With tracks like “S-Class” and “Youtiful” to “Get Lit,” 5-STAR demonstrates the maturity of Stray Youngsters’ latest music.
In the event you’re new to South Korean music, sit again and hearken to slightly story concerning the musical phenomenon generally known as Okay-pop. Nonetheless, a easy definition isn’t sufficient, as Okay-pop is greater than only a music style. It’s additionally a illustration of Korean tradition and a Korean-specific artwork kind.
Coaching Collectively
In contrast to most Okay-pop teams, Stray Youngsters got here collectively on their very own in 2017. 9 male members — Kim Woojin, Bang Chan, Changbin, Lee Know, I.N., Han, Seungmin, Hyunjin, and Felix — made up the unique staff.
Collectively these 9 members launched their first “pre-debut” single, “Hellevator,” in November 2017 after competing on a actuality singing present hosted by JYP Leisure. Whereas there have been just a few eliminations, finally, all 9 members debuted collectively and determined to name themselves Stray Youngsters, hoping to achieve and encourage younger folks “like themselves” with their music.
The Stray Youngsters Develop Up
With 4 studio albums and 11 prolonged performs, generally known as EPs, the eight members of the present Stray Youngsters boy group have grown up. The standard of music they’ve not too long ago developed and their chosen lyrics each present a brand new stage of maturity. At the moment, Stray Youngsters is reaching extra than simply the younger grownup crowd as their fanbase, affectionately known as STAY, continues to develop exponentially.
5-STAR Ascends
With the discharge of their fourth studio album, 5-STAR, the members of Stray Youngsters have stepped into their very own. They’ve been growing every member’s distinctive vocal skills whereas maximizing their duets, quartets, and even quintets to showcase lyrics that unfold a message of encouragement and acceptance.
This twelve-song set consists of Stray Youngsters’ distinctive mixture of Korean and English lyrics, interesting to new and longtime followers of Okay-pop. Their electrical vitality runs via tracks like “S-Class” and “ITEM,” whereas “Youtiful” is sentimental and soulful with out tipping too far on the candy scale.
Hooks, Hip-Hop, and Electro Dance Music
A hook is a lyrical line or melody that makes the tune memorable and interesting. It’s one thing that Stray Youngsters have mastered. Whether or not you’re rocking out to “S-Class” or jamming together with “TOPLINE,” the beats will hum via your blood whereas the lyrics linger in your head, even should you don’t converse Korean.
The sub-unit of Stray Youngsters, generally known as 3RACHA, consists of the trio of Han, Bang Chan, and Changbin, who write and compose the songs that make Stray Youngsters’ music distinctive. Their two mini-albums, Oddinary and Maxident — each launched in 2022, soared to the highest of the U.S. Billboard 200, and this yr 5-STAR hit the number-one spot as properly.
Stray Youngsters have embraced hip-hop, electronica, rap, and dance numbers, turning complete music genres on their heads and including parts of their expertise to inform a narrative all their very own. And whereas earlier tracks like “Miroh” and “Hellevator” resonate with that very same beat-thrumming sound that’s uniquely them, none of their former albums have streamlined their expertise fairly as fantastically as 5-STAR.
Expressions of Life
Earlier tracks like “Winter Falls” reverberate with which means, whereas “FNF” and “Collision” add a brand new stage of feeling to the 5-STAR album. “Collision” is all about misplaced love and the ache of a breakup, whereas “FNF,” which stands for Fauna and Flora, pays homage to all that was misplaced within the bushfires in Australia in 2019 and 2020. It’s a becoming tune as Stray Youngsters members Bang Chan and Felix hail from Australia.
Blessed To STAY
The top of each music video produced by Stray Youngsters flashes the identical phrases: “Stray Youngsters all over the place all all over the world, you make Stray Youngsters STAY.”
STAY refers back to the huge fan base that Stray Youngsters have amassed since their debut, and the slogan is a thanks to their followers for all of the love and help and a plea to face by them it doesn’t matter what.
Within the 5-STAR album, observe quantity three, “ITEM,” the lyrics go, “Even when I’ve nothing, I’m feelin’ blessed. Began from the underside; I made it mine. I noticed the sunshine; I felt divine.”
Whereas different Okay-pop teams have their very own slogans, theirs displays their appreciation for his or her followers and an understanding that with out them, Stray Youngsters would stop to be.
EDM to The Max
EDM stands for digital dance music and is a style that features membership, rave, and competition music kinds. These tracks embody synthesizers, drum machines, and processed samples that, when correctly blended, create music to bop to.
It’s one in all Stray Youngsters’ signature kinds, and the DANCERACHA of Stray Youngsters handles their choreography. This subunit includes members Lee Know, Hyunjin, and Felix, who choreograph the dances Stray Youngsters carry out on stage and of their music movies.
Utilizing high-octane EDM, DANCERACHA can design body-moving choreography that’s as addicting to look at as their music is to hearken to. While you put them collectively, you get an expertise that leaves you wanting extra.
Language Obstacles
Primarily produced in Korean, Okay-pop can nonetheless be loved by everybody, whether or not they know Korean or not. Yow will discover nearly any Stray Youngsters tune in English because of translators. To not point out Bang Chan and Felix are fluent in each English and Korean, and most of their songs mix the 2 languages, offering a enjoyable and distinctive addition that’s completely Stray Youngsters.
Most Influence
Like all their different music, Stray Youngsters launched their music on platforms like Spotify and Pandora, making it attainable for anybody worldwide to pay attention in. Beginning with “Hellevator” in 2017, they’ve exploded onto the Okay-pop and worldwide music scene. Their electrical beats, mellow melodies, easy reality lyrics, and catchy dance strikes get higher and higher with every new album, and 5-STAR is actually an accumulation of all these qualities.
With their latest studio album and music movies, Stray Youngsters proceed to meet their major objective of spreading self-love and acceptance in tremendous vogue. Group chief Bang Chan feels their music is supposed for one thing nice and had this to say about Stray Youngsters. “Our objective ever since we debuted was to achieve as many ‘stray children’ as attainable. To ship our music and provides power to individuals who really want it.”
The image on their latest album cowl (특) means particular in Korean and is aptly named as a result of Stray Youngsters have a really particular humbleness regardless of their hovering success that exhibits no indicators of slowing down. Michelin stars normally confer with the standard of a restaurant. However identical to their tune “Superboard,” these “stray children” are 5-STAR Michelin stage concerning their particular person skills and collective greatness.