ATEEZ Continue to Set the Standard with ZERO : FEVER Part.2
ATEEZ are back and have once again raised the bar for the rest of K-Pop. On March 1, 2021, ATEEZ released their sixth mini-album ZERO : FEVER Part.2 and with it a slew of incredible tracks, astounding visuals, and intense choreography—the standard for any ATEEZ comeback since their debut. While Mingi isn’t featured in any of the concept photos or the music video due to his ongoing hiatus, he was still able to write and record all of his verses.
“불놀이야 (I'm The One)”
Title track “불놀이야 (I'm The One)” is a blend of every genre ATEEZ has mastered thus far. The verses are slightly sultry and much more subdued than the chorus, which pops off and is where the EDM element of the track and 808 beats come in. What helps to blend these transitions seamlessly are rappers Mingi and Hongjoong’s verses acting as the bridges, where the tempo noticeably begins to pick up. Not only is the music catchy, but you’ll definitely find yourself singing, “Bulnoriya!” with the boys in no time.
The music video feels much more choreography-centered than previous videos, with an emphasis on up-close solo shots or scenes of the boys sitting atop a dilapidated train car. While there are scenes that set the stage for this newest chapter of ATEEZ lore, they are few and far between—but was that on purpose? Are fans and viewers supposed to be distracted by the dancing and visuals in an attempt to hide more lore in the background? Anything is possible.
The scenes that do show an obvious push to the story are the shots in an underground bunker. This bunker, according to Seonghwa during their ZERO : FEVER Part.2 showcase on VLIVE, represents a world that they’re trying to leave. One such scene is when the group is crowded around a radio communicating Mingi’s verse and another where we’re shown an empty chair. Since the rapper is still on hiatus, this was a great way to still include him in the music video. Could this empty chair be for Mingi, who has seemingly already escaped and is trying to help the other seven members? Or is something else at play?
Once free, ATEEZ appear on the outskirts of a decaying city near a large, dying tree that they set fire to soon after. Not going to lie, this music video has a bit of a Train to Busan Presents: Peninsula vibe to it in the best way possible. Another highlight? So much center Yeosang. Finally.
If you’ve been a fan of ATEEZ since debut, then you know of their history of teasing comebacks and theory inside their albums, music videos, and choreography. TREASURE EP.FIN : All To Action’s final track “Beginning of The End” ended with San singing the opening line to “Answer,” the title track for their subsequent release TREASURE EPILOGUE : Action To Answer. Not only that, but if you go all the way back to January 2019 and “Say My Name,” you can hear the repeated phrase “bulleo bulleo,” which is a heavily featured line in the chorus of “Answer.”
This comeback was no exception to ATEEZ and their sneaky ways. Go back and watch the video for “THANXX” and at the end, you’ll catch a snippet of the music which set the stage for this comeback’s title track “불놀이야 (I'm The One).” The music video for “불놀이야 (I'm The One)” also features references and lore from previous videos, like the burnt painting of a tree featured in multiple shots of the “Say My Name” video and the masked man in white seen at the beginning and end of the “Answer” video. ATEEZ also teased bits of the choreography in their recent Rain covers, one during their cover of “GANG” at 2020 SBS Gayo Daejeon and the other on Immortal Songs 2 when they covered “It’s Raining.”
The Album
Following the title track is “선도부 (The Leaders),” a trap-infused hip-hop track that opens with an ominous beat. Rather than splitting the track between rappers and singers, the entire group takes turns rapping, just like their Immortal Songs 2 performance of Seo Taiji and Boys’s “하여가,” which, if you think about it, could have also been a comeback tease. Their cover of “하여가” also included gunshots during the dance break, which are featured throughout “선도부 (The Leaders),” but did not include Wooyoung’s harsh whispers that help to set this track apart from any other in their discography.
One might expect another hip-hop track to follow, but prepare for whiplash, because track three is “Time Of Love,” an upbeat pop track that reflects all of San and Yunho’s positive energy and enthusiasm. The lyrics are about how we all need love and the need to spread positivity to help those around us. ATEEZ reminds us that “nobody’s perfect,” and that’s okay, but that “we are in a time of love” and it’s time to lift others up instead of tearing them down.
“Take Me Home” marks ATEEZ’s foray into synth-pop, which is becoming increasingly popular in K-Pop as of late. But of course, ATEEZ doesn't experiment lightly. “Take Me Home” exudes ‘80s nostalgia, complete with a saxophone solo, and the vocal line truly shines here. This is a track you’ll want to make sure is included on your road trip playlist.
Track five is “Celebrate,” a beautiful celebration of the love between ATEEZ and ATINY, and features one of Jongho’s most impressive high notes to date. Originally released as a handwritten lyrics video that was only available on the second anniversary of ATINY receiving their fandom name, many fans hoped it would receive the same treatment as “Star 1117,” which was released on the first anniversary but wasn’t included on an album until TREASURE EPILOGUE : Action To Answer.
Rounding out the album are the English version of “Take Me Home,” though Mingi’s verses and parts of Hongjoong’s are still in Korean, and “I’m The One - HEAT-TOPPING Version,” a remix of the title track that also features certain lines in English.
ATEEZ is a group known for their versatility when it comes to creating music and ZERO : FEVER Part.2 is no exception. The five new tracks range in genre to such a degree that it’s not implausible to think each track could have been performed by five different groups. However, it’s this versatility that has helped ATEEZ stand out from the pack. Other groups should take notice of their power...and be very afraid.