It’s been nearly three full years since the closing notes of “so let’s love” left us wondering what the future held for DAY6. Amidst military enlistments, lineup changes, and solo projects, a lot has been left to the imagination of My Days these past few years, leaving many to speculate when, how, or if the super band would return. With the release of their eighth mini-album Fourever, fans no longer have to ponder the fate of their beloved band, proving good things always come to those who wait.

“Welcome to the Show”

Coming back to the music scene after a three-year hiatus can be a daunting task, and yet, with “Welcome to the Show” DAY6 makes a return nothing short of a celebration. Musically, the track is very reminiscent of 2019’s “Best Part” in the way that both are full of surging vocals and soaring melodies. It’s a song meant to be experienced live—the best way any DAY6 song can be (and hopefully a hint of what’s to come).

“Welcome to the Show” builds quickly, with each of the main vocalists entering in turns. Young K starts things off in his husky lower register as he sets the stage for DAY6’s new journey before handing the baton to Sungjin. While DAY6 has always been comprised of some of the most stunning vocalists in Korean music, there’s no denying that Sungjin’s signature timbre sits at the heart of the band’s sound. I know I speak for many when I say his voice has been so deeply missed that finally hearing it again as part of DAY6 is already enough to have me tearing up only 30 seconds into the song. By the time Wonpil begins belting the pre-chorus, it’s game over for anyone who has been eagerly awaiting a DAY6 comeback, whether it be for mere weeks or all these years.

The inspiring lyrics are deceitfully simple: Young K, the band’s resident lyrical genius, admitted on Kiss the Radio that they’d been asked to rewrite the lyrics multiple times with the goal of releasing a feel-good song that could be appreciated by anyone, anywhere. In an interview with The Korea Times, he dubbed it the “ultimate anthem of life,” and just one listen proves as much. The band has a penchant for releasing songs overflowing with passion, but “Welcome to the Show” hits differently in the way that you can really feel just how happy the boys of DAY6 are to return to the stage.

The Music Video

The music video for “Welcome to the Show” follows a couple throughout a stage production, as the behind-the-scenes boyfriend (Yoo Seungho) supports his center-stage girlfriend (Choi Heejin) from afar. Right from the get-go, the video packs an emotional punch for fans who have been waiting for DAY6 to return, as the members play their instruments facing each other rather than in a typical band setup. Paired with the build in the first verse and Wonpil’s unadulterated joyful smile as he sings while looking at his bandmates, you’d be hard-pressed not to feel a little misty-eyed. The energy carries from start to finish in a fashion similar to the music video for 2017’s “I like you,” as the final scene shows our male lead proposing to his lover, who blissfully accepts. Both in song and in video form, “Welcome to the Show” speaks of new beginnings as DAY6 turns a new page in their careers.

The Album

“Welcome to the Show” aptly opens up the album, and it’s followed by the energetic cut “HAPPY,” a song with a tempo so upbeat that drummer Dowoon even admitted in an interview with The Korea Herald that it had him working out in an effort to keep up. While “Welcome to the Show” has a nostalgic feel to it in emotion, “The Power of Love” is our first real taste of a retro sound this release, with its heavy drum beats and synths evocative of the 1980s. “Get The Hell Out” starts out with a bite as Wonpil sings over a twangy electric guitar and it's another song that sees Dowoon shine in particular—his percussion skills have never been anything to scoff at, but Fourever really brings his talents to the forefront.

“Sad Ending” has those driving guitars that suit DAY6 so well. Instrumentally, it’s the most complex on the album—and so far seems to be the clear fan-favorite—with unexpected chord progressions and surprising compositional choices. “Let Me Love You,” though the penultimate song on the album, is the first time the tracklist dials it back, letting the band sink into a vocally-driven rock ballad. Fourever rounds out with the understated “didn’t know,” an easy soft-rock ballad that ends the album on a hopeful note of what’s to come for the band now that they’ve returned.

This comeback has been a long time coming, and it’s certainly one overflowing with emotions. Admittedly, I would be remiss if I didn’t say I felt the absence of Jae and the color he brought to the group throughout the years. But, Fourever undoubtedly marks a wonderful homecoming for a wonderful band and as the first step in a new direction for DAY6, I think it’s obvious they’ve started on the right foot.

Edited by Vivian N.