Take Off (2PM song)

Did You Know?

• The song debuted at number 4 on the Oricon Singles Chart with first-week sales of over 59,000 copies.
• It surpassed Girls' Generation's "Genie" to set a new record for highest first-week sales of a debut single by a Korean group.
• The single charted on the Oricon Singles Chart for a total of 17 weeks.

Background

2PM had already made inroads in Japan with Korean releases like their first album 01:59PM. Their debut Japanese live shows, 2PM 1st Contact in Japan, took place on December 8, 2010, attracting 25,000 attendees. The group unveiled their first Japanese single, "Take Off," on March 5, 2011, at the 12th Tokyo Girls Collection. The track served as the ending theme for the initial 12 episodes of Blue Exorcist's first season, which premiered on April 17, 2011. It quickly climbed Japanese charts, making history as the first debut single by a Korean act to reach number one on the USEN J-pop Chart. A teaser for the music video appeared on 2PM's official Japanese site. The song received its first live performance during the group's inaugural Japan tour, also called Take Off, running from May 6 to May 13, 2011.

Composition and music video

"Take Off" is a bright pop track centered on the early thrill of a new romance. It was deliberately crafted as a departure from 2PM's moodier, grittier Korean releases, which played up their "beast idol" persona. The music video reinforces this shift, showing the group in white outfits against a luminous, futuristic spaceship set—a far cry from the darker, physique-focused visuals of their recent Korean work. The flight-inspired choreography includes a move where dancers extend their arms like airplane wings. The single's B-side features a Japanese rendition of their Korean hit "Heartbeat." A ringtone version of "Take Off" became available on April 25, 2011.

Promotion

To celebrate the single, a pop-up cafe, store, and panel exhibition dedicated to 2PM opened in Tokyo's Shibuya district. The group also promoted the release with TV appearances, including Fuji TV's Waratte Iitomo! on May 20 and NHK's Music Japan on May 22. On May 21, 2011, they hosted their first "Hi Touch" fan meeting at Pacifico Yokohama, drawing 40,000 attendees. Later, on January 26, 2015, a free-to-play mobile simulation game called 2PM Take Off & Story launched on iOS and Android via I-SKY. Players manage the group's dormitory, interact with members, and play mini-games to collect digital idol cards. The game's services ended in 2022.