How a ‘Random Moment’ With a Drinking Game Over McDonald’s Created A Global Hit

With its supremely catchy chorus, Rosé and Bruno Mars’ “APT.” made an immediate splash — and since its release, it’s made history several times over. Still, no one expected that playing a Korean drinking game over McDonald’s one night in the studio, as Rosé recalls it, would lead to her breakout solo hit.

Below, collaborators Amy Allen, Omer Fedi and Cirkut — part of the all-star “APT.” credits, which also include Christopher Brody Brown, Theron Thomas and Rogét Chahayed — break down the sessions behind the No. 1 hit on Billboard‘s year-end Global 200 chart.

Game Start

Amy Allen, co-writer: I’ve been a fan of Rosie for so long and what immediately drew me to [her] was how much she wanted to dive into songwriting and what an amazing songwriter she was from day one.

Omer Fedi, co-writer/co-producer: Me and Rosie had a phone call. I usually try to do a meeting or talk to an artist before I get to make music with them because I feel like the vibe as people is so important. I already knew how talented she is, but I wanted to make sure we love the same food, love the same music, laugh from the same jokes. We had a call, and I was so inspired by her vision musically, lyrically, creatively, everything. I was just like, “Whenever you’re ready, I’m there.”

Cirkut, co-writer/co-producer: [In the “APT.” session] Rosie just kind of started doing that chant, “apateu, apateu,” and she wasn’t even really singing it to anyone in particular. I think it was [songwriter] Theron Thomas who was just like, “Wait, what is that?” And she’s like, “Oh, it’s a drinking game we play in Korea. It’s a thing.” And we were like, “Wait, that’s not… that’s not a song?” And she’s like, “No, no, it’s not a song. It’s just a drinking game.” And we were all like, “No, that should be a song. That’s cool, you know?” It was just this random moment.

Allen: “APT.” was such a fun learning experience for me because as a songwriter a lot of us are programmed to think it has to be this really emotional thing all the time. And to see a song come from something so personal and culturally relevant for Rosie that just explodes into this thing that brings so many people joy… I would have never picked up on “Let’s make that a song,” but the energy in the room was going there and we were all in on it. And Rosie was leading the charge.

Cirkut: I’ve never actually seen the drinking game being played — like, I don’t know if that’s the exact rhythm — but she kind of put it in a rhythm that would just work for a song. We found a tempo for it, and I started putting drums to it. I started with just that and drums. And then we did some music around it, some simple chords and stuff. It was kind of a spontaneous moment.

Fedi: I remember before leaving the “APT.” session, we’re all jumping and dancing and Theron is coming up to me and he’s telling me, “Omer, this is going to be the new ‘Macarena.’ ” I was like, “What the hell does that even mean?” He was like, “I don’t know, but you’re going to see.” I was like, “How is this song going to be the new ‘Macarena’?” I never heard that comparison before.

Allen: We had so much fun that day.

From Mars to the World

Fedi: Bruno is like my hero in music, so having a song with Bruno, I’m so grateful that that happened. The combination of Rosie and Bruno together and what they brought out of each other, I’ve never heard Bruno like that and I’ve never heard Rosie like that. It’s just so fun to hear how much fun we had — and that other people hear that and it makes them dance and be happy.

Cirkut: It’s kind of a perfect storm of different things. The fact that it had a unique, Korean spoken-rapped kind of chorus, maybe that helped. And then of course, Bruno always helps. I mean, that just brought it to the next level, his involvement. I think their back-and-forth, their chemistry on the record makes it shine.

Fedi: As someone who is not from America, I am always, especially with making music, fascinated by cultures. And I feel like with this song there’s so many cultures combined into one song with Rosé, Bruno, Amy, Cirkut, Theron, [producer-songwriter] Rogét [Chahayed], we’re all from different parts of the world and came in the room and worked on this groove about a Korean drinking game.

Allen: I feel like we all grew up hearing the saying, “Music is a universal language.” But it’s a really emotional thing to then find yourself being part of a song that every culture, no matter what language you speak, resonates with. I’ve never felt anything like that.

Cirkut: We had no idea it was going to be this massive song. But sometimes that’s how big songs happen — sometimes it’s just like a random little burst of inspiration.

Allen: For “APT.” to do what it’s done, there’s a lot of songs I got to do with Rosie that built the trust that allowed that moment to happen. And it’s so special to have a song, this song in particular, touch the world in so many ways and bring so much joy to so many people at every age in every country in the world. And I’m just so proud of her because she works her ass off and she’s so phenomenally talented, and as a songwriter I’m inspired by her every single time I go into the room. It would mean so much [if the song won a Grammy], because I’d get to see Rosie win in a million ways that she deserves.

This story appears in the Dec. 13, 2025, issue of Billboard.