SEVENTEEN’s current moment feels like one that’s in transition. In May, the K-pop boyband celebrated their ninth anniversary and much of their activity as and since they entered their 10th year together has been split between looking back and moving forward, using their past to drive their future. A month before they commemorated their debut, they wove elements of some of their previous singles, like ‘Oh My!’ and ‘Fear’, into a triumphant ‘Maestro’. Their latest world tour ‘Right Here’, which kicked off in Goyang this weekend (October 12-13), dives deeper into their back catalogue than recent stints on the road, creating a multidimensional fresh look at the SEVENTEEN story so far.
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On their 12th mini-album, ‘Spill The Feels’, they continue that trend. It’s most obvious on ‘1 To 13’, a bright piece of Miami bass that takes moments from their past. It’s littered with references to songs and moments that have made up their journey to date, from nods to their debut (“When I first met you / Since May, all my seasons are only you”) to their 2018 and 2019 EPs ‘You Make My Day’ and ‘You Made My Dawn’. For SEVENTEEN, gazing backwards has a purpose, though, and here, they use their reflections to reinforce their commitment to times yet to come. “Just stay by my side / I’ll show you everything,” S.Coups vows.
That spirit is still embedded in the record, even when the 13-member group aren’t in self-referential mode. Over its six tracks, they pull from life lessons and experiences to cast new visions and intentions for what comes next, whether that’s prioritising what’s most important and fulfilling over things the world tries to distract us with, or persisting through harder moments by letting positivity guide your path.
The buoyant DJ Khaled-assisted ‘Love, Money, Fame’ tackles the former, pursuing love above all else. “I don’t need money or fame,” DK and Seungkwan sing in the chorus. “To me, that don’t mean a thing / I just need your love, that’s more than enough.” ‘Candy’, meanwhile, a beautiful, twinkling ballad delivered by the vocal unit of DK, Seungkwan, Joshua, Woozi and Jeonghan, is gently defiant. “Maybe love is meant to be bitter / I don’t like it, what should I do?” DK shares as Jeonghan sympathises: “As much as becoming an adult / Love is tough, too.” Their resolution? To “love like candy / So that even a small word can make us feel good”.
That juxtaposition of negative and positive isn’t new in SEVENTEEN’s existence, one where they’ve continuously acknowledged life’s struggles but maintained an encouraging, optimistic energy throughout. April’s ‘Cheers To Youth’ found gratitude for “little things that made me smile”, clinging to hope despite our “suffocating world”, while 2022’s ‘Shadow’ found them accepting their true selves and parts that might otherwise stay hidden “because even my darkness will shine brightly”. ‘Eyes On You’, a bouncing house collaboration with British DJ and producer Shift K3y, continues that thread here. “Tell me more about yourself / Give me your first scar,” they ask, seeking to grow something meaningful and long-lasting out of open and honest communication, even if that means not glossing over pain.
Sometimes, we find the boyband at different points of that journey to acceptance. On ‘Spill The Feels’, the performance unit’s – Hoshi, Dino, The8 and Jun – ‘Rain’ is still in the midst of trying to find its way out of the dark. “I’m standing alone in a forest of people / Looking for someone to understand my heart,” The8 sings over the track’s noirish disco strut before Dino admits: “The bright day brings me no joy at night / I sat in an empty room with the lights off.” As the rain pours around them, they ask not for it to be stopped but for it to continue and wash away their confusion.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, Mingyu, S.Coups, Wonwoo and Vernon’s hip-hop unit have already arrived at their destination, their cups running over with supreme confidence. “I stand on oceans / I walk on water, you’re floundering,” they declare, in complete control. Rather than settle for the power and position they’ve already earned, though, they’re still pushing forward for more: “I’m taking over / Still I’m thirsty.”
‘Spill The Feels’ marks SEVENTEEN’s first release of their 10th year and a new era for the group that’s already seen them perform the biggest shows of their career and break new boundaries for themselves and K-pop as a whole. But, while it packs the excitement of something fresh and in constant evolution, most importantly, it doesn’t deviate from the very core of what makes SEVENTEEN them – an unwavering commitment to spreading hope, joy and love, all via addictive and affecting music.
Details
Record label: Pledis Entertainment
Release date: October 14, 2024
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