Step into the Diamond Life with SEVENTEEN
Ready to step into the diamond life?
SEVENTEEN was formed by Pledis Entertainment in May 2015 on the reality television program Seventeen Project: Big Debut Plan. Despite their name, SEVENTEEN actually has 13 members: S.Coups, Jeonghan, Joshua, Jun, Hoshi, Wonwoo, Woozi, DK, Mingyu, The8, Seungkwan, Vernon, and Dino. The group is further divided into three sub-units: the hip-hop unit, the vocal unit, and the performance unit. The group’s name comes from having thirteen members, in three different sub-units, all together in one group. 13 + 3 + 1 = 17!
SEVENTEEN is a group known for their intense, synchronized choreography. The members are also known to write, compose, and arrange a majority of their tracks. With every comeback, the group continues to take their dance and musicality to the next level. Don’t believe us? Let’s take a look at some of their singles!
“Adore U”
The group’s debut single, “Adore U,” was released on May 29, 2015. Members Woozi, S.Coups, and Vernon participated in the writing, composing, and arrangement of the song. “Adore U” is the first in a series of vignettes about teen love that appear in SEVENTEEN’s first three singles: “Adore U” is about meeting a girl for the first time, “Mansae” is about falling in love, and “Pretty U” is about asking the girl out. Pretty cute, right?
The song’s music video features adorable dance moves which were choreographed by member Hoshi. He created the routine so that it highlighted each member’s strengths and complemented the music video’s cutesy storyline!
“Don’t Wanna Cry”
SEVENTEEN made a powerful comeback on their fourth EP, Al1, with their emotional single “Don’t Wanna Cry.” Released in 2017, “Don’t Wanna Cry” is an upbeat EDM song that centers on all of the sadness and regret a person feels when they break up with someone they love. The song was written and composed by Woozi, Jeonghan, Hoshi, and S.Coups, but members of Coldplay and The Chainsmokers were later added to the song’s copyright due to concerns raised by the track’s similarity to the single “Something Like This” which was released three months prior.
A true highlight of the song is its bridge, where Wonwoo sings: “I’m fine / I don’t miss you.” Simultaneously, Mingyu shouts: “I’m not fine / I miss you a lot.” The juxtaposition of their lyrics is an incredibly powerful moment in the track and really highlights their true feelings about being broken up.
The video for “Don’t Wanna Cry” features the members as they perform dynamic choreography in the Los Angeles desert and on a scenic rooftop. SEVENTEEN’s dance routines continue to complement their songs; the key point in the chorus’ choreography features the members covering their eyes to hide their tears.
“Thanks”
The group’s latest comeback was the heartfelt “Thanks,” which was released February 2018. The comeback was released as part of the special album Director’s Cut, which contained four new songs as well as the tracks from their last album Teen, Age. When it was released, “Thanks” hit first in 29 countries, including in the U.S., Canada, Brazil, Austria, and Australia. It is the group’s biggest release yet; SEVENTEEN continues to gain popularity and shows no signs of stopping anytime soon.
Members Hoshi and Woozi contributed to the writing and composition of “Thanks,” a poignant track dedicated to fans. Just like its title suggests, “Thanks” is a thank you to fans, called Carats, for loving and supporting SEVENTEEN throughout their career and helping them grow.
The members sing: “These typical words, I’m only saying them now / But I hope these typical words will reach you / Thank you, thank you, that’s all I can say / How to wait and what love is / You taught me all.” The song’s beautiful lyrics melt a listener’s heart, while the futuristic-sounding bass provides a strong backbeat that keeps the song passionate and fun. SEVENTEEN can flawlessly perform songs in a variety of genres, but tracks like “Thanks” show off just how talented the group really is. They have the vocals, dancing, and musicality, and they are a group that cannot be overlooked.