[FEATURE] Rookie Superstars ‘Stray Kids’ are Today’s Voice of the Youth

Much has been said about K-pop bringing entertainment to all of us enthusiasts with its addictive song hooks, flashy music videos, and the dynamic personalities showcased by the stars themselves. However with a plethora of debuts happening year by year, we now long for artists and groups that will stand out from the rest. K-pop stars are put in such a high pedestal that we often forget that they’re the same as us, and so we look for someone who will best represent our era. When 2017 came with Stray Kids, a JYP Entertainment boy group, we knew that the search was over.

Stray Kids emerged as a band shortly after their much-talked-about appearance on a reality show with the same name. This 9-member group is composed of Bang Chan, Woojin, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin, and I.N who are all born between the late 1990s and the early 2000s — undeniably the perfect representation of today’s youth.

To date, Stray Kids has won 9 major recognitions including the “Best New Male Artist” from Golden Disc Awards and “Rookie of the Year” from Seoul Music Awards. It’s amazing to see how the image of such strong rebellious youths with lots of ambition is reminiscent in their self-produced songs. Curious to hear their relatable music from this award-winning boy band? Let’s check out how these rookie superstars stand tall in today’s music industry!

HELLEVATOR

Prior to the official premiere of the reality show “Stray Kids“, JYP released the music video for ‘Hellevator’, presumably as an introductory teaser to what the group would sound like. We see the 9-piece act performing their first single that starts with Woojin‘s mellow voice which was followed by the aggressiveness of Changbin‘s rapping skills. Conveyed through the dark tones of the song ‘Hellevator’, this song is a parallel for Stray Kid’s journey as aspiring trainees. It narrates the story about a person walking alone into unfamiliar paths, uncertain of what’s in store ahead.

Grrr 총량의 법칙 (BEWARE)

With this pre-debut song, the lads have established their music to fall into the hip hop category. Much of its success is attributed to the bass-heavy beats and the boisterous yet smooth flow, highlighted by the rappers. The sound goes well with the angst that the song is trying to deliver: angry teenagers wanting to be understood and seen by the dismissive society as capable individuals who can provide valuable opinions.

잘 하고 있어 (GROW UP)

Grow Up‘s soft whistles and dreamy melodies make these young idols pull a complete 180-degree turn from the strong hip hop image in their previous releases — certainly proving their versatility as artists. Its laid-back vibes play just about right as it perfectly balances the vocals’ and rappers’ unique flair. What’s also good to point out is its consoling message that after a long day of hardship, we deserve to give ourselves a break. Woojin and Bangchan belting out the chorus is also a solid reminder that in our own means, we have always done well. Hearing this encouragement in a seemingly hateful world is a gift to its listeners and would surely warm our hearts.

MY PACE

Looking for a mood booster? This title track for their second mini-album, I Am Who, deserves a space in your playlist as it blows out energy right off the bat with Changbin‘s intro rap and maintains its intensity all throughout the song. ‘My Pace‘ will make you feel like dancing in your feet with its crazy guitar riffs and synths. It’s safe to say that Stray Kids’ perspective reflect on their self-made compositions and it is thoughtful of them to shed light on our tendencies to get easily caught up on toxic ideas when we compare ourselves to others. These JYP rookies are as sincere in reminding us to minimize our self-induced pressures by achieving our goals in our own pace.

MIROH

Felix‘ distinctive, deep tonal voice serves as a warm welcome to a song that exponentially builds up with interesting EDM, metal rock, and tribal-like chants all wrapped into one. The anthemic hook of ‘Miroh’ would surely flare up the atmosphere in live concerts as it plays an integral part in the whole make up of this absolute hype song. Choreography-wise, Stray Kids evidently showed their talent on the field and stays true to what the song is about: reaching new heights armoured with full confidence.

CHRONOSAURUS

K-pop has produced multiple hits with bizarre titles such as this song — but it’s a genius wordplay of “Chronos“, a Greek mythology’s personification of time, and “saurus“, the Greek word for lizards. While it sure doesn’t mention anything about reptiles, Stray Kids share their fear of the race against time. The ticking sound of the clock represents the countdown towards our personal deadlines for our dreams to unfold. This mentality would most likely resonate in all of us, and with this most recent release, it warns us to address them before it’s too late. Stray Kids also emphasizes their vocal prowess in its melancholic melody.

Stray Kids may be a fresh face in the industry but they are already a monster rookie group bagging multiple awards for their genuine talent as performers and producers. With these undeniable skills, we’re excited to witness how this group will prosper in their career in the years to come.

Calling out all Filipino STAYs! Book your tickets now and don’t miss the boys’
first concert in the Philippines with “UNVEIL TOUR: I am” on 27th April 2019, Saturday, 7 PM at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Head over to the nearest Ticketnet outlets or reserve your seats online. This event is brought to you by PULP Live World.

Written by: Kia

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