It’s a H1-KEY Summer: Spreading Comfort Through Various Concepts

Photo: H1-KEY Official X

If there’s one thing H1-KEY loves to do during the summer, it’s release music. Though the group’s most well-known song “Rose Blossom” was released in January 2023, most of their EPs have come out during the warmest months of the year. After coming out with their fourth EP last week, Seoi, Riina, Hwiseo, and Yel have made three summer comebacks since their January 2022 debut. With their newest title track “Summer Was You” reflecting on the memories of a past summer, let's look back on H1-KEY’s summer comebacks.

“SEOUL (Such a Beautiful City)”

H1-KEY’s title tracks highlight themes of resilience through various genres and concepts. The title track for their second EP, [Seoul Dreaming], “SEOUL (Such a Beautiful a Beautiful City)” comes to listeners in a synth pop sound. Released on August 30, 2023, this title track describes the hardships faced in busy, frantic metropolitan cities. Even if the song features Seoul, the message applies globally. H1-KEY sees the beauty that people hope to thrive in instead of only seeing the negatives of a city that never sleeps. They will never “stop dreaming” until the city acknowledges their efforts. 

As the song foretold, H1-KEY’s hard work did pay off during that comeback with their first music show win on September 5, 2023. Their music show win also got noticed by the mayor of Seoul, Oh Sehoon. In a comment on the “SEOUL (Such a Beautiful City)” music video, he congratulated them and said their love for the city makes Seoul “the city that it is.”      

“Let It Burn” 

On June 19, 2024, H1-KEY interpreted resilience through a rebellious side. Their third EP, [LOVE or HATE], was led by “Let It Burn,” a song with a defiant nature. “Let It Burn” contrasts with the positive approach of “SEOUL (Such a Beautiful City)” in a more drastic way of taking action. Even if something comes crashing down, it would feel better to give it your all than ignore it. Though the song’s lyrics refer to a crumbling romantic relationship, this general outlook works for many tough situations. It is better to “burn” than feel lukewarm like a half-baked attempt. 

To represent “Let It Burn,” its music video portrays H1-KEY as high school outcasts attempting to save their band club. Though they catch heat for disobeying rules, the group successfully puts on one last performance. I hope the message does not actually recommend burning down a high school like how the story resolves. 

“Summer Was You”

On June 26, H1-KEY used nostalgia in their most recent comeback to convey a different kind of heartbreak. “Summer Was You,” the title track of their fourth EP, [Lovestruck], reminisces on the joys of summer in a melancholic fashion. Even though “Let It Burn” and “Summer Was You” share the same music genre, they do not share the same outlook. The latter’s vibrant pop rock instrumental hides its wistful lyrics.  

The speaker in “Let It Burn” realizes the necessity of breaking up an unfulfilling relationship but the narrator in “Summer Was You” fails to let go of a romance long gone. Though that period has been “washed away by the waves of time,” the laughter the couple shared “remains vivid.” That fleeting connection continues to lingering feelings. In contrast to the external factors described in the other title tracks, “Summer Was You” acknowledges internal emotions as struggles people also find hard to deal with.* 

*Note: lyrics taken from the English captions in the official music video.

Edited by Clark Royandoyan