TWICE has the Formula of Love
Five months after their last comeback and a month since the release of their first English single, TWICE returns with their third full album, Formula of Love: O+T=<3. In addition to the album, TWICE also dropped a music video for their title track “SCIENTIST.” In this concept style, fans get to see TWICE take on a scientific aesthetic to explore the feelings of love through experimentation and research, making them our favorite ladies in STEM.
Tracklist:
SCIENTIST*
MOONLIGHT*
ICON*
CRUEL
REAL YOU
F.I.L.A. (Fall In Love Again)*
LAST WALTZ*
ESPRESSO*
REWIND
CACTUS*
PUSH & PULL (Sana, Jihyo, Dahyun)*
HELLO (Nayeon, Momo, Chaeyoung)*
1, 3, 2 (Jeongyeon, Mina, Tzuyu)
CANDY*
The Feels (Korean Ver.) [CD only]
The Feels [Digital Only]*
SCIENTIST (R3HAB Remix) [Digital Only]
*Author’s favorites
Last month, TWICE dropped their first full-English single titled “The Feels,” which is one of the tracks featured in Formula of Love: O+T=<3. You can check out our article about the single here. In June, TWICE also released their tenth mini-album for Taste of Love featuring the title track “Alcohol-Free.” You can check out our review for the album here.
“SCIENTIST”
“SCIENTIST” is a groovy synth-pop track that focuses on finding love without needing to make it complicated by thinking too hard. The song goes on to say that “love is not something you can calculate, study, and try to find an answer to, but is something you should follow with your heart,” as stated by Nayeon in a press release. Lyrically, this meaning is shown through a few lines like “Quit wasting time measuring angles, finding answers, better make a move,” and “You think too much, that's your problem, being stuck in your head will do no good.” Co-written by English singer Anne-Marie, Melanie Joy Fontana, Michael “Lindgren” Schulz, Tommy Brown, Steven Franks, and 72, TWICE uses their lower registers in this single, making any who listen fall in love with their vocals. Even though fans are used to the higher pitch tracks that TWICE is known for releasing, “SCIENTIST” gives us a better chance at listening to their vocal abilities in a lower pitch that suits their voices. One of the best moments in the song comes during the bridge and refrain, where we get a burst of energy in the sound switch up. TWICE clearly wants fans to know that love is simple, so don’t overthink it too much and follow your heart!
The music video contains a laboratory filled with all the tools they need to carry out research and experiments about love, with fun props and lyrics that denounce the need for research. The video shows the girls in a variety of outfits—business casual, all pink, pastel, and a chic girl crush style—enjoying themselves in the midst of their research and findings. One of the moments that ONCE will enjoy from the video is during the second pre-chorus, the members spell out O+T=<3 in the choreography, how cool! Each member showcases such stunning visuals in the music video, giving moments to the camera that’ll make you blush from their beauty. The creativity in the music video’s production and style shows us a TWICE that has matured in their mentality and musicality. After their trials in the music video, they reach the conclusion that “love ain’t a science,” it should be natural and simple! TWICE is practically unstoppable when it comes to great quality music videos and singles like “SCIENTIST,” and we don’t need scientific data to tell us that!
B-sides
“MOONLIGHT” has a funky and disco-inspired sound that is sure to get you in a dancing mood. Arranged by The Stereotypes, this English B-side gives off a retro vibe that describes a love so simple that you don’t need anybody else in the moonlight. The lyrics are so romantic with words like “Craving your love, your touch, hope you don’t mind trying to take a trip under the moonlight,” and “All I think about is you and us, you’re all I want tonight.” Touching on a sweet sentiment about your special someone in a song like this is so heartwarming at first impression. It’s an adorable track that ONCEs in relationships should share with their special someone. Who knows, maybe you’ll fall in love with TWICE at first by listening to this song alone.
“ICON” is an English track that’ll change your personality after one listen. It starts off soft to confuse you into thinking it’s going to be simple, but the lyrics make this single anything but ordinary. Co-written by Michel “Lindgren” Schulz, GG Ramiraez, and Melanie Joy Fontana, TWICE knows they are a force to be reckoned with the lines “I ain’t going nowhere I’m an icon” and “They know a thing like me is once in a lifetime.” In all seriousness, this song is definitely going to change your life because all you’ll want to say for the rest of your life is, “Damn, I got it, I’m iconic.” If you’re looking for a pick-me-up to remind you of your worth, make sure to blast this out loud so everyone knows TWICE made you an “ICON.”
