SEVENTEEN Bats 1000 With “HOME;RUN”
So often, the image of youth is presented as one of unyielding optimism and boundless energy. In SEVENTEEN’s latest special album ; [Semicolon] and their newest track “HOME;RUN,” the boys share—in the most theatrical way—that it’s okay to rest from time to time.
A Brand New Ball Game
If there’s one thing you can count on in a SEVENTEEN release, it’s enthusiasm. Playfully referred to by their fans across social media as the “theater kids” of K-Pop, the group has frequently incorporated theatrics into their past releases such as “Pretty U,” “Snap Shoot,” or the BSS sub-unit release “Just Do It.” Their newest track “HOME;RUN,” however, takes the showmanship to the next level, with SEVENTEEN as the star-studded lineup to this baseball-themed track. Heavily influenced by Broadway, the song has elements of big band swing and jazz. It’s a style that SEVENTEEN hasn’t necessarily dipped their collective 130 toes into prior, but a shoe that fits them all flawlessly nonetheless.
The track is carried by punchy percussion that keeps it moving from start to finish with a fast BPM, aided by a smattering of ragtime piano. It should also be said that it’s not often SEVENTEEN lets their main vocals open songs; for this reason, powerhouse vocalist DK’s opening lines really pack the perfect punch. Vernon’s first verse also hits a little differently, adding to the playfulness of the song, but it’s The8’s appearance that’s truly stunning. As any fan knows, The8 is as suave as can be, with a penchant for all things artistic, so when the heavy percussion suddenly cuts and the blaring instrumentals are stripped back only to reveal the impossibly cool tones of The8 set against a simple jazzy piano and hi-hat, the effect is quite literally breathtaking. The chorus explodes with Hoshi and booming brass, followed by a striking vocal delivery from rapper Mingyu that leader and fellow rapper S.Coups mirrors in the second chorus. It’s one of the few times we’ve seen the group play with the line distribution like this in a title track, with plenty of non-vocal team members getting their chances to shine.
With such a high-energy song, an impressive build should be hard to achieve, but SEVENTEEN does not disappoint. The bridge strips the instrumentals back to piano again, with Jeonghan, DK, and Seungkwan building to a percussive interlude with a dance break, followed by anthemic lines from Jun that are practically made for a fanchant. The final chorus is just as charged as the first, with DK’s jaw-dropping vocal control ending the song.
To truly feel the Broadway inspiration, however, one must watch the music video for “HOME;RUN.” Picking up right where June’s “Left & Right” left off, the video is structured around a heist concept with the members going against each other to gain possession of a diamond. The cinematography plays with over-saturated and black-and-white shots and even utilizes changes in aspect ratio to give the video an old-timey feel. In a recent announcement, BigHit Entertainment was revealed to have bought 85% of the shares of Pledis Entertainment, and the financial impact is obvious. Gone are the days of SEVENTEEN’s lackluster box-like sets: “HOME;RUN” shows the boys going head-to-head in a dingy bar, hunting for leads on a mysterious train car, dancing in a neon-bright bowling alley, and even celebrating on a rooftop amidst fireworks and a gigantic light-up sign that proudly proclaims “Forever Diamond.”
It’s no shock that the choreography is to be praised—or at least what we’ve seen of it. Much of the video is dedicated to the plot, but the small glimpses of dance are astounding, with SEVENTEEN’s natural charm as performers taking centerstage. It’s the kind of performance that’s entirely dependent on almost ostentatious charisma and while I’ll admit I am biased, I do truly think it would be hard for someone else to pull “HOME;RUN” off. A good majority of these boys could make it in a musical—one already has—and “HOME;RUN” is a testament to that.
There’s certainly a great plotline to behold, but with a video as captivating as “HOME;RUN,” it’s hard to pay it much attention. From the outfits to the sets to the choreography to each and every member of SEVENTEEN, “HOME;RUN” is entertainment in its purest form. I don’t think it’s much of a stretch to declare “HOME;RUN” SEVENTEEN’s best music video, though calling it a music video almost feels like an insult. It’s a full-scale production.
The Need for Pause
A semicolon is a form of punctuation that calls for a brief pause between two independent clauses. It also represents the continuation of a thought, as a semicolon is not used at the end of a sentence, but instead in the middle of two related thoughts. In this sense, SEVENTEEN use the ; [Semicolon] mini-album to explore the importance of rest.
In an interesting twist on their usual, SEVENTEEN traded in their token vocal, performance, and hip-hop unit songs for tracks by each age line. The maknae line, comprised of main vocalist Seungkwan, main rapper Vernon, and main dancer Dino, was bound to deliver with that much talent jam-packed into one song. Their song “Do Re Mi” is about the struggles of making choices in life, emphasizing that everything doesn't always have to be black and white and that it’s okay to slow down. And the song certainly is on the slower side, though anything but somber in the way that it comforts listeners.
Made up of members Mingyu, DK, and The8, the ‘97 line song “HEY BUDDY” is an easy standout on the album. The track pulls from disco and funk—a perfect fit for the ever eccentric middle children of SEVENTEEN. Opening immediately with bright horns and a cheeky “I got the bass” courtesy of DK, the song is the grooviest portrayal of friendship from its swinging start to its funky finish. Both Mingyu and The8 were highlights for me in “HOME;RUN” and DK always stuns with his talent, but truth be told, I wasn’t sure how their different styles would mix together musically. It’s safe to say I was blown away.
The ‘96 line of SEVENTEEN is an interesting mashup of members: first, the equal parts entrancing and eccentric lead dancer Jun, then the boisterous yet impossibly sexy performance team leader Hoshi, followed by the ever-cool and mysterious rapper Wonwoo, and rounded out by vocal team leader and resident musical genius Woozi. In their song “Light a Flame,” these four very different personalities come together to deliver a saucy bossa nova take on young love. It’s certainly a more mature release for SEVENTEEN and a little more direct than similar older tracks like “Crazy in Love” or “Fast Pace,” but the ‘96 line delivers it well. From Wonwoo’s lower register to Hoshi’s husky vocals to the lilting voice of Jun to the falsettos from Woozi, the sensual jazzy tones of “Light a Flame” will get you feeling some kind of way. Should they choose to ever perform this song live, there’s no doubt in my mind that it will be positively lethal.
The oldest members of SEVENTEEN, S.Coups, Jeonghan, and Joshua, close out the unit songs with their track “AH! LOVE.” Pop synths and a glittering acoustic guitar give the song a ‘90s feel and sounds exactly like what I’d expect from the ‘95 line of SEVENTEEN. That being said, S.Coups’s vocals are a pleasant surprise. His deeper voice perfectly offsets the higher, honey tones of Jeonghan and Joshua.
; [Semicolon] ends with the full-group track “All My Love,” which almost feels cathartic after spending a whole album with the members split up. The track opens with breathtakingly soft acapella lines from Woozi and builds into a soft-pop tune. In a recent radio show, Seungkwan admitted “All My Love” was for their fans, which makes the already sweet song all the more heartwarming.
All in all, ; [Semicolon] is not my favorite release from the group, especially considering the hallmarks both Heng:garae and An Ode proved to be in their career. This album, however, was not released with the intention to be their best—it was meant to be a gift for their fans. Though not every song will be an instant classic—the exceptions to this being “HOME;RUN” and maybe even “HEY BUDDY”—each track offers insight to who the members of SEVENTEEN are as people. They too live through the trials and tribulations of life and know that even the most vibrant youth need encouragement sometimes. And ; [Semicolon] is just the humanizing, morale-boosting release that’s sure to comfort youth of any age in the closing months of 2020.