Tag: TWS

Starting off the week is TWS, who is back with their 5th mini-album, NO TRAGEDY. Leading the new mini-album is the title track, You, You. This is the group’s first release since dropping the Korean version of Nice to See You Again, which is also featured on this mini-album.

You, You sees TWS venture into the house genre, with the track starting off super groovy and maintaining this same energy all throughout. You, You feels slightly more mature compared to their past title tracks, but does so without detracting from their well-known youthful energy. I also enjoy the bass that comes off the instrumentation – this aspect felt just right. The only difference between You, You and their past tracks that I noticed right off the bat was a ‘pleasantness’ factor. You, You does not feel as in-your-face in terms of energy and vibrancy as last year’s Countdown and OVERDRIVE did. But it keeps true to their roots, as already mentioned. The groovy track had me nodding along; the members delivered You, You solidly, and I liked the smooth melodies and catchy hooks. Overall, I enjoyed You, You. However, the track is shorter, ending after the second chorus. The house genre often lends well to an instrumental bridge (to bring in a cool dance break performance-wise), and some emphasis via a final chorus could have sealed the song and ended You, You on a bolder note. What we got was a great listen. But had You, You been given an opportunity to develop a bit more, it could have been better.

The music video shows TWS escaping fate (the bright star the members were trying to run from and dodge throughout the video) to stay in love with the person they are meant to be with. This complements the song’s lyrics and the concept of the NO TRAGEDY mini-album. Throughout the video, you see the bright, persistent energy the members give off as they run, dodge, and fight against the star. It was a fun video, overall.

The synchronisation of the performance was something I instantly noticed while watching their comeback showcase, and it definitely brings a cool element to the routine. I also liked the lightness and peppy nature of the moves, as well as the bright smiles, alongside the ‘Darum Darum’ post-chorus hook. It definitely was the defining part of the routine.

Song – 8.5/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 8.5/10
Overall Rating – 8.7/10

Yesterday, TWS dropped their 4th mini-album, PLAY HARD, with the single OVERDRIVE serving as the title track to the mini-album. It follows the pre-release of Head, Shoulders, Knees, Toes, which dropped two weeks ago. It also follows TWS’s earlier comeback, Countdown, and the mini-album TRY WITH US, which occurred in April.

OVERDRIVE seems to bring together the edgy influences that were heavily present in Head Shoulders Knees Toes and combine them with the ‘boyhood pop’ that the group has consistently put out since their debut. And together, we might have a new direction for TWS that feels refreshing and different. I really enjoy the slight rock influences that come through the instrumentation. The bass guitar riff is super dominant and gives OVERDRIVE a standout characteristic. The humming that accompanies some of these guitar riffs in the post-chorus was definitely a clever tool to help key the riff into our memory banks! The drums are punchy and make the song feel buoyant and energetic, matching the energy we have seen from TWS in past releases. Even the members’ delivery is full of life and adds excitement to the song, with the chorus being super catchy. My only gripe about OVERDRIVE is the “I’m getting hot in here” spoken lines, which felt like a take on a rap segment. It just doesn’t fit the rest of the song that well, and similarly, the lyrics of the song, which speak to their feelings of being in love and how that is putting them into a state of overdrive.

Conceptually, the music video has two sides. The first is where members of the group are infatuated with their crushes. These scenes occur in everyday life, with the members distracted, trying to spoil their crushes, and love-struck by them. Think ‘I won’t tell people I am in love, but there will be signs’. The second part is a video-game-esque concept, where if the love puts the members into overdrive, they will respawn in the video game setting. It is quite an interesting and abstract way of looking at love, and I like how it aligns with the boyhood concept that TWS is known for. I do like the light-hearted moments, like DOHOON protecting his hand at all costs (after coming into contact with his crush) and JIHOON leaning on the sign, causing it to fall onto the other members (and how that leads us back into the dance performance).

Like always, TWS performances have always been a highlight of the comeback, and this one is no exception. Per usual, I really liked the energy they put into the performance. But I also liked how their expressions brought brightness and additional colour to the routine. The final chorus is my favourite bit, with the exciting jumps and flips.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 10/10
Performance – 10/10
Overall Rating – 9.5/10

TWS is gearing up for another comeback next month, following on from April’s Try With Us mini-album and Countdown single. But ahead of next month’s mini-album release, TWS has pre-released the single Head Shoulders Knees Toes.