“LAST WALTZ” has something different about it that makes you wish there were more like it. Co-written by EJAE, Sim Eunjee, & Lee Hae Sol, the song focuses on saying goodbye to a lover with one final dance, letting the relationship end on a beautiful note. The pre-chorus lyrics give the impression of a waltz beat to help visualize the moment where they’ll sing goodbye to their lover. The glass-breaking sound before the chorus gives the impression that the love ending will be quick, almost like reality set in. Even though this is a more melancholy single, it’s really pleasing to see that it does come off as a waltz song. As TWICE says in the lyrics, “It will be the happiest and most beautiful of all the sad endings.”
Now “CACTUS” is definitely going to be the single that makes you emotional without context. Co-written by TWICE’s Jihyo and Coke paris, this single was written about Jihyo’s cactus plant named Angie that died. Even without knowing that detail, the lyrics can easily make you curious about the sad sentiment in the single. In the line “Oh, save me, oh, save me, I can't be alone in this abandoned place,” this gives a visual of Jihyo’s cactus wanting help from being in her room all alone, possibly without water if it died. Admittedly, seeing that Jihyo can write such an eloquent track about her plant and make it sound like a sad ballad only proves her artistic skills as a lyricist. The word choices and description were well thought out to make this about a dying plant. It’s easily going to be a fan-favorite for those who enjoy sad songs.
Get ready to dance when “PUSH & PULL” comes up on shuffle. Based on the lyrics, this song seems to describe the feeling of both pushing and pulling from love, or the hesitation you face with a love that challenges you. Featuring the vocals of Sana, Jihyo, and Dahyun, this trio’s vocals give off a bad-ass energy that’s almost unexplainable. Each one of these members gives off such confidence on and off the stage, it would be a shame if we aren’t given the chance to see this performed live on-stage. In the lyrics, you can tell these girls can put up a fight in lines like “Don't pretend that you beat me, it's like you know my heart,” and “I'm done looking at you, it's over when you turn around, you may be surprised when you cross the line.” These girls have control, keep their cool, and won’t break from a challenging love; they can take charge.
Are you looking for something extraordinary, filled with an experimental and quirky sound with rap? Look no further than listening to the unit single “HELLO” featuring Nayeon, Momo, and Chaeyoung. This experimental single has an equal balance of rap and vocal moments that’ll surely impress open-minded listeners. While the rap may not be for everyone, the chorus gives a moment to listen to their smooth and sweet vocals. Starting off the song with the lyrics, “Hello, we up run this city, yo, so cool, you know? Yeah I'm litty, yo,” is sure to turn heads, intrigued by what’s to come next in this quirky song. When you think about it, hearing Nayeon and Momo rap on a single like this will put a smile on your face because you can tell they were having fun with Chaeyoung in this. Plus, ONCEs that love Momo are probably excited to see Momo have her rapper moment again. The bridge has a memorable rap line that is sure to be stuck in your head saying, “Fanfare, hands in the air, ayy.” What you should take away from listening to “HELLO" is that the weirdest songs have the best sound.
Listening to “1, 3, 2,” will put you in a mysterious mood, and almost put you in a trance. As the third unit single on the album, it’s impressive to see members Jeongyeon, Mina, and Tzuyu together on a single like this. Lyrically, it appears to describe letting go of a love where you fell hard for them, making subtle connections to dancing and following each other’s tempo. Even though the meaning could be just a bit different than what’s shown lyrically, you cannot deny that this single showcases their vocal talents. Tzuyu’s vocals are able to shine the most here, as many don’t get to hear her singing capabilities often. Blended with Jeongyeon’s addictive vocals and Mina’s soft sound, these three have a harmony together that’s like no other.
By experimenting with the funk and disco sound, TWICE has excelled in creating songs that have their own distinguishable beats, making it difficult to pick a favorite from the 17 songs off of their full album. The inclusion of three unit singles on this album gives ONCEs the chance to see members work as trios to showcase their distinctive personalities and experiment in new genres. Out of all their albums, both full and mini, Formula of Love: O+T=<3 wholeheartedly has a song for everyone of all music tastes and interests. Sticking with the concept of romance in the majority of their songs, whether falling in or out of love, TWICE has the upper hand at making love sound beautiful and bittersweet. The science behind TWICE’s success is simple; they follow their heart by co-writing and composing singles, experimenting to expand their skills, and making ONCE proud of their hard work in every release.
TWICE’s full album, Formula of Love: O+T=<3, is available to stream on Spotify and YouTube Music. Make sure to stay up-to-date on everything TWICE by following them on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. Check out their music video for “Scientist” below!