Lies

"Lies" is a song recorded by the South Korean boy group Big Bang. The song was written and composed by rapper G-Dragon. It was released on August 16, 2007, by YG Entertainment as the first single from BigBang's first extended play Always (2007). It became the group's breakout hit, topping charts in their home country for several weeks and consequently winning Song of the Year at the 2007 Mnet Asian Music Awards. The song remains one of their most critically acclaimed song to date and is often viewed as one of their signature songs. Background and composition BigBang's first extended play, Always (2007), marked several changes for the group. Though the members had previously involved themselves with writing and composing, the group took more creative control over their music, moving away from their hip-hop and R&B roots and towards electronic dance music. G-Dragon composed and wrote most of the tracks included in their first EP, including "Lies." The rapper originally wrote this track for his solo album, but the company decided it would suit the group better. An electronic dance track combined with hip-hop elements, "Lies" begins with a dial tone, and that builds up around a "subtle piano, brassy percussion, and a clapping beat." The chorus blends "boy-band harmonies and hip-hop chants", which was described as "something fresh" for K-pop in 2007, while the vocals were described as "delicate". Arirang TV called the track a "Euro-house style piece, lanced with trance." Lyrically, the song describes a break-up, with the line "I'm so sorry but I love you" being used as the hook. Critical reception "Lies" received near universal acclaim from music critics, who described the song as "through the roof." Korean website Star News published an article commenting that BigBang's music "stands out" from other K-pop boy groups, because of their "impressive melody lines" in tracks like "Lies". Tamar Herman of Billboard wrote that the "melodic, surging chorus and some rapid-fire rap" of "Lies" placed BigBang "down the path into the realm of avant-garde experimentalism that they've become known for over the past few years" and called one of South Korea's "most memorable songs."