TXT Is Lovesick in The Chaos Chapter: FREEZE

If you are looking for an analysis of TXT’s new full studio album, you have come to the right place. TXT, which stands for Tomorrow X Together, is a boy group that fits all of the K-pop standards to its maximum capacity: amazing singing ability, strong stage presence, sharp dance moves, alluring facial expressions, and many more.

Each member has their own abilities to showcase, such as Taehyun’s high vocal range and Yeonjun’s powerful execution of any choreography. The group has also performed almost every released track during their normal promotions as well as individual concerts. Their fans are well known for being unproblematic and matching the members’ wavelengths perfectly. TXT’s Weverse includes both humorous and heartfelt interaction between MOAs, their fandom name, and the artists. They have also gotten Music Show wins for every single comeback, including their most recent reboot of the next chapter series The Chaos Chapter: FREEZE.

The quintet is constructed of extremely lovable and talented performers who strive to make each stage better than the last. Although the group faced a lot of backlash as the underlings of the global superstars BTS, they have also steadily increased their following. TXT has become one of the biggest stars in K-pop’s Fourth Generation alongside JYP’s ITZY and Stray Kids. BTS brought their company Big Hit Entertainment into the spotlight to stand up to the previous “Big Three” companies, JYP, SM, and YG Entertainment. Ever since Big Hit expanded its horizons through buying other companies and changing its name to HYBE Corporations, they are the most successful company in the K-pop industry which is responsible for more than half of K-pop’s annual profits. 

✨TXT 4TH GEN LEADERS✨
pic.twitter.com/Arw4XvxB7b

— yeonishee ❅ 0X1 (@txtbibies) June 14, 2021

TXT consists of five members, Choi Soobin, Choi Yeonjun, Choi Beomgyu, Kang Taehyun, and Hueningkai. The oldest member, Yeonjun, was born in 1999 and is the main dancer of the group. He is well known among Big Hit trainees as the “legendary trainee” for his immense talent. His control and expression of the song through his movements immediately draw eyes to him on the stage. As the main rapper, he also has a very unique voice that adds spice to every track. Nevertheless, he can sing as well. Overall, the group is a predominately vocal group with a few tracks, such as “Frost” on their new album, that prove they can dominate any genre. 

TXT’s leader, Soobin, is a vocalist who excels at smooth falsettos. Among the other four, he is the only introvert but also the perfect person to ground the other member’s eccentric personalities. Last July, Soobin joined Music Bank as an MC with OH My GIRL’s Arin. Since then, he has drawn a lot of attention from both domestic and international audiences with their special “Dolphin” stage and cute interactions. 

Next, the “middle child” Beomgyu is a well-rounded dancer with a soothing voice. His voice blends in with the melody of their tracks very well, as if they were written for him. Recently, Beomgyu exposed on Weverse a few demo lyrics to the ballad “Anti-Romantic” that is also on their new album. He is a very hardworking and dedicated performer who, with Taehyun, constantly interacts with their fanbase on the Weverse platform. Beomgyu’s witty remarks and extroverted attitude draws MOAs to him more and more as he rises in the ranks as the most popular member, though all of them are unique and wonderful in their own ways. 

Taehyun, the second youngest yet most mature member, is the main vocalist with the maknae (youngest) of the group, Hueningkai. His vocal range is amazing and has exceeded all previous expectations in their recent comeback “0X1=LOVESONG” featuring Seori. Fans were immediately drawn to his technique and control that brings a pop of energy to every song. In the group’s new title track, Taehyun manages to pull off a raspy voice filled with angst and pain. MOAs have also commented on Taehyun’s heartfelt performance on a Korean radio show, KBS Cool FM. 

Lastly, the maknae Heuningkai is a bubbly character that the other members simply adore. He is both extremely talented and bold in his actions. Hueningkai is the perfect example of an extrovert who belongs in the spotlight. He works well with those around him and always draws the perfect amount of attention while performing. His sharp and clean voice compliments his other members, especially Soobin and Beomgyu’s, mellow voices. TXT works as one fully functioning unit that fails to release any bad tracks. They work closely with their producers and songwriters to create music that they both love and that shows new sides to them each and every time. 

The group’s most recent comeback included collaborations with a few other artists including Olly Murs, RM, Salem Ilese, and MOD SUN. Salem even released a brief Tiktok video of her covering the track she helped create, “Anti-Romantic.” She became a major artist after rising to fame off the platform for her song “Mad at Disney.” Like many other artists, their songs can become extremely popular after circulating on Tiktok. 

