On the fringes of another world tour—and their newest step towards world domination—TWICE is back with their latest release READY TO BE and their disco funk title track “SET ME FREE.”

READY TO BE is the girl group’s twelfth mini-album and comes after the January release of their English song “MOONLIGHT SUNRISE.” The pre-release track marked yet another change in image for the group, with the members taking the most mature approach to their careers that we’ve seen yet. In both sound and thematics, READY TO BE and “SET ME FREE” follow that same formula, giving their fans the latest taste of the new TWICE.

“SET ME FREE”

As any K-Pop fan knows, it’s hard to miss with a dance track and “SET ME FREE” is just that: a groovy, disco-inspired dance song with a catchy hook and futuristic pop influences. It’s a sound that’s fit TWICE particularly well over the last year, notably with their Y2K jam “Talk that Talk.” Where “SET ME FREE” differs though—much like with “MOONLIGHT SUNRISE”— is how the song plays around with mature themes and sultry vocal deliveries instead of the group’s token bright pop sound. 

The song opens with a gritty bass before Jihyo comes in with her lower register—a wonderful sign of what’s to come for the rest of the song. Ever since 2021’s “Scientist,” the girls have been experimenting more with their vocal ranges, giving their releases a new bite that fans might not have even realized was missing. When Sana comes in on the pre-chorus, the music takes a deceptively lighter turn, giving the song an almost kittenish feel, before launching into the daring chorus. 

Despite the chorus’s impact and its easy-to-get-stuck-in-your-head lines, “SET ME FREE” is the kind of song that shines in the verses. The way the track dips back into a slinkier style at the start of the second verse, this time with Sana matching Jihyo’s earlier boldness, is musical magnetism at its best. “SET ME FREE” does follow TWICE’s usual title track formula in its structure, with a rap verse right before the final chorus; that being said, the song feels like it has less Dahyun and Chaeyoung than is typical for a title song. This isn’t necessarily a negative or a positive in the context of “SET ME FREE”—after all, Chaeyoung certainly got her moment with “MOONLIGHT SUNRISE”—but it is a notable change from their usual releases.

My personal favorite part of the song, however, comes in the final chorus. While you’d certainly be valid to think this is because of the power vocals from Jihyo and Jeongyeon or Nayeon’s adlibs, it’s actually Tzuyu and Mina. Both vocalists have a slightly gritty, breathy tone to their vocal colors, and it’s a sound that perfectly suits the mysterious vibes of “SET ME FREE.” Their parts were also my favorites in “MOONLIGHT SUNRISE” for the same reason, so I’m glad to see the sub-vocalists getting the same treatment this time around too.

All in all, “SET ME FREE” isn’t my new favorite title track from TWICE, but it is certainly another great addition to their library. The song doesn’t offer anything new to their sound, but it does further explore techniques they’ve been experimenting with in the recent past, and it’s something I hope they stick with for just a little bit longer. And as always, I’m down for the new addition to my K-Pop dance playlist.

The Music Video

The music video for “SET ME FREE” leans into the futuristic elements of the song, with TWICE coming into the frame on a desolate planet in outer space. They switch between this set and a barren cityscape littered with just as much neon as debris. The kicker comes about three-quarters of the way through the video when we find the girls in a movie theater, staring at a screen in silence as the music abruptly stops and the shot suddenly cuts to black to show the signature JYP Entertainment logo. Don’t be fooled, though: the camera cuts back to the girls watching the screen with knowing smirks on their faces before switching back to the city set, which explodes into flames and fireworks. The final shots show the girls confidently dancing amidst the ruin and rubble as Tzuyu turns one of the shop signs to say “closed,” signaling that they’ve finished the job.

Plotwise, the video stays on the simple side, instead showcasing the group’s choreography and visuals. The outfits stay rather muted in color and style, giving the girls a sleek and chic style befitting of the mature image they’re going for. This is especially impactful in the ending shots of the video, where the members dance among the chaos they’ve staged, styled to the nines in tailored suits. Mina particularly shines in her all-white piece. Jihyo is another standout, especially in the opening shots of the video thanks to her fake lip piercing.

TWICE has always delivered in the music video department, offering videos with some of the highest rewatch value in K-Pop. “SET ME FREE” is no different, though yet again, it’s not my favorite of their catalog. That being said, that’s just because the group has set my standards so impossibly high over the years. READY TO BE as a whole, however, more than makes up for any shortcomings.

The Rest of the Album

The English pre-release track “MOONLIGHT SUNRISE” follows “SET ME FREE” on the tracklist, and you can read more of my thoughts on that song here. “GOT THE THRILLS” is the first new B-side on the album, and boy does it set the bar high. As dynamic as the group’s B-sides have been as of late, “GOT THE THRILLS” takes the cake as one of their best. A pop dance track at its core, the song also utilizes guitars to give it a rock element (spoiler alert: this is a trend for the rest of the album too). “GOT THE THRILLS” also feels less formulaic than its predecessors and allows different members to shine vocally, such as Jeongyeon in the second chorus. It’s a no-brainer addition to my favorite TWICE tracks of all time.

“BLAME IT ON ME” takes the rock theme and revs it up a notch, letting the guitars take the forefront of the melody. It’s a sound we’ve never heard from the group and is refreshing in its novelty. “WALLFLOWER” is next and while it takes a one-eighty from the previous two tracks in energy, it’s another easy favorite. The song starts out very muted, softly building into a dance rhythm once the bass-filled chorus hits. It’s another different sound for the group, but one that’s absurdly addictive nonetheless. 

“CRAZY STUPID LOVE” rounds out the B-sides, yet again bringing the guitars back center stage with a ‘90s touch that is reminiscent of BETWEEN 1&2’s “Queen of Hearts.” On an album dominated by dance tracks, this is easily the most vocally-focused song that, while not a ballad, showcases the vocal strengths of each member to a T. It’s also a song that was penned by Dahyun (she also wrote the lyrics for “BLAME IT ON ME”) and the personal touch is noticeable. The album rounds out with the English version of “SET ME FREE,” and while all of TWICE’s English tracks have felt natural, “SET ME FREE” may be their most seamless yet. It doesn’t sound like a translation of a Korean song, but rather a full-fledged English release in its own right, making for a solid full circle finish for the album.

Every time TWICE release something, I feel like they’ve outdone themselves. What’s left for them to try their hands at at this point? Everything the girl group seems to touch turns to gold nowadays, and the daring sounds found on READY TO BE are no exception. 

“SET ME FREE” Title Score: 7/10

“SET ME FREE” Music Video Score: 7/10

READY TO BE Album Score: 10/10

Overall Score: 8/10

Edited by Rashelle B.