TWS Learns to Bravely Love Through ‘NO TRAGEDY’
Photo: TWS Official X
TWS’s fifth EP envisions a world where Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet concluded happily. NO TRAGEDY, released on April 27, challenges the notion that a love never meant to happen must end disastrously. Romeo and Juliet teaches TWS a different lesson, one exemplified by spontaneous and self-assured actions. This comeback sees TWS ditch the bashful behavior of stuttering around a crush to proudly proclaiming a love that lasts forever.
TRACKLIST:
“All the Possibilities”
“You, You”
“Why You So Bad?”
“Get It Now”
“Fire Escape”
“Back to Strangers”
The Title Track: “You, You”
TWS calls themselves “young Romeos” in NO TRAGEDY’s concept, and “You, You” demonstrates this approach. The R&B and house song “You, You” carves a distinct identity apart from TWS’s past title tracks. It still aligns with the group’s youthful themes and matures from concepts like “Countdown!” and “OVERDRIVE,” ones introduced to help TWS graduate from their debut schoolboy image. Dohoon co-writing a title track for the first time also implies growth. The Shakespeare references continue in “You, You” with a nod to A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Though a comedy, its story of everyone falling for the wrong person works with the song’s theme.
However, the “You, You” music video loses personality through duller colors and less eccentric scenes compared to releases. There must have been a way to visually “age up” the concept without leaving behind captivating shots. In short, “You, You” delivers what diehard and casual fans of TWS have come to expect—a lively instrumental paired with relatable lyrics of adolescent experiences—with an evolved concept.
The B-sides: NO TRAGEDY, No Skips
NO TRAGEDY begins with “All the Possibilities,” first performed at TWS’s <42:CLUB> fanmeeting in Seoul on March 27. Much like “You, You,” “All the Possibilities” is a house-based track that ponders about the vast directions a relationship can take. With lyrics contributed by Dohoon, Youngjae, and Jihoon, its message says to give romantic connections a chance because no one knows where those journeys could bring them. The pop song “Why You So Bad?” follows this logic by serenading a romantic partner to stay with them despite what fate has to say. The track is also TWS’s first English B-side since “unplugged boy” from their debut EP, Sparkling Blue.
“Get It Now” transforms TWS from sweet boys-next-door to tough bad boys. Its rock and hip-hop instrumental and lyrics of decisiveness represent TWS’s resistance towards a fixed, hopeless ending. If Romeo existed in the 21st century, he would turn up this song in his car while running away with Juliet.
The rebellion only lasts for so long before the kindhearted tone returns in “Fire Escape,” co-written by Youngjae. Its mix of hip-hop and hyperpop, the latter genre previously untouched by TWS, forms a unique sound for the group. “Back to Strangers” promising a love that survives across multiple universes closes the EP with an optimistic outlook. Jihoon and Hanjin serving as contributors to the song’s lyrics further affirms TWS’s increasing involvement in their music.
The Verdict: Encore, Encore!
NO TRAGEDY tackles and executes its concept to the best of its ability. NO TRAGEDY accomplishes this feat by using one of the world’s most well-known love stories, the epitome of spontaneous teenage romance, to represent progress. Though everyone may not agree with Romeo and Juliet’s actions, the EP mimics how the couple discards hesitation in order to take charge of their future. The EP sends a message of conviction, shedding old fears of approaching a crush.
It comes packaged with songs that suit a charming, romantic gesture. The only sonical outlier, “Get It Now,” sticks out for its rock-and-roll-influenced approach, but it still matches the theme. Overall, NO TRAGEDY takes advantage of TWS’s developing direction with a small bit of genre exploration and expanded artistic input by the group’s members. With four out of six members contributing lyrics to NO TRAGEDY, perhaps future releases will feature the full group as lyricists or composers.
Edited by Cara Musashi