It has been over a month since I last posted an album review. But with this post now published, I can confirm they are still coming, just ever so slowly and very much a year overdue. Anyhow, this blog post is about SEVENTEEN’s HAPPY BURSTDAY, released in May 2025 to commemorate their 10th anniversary. And despite some of the members having already enlisted, all members participated in the album (though for those who enlisted – JEONGHAN and WONWOO – their participation was to varying degrees). HAPPY BURSTDAY features 16 songs, including the title track THUNDER and 13 solo tracks from each member. This was one heck of a way to celebrate their 10th year together as a group!
HAPPY BURSTDAY has a lot of really good songs, but the two standouts are ballads to me. If you are a long-time reader of my blog, you probably know I am a sucker for them!). And if ballads are not your thing, I am sure one of the other 14 songs will be your jam. Keep reading to hear my thoughts on each one, and let me know what you think of the album or certain songs (there is a lot of ground to cover).
1. HBD – Kicking off the album is HBD, an appropriately titled track to open up the album, celebrating their 10th year as a group. HBD is an energetic rock dance track that also features EDM elements. It is a thrilling mix that easily hypes me up for the title track and the rest of the album. Of all the members who feature in the song (JEONGHAN doesn’t have a part due to his military enlistment), WONWOO’s rap sequence in the second verse was the best part of the song. (9/10)
2. THUNDER (Title Track) – Upon reconsideration and the fact that the song has grown on me, I am bumping my original rating of THUNDER by half a point to 9/10. My review of the title track still stands, however. Click here for my full review of THUNDER. (9/10)
3. Bad Influence – Click here for my full review of Bad Influence. (7.5/10)
4. Skyfall (THE8 Solo) – Kicking off the solo tracks on the album is THE8 with Skyfall. It is a dreamy, artistic EDM track, with hefty beats and synths coming into play down the line. But what stands out to me is that synth that sounds like something dropping. It works wonders and is such a bold statement piece in Skyfall. THE8 has some really strong vocal moments in the song, too. A very strong start for the solo tracks on HAPPY BURSTDAY. (10/10)
5. Fortunate Change (JOSHUA Solo) – I enjoyed how blissful and calming Fortunate Change sounded. JOSHUA tends to have this effect on you, and Fortunate Change encapsulated this well. The tropical sound at the start adds to the song’s warmth, and I liked how it maintains a summery vibe throughout the track. The brass was a nice touch, and the guitar work really grounds the track. (8/10)
6. 99.9% (WONWOO Solo) – This one was quite unexpected. Who would have thought WONWOO’s solo track would be so bright, upbeat, and peppy? The brass elements in this track were so fun and good, while the piano just gives it that peppy vibe. I also enjoyed how vocal-forward 99.9% was. I just wish there was more of that electric guitar detailing in the background, like in the second verse. (9/10)
7. Raindrops (SEUNGKWAN Solo) – Raindrops is an exceptionally beautiful rock ballad that brings the best out of SEUNGKWAN’s vocals. The slight raspiness in his vocals, the swaying effect I love when it comes to ballads, a soothing melody and an instrumental that develops and builds alongside SEUNGKWAN, Raindrops had it all. It was so easy to get lost in the song, and it’s one I return to often. (10/10)
8. DAMAGE (HOSHI ft. Timbaland) – Seeing a collab between a SEVENTEEN member (in this case HOSHI) and Timbaland on the tracklist is quite exciting and sets high expectations. DAMAGE lives up to that expectation. It’s funky in a smooth, understated way, with fresh vocals from HOSHI and clear Timbaland influence on the production. The catchy chorus makes it a strong, enjoyable track. (8.5/10)
9. Shake It Off (MINGYU Solo) –MINGYU’s Shake It Off has been one of the most memorable for me. And it shouldn’t take you much to realise why. Shake It Off is pretty super cool, like the trendy club/house beats, the raspy/deep rap tone, the pre-chorus keyboard and the well-placed censorship beeps. Even the squeaky, higher-pitched vocals add nice contrast. While slightly repetitive, all of the above, plus its catchiness, make it a highly effective track. (9/10)
10. Happy Virus (DK Solo) – DK goes for a bright pop ballad for Happy Virus, which features a slight country twang in my mind. I enjoyed this one too – the melodies and lyrics are such an easy listen. And like what the title suggests, Happy Virus brings a smile to my face. A major driver here is DK’s effortless vocals. (9/10)
11. Destiny (운명) (WOOZI Solo) – WOOZI’s Destiny is a beautiful ballad that highlights his vocals over grand band instrumentation. It is the longest song on the album, but it honestly never feels long because it is so immersive. His airy, light vocals contrast well with the rich instrumentals, and the guitar solo at the end is a standout moment. For me, this is another 10/10 track, for me. (10/10)
12. Shining Star (VERNON solo) – Shining Star has a very refreshing and energetic pop-punk influence in its instrumental, while VERNON’s autotuned vocals brought a really nice crisp texture to the song. The combination made for a captivating track that was hard to skip when it appeared on my queues. I just wish the song had more of a peak. (8/10)
13. Gemini (쌍둥이자리) (JUN solo) – I loved how atmospheric and dreamy Gemini’s electro-pop instrumentation sounded. This, along with JUN’s delicate vocals, made for an alluring, captivating dance track. So much so, you knew I had to check out the fancams for his performance of the song at SEVENTEEN’s world tour. And I loved how his performance emphasised all the descriptor words I mentioned for Gemini. (9/10)
14. Trigger (DINO Solo) – Both DINO and Trigger bring me back to early 2000s pop R&B. I quite liked the dramatic beats in the background; the nostalgic R&B and DINO sound so good and clear throughout Trigger. While his solo work in the first half of 2026 has been fun and upbeat, DINO also suits this style, and I hope to hear more of the genre from him in the future. (8/10)
15. Coincidence (우연) (JEONGHAN solo) – While not part of the promotional material for HAPPY BURSTDAY, it is definitely nice to have a JEONGHAN solo track on the album as well. JEONGHAN follows the standard route of having a ballad for his solo track (given he is part of SEVENTEEN’s vocal unit), and it sounds nice. The instrumental had a warm feel, and I liked how soft his vocals and tone stayed throughout Coincidence. (8/10)
16. Jungle (S.COUPS solo) – S.COUPS is left, and presents us with JUNGLE. You can definitely feel the tension behind the hard-hitting instrumental, which felt immersed in the wild. The beat was definitely foot-tapping inducing. While S.COUPS sounds good throughout Jungle, I found his rapping more on the lighter, subtler side. I wish there was a moment for S.COUPS to become explosive in the track. This would have made Jungle more memorable and impactful for me. (7/10)
