Seventeen opened up about the sincere discussions behind selecting the title track for their 5th full-length album.
Episode 3 of the Disney+ documentary series 'SEVENTEEN: OUR CHAPTER', released on the 21st, revealed the members’ debate over the album 'HAPPY BURSTDAY' and its potential title tracks.
The members had been moving forward with “HBD” as the tentative title track, until a new contender suddenly emerged. Woozi’s track “THUNDER” quickly became a strong candidate.
Woozi shared, “It’s autobiographical and honest, something that makes complete sense when Seventeen sings it. Musically, I’m confident,” but he avoided making a unilateral decision. Instead, he emphasized, “The members have to be able to sing it with excitement for the synergy with the music to be maximized,” listening closely to everyone’s thoughts.
The members gradually leaned toward “THUNDER.”
Jun commented, “I was surprised when I first heard it. It was different from the songs Woozi had worked on before. Hearing how he created it made me even more certain.”
Seungkwan added, “I felt it could show a cooler, sharper side of Seventeen. It’s truly the definition of a ‘new challenger.’”
In reality, “THUNDER” swept to No. 1 on major domestic music charts immediately after release and went on to win eight trophies on music programs. Its global popularity was strong as well, landing on the Billboard Global 200, Global Excl. U.S., the UK Official Single Downloads and Single Sales charts, and the Billboard Japan Hot 100, among other major international rankings.
Work on the B-side tracks was just as intense as the title track discussions. Under the theme of “stories about myself,” each member poured their reflections, worries, and goals into solo songs included in the album.
Woozi especially raised anticipation for Seventeen’s next chapter, saying, “I don’t want us to fall behind. Even after 10 years, I want us to show that we’re still a group people look forward to. This album is the starting point for us to become a team fans will be excited about for our 20th anniversary.”
The episode ended with a touching segment on how Seventeen define CARATs. When asked, “What do CARATs mean to you?” the members answered:
S.Coups: “Companions who walk toward the same place,”
Joshua: “Best friends who’ve grown with us,”
Seungkwan: “Saviors,”
Vernon: “Our everything.”
The heartfelt responses left a lingering emotional impact. The final episode of SEVENTEEN: OUR CHAPTER will be released on the 28th.
Meanwhile, SEVENTEEN continue meeting fans around the world through their world tour. Beginning at Vantelin Dome Nagoya on November 27 and 29–30, they will hold the ‘SEVENTEEN WORLD TOUR [NEW_] IN JAPAN’ at Kyocera Dome Osaka on December 4, 6–7, Tokyo Dome on the 11–12, and Fukuoka PayPay Dome on the 20–21.
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