"Lalalala" was written by 3Racha, an in-house production team of Stray Kids members Bang Chan, Changbin, and Han, and co-composed with Versachoi, Kevin Gomringer and Tim Gomringer from Cubeatz, and Luis Bacque in November 2022, and intended to be included the group's third studio album 5-Star as the lead single, but it was replaced by "S-Class". During the recording session, the group felt the song is suitable for being a lead single and performing on stage. Therefore, the song was outtaked from 5-Star, which included "Item" instead.[2]
On October 6, 2023, Stray Kids announced their eighth Korean-language extended play Rock-Star set to be released on November 10, 2023.[3] The EP's track list was revealed on October 9, marking the second track "Lalalala" as its lead single, as well as the rock version.[4] The song was first previewed on the EP's mashup video on November 6.[5] The song's Korean title "락 (樂)" (pronounced rak; means "pleasure") is a word play with "rock", expressing the meaning of "although you will feel any emotions in life, you hope the last emotion you choose will be pleasure".[6] Musically, "Lalalala" is a phonk[7] and Afrobeats track with "harsh" electric guitar, "lively" drums, and "thumping" bass, talking about celebration of their life,[8] pushing through all kinds of pain to find joy and release through music.[9]
In South Korea, "Lalalala" debuted at number 33 on the Circle Digital Chart for the issue dated November 5–11, 2023,[10] and rose to number six the next week, Stray Kids' first top ten and highest peak on the chart.[11] The song first entered the Billboard Japan Hot 100 dated November 15 at number 33 and ascended to number eight the next week,[12] and further peaked at number six on the Streaming Songs.[13] In Europe, "Lalalala" peaked at number 44 on the UK Singles Chart, and number 74 on the French Top Singles.[14]
The song landed at number ten on the Billboard Global 200 and number six on the Global Excl. US, dated November 25, 2023, making Stray Kids their first top-ten entries and highest peaks on both charts, surpassing "Maniac" (21 and 15, respectively). The song earned 44.7 million streams and 9,000 digital sales worldwide.[15] In the United States, "Lalalala" entered Billboard Hot 100 for the first time at number 90 with 3,000 downloads and 6.1 million streams in the United States, becoming the seventh South Korean group to do so, following Wonder Girls, BTS, Blackpink, Twice, NewJeans, and Fifty Fifty, as well as the second boy band after BTS.[16] Additionally, "Lalalala" was the fourth song to top the World Digital Song Sales after "Mixtape: Oh", "Maniac", and "Case 143".[17]
An accompanying music video for "Lalalala" was uploaded on November 10, 2023, concurrently with the EP Rock-Star release,[18] preceded by one teaser video.[19] Directed by Bang Jae-yeob,[20] the visual depicts clash of inside emotions, and pleasure ultimately wins at the end.[2] It shows Stray Kids' dance performance in different sets: shipwreck, a bank robbery, an army, and a white background,[21] and alternate with gigantic smoke-like creature attempts to attack both Stray Kids and a marching band of young boys during performing. At the end, the group and backup dancers salute to the marching band through a portal.[22]Teen Vogue chosen the music video for "Lalalala" is one of the best K-pop music video in 2023.[23] The music video reached 100 million views in January 2024.[24]
Billboard named "Lalalala" number 11 in their list of The 25 Best K-pop Songs of 2023, writing that it speaks "to pushing through all kinds of pain to find joy and release as they do through music and to 'just feel the rock.'"[9]Nylon named its remix the "Best Rock Remix" in K-pop of 2023.[36]
^Ji, Min-kyung (October 6, 2023). "스트레이 키즈, 11월 10일 새 앨범 '樂-STAR' 발매..5개월 만에 컴백 [공식]" [Stray Kids to Release New Album 'ROCK-STAR' on November 10... Comeback After 5 Months [Official]]. Osen (in Korean). Retrieved October 6, 2023.
^Lee, Seung-hoon (October 9, 2023). "스트레이 키즈, 신곡명은 '락(樂)'..3RACHA 전곡 작업 참여 [공식]" [Stray Kids, New Track Is Titled 'Lalalala'.. 3RACHA Participated in All Tracks]. StarNews (in Korean). Retrieved October 9, 2023.