When you just glance over the title of the pre-release single, your mind probably clicks over to the nursery rhyme of a similar name. And that did worry me for a bit. But TWS’s version is far from the nursery rhyme. Instead, Head Shoulders Knees Toes is very much ingrained in the hip-hop genre. We do get the repetition of the song’s title as the main hook and chorus, but it isn’t as bad as I had thought it would be. I appreciate the members delivering ‘Head Shoulders Knees and Toes‘ with a little more heft and punch than how we would have sung the nursery rhyme as younger kids, fitting in with the hip-hop profile that the song is going for. As for the instrumental, I actually like the brass elements in the background as well as the backing’s overall explosiveness. It helps show a more edgy side of the group. However, I wish there were a bit more to the trap-based instrumental. At times, it felt lacking and empty, leaving me wanting more. As for the members, intense rapping and really nice vocals were showcased in Head Shoulders Knees Toes. The pre-chorus and bridge were stunning parts of Head Shoulders Knees Toes.

An edgy urban city is how I would summarise the concept for the music video. To be fair, it does sound like it fits the likes of a KPOP hip-hop song. I will admit the start was rather intriguing, with everyone surrounding the TWS member before launching the members and the song at us. The best aspect has to be the elevator scenes, where we see multiple elevators and the members dancing in them. That looked super cool. I also really liked the bullet scenes, which were a close second for best aspect of the music video. However, while the music video was visually strong, I am unsure how it connects with the lyrics of Head Shoulders Knees Toes.

As for the choreography, it reimagines the dance associated with the nursery rhyme as a cool, hip-hop-based chorus routine. I really liked the bounce and energy that came off the performance’s centrepiece. The dance break we get towards the end allows the members to flex their edgy performance skills, which aren’t typically shown in their title track dance routines.

Song – 7.5/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.3/10

TWS is back with a new single titled Countdown, which comes off their 3rd mini-album, TRY WITH US. Both song and mini-album officially dropped this past Monday. This release is TWS’s first major release since 2024, which saw TWS debut with the highly successful plot twist and return with the equally successful If I’m S, Can You Be My N? and Last Festival.

Countdown very much continues the group’s ‘boyhood pop’ sound that they debuted with. The new song reminded me of plot twist from the first listen, both instrumentally, melodically and brightness-wise. There are a few elements that differentiate it from their debut song, namely the deep “ba-bum” that follows some of the second and final choruses and the more intense rapping in the second verse. The former was quite intriguing yet fun, while the latter definitely helps ground the song. I also like how they prolonged the ending by splitting the final line into three parts. It makes the ending of Countdown feel like it offers up a little bit more. I would have appreciated other different elements to help give Countdown its own individuality, simply because Countdown is very much familiar territory for TWS, and, dare I say, plays it safe. For example, the instrumental shares a similar foundation to plot twist. And their vocal style felt lifted from the earlier song, which reinforces the “I wish there were more opportunity for the members to shine” comment I made in that review. That being said, Countdown hits the right spot in energy and brightness, making it an ideal release to usher us into the more energetic, vibrant summer sounds.

The members wonder what being an adult feels like in the music video, as they move on from their high school days in their previous music videos and into their young adult era. Plot twist – pun fully intended – being an adult isn’t all cracked up to be with work, decision-making and responsibilities. Just in case TWS was looking for an answer hahaha…. There are a few different scenes in the video that all adults have experienced in some form, such as moving into your own place, failed meals, and the helplessness of a car breaking down (with your parents/guardians not around as a safety net). I liked the casual wear, which is a nice change from the school uniform they wore throughout 2024.

The choreography alongside this release is another TWS routine that impresses. They always manage to make their dances appear fun, despite being super intense and energetic. The moves right after the intro definitely left a mark in my mind, as did the twist and turn in the first pre-choruses and the jumps during the choruses (just to name a few examples of the standout moments).

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 10/10
Overall Rating – 8.7/10

After snagging the ‘Best New Male Group’ and ‘Best Dance Performance – Male Group’ awards at MAMA this year, TWS is back with a brand new single, Last Festival (or 마지막 축제). This new song is featured on the group’s first single album, titled Last Bell. It also follows their debut with Sparkling Blue (the mini-album) and plot twist (the lead single) and their first comeback with Summer Beat (the mini-album – yet to be reviewed) and If I’m S, Can You Be My N? (the lead single).

