TXT B-Sides: Chapter 1
Just two weeks after wrapping up their first-ever world tour, it was announced that TXT (Tomorrow x Together) will welcome us into the new year with a comeback scheduled for January 2023. It has already been a big year for the consistently dubbed “fourth-gen leaders,” and the group shows no signs of slowing down. On November 29, they will attend the 2022 MAMA Awards where they are nominated in five categories, including “Best Male Group” and “Artist of the Year.”
TXT sat down with Billboard earlier this year to discuss their latest mini-album minisode 2: Thursday’s Child and the group’s leader, Soobin, shared his thoughts on their current path: “As we have more years and even more albums under our belts, we’re getting better outcomes and better numbers. We have [also] tried many genres in music. As we work on more and more albums, [I feel like] we don’t have any limits. We’ve taken this musical journey step by step.”
As we anxiously wait to see what new genres the quintet has in store for us, let’s take a look back at some of TXT’s best B-side tracks since their debut in 2019.
“Blue Orangeade” - The Dream Chapter: STAR
“Blue Orangeade” is the first track from TXT’s debut mini-album The Dream Chapter: STAR. The pressure was high for BigHit Entertainment as TXT was its second male group to debut, nearly six years after BTS. When comparing initial concepts, the two groups could not be more different. TXT started off with a fresh and cute image, making “Blue Orangeade” the perfect fit. The five members show off their boyish charms and impressive teamwork as they sing about a relationship where opposites attract. Just like blue and orange which sit on polar sides of the color wheel, “someone who’s totally your opposite” might just be your perfect match.
“20cm” - The Dream Chapter: MAGIC
Seven months after their debut, TXT released their first full-length studio album. The Dream Chapter: MAGIC highlights the group’s growth and transformation while experimenting with different genres. “20cm” is the seventh track from the album and tells the story of a childhood friendship that slowly blossoms into romance. The title comes from the lyrics, “You don’t know that we’re 20cm apart,” which refers to the height difference between the two friends. The innocent lyrics overlay a soulful R&B track with a beautiful blend of harmonies and ad-libs. Every aspect of the song combines to create a desperate feel as the members sing about falling in love for the first time and wanting to close that 20cm gap between two hearts.
“Eternally” - The Dream Chapter: ETERNITY
TXT wrapped up their first chapter in May 2020 with the release of The Dream Chapter: ETERNITY. The mini-album places a larger focus on the members as individuals and how rifts often appear in friendships because of those differences. However, the overarching theme shows hope that their bond will remain eternal. “Eternally” is the final track from the album and shows an unexpected side to TXT. It carries an ambiguous mix of alternative R&B and trap as the genre continuously shifts throughout the song. This creates a thrilling and haunting vibe that is highlighted by the members’ matured vocals and edgy rap sequence. The lyrics only add to this effect as TXT sing about living in an eternal dream and not wanting to face the harsh reality of the world around them. For a more in-depth look at how The Dream Chapter ends, you can watch the music video for “Eternally” linked below. At 19 minutes and 31 seconds, it’s more of a short film that allows viewers a glimpse into the ever-evolving TXT universe.
TXT solidify their position as K-Pop’s “It” boys with each new release and further prove they have what it takes to last an eternity. Join me in December for part two of TXT’s best B-sides as we finally wake up from our dream and enter The Chaos Chapter.
Edited by Vivian N.