GO LIVE
The debut full-length album that introduced Stray Kids' bold new sound with lead single "God's Menu".
Go Live (stylized in all caps; Korean: GO生; RR: Gosaeng) is the debut studio album by South Korean boy group Stray Kids. It was released by JYP Entertainment on June 17, 2020, and distributed through Dreamus. The lead single, "God's Menu", was released the same day. The reissue edition of the album, titled In Life (stylized in all caps; Korean: IN生; RR: Insaeng), was released on September 14, 2020, along with eight new tracks, including lead single "Back Door".
- Type
- Studio Album
- Affiliation
- JYP Entertainment
- Era
- 2020
- Platform
- Physical / Digital Release
- Status
- Released
Lore & Background
On May 27, 2020, the group announced the upcoming release of Go Live on their official Twitter account. Members Bang Chan, Changbin, and Han were heavily involved in the writing and production of the album as the collective "3Racha". The title of the album, pronounced gosaeng in Korean, translates to hardship, relating to one of the core themes of the album. The English title references the group's desire to continue moving forward and living without inhibition. Members stated that this project involved experimentation with a variety of genres ranging from trap, hip hop, acoustic rock, and EDM.
In Their Own Story
Go Live debuted atop the weekly Gaon Album Chart, and also at number five on the monthly chart with 243,462 copies sold, becoming Stray Kids' best-selling album at the time. As of August 2020, the album was certified Platinum by the Gaon Chart (sales of 250,000 copies), becoming the group's first album to do so. The single "God's Menu" debuted at number 144 on the Gaon Weekly Download Chart, becoming the group's first single to appear on the chart, and also their first single to appear on the main digital chart of Gaon.
Reader's Guide
The repackage In Life received a nomination for Album Bonsang at the 35th Golden Disc Awards, but did not win. Go Live was named the 10th best K-pop album of 2020 by Billboard, while the repackage was named one of the best K-pop albums of the year by several publications including Rolling Stone India (6th), Young Post (10th), South China Morning Post, and Time. The single "Back Door" won two music program awards on the September 23 episode of Show Champion and September 24, 2020, episode of M Countdown. It appeared on several publications' year-end lists of the best K-pop songs of 2020 including Billboard (10th), Dazed (5th), Paper (2nd), Time (8th), while the track "Any" ranked 7th on MTV News list of the best K-pop B-sides of the year.
Did You Know?
- The album title 'Go Live' is pronounced 'gosaeng' in Korean, which translates to 'hardship'.
- Members Bang Chan, Changbin, and Han wrote and produced the album as the collective '3Racha'.
- Go Live was Stray Kids' first album to be certified Platinum by the Gaon Chart, with sales of 250,000 copies as of November 2020.
- The single 'God's Menu' was not Stray Kids' first single to appear on the Gaon Weekly Download Chart and the main digital chart; earlier singles like 'District 9' and 'Miroh' had already charted.
- The repackage In Life was nominated for Album Bonsang at the 35th Golden Disc Awards but did not win.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is GO LIVE?
It serves as the debut full-length studio album by Stray Kids released through JYP Entertainment in June 2020. This project introduced their signature bold sound and marked a major milestone in their career.
When was GO LIVE officially released to fans?
The album launched on June 17, 2020, with distribution handled by Dreamus for both physical and digital formats. It debuted alongside the lead single track known as God's Menu.
Is there a reissue version of GO LIVE?
Yes, an expanded edition titled In Life was released on September 14, 2020. This version added eight new songs to the original collection, including the hit single Back Door.
Why is GO LIVE significant in Stray Kids history?
This album established their identity with a powerful musical style that defined their early era. It remains crucial for understanding their growth from trainees into established global artists.
What songs are included on the GO LIVE album?
The initial release featured God's Menu as the main single, while the reissue added tracks like Back Door. Together these songs showcase the group's production capabilities during that specific period.
More in Behind the Scenes & Legacy
Elsewhere in the Stray Kids universe
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record