Stray Kids Make Some Noise With Their New Single ‘Thunderous’
Rising Korean pop sensation Stray Kids stay true to their roots in their latest release, ‘Thunderous.’ The music video is set in an ancient hanok village with a modern twist. The English title for the track is ‘Thunderous,’ with the Korean title reading “소리꾼” (sorikkun), a term originating from a traditional Korean style of musical storytelling, pansori.
Translating the Korean title directly to English, “소리” (sori) means “sound,” and “꾼” (kkun) is a suffix meaning a “doer,” a person who does something very well, or a lot. The name itself serves as a response to the criticism Stray Kids has faced, dubbing their music too loud or too “construction music-y.” It’s Stray Kids embracing their sound, “noise,” and all.
[📊]@Stray_Kids #NOEASY re-enters Spotify Weekly Top 50 Albums Chart (Global) at #26! 🎉
— Stray Kids Global (@StrayKidsGlobal) September 7, 2021
During the same week (8/27-9/2), #Thunderous also debuts on the Spotify Weekly Global Top 200 at #168.@Stray_Kids #StrayKids #스트레이키즈 #スキズ #소리꾼 #Thunderous pic.twitter.com/Elax9Jm8J3
Stray Kids have written and largely produced their material, often led by their own production team, 3RACHA (consisting of members Bang Chan, Changbin, and Han). Opening up to Teen Vogue, Bang Chan addressed the disapproval of their sound, explaining that “we actually thought the term ‘noise music’ was something we could use as our own weapon.” It served to become a foundation for the title track of their second studio album released on August 23, NOEASY.
The clever wordplay expresses the group’s strength and courage in the face of adversity and hardship. “We won’t be shaken easily, nor will we ever break down in front of it,” rapper Changbin explains. The song blends Korean instruments with contemporary synths, creating an animated soundscape and digging at haters as they celebrate their boisterous essence.
The members elaborate that to emphasize the diverse instrumentation such as the “꽹과리” (kkwaenggwari: a small, flat gong made of brass) and traditional Korean drums, they mixed many Korean elements into the theme of the music video. For one, the video is set in a hanok village, giving way to a historical palace where we see pungmul folks and white lions performing devilish dances.
The choreography Stray Kids performs also alludes to the nature of this concept, referencing dokkaebi (Korean goblins) with moves like them crossing their arms and imitating a cackling mouth, all while playing with blue flames in red or hanbok-inspired fashion.
Regardless of prior critiques, Stray Kids have been more successful than ever in this era, and they’ve made it their mission to show their fans how grateful they are.
Following the release of Thunderous, Stray Kids dropped the second music video for NOEASY, entitled The View. The video is a different vibe from the initial release, showing the boys enjoying an open space full of bright greenery as they sing, “I like the view right now.” Check it out above.
Content Writer | Journalist
