The latest Mnet show Road To Kingdom has been the talk of the K-Pop community, as the contestants shed sweat and tears to deliver content every week. The show finally wrapped up by declaring The Boyz as the title winners. Though the results were quite disheartening from the perspective of other groups, the show became an ultimate platform for them to showcase their talents.

With that being said, this week we will be suggesting a few B-sides from several contestants who have recently released albums: VERIVERY, The Boyz, and TOO.

VERIVERY

“PHOTO”

“PHOTO” is one of the most well-known B-sides of the group as the track explores haunting instrumentals and intriguing vocals. With Kangmin initiating the track with teasing whispers, the song flows as if narrating an eerie tale to listeners. The murky vocals of the members accompany well with the alarming instrumentals, sending shivers to listeners from the very beginning. Gyehyeon’s vocals work particularly well on the track, especially during the pre-chorus, and bring out the otherworldly feeling in the climax. On the whole, the song is an eargasmic track that one would never want to skip in their playlist.

“Curtain Call”

“Curtain Call” is a light track with peppy beats that brings out the flower boy shades of VERIVERY. The song sings of living a dream of being together with their loved one. Yeonho and Gyehyeon, with their refreshing vocals, shine as the leads of the track while Donghyeon and Hayoung subtly charm with their well-paced rap verses. The song’s bright tone and simple structure make it easy to follow and sing along with, especially during the chorus.

“Paradise”

“Paradise” is a contemporary R&B track featuring the mellow vocal tones of the members. As the title suggests, the song describes setting off to find a new place and make it a personal paradise and call it “Verrerdise,” a term to describe a location only for the group and their fans. The heartwarming lyrics and soothing verses are sure to comfort the listener and provide hope for an eternal journey together with the septet. The slow verses just before the climax are sure to jerk a tear, as it sounds like a personal invitation from the members themselves.  

Check out VERIVERY’s hypnotizing performance of “Photo” here!

The Boyz

“Scar”

“Scar” makes its mark as an eerie listen, blending in murky instrumentals and the husky tones of the members. The song by the sub-unit comprising Juyeon, Q, Haknyeon, Sunwoo, and Eric features the quintet’s more mature and darker sides. It brings out an unpredictable perspective of love as the members compare the feeling to a snake bite. Sunwoo, playing the role of both a vocalist and rapper, scores big, as he is found notable amongst the members by contributing most of the parts in the song. Adding in the soaring vocals, the melody also hooks listeners. It’s assured that the song will grab the attention of fans on the first listen.

“Spring Snow”

“Spring Snow” is a beautiful ballad with subdued keyboard melodies and soothing vocals. “As if the world has stopped, there wasn’t any warmth,” sings New as the members find comfort and warmth only beside their loved ones. The song then follows with the lyrics, “If I look at your eyes I bloom inside you,” as it emphasizes on the group’s relationship with their fans. Being the last track on the album, the song features every vocalist at their best, delivering the heartfelt lyrics. One of the honorable mentions would be the heartwarming chorus sung by Sangyeon and New, as the duo spellbinds listeners.

“Salty”

“Salty” is a contemporary ballad that reflects on the ups and downs in the journey of life. “It’s salty in the middle of those sweet moments,” states the chorus, personifying the unpleasant experiences as a salty taste. Though the song sounds melancholic and apologetic with members repeating “sorry” multiple times, the second half of the song lends itself to comfort and hope. Despite the fear and hurdles, the members want to stand beside their fans and take on the journey together, as they sing, “let’s leave for a place even further.” Accompanying the vocalists, the rappers also showcase themselves as brilliant vocalists during the verses.

Check out the jaw-dropping performance of “Reveal (Catching Fire)” from The Boyz.

TOO

“You Can’t Hurry Love”

“You Can’t Hurry Love” is an upbeat pop track with an influence of ‘90s Western pop music. The song also sounds more like a Christmas jingle with a guitar-focused rhythm and peppy beats. The lyrics passively narrate an innocent conversation between a son and his mother, as the son is curious to find love. “My mama said, ‘you can’t hurry love; no, you’ll just have to wait,’” sings the chorus in English, which makes the song sound more adorable and juvenile. Though the song may not leave an impression initially, as the lyrics progress you can’t help but anticipate the next musical phrase.

“Don’t Fear Now”

“Don’t Fear Now” is a refreshing, breezy track that can be “that” bonding song between the group and their fans. The song examines the concept of life blooming and getting brighter after falling in love. As the members are elated to travel along with their fans, they also give them hope by singing, “Don’t fear, fear, fear, no.” As rookies in the industry, the group hasn’t seen much of the professional journey, yet they want to make it memorable by staying beside their fans.

Check out TOO’s passionate performance of “Magnolia” here!

Which are your favorite B-sides from the groups? Let us know in the comments! Also make sure to check out the splendid Road To Kingdom performances. 

Lyrics Translation: https://lyricskpop.net/