Last Festival continues TWS’ strong ‘lead single’ output this year. It is supposedly a remake of Seo Taiji And Boys’ 1993 hit song of the same name, but reinterpreted to be a chill song. It still has an engaging beat and rhythm, which was the first thing I noticed about Last Festival when I checked it out on Monday. I think a pop element could have helped Last Festival stand out more. Not too much is needed but enough to give Last Festival extra energy. But its current form lends well to the wintery season South Korea is heading into. The hooks and melodies are catchy and work well with the chill background. However, I wish they had been a bit more fleshed out and had a punchier feel (the latter would have lent well to the pop tinge I am yearning for in Last Festival). This would have allowed TWS to work with more riveting and engaging material in the new song. I find the vocals and rapping in Last Festival a little dulled – not to the point where it bores me, but it does feel like the song is beginning to head in that direction. But overall, as it is, Last Festival is a great song from the group.

The music video shows the TWS members each realising their feelings for one particular female student in the entire school before the school year ends. However, as the video progresses, it is shown that the female student has feelings for only one of the members. So, we see the members’ reaction to the female student not choosing them, which obviously involves sadness, dejection and tears. The ending is rather bittersweet, as it is revealed that they are all friends based on the events during the end-of-year festivities. I liked the choreography scenes, especially how the sets were part of the school’s end-of-year production. The one which saw the members perform on the structure of the upcoming skyscraper featured some of the members falling gracefully off the sides of the set, which was a cool way to exit the scene.

I quite enjoyed the choreography and can see why the group was recognised for their plot twist choreography at the MAMA Awards this year (aside from the fact that dance performance went viral throughout 2024). I didn’t think it would be as sharp and fast as it was, and I thought it would have embraced more of Last Festival’s chill side. But it leans more toward the song’s beat and rhythm, which works well for this song.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 8/10

As mentioned two days ago, TWS:’ comeback was just around a corner. Titled If I’m S, Can You Be My N?, the new single dropped yesterday and formed part of TWS:’ highly anticipated first comeback with their second mini-album Summer Beat!. A pre-release single, Hey! Hey!, was released a couple of weeks back. I will return at a later date to review that track. For now, here are my thoughts on the title track.

If KPOP has taught me anything about Summer over the years, Summer songs usually stand out if they tick the following – the song is upbeat; full of energy; bright; and fun. If I’m S, Can You Be My N? definitely ticks 4 out of 4 criteria. This in itself already makes If I’m S, Can You Be My N? hold a lot of promise. But there is also a lot more to If I’m S, Can You Be My N?, such as its ear-catching hooks and its dynamic instrumentation that has a lot of musical details that increases its fun energy and brightness. The guitar and keyboard at the start and end of the song are examples of these details that bookmark either ends of the song in a very pop and colourful manner. The groovy backing elsewhere in the song also had this forward driving motion that pushed the song and made it go places. But that isn’t all that stands out in If I’m S, Can You Be My N?. TWS:’ youthful vocals are on full display throughout the track, which just suits the summery season so well. SHINYU’s rapping was also quite exceptional, fast becoming my favourite moments in the song. Overall, TWS: definitely delivered on expectations that was set via their debut mini-album and title track. I don’t think they have exceeded those expectations with If I’m S, Can You Be My N? (as such, I have gave the same song rating as I did with plot twist). But you can tell they put in a lot of effort for a successful comeback.

TWS: continues their schoolboy concept in the music video for If I’m S, Can You Be My N?. The video shows the members at (what looks like to be) hagwons – like an after school tutoring centre that South Korean students attend. We see the members also skip hagwons to hang out with one another, and also do other extra curricular activities like athletics (more specifically, high jump). This brings together two students who are opposite to one another – the studious and the sports player – with the members expressing their “heart-fluttering excitement about getting to know the numerous reasons why opposites attract” (taken from SOOMPI) in the lyrics. It was a vibrant and very colourful video, without a doubt intended to be suitable for the summery season.

The performance for this comeback is very dynamic and this made it very exciting to watch. Again, I applaud the fact they brought some youthfulness (and as an extension of that, some cuteness) to the routine. Their chemistry and the fact they are constantly moving definitely made it another strong routine that I am sure TWS: will continue to stand out with.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.7/10