The first song on TXT’s tracklist is titled “Anti-Romantic.” Though cold sounding, the song is sung as if the members are speaking to their lovers. The boys claim to be afraid of love and what it could bring by saying, “Sorry I’m an anti-romantic. I want to run far away. Already, my heart that chases you. Burns up in a small flame.” This track is the perfect introduction for the many emotions that listeners go through after streaming the whole album. From personal experience, this song is one of my favorites. It draws me in just enough to get a taste of what this album is all about, heartbreak, loss, acceptance, daydreaming, imagination, and freedom. The Chaos Chapter: FREEZE is unlike anything TXT has ever created, but may be a contender for the end-of-the-year Music Show awards like Song and Album of the Year. 

“Anti-Romantic” has also shown both MOAs and new listeners that all of the members have exceptional singing abilities. Yeonjun, who is really the only rapper in the group, brings a flair and airy feeling to the otherwise downcast track. As per usual, the main vocalists Hueningkai and Taehyun are exemplary but have also introduced something new to the table: their talent in portraying the pain and longing for the relationship they so desired through their voices. Even though the song begins slow, with a single piano tune in the background, the music quickly increases the pace. Its chorus is simple, with a single beat leading the song forward, while simultaneously growing in complexity. At the climax of each chorus the members’ voices blend together in harmony before moving onto the next verse or bridge. There is something woven inside of this track that incites a tragic yet satisfying emotion that automatically puts one’s heart into place to handle the other heart-wrenching, and sometimes heartwarming, songs to come.

anti romantic is one of the best songs txt has ever sung pic.twitter.com/a2udpe0m41

— mari (@yeolzennie) June 15, 2021

As we move onto “0X1=LOVESONG,” there is a lot to unravel. At first, the song comes off as an angst-filled love track, bubbling to the brim with typical teen emotions. Many listeners resonated with their deep and honest lyrics. Almost everyone has gone through a stage in their life where they have felt everything to be meaningless as if life almost slipped through your fingers. TXT feasted off of those emotions and created a brand new world for themselves to almost rebranding their dream-pop image into a hardcore, slightly rock-themed, boy band. Hueningkai begins by singing, “I’m full of problems, lovesick… I was fine to die. I’m a loser in this game,” and Taehyun continues to say, “The on1y rule of this world. Save me. Take my hand. Please use me like a drug.” Fans across all social media platforms have posted themselves relating to the intense feelings portrayed through TXT’s lyrics and how they relate to their own lives.

In contrast to the other summer-themed comebacks that have emerged in K-pop during this time (OH MY GIRL’s “Dun Dun Dance,” from is_9’s “WE GO,” WEi’s “BYE BYE BYE,” and most recently Twice’s “Alcohol-Free”), TXT spun in a completely different direction. They took into account the whirlwind of emotions teens have been forced to deal with in such turbulent times. TXT fills in the gap between the facade that is the mass media, or the dream world we call the K-pop industry, and uses its power to influence millions of people worldwide.

“0X1=LOVESONG” is more than just a song about love. Its music video reveals so much more about the song’s backstory, context, and how the members become small puzzle pieces for the larger picture. MOAs first noticed the difference between the bridge displayed in the first teaser and then in the music video. It shows Yeonjun dancing backward into an empty lot while singing the chorus to “0X1=LOVESONG” to himself. In the first teaser, Yeonjun sings to himself without the other members trailing behind, while the music video version is the opposite. In addition to this tidbit, Yeonjun wakes up at the end of the music video alone.

There have been several theories about what this could imply, but fans have ultimately decided on one conclusion: Yeonjun created the other members as his imaginary friends after suffering through domestic abuse and depression. This theory is much less far-fetched than what was first thought after clips of Yeonjun wearing a green, yellow, and pink ribbon emerged (which stand for childhood depression, suicide prevention, and women’s health). There is currently a video on Tiktok with over 150,000 likes explaining what these ribbons mean in relation to Yeonjun. 

Everything in this era from the stylistic choices to the choreography blend very well together. When listening to the album from start to end, the serious and playful songs were perfectly placed for an amazing streaming experience. Some MOAs debate about which song should have been the album’s title track, many of whom stand behind “Anti-Romantic.” Despite this song being one of the most popular in the album, it doesn’t have nearly the same impact or presence that “0X1=LOVESONG” does. BTS’s leader RM played a role in choosing the comeback’s title track, and he certainly understood that the title track could not be a song that only MOAs enjoy, but one that would attract new listeners and keep old listeners listening on repeat. This is truly the real difference between an amazing song and an impactful one.

