Better than your Louis Vuitton" makes listeners feel immersed in it. He concluded that it "shows the strength of the typical Korean popular hip hop."^[4]

According to netizen voters of the Korean Hip-hop Awards, it "greatly contributed to the mainstream reception and development of hip-hop" with "Beenzino's feature adding fun and narrative".^[5]

Awards and nominations

Award	Year	Category	Result	Ref.
Genie Music Awards	2022	Song of the Year	Nominated	[6]
Korean Hip-hop Awards	2022	Hip-hop Track of the Year	Nominated	[5]
Melon Music Awards	2022	Song of the Year	Nominated	[7]

Commercial performance

"Counting Stars" became the fastest song to reach number one on Melon in 2021.^[8] It later peaked at number one on the Gaon Digital Chart and the Gaon Download Chart for two consecutive weeks.^[9]

Charts

Chart (2021)	Peak position
South Korea (Gaon)[10]	1

References

1. [ENG] [SMTM10/2회] '(으쓱)마이노 뿌듯-' 모든 프로듀서들을 홀렸다! 비오 @2차 예선 | Mnet 211008 방송 [[ENG] [SMTM10/Episode 2] 'Mino is proud-' He mesmerized all the producers! Be'O @Round Two | Mnet 211008] (in Korean). Mnet TV. October 9, 2021 – via YouTube.
2. Kim, Seon-hui. "빛나는 비오" [Shining Be'O]. Marie Claire Korea (in Korean).
3. Lee, Hong-hyeon (December 2021). "Counting stars (Feat. Beenzino)". IZM (in Korean).
4. Kim, Seong-hwan (December 27, 2021). "[Single-Out #380-2] 비오 「Counting Stars (feat. 빈지노)」". Music Y (in Korean).
5. "한국 힙합 어워즈 2022 후보" [Korean Hip-hop Awards 2022 Nominees]. Korean Hip-hop Awards (in Korean).
6. Kang, Bo-ra (October 6, 2022). "임영웅·이찬원→NCT드림·아이브·아이유, 지니뮤직어워드 올해의 가수 후보" [Lim Yeong-woong, Lee Chan-won > NCT Dream, Ive, IU, Genie Music Awards Singer of the Year Nominees]. Single List (in Korean).
7. "MMA 2022 Voting by Category" (in Korean). Melon. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
8. Kim, Jong-woo (December 27, 2021). "멜론 "올해 최단시간 1위곡은 비오의 카운팅 스타"" [Melon "The fastest song to reach number one this year is Be'O's Counting Star"]. Busan Ilbo (in Korean).
9. Son, Jin-a (December 30, 2021). "비오, 가온차트 2주 연속 2관왕…아이브 앨범차트 1위" [Be'O, tops two categories of the Gaon Chart for two consecutive weeks... Ive #1 on the Album Chart.]. Maeil Business Newspaper (in Korean).
10. "2021년 51주차 Digital Chart" [Week 51 of 2021 Digital Chart]. Circle Chart (in Korean).