In the summer of 2012, BEAST decided to reinvent themselves. They went from singing of pain and heartache to celebrating every moment of life with the fun-loving track “Beautiful Night.”

BEAST initially rose to fame with their heartbreaking hits like “SHOCK,” “FICTION,” and “Breath,” but during a year and two months between releases, the six members decided to come back with an upgraded image and sound. On July 21, 2012, BEAST returned with the wild and carefree “Beautiful Night,” off of their fifth mini-album Midnight Sun. The group’s leader Doojoon described the summer party anthem as a transformation that suited the group well because, as he explained during an interview with OSEN, “the members' personalities don't match with being serious.” 

The group teamed up with the music production duo Goodnite, Sleepwell for their first electro-synth pop track. Distinctly different from their previous emotional powerhouse songs, the group’s rappers shine in “Beautiful Night,” while their vocalists belt over thumping beats that build into clashing synths and electro melodies. The change in sound was nerve racking for BEAST, who went against their company’s plan to release a more mainstream song, but it was a decision they made together and said it was a hundred times more fun. 

To match the youthful and free-spirited vibe of the song, BEAST took to New York City to film their first music video overseas. In the video, we follow the members through the colorful streets of the city as they party with DJs in graffiti-covered alleyways and flaunt their vibrant fashions in front of decked-out lowrider cars. As day turns to night and fireworks fill the sky, the members take the party to the rooftops overlooking the Empire State Building skyline. Filming the video in New York’s trendiest fashion and nightlife districts, and using elements of ‘90s hip-hop music videos, helped embody the carefree summer vibe of “Beautiful Night.”

BEAST debuted the live performance of “Beautiful Night,” and the sensual, Latin-flavored B-side “It’s Not Me,” at a surprise concert that shut down streets in front of the historic Gwanghwamun Square in South Korea. As a mark of the group’s popularity, more than 4,000 fans gathered from early in the morning for the show, despite only having a 12-hour notice. The large-scale performance, featuring strobe lights and an elevated stage, was broadcasted on July 29, 2012 as their comeback for Inkigayo. The excitement of the group members and fans against the brightly lit backdrop captured the free-wheeling, party feeling that would be prevalent throughout all of BEAST’s music show stages. 

Taking the chance on something new proved to work in the group’s favor. “Beautiful Night” swept the music charts scoring the group five No. 1 spots, along with high rankings for additional songs off of Midnight Sun on the night the album was released. The title track peaked at No. 3 on the Circle Digital Chart (previously the Gaon Chart) and remained in the top five for five straight weeks while Midnight Sun sat at No. 1 on the Album Circle Chart for two weeks. The album proved to be an international hit as well, making it BEAST’s first entry on the Billboard World Album Chart at No. 15. Over the course of music show promotions, the group earned five awards including an M!COUNTDOWN triple crown, and they later treated fans to a special performance of “When I Miss You.” 

At year-end award shows, BEAST went on to snag the “Album Bonsang” and the JTBC “Best Artist Award” at the 2013 Golden Disc Awards as well as “Artist of the Year” at the 2012 Melon Music Awards. High off of their award show win, the group gave soaring performances of “It’s Not Me” and “Beautiful Night” that ended with vocalist Yoseob flying over the audience and the members pumping up the crowd on a lifted stage covered in confetti.

In 2017, BEAST left their label Cube Entertainment and started a new chapter under the name Highlight with their own independent record company, Around Us Entertainment. After a two-and-a-half year hiatus for all of the group’s members to complete their military service, and now with full creative control of their music, Highlight released their first full-length album this year called DAYDREAM which draws from their roots of heartbreaking dance songs.

Edited by Omani