The prayers of Carats everywhere have been answered: BOOSEOKSOON is back! Returning with their single album, SECOND WIND—the SEVENTEEN sub-unit’s first release since their 2018 debut with “Just do it”—the boys of BSS are here to help you face the day in style with their spunky new title track “Fighting.”

Originally starting as something of an inside joke back in their trainee days, the trio made up of DK, Hoshi, and Seungkwan eventually found their own little charismatic niche in K-Pop with “Just do it.” “Fighting” follows the same lighthearted, comedic formula of its predecessor. Filled with high-energy beats, passionate cheers, and SEVENTEEN’s characteristic impeccable vocals, “Fighting” is a song meant to help give your morning a much-needed boost. And what a boost it delivers.

In true BSS fashion, the lyrics are unapologetically campy; how many songs contain lyrics about Americanos and zombies? Rapper Lee Youngji offers an extra level of wit and bite with her featured verse, giving fans what is likely to be one of the most satisfying collabs of the year. The relationship between the rapper and SEVENTEEN began when Hoshi guest starred on her radio show, though she’s been known to have been a fan of him for several years. Lee Youngji’s comedic charm and hard-hitting delivery perfectly suit the quirky K-Pop trio; thankfully, she will be promoting with them in their upcoming schedules.

The video for “Fighting” shows the members of BSS moving throughout the work day, leaving a party in their wake as they sing and dance their way through various sets. Like “Just do it,” the choreography is rather simple for a SEVENTEEN-related release, opting instead for comedic impact and surefire virality with simple moves that anyone can do. Perhaps most endearing is the choreography for the, “We’re your BOOSEOKSOON line,” in which the boys use hand signals to represent each part inspired by their names: ㅂ for “Boo,” ㅅ for “Seok,” and Hoshi’s signature horanghae tiger paw for “Soon.” 

SECOND WIND includes two other songs, both of which continue the theme of a work day, with the mid-tempo pop track “LUNCH” up first. Second and featuring Norwegian singer Peder Elias, is “7PM,” a softer song about winding down from an exhausting day with the comfort of a loved one. Given BSS’s penchant for humor, the last thing I ever expected to receive from the sub-unit was an emotional support song, but here we are. On top of feeling like a warm hug, the quiet finish to “7PM” gives listeners the hope to face the next day and the urge to replay the entire album from the top.

The world has longed for a BOOSEOKSOON comeback for five years, and now that it’s finally here, the wait is paying off as the boys rack up the achievements. “Fighting” became 2023’s most streamed song in the first 24 hours of release on MelOn, with all the songs nearing the top of the charts in Korea and across the world. The physical album has also already sold more than 500,000 copies on Hanteo—a wild feat considering that it was only several years ago when SEVENTEEN themselves passed that same benchmark in first week sales. SECOND WIND has also broken the record for first week sales for a K-Pop sub-unit, and we still have the rest of the week to go.

It’s safe to say that at this point, the world is BOOSEOKSOON’s oyster. Join in the hype by watching the video for “Fighting” below.

Edited by Erin Rupprecht