Moving on to their next track “Magic,” it is officially their first song fully sung in English. The two-minute and forty-nine-second masterpiece is a breath of fresh air compared to many of the other songs. The lyrics, co-written by Olly Murs, are sugary sweet describing the feeling of being knee-deep in love. “Magic” is about the “blinded-by-love” stage in a relationship where the lovers long for each other every moment of the day. Yeonjun sings the first chorus and says, “Oh it’s just like magic. Feeling your touch. Oh it’s a rush. No one else has it. Oh just like magic.” His bright voice opens up the song into a synth-filled beat that makes listeners want to jump up and dance. Typically, TXT promotes more than one song per album, and this time the group went with “Magic.” This song’s music video was released on June 10 with an other-worldly concept. They also went to perform both “Magic” and the title track on Good Morning America. “Magic” is the definition of short-but-sweet. It is a song that can immediately lift the mood of anyone who tunes in.

On the surface, “Ice Cream” seems to be another bright pop song, which the group is famous for. However, the lyrics take a strange turn. TXT is well-known for its bubbly dream-pop sound but “Ice Cream” defies those standards. Instead, the group sings about wishing for misfortune upon other people and uses ice cream as an analogy. MOAs applaud the group for tackling such a message through a mysteriously positive melody. The pre-chorus and chorus go as so: “And making empty wishes every every every day all alone. Let’s all be doomed together, let’s all be doomed together… It melts and disappears. Like a dream. Unhappy. Like ice cream yeah.”

Although ice cream looks delicious and sweet on the outside, like TXT, there is inner malice that they wish to express which only shows audiences that they are real people as well. There is such a strong connection between TXT and its fan base that can be seen in the meaning of their music in addition to the close fan encounters. The meaning of this track’s Korean name, 소악행, is mischief. Its lyrics reflect that idea word-for-word, exposing TXT’s playful side. 

As we move onto the next song called “What if I had been that PUMA” the album’s direction shifts. Many of the gut-wrenching messages are replaced with brighter sounds. This song is filled with deliberately autotuned voices that work with its playful, electronic beat. “What if I had been that PUMA” is all about playing a Would You Rather game. They sing, “Pick your answer, A or B. Puma in front of Would You Rather game.” It is a very feel-good track that makes one want to jump up and dance and very much fits the theme of the group as it is reminiscent of their debut album’s songs like “Cat & Dog.” MOAs have of course noticed the similarities between “What if I had been that PUMA” and “Angel or Devil.” This similarity is most likely on purpose since there is a multitude of details in common between the two studio albums. Some have even claimed the songs to be twins. 

The two tracks play off of an autotuned theme that resembles a video-game-type sound. However, their messages are somewhat different. While “Angel or Devil” has lyrics relating to love and the difficult decisions that some encounter in a relationship, “What if I had been that PUMA” describes the behavior of the members and their difficulties when faced with life. They say, “ Must I chose, in front of that question? I keep quiet as if I’m mute,” and, “Tricky choice of palette, I don’t know my color.” What the two songs share is the need to make a decision between this or that. There is also a sense of maturity in the more recent song as it pertains to their own emotions instead of asking what their lover would choose. Certainly, “Can you tell me your mind, let me know the way to you. As much as 300 love ya, run right now to your heart,” are words spoken from lovesick boys in love for the first time. 

“No Rules” is more than just a play on words with their older track “New Rules.” It is a recreation of the song fitting the needs of their new and matured comeback. While The Dream Chapter: Magic was about growing out of childhood and comments on a stubborn and rebellious attitude. Instead of saying, “Want to be punk. Let me go, let me go,” the group abandons all rules and chants, “I wanted to be punk, why, I think I’ll explode as if I got punctured… Oh my, oh my, total confusion, total confusion.” Instead of trying to change the rules, the group has grown up and realized that they can make their own rules. The members each describe parts of their new life, where they don’t have to adhere to a routine or fill anyone else’s expectations. 

The song created quite a stir across all social media platforms. MOAs obsess over the catchy tune and easy dance moves, making the song trend on Tiktok. TXT has also posted short clips of them dancing to the song’s chorus that encouraged others to join in. 

Give me no rules promotion rn#범규 #BEOMGYU @TXT_members pic.twitter.com/jlK3tcBhi5

— hourly beomgyu (@beomgyuhourly) June 14, 2021

As we near the end of TXT’s new album, “Dear Sputnik” comes along to sweep us off our feet. It is a brief return to the angst aura from the beginning of the album with another rock-influenced beat. Its lyrics return to communicate a serious and meaningful message about love and loss. This song is one of my personal favorites that speaks to the part of me that I typically keep hidden. “Dear Sputnik” has the power to draw out the inner sadness in all of us. The difference between this track and “0X1=LOVESONG” specifically is that one is empowering while the other lets us dwell in our feelings. “Dear Sputnik’s” verses steadily build towards its bright and bittersweet chorus. It empowers us to look past the obstacles that stand in our way. Everyone feels lonely once in a while, but those feelings wash away through the lyrics in this song. It emanates the feeling of blasting the song whole on a long car ride at night. This song has some of the best-crafted lyrics in addition to the title track, “Anti-Romantic,” and “What if I had been that PUMA.” 

