May 8, 2018

An Essential Listening Guide: Seventeen

Curious about 13-member boy group Seventeen? Want to get a crash course on their discography? Here are the Seventeen essentials (my personal opinion, obviously).

1. "Very Nice" (2016)
This is the first song that made me become a Seventeen fan, and the first dance practice I watched. This captures Seventeen's essence in a neat package. It's explosive, fun, and super addictive, with one of the greatest hooks the group has produced.


2. "Don't Wanna Cry" (2017)
This is definitely one of Seventeen's most well-known songs, and with good reason. It gave the group the sort of domestic and international recognition it hadn't previously seen before, and it's a definitely a sonic departure from their funk-driven pop, more playful concepts. Leaning into an EDM-influenced track and choreography inspired by modern-dance, "Don't Wanna Cry" has become one of Seventeen's most ubiquitous songs, their second-coming of sorts.


3. "Clap" (2017)
This is definitely a song that grows on you. I initially didn't like it, but the energetic performance from the group sells you on this happy-go-lucky song about not letting your sad moments get you down. The group takes risks with inverting perceptions about the group, choosing to have members that previously stayed in the background of previous title tracks sing the chorus. It pays off and then some, making this song a return to Seventeen's signature funk style while showing how much they have matured as artists and idols.


4. "Pretty U" (2016)
This was the song that really jump-started the popularity that the group experiences now. It's fun and breezy, but definitely packs enough oomph to really showcase the sort of versatility that Seventeen possesses. Many fans consider this their greatest title song.


5. "Highlight" (2016)
The first Seventeen track I ever listened to, this dance track is originally performed by Seventeen's performance sub-unit, also known as their dance line. There's something truly epic about the song, never losing its energy and sounding incredibly mainstream yet totally unique at the same time. It's entrancing, catchy, and truly iconic.


6. "Thanks" (2018)
Written as a "thank you" song for their fans, "Thanks" is surprisingly grave, even as it has elements of a dance track. Again highlighting the skills of sometimes less-emphasized members, the song continues to push the idea of what Seventeen sounds as a group while also introducing new elements to their signature sound. Member and producer/songwriter Woozi opts for a sort of current trend with the sonic landscape of "Thanks" that still requires multiple listens. The choreography is surprisingly intense and very emotive, showcasing the group's renowned synchronicity. It's a meaningful song for their fans, who were the ones that have seen the group come from a bankrupt company to becoming one of the three most influential and successful K-pop boy groups of this generation of idols. This is their way of expressing their gratitude. The song's Korean title is "고맙다" (romanization: gomapda), which is a more sincere/serious way of saying "thank you" in Korean.


7. "Thinkin' about you" (2018)
Sure, this song is kind of a basic pop love song, but the lyrics have meaningful narratives, raw emotional confessions, and beautiful imagery about past love and the nostalgic, mixed feelings surrounding past experiences with love. The production is impeccable, and it highlights what makes Seventeen so great.


8. "Adore U" (2015)
Seventeen's debut song made a strong statement about the kind of concept the group was aiming for, and boy was it exciting. It remains Seventeen's one of most iconic songs, which isn't always the case for debut songs of other groups. Even if you prefer Seventeen's more aggressive, darker sound in their more recent discography, you still have to appreciate what "Adore U" has done for the group.


9. "Mansae" (2015)
This song is just SO addictive. "Mansae" in Korean roughly translates to "hooray", and the song certainly captures that sort of euphoric feeling in its execution. This song literally makes you want to jump for joy, and the choreography certainly matches the high-energy style of the song and its lyrical content.


10. "Habit" (2017)
A B-side from their Al1 EP, "Habit" is a powerful ballad that highlights Seventeen's talented vocalists (aka their "vocal team"). The group's not known for melancholy tracks, but when they make one, boy do they deliver.

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