DISCLAIMER: This is all just my opinion and observations. Nothing is meant to be a criticism of the boys or their work, merely my own interpretations as a former performer and a STAY.
Okay, so this has turned into a much larger rant than I expected. I’ll be uploading this before I upload my comprehensive vocal analysis of Stray Kids, but when that is up, I’ll find a way to link it somehow, because it will provide some insight on how I view the kids’ styles and abilities. That being said, I’ll explain/touch on it a bit here too.
I’m going to start by saying I have an unhealthy love for circus themes ever since I got into Coraline and Batman as a kid. Everyone compares the aesthetics to The Greatest Showman, but I haven’t seen the movie and currently have no plans to (I have opinions about the soundtrack). To me, it is very much giving tiny jumping mouse circus and I love that very much.
Something I also enjoyed about the aesthetics and visuals (in a broader sense than I’ll be discussing later) is the repeated motif of doubles and how here it is so blatant. Stray Kids have always played around with multiverse and alternate versions of themselves, but this was a very blatant interaction of those groups that I don’t think we’ve seen before. It doesn’t appear to be connected explicitly to any storyline, but I find it interesting that they made this choice for the comeback after ODDINARY which had a very distinct ‘dark skz alternates’ plotline. This escalation is certainly something to keep in mind for future theories.
(As an aside, the allegedly connected Be Me -> Lonely St. plotlines are my favourite thing and it’s really cool to have the musical, visual, and lyrical lines between Lonely St., Slump, and Streetlight.)
(Maybe another post for later…)
Okay, I have the most to say about the music and vocals, so I’ll start there.
Stray Kids didn’t completely change up their style and sound with ODDINARY, but there was a shift, much like how there was a shift for Go Live.
Their discography post God’s Menu’s creation (i.e. Go Live, In Life, and No Easy) have kept a pretty consistent overall sound and vibe. The music feels cohesive in its identity. However, after what you could argue was a very experimental mini album with Christmas Evel, there was a shift again. God’s Menu really signaled a found identity for Stray Kids. Previously, their music had been about their struggles and fears about growing up and trying to make their way through the world. With God’s Menu, they discovered and settled on their sound and musical identity. Lyrics shift from fear and worry about growing up to confidence and acceptance of oneself. The change was gradual (especially seen in the I AM YOU and Levanter eras respectively), but God’s Menu was a definitive shift.
The other members are getting more involved in the creation of their music and that adds colours to the music that adjust their identity which I find fascinating. It’s creating another layer and changing their trajectory. I, for one, am super excited that they’re continuing to explore their musical limits.
To me, Go Live/In Life and No Easy are almost even in terms of change in style and dynamics. Obviously there’s improvement, but they feel similar. ODDINARY is different.
Since losing Woojin, they’ve been adapting and laying into the idea of no set roles within the group. All of Stray Kids can sing, rap, and affect the musical colour. In their earlier discography, while the roles weren’t set (Lee Know was still a bit of a floater) the divide was more apparent. Chan enjoyed rap, but it wasn’t deemed his forte – his lazy rap style doesn’t really fit their music like the other rappers’ styles – so he settled into being a strong vocalist. Seungmin and I.N. were young and still developing while Woojin was a strong vocalist (although I will maintain that his voice was ill-matched to the style and colour of music 3racha made even back at the beginning). Lee Know was a floater due to JYP’s interference. Felix was a unique voice but was pigeonholed due to less time training and poor Korean. Hyunjin had a distinct sound and style, but was still very much developing and getting comfortable. I like to say that he had the vocal equivalent of a writer with a really strong voice but one that isn’t refined. The members catered as best as they could to those strengths and didn’t do as much exploring that way due to rookie status. I would say that Chan, Woojin, Changbin and Han bore the weight of the group in their early days.
Woojin leaving created a problem musically because he was Stray Kids’ high notes. Lee Know was still growing vocally and while he can hit the notes, he favours a light and airy headvoice that’s even softer than Woojin’s very heady mix. Lee Know didn’t have the support. Chan could sing the notes, but he already had half of the choruses. Seungmin is a strong vocalist, but his strength lies in sound quality and his mid range. I.N. also favours mid range despite his higher pitched lilt.
Stray Kids makes music lending well to rougher vocals and almost half of the group has a softer and smoother vocal style.
After Woojin was when we got to really see Han’s “I can sing” moment. He heavily favours a chesty belt and rarely mixes head voice when he sings. He has the range to hit the high notes with a strong attack and sustain which is what was needed to fill the larger, showier parts of the hole Woojin left behind. Lee Know then fully transitioned to being a vocalist and Seungmin stepped up. I would still say that up until Kingdom, both Lee Know and I.N. were still finding their sounds and how that interacted with the rest of Stray Kids.
Hyunjin is another interesting floater like Han (and to a lesser extent, Lee Know). If I remember correctly, the first real time we get him singings was in Red Lights, and since then, he’s not only gotten more involved in writing, but he’s had more vocal parts. This trend holds true through to Circus.
Why is all of this relevant? Well, I’m starting with the intro to the song which I’m sure many people recognized as reminiscent of both Maniac and Thunderous. It’s very reminiscent of Maniac in particular, and even of the trailers.
(I don’t know if it’s confirmed yet? But there’s a ‘beat box’ part in the opening bit and in the choreography, Felix has a hand over the mic in a way that indicates he is beat boxing. We know that he can do it, and I think it’s really cool that we’re bringing that back. Considering how Stray Kids’ sound strays more electronic and artificial, it’s cool to have a more organic sound to the music. It fits well with the whole “welcome to our show” vibe they have going on.)
It goes into a Changbin rap intro, but unlike God’s Menu or Thunderous, it’s a more groovy and growly intro. It kind of has the same energy as Chan’s intro to Maniac actually. Next is Felix ‘barking’ (not like a dog, but more in a yell-y kind of way?) his lines at us, which is an interesting choice. It’s also in a higher part of his register than we usually hear!
Felix is the weakest rapper out of the ‘rap line’. Not saying he’s bad, but the others are all much more solid than him. He still favours an English rap as well as a slower tempo. Nothing wrong with that, but he’s not one to start spitting fire like Changbin, Han, or even Hyunjin (who also has a more stylistic rap). His musical identity fluctuates more and I think he’s still figuring out what he likes best.
It’s interesting to see Felix being features in parts of the song that happen more than once. He has a very unique voice, and the other members can’t really supplement or mimic it properly. The closest we get is actually Hyunjin.
I mentioned earlier that like Lee Know, Hyunjin feels like a bit of a floater. He has a unique and developed sound – one that is to me, the most different between studio and live version – but also a surprising ability to mask those traits. More recently, this