The song reflects a mature outlook on love and connection with others. Every line is jam-packed with complex emotions that every listener can connect with: “The compass that guides me while following that meteor shower, run aimlessly to find the answer… At the end of the dimly shining universe, the long wandering finally meets the end.” Finally, the song’s chorus lives up to all and every expectation as they sing, “The only warmth, the moment the frozen hands hold each other, everything melts. You are my orbit, you’re my one and only, fly with you in the night sky.” The lyrics are beautiful and speak to anyone, whether they have been in love or not. Heuningkai and Taehyun were some of the song’s writers while Hueningkai is also one of the two main producers. In addition, they both sing the high-hitting chorus which only escalates the desperation in their voices. “Dear Sputnik” was a perfect choice for one of the album’s closing tracks. 

I love that in Huening Kai’s interview, they talked about how he worked on “Dear Sputnik”. He wass thinking about performing it with MOA and his members in a concert as he produces it 😭.@TXT_members#휴닝카이 #HUENINGKAI pic.twitter.com/U8nvO7gnL6

— Jill ♡ Dear Sputnik ❄ (@BeanieMOA) June 11, 2021

Finally, we reach the last song in this whirlwind of an album titled “Frost.” This mainly rap-focused track is bubbling with energy and leaves listeners with a cheerful attitude. Its melody is dominated by Yeonjun, the group’s main (and only) rapper. However, the song still has extremely vocal parts where the other members shine. “Frost” is another very popular song from the album alongside “No Rules.” Since the group isn’t generally known for rap-dominated or hip-hop-styled songs, it gained a lot of attention. TXT may begin to incorporate similar songs in their comebacks for the future. 

Of all the songs in this album, “Frost” connects directly to the first concept TXT advertised with for the new album. Of the three versions fans can buy, the World version includes the photos from their shoot in frozen-styled white outfits. The boys wore makeup that resembled frostbite to keep the theme steady. As a result, the group was sure to release a song relating to the “FREEZE” in the album’s title. Low and behold, “Frost” was born. Heuningkai belts the lyrics, “My frozen lips linger on the tip of my tongue, even if I call it, that name is only a cold breath.” Its lyrics once again relate to a significant other, but with more serious undertones. Some of the lyrics, in fact, connect to the theories from “0X1=LOVESONG.” Yeonjun sings, “Voices calling me, I’m in chaos now, I am in the confusion that has been led by my name.” If fans thought correctly, Yeonjun is in “chaos” due to some trauma, most likely from his home situation as presented in the title track’s music video. The voices he hears are those of his imaginary friends, portrayed by the other members. “Frost” is truly the perfect conclusion to this roller-coaster of an album. There were ups and downs, but this last song leaves listeners on a high note begging for more. 

TXT’s ability to constantly appear with new and innovative concepts is one reason why the group stands out among other artists in the industry. Not only does HYBE do a spectacular job at promoting the boys, but their fanbase works hard to get them trending on all social media platforms. In addition, the members themselves are funny, relatable, and have a young aura to them. They can connect to people of all ages and make MOAs laugh from watching their content. In The Chaos Chapter: FREEZE the members contributed to each and every track, proving that they are not only pretty faces who sing and dance on stage. The members are an active part of the album-making process and without them, these wonderful creations could have never surfaced to the public. Soobin worked on “Ice Cream” while “What if I had been that PUMA” involved Taehyun, Beomgyu, and Yeonjun. Meanwhile, Heuninkai, Beomgyu, and Taehyun collaborated on “No Rules” with solely Yeonjun as a writer for “Frost.” 

The boys have accomplished more than was ever imaginable for a fourth-generation group thus far. Recently, the album reached 6th place on The Rolling Stone’s chart for Top 200 Albums. It marked the group’s first top ten album on this ranking with 35,600 album units, 31,300 album sales, and 5.6 million streams (all of which are still increasing this very moment). Another major victory was on Music Bank, a Korean music show, where the group won an award for the very first time. Coincidentally, TXT’s leader Soobin gave the members their award. MOAs were glad to watch the group break boundaries and set new records to strive for in the future.

As the group closes in on their third week of promotions, they post daily on their Twitter, Instagram, and VLIVE accounts. In order to support the group, check out the weekly voting sites, stream, and interact with the group’s videos. TXT has done it once again, and there is no stopping the heights to which the group can reach later on. All MOAs can do is see TXT for who they really are, not a successor to BTS but as a rare gem in the industry that produces meaningful and extensive track-lists for all to enjoy.