^Hwang, Yeon-do (November 6, 2023). "스트레이 키즈, 신곡 미리듣기 공개...빨리 컴백해 줘요, 현기증 난단 말이에요" [Stray Kids Releases Preview of New Songs... Please Make a Comeback Quickly, I'm Dizzy]. AtStar1 (in Korean). Retrieved November 6, 2023.
^Ji, Min-kyung (November 9, 2023). "'컴백 D-1' 스트레이 키즈 "마지막에 남는 건 樂..'헉!' 하고 놀랄 퍼포먼스"" ['Comeback D-1' Stray Kids "What Remains at the End Is Music.. A 'Breathtaking' Performance"]. Osen (in Korean). Retrieved November 9, 2023.
^Hong, Hye-min (November 21, 2023). "스트레이 키즈, 빌보드 '핫 100'도 뚫었다..."4세대 최초"" [Stray Kids Also Broke Through Billboard's 'Hot 100'... "First in the 4th Gen"]. Hankook Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved November 21, 2023.
^Kim, Ji-hye (November 10, 2023). "[팝's신곡]"즐기면 그만"..스트레이 키즈, 진정 즐길 줄 아는 '락'스타" [[Pop's New Song] "Just Enjoy It".. Stray Kids, 'Rock' Stars Who Truly Know How to Have Fun]. Herald Pop (in Korean). Retrieved November 11, 2023.
^Im, Jae-ho (November 7, 2023). "스트레이 키즈, 타이틀곡 '락(樂)' 뮤비 티저 공개! 상상 뛰어넘는 음악과 퍼포먼스 예고" [Stray Kids Releases Music Video Teaser for Title Track 'Lalalala'! Preview of Music and Performance Beyond Imagination]. BNT News (in Korean). Retrieved November 7, 2023.
^Yoon, Sang-geun (January 26, 2024). "스트레이키즈 '락' 12번째 1억뷰..4세대 보이그룹 최다 보유[종합]" [Stray Kids' 'Lalalala' Reached 100 Million Views for the 12th Time... The Most by a 4th Generation Boy Group [Comprehensive]]. StarNews (in Korean). Retrieved January 26, 2024.
^Shim, Min-kyung (November 10, 2023). "[뮤직뱅크] 어떤 고민이나 역경이 와도 계속되는 스트레이 키즈 ♪락(樂)" [[Music Bank] Stray Kids Continues No Matter What Troubles or Adversity They Face ♪ Lalalala]. KBS Star Entertainment (in Korean). Retrieved November 11, 2023.
^ abPark, Soo-jung (November 17, 2023). "스트레이 키즈, 제베원 꺾고 '뮤뱅' 1위 "스테이 사랑해요"" [Stray Kids Beat ZB1 and Won First Place on 'Music Bank', "I Love You STAYs"]. Celuv Media (in Korean). Retrieved November 17, 2023.
^Lee, Ha-na (November 11, 2023). "'음악중심' 태민 1위 "샤이니월드 고마워"‥스트레이 키즈·에스파 컴백[종합]" [Taemin Takes First Place on 'Music Core' "Thank You, SHINee World"... Stray Kids and Aespa Comeback [Comprehensive]]. Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved November 11, 2023.
^ abKwon, Hye-mi (November 18, 2023). "'음중' 스트레이 키즈, 정국·아이브 꺾고 1위..."스테이 감사해"" ['Music Core' Stray Kids Beat Jungkook and IVE to Take First Place... "Thank You STAYs"]. Ilgan Sports (in Korean). Retrieved November 18, 2023.
^Park, Yoon-jin (November 16, 2023). "BTS 정국, '엠카' 1위 트로피...MC 미연 "따뜻했던 둥지 떠난다" 아쉬운 작별 [종합]" [BTS Jungkook, 'M Countdown' 1st Place Trophy... MC Miyeon "I Am Leaving My Warm Nest" A Sad Farewell [Comprehensive]]. Mydaily (in Korean). Retrieved November 16, 2023.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 45. týden 2023 in the date selector. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 46. týden 2023 in the date selector. Retrieved November 20, 2023.