Second Wind is the debut single album by BSS, a sub-unit of the South Korean boy band Seventeen. It was released on February 6, 2023, alongside its lead single "Fighting", featuring Lee Young-ji.[1][2] Serving as BSS's first release in almost five years, Second Wind topped the Circle Album Chart and broke the first-week sales record for an album released by a K-pop sub-unit.[3][4][5]
On January 7, 2023, BSS announced their plans of releasing a new single album, marking the sub-unit's first return since their debut digital single "Just Do It" nearly five years prior.[6] Although the track was intended to be a one-time skit created for Caratland, a fan meeting event for Seventeen, positive feedback and demand from fans prompted BSS to plan for another project.[7] On January 12, Pledis Entertainment further revealed details of the album's name, Second Wind; album versions; and February 6 release date.[8] Conceived as an album with an active sports aesthetic, a special version of Second Wind was launched, featuring BSS-themed sports apparel (a t-shirt, scrunchie, hairband, mask, and socks) arranged inside a shoebox-inspired package.[9]
On February 2, BSS teased the single album's three-song tracklist through a highlight medley designed to mimic a fitness app's goal tracker progression.[10] "Going BSS", a two-episode special of Seventeen's web variety show Going Seventeen, as well as two official teasers, were also aired to support the album's release.[11]Second Wind was digitally and physically released worldwide on February 6, 2023. Its lead single, "Fighting", was released with an accompanying music video on the same day.[12] On February 23, BSS shared a special performance video of the track "7PM", featuring Norwegian singer Peder Elias.[13]
Lee Ha-na of Newsen commended the album for "breathing a new wind into the music industry" with its charming ability to transform into a "support group that is always by your side".[15] In a review for NME, Tanu Raj scored Second Wind four out of five stars, noting the album as the "perfect pick-me-up" and "a record that exudes endless, sunny optimism".[14]
Commercial performance
On the first day of its release, Second Wind was reported to have sold over 478,000 copies, immediately breaking the first-week sales record for an album released by a sub-unit of a K-pop band.[4][5] By the end of the first week, it sold a record 610,189 copies in total.[16] The album also debuted at number one on the Circle Album Chart on the week-ending date of February 11, 2023.[3]
The album's lead single "Fighting" entered the Circle Digital Chart at number five and topped its component Download Chart in the issue dated February 5–11, 2023.[17][18] The song debuted at number one on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart dated February 15, 2023.[19] It also debuted at number eight on the World Digital Song Sales chart issued on February 18, 2023.[20]
↑Lee, Ha-na (February 20, 2023). 팍팍한 현실에 "행복은 부석순" 거침없이 파이팅 해야지[뮤직와치] [“Happiness is Boo Seok-soon” in the harsh reality, we must fight without hesitation [Music Watch]]. Newsen (in 한국어). Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2023 – via Naver.
