Since debuting in 2015, SEVENTEEN has been at the forefront of K-Pop, starting from a small company and making it to the top. A decade later, SEVENTEEN has released their album HAPPY BURSTDAY and kept it fresh, giving fans something completely new.
Even before the album was released, SEVENTEEN teased the album with a ambitious 8D audio teaser, allowing fans to move 360 degrees.
The album starts off with “HBD” and from the opening bars with Mingyu’s voice, it has much more “rockier” vibes than we’re used to with SEVENTEEN group tracks. However, the change in tempo and beat from the chorus to verses adds layers to the track, fitting perfectly with the members’ voices. It sees the likes of hip hop unit and others members with rougher voices blending around the softer tones. In particular, Woozi’s voice in the bridge shows how different genres and techniques can be blended together to create something complex but satisfying to the ear.
From the moment that the title track, “Thunder,” was being teased, the key lyrics were already addictive with the phrase, “ALO, ALO, T H U N D E R.” It gave off a club anthem vibe and when the full song was released, first heard at the Burstday Special Stage, it proved the diversity of SEVENTEEN, as the song is like nothing they’ve released before. Like “HBD,” it has a stronger beat than past title tracks, allowing the members to utilise different parts of their voice, more from the chest.
“Bad Influence,” which is produced by Pharell, was a track fans had already heard, making its debut at the Louis Vuitton fashion show. Initially, the song was explicit but seemed to have been cleaned up for the new album. It is slightly disappointing as it takes away from the grittiness of the song as the melody itself is much slower with a softer beat. It seems not as suited to the members as the other tracks and less impactful, which is logical as don’t include any of the members or Bumzu, something unprecedented for the group.
Moving away from the group tracks, the unique thing about this specific album is the presence of solo songs. In the past, SEVENTEEN have released unit tracks and rarely solo projects within group albums, but this is the first time all thirteen members, including enlisted Jeonghan and Wonwoo, have their own songs.
The first solo track is “Skyfall” from The8 and if it has vibes similar to his previous release “Orbit,” which makes sense due to the idol being joined by Vernon when creating the lyrics. It is definitely the furthest from SEVENTEEN’s sound but is quintessentially The8, with harsh techno vibes that contrasts with his soft vocals, feeling like the perfect juxtaposition.
From The8’s track, each member’s song truly represents who they are. As one of the main producers and writers in the group, Woozi took a leading role in the writing and production of many of the tracks.
When it comes to some of the vocal unit members, Woozi’s experience with their voices and personalities helped create songs perfect for them. Joshua’s track “Fortunate Change” has very chilled vibes that would be perfect for an LA road trip, making it easy to listen to. The same can be said for DK’s “Happy Virus,” taking all the brightest parts of the idol’s voice and personality to create a perfect song. Jeonghan’s “Coincidence” is more of a traditional ballad, making use of his soft vocal tones and changes in beat to create a seamlessly flowing narrative. Wonwoo is known for his low rapping tone in HHU, but “99.9%” is the complete opposite, with a surprisingly upbeat tempo that is perfect for the summer. It highlights Wonwoo’s versatility, giving off jazzy and musical theatre vibes.
Hoshi’s track “Danger” which was a collaboration with Timbaland was the one exception to Woozi’s feel good songs. Considering how long the “96z” have been friends, it wasn’t surprising that the song oozed Hoshi, and felt like the older brother to his other solo track “Spider.” Although it had a cool beat, it showed off Hoshi’s wide vocal range, and the presence of a featured artist was subtle, not taking away from Hoshi’s talent.
Surprisingly, while Woozi took part in creating many of the members’ songs, his track “Destiny” was created by long-time producing partner Bumzu and fellow producer Park Ki Tae, and it felt like a gift for the idol. Woozi has a very distinct and soft voice, so the ballad was perfect to highlight these qualities by being accompanied by a guitar and piano melody. It felt like a warm hug, and as his voice got more powerful, it felt like a story building up suspense. The lyrics also contained a trip down memory lane with references to past songs from Woozi, such as “Downpour” and “What Kind of Future.”
Seungkwan’s track “Raindrops” is another ballad that beautifully portrays a story through the idol’s heavenly vocals and emotions. Whether you can understand the lyrics or not, the track feels like it’s holding hands with the listener as it takes you through a heart-wrenching story. There’s something extremely special and safe about Seungkwan’s voice.
Mingyu’s song “Shake It Off” was like a Pledis reunion with Samuel Kim and former Pristin member Shannon Bae involved in the lyrics. Similarly to the group songs, the track oozes “club vibes,” and while Mingyu is multi-talented, “Shake It Off” emphasizes the rough and ruggedness of his rapping skills. Although a different club scene, Vernon’s track “Shining Star” feels like a song from the 2000s pop-punk boom, suiting not only the idol’s style of music but also his voice. It is more chilled, but as the chorus and beat pick up, it wouldn’t feel out of place at Slam Dunk or Warped Tour. They both fit perfectly with the concept photos for the different versions of the album, dark and alternative.
Performance unit members Jun and Dino also had songs that were perfect for them. Jun’s “Gemini” flaunted his unique vocal texture, taking a different interpretation of the classic ballad genre, very different from his past solo tracks such as “Limbo” and Psycho.” With the gradual change in tempo throughout the song, it is complex and special. Yet, Dino’s track “Trigger” is the perfect sequel to “Wait,” oozing R&B vibes that are easy to listen to. By repeating the title name, it makes the song even more addictive. Combining this with Dino’s clear vocals and his self-written lyrics reminds fans that despite being only 26, he has been in the industry for ten years.
Ending with leader S.Coups felt like a fitting finale, the first trainee who has held the group together finishing their 10th anniversary album. “Jungle” gives off proper hip-hop vibes with the use of voice filters and effects, but the low tone of S.Coups adds sexiness with a rhythmic tempo and strong drum beat accompanying the rap.
HAPPY BURSTDAY is the perfect album to celebrate SEVENTEEN’s 10th anniversary. Although the group is as close and strong as ever, the contrast in solo tracks focuses on each member’s evolution in music and how far they’ve come from Pledis Entertainment’s “Green Room.”
HAPPY BURSTDAY is out now. SEVENTEEN can be found on Instagram here and on all streaming platforms.