[Review] Blue – DxS (SEVENTEEN)

SEVENTEEN is nominated for Best Male Group, while THUNDER is nominated for Best Dance Performance (Male Group) in the 2025 KPOPREVIEWED Awards. CxM, HxW and BSS are also nominated for Best Unit. Support SEVENTEEN, THUNDER and your favourite SEVENTEEN unit by clicking here to cast your vote today before it closes on 17 January 2026.

Just yesterday, SEVENTEEN debuted their fifth unit, DxS (DK and SEUNGKWAN), who released their first mini-album, Serenade, and the title track Blue. Both DK and SEUNGKWAN are familiar with the unit aspect of the group, as the pair formed part of SEVENTEEN’s first unit, BSS, alongside HOSHI, who is currently serving his military enlistment. Following that, SEVENTEEN also debuted JxW (JEONGHAN & WONWOO), HxW (HOSHI & WOOZI), and CxM (S.COUPS & MINGYU).

Unsurprisingly, pairing up two of the main vocalists in SEVENTEEN equates to a ballad. A beautiful one, for that matter. I understand that there is only so much you can say about the genre. And in terms of longevity, ballads don’t really have much to them unless they are a hit on the domestic market (for example, HWASA’s Good Goodbye – another song I have yet to review). But this shouldn’t deter you from enjoying a ballad, even though you have to really pay attention to it to get the most out of it. I don’t think I would be praising Blue as much if I just casually listened to the song. Anyhow, Blue brings together a classical instrumental as a background and the pair’s emotional vocals to produce a captivating, stunning track. I liked how both gradually harmoniously built together. Once Blue peaks, the classical instrumental becomes somewhat dramatic, and the feelings poured into the song by both DK and SEUNGKWAN pour out in full force. The lines “Still I love you, without you” and “Fallin’ in blue… Fallin’ in your blue” have some memorable power behind them, and I enjoyed how they just carry you along. Overall, Blue is a really nice and emotional listen.

The music video does not feature either DK or SEUNGKWAN. Instead, it features actor Noh Sang Hyun and actress Lee Yoo Mi, who play a couple in the music video. While looking for an interpretation of the music video that makes sense, I found one YouTube comment that explains the theory quite well. I have screenshot the theory below, with a few additional details. At the start of the video, we see the character played by Noh Sang Hyun survive a car crash, but he also witnesses the car explode, which kills the person who remained in the car. A little later on, we see him struggle with his PSTD when an ambulance drives by with its lights on. As for the character played by Lee Yoo Mi, the two phone calls that she received from him and the fact that he didn’t pick up her calls, causing her to become alarmed and scared that something happened to him signifies that she has to constantly put her life on hold for him (i.e., she can’t get the job or a promotion, which is a way to show progression in life). I suspect that this isn’t the first time. The breakup scene at the end is particularly heartbreaking, especially since no words were said between the pair. But yet, you could understand that she still loves him (through her turning back), and he finally realises that if he loves her, he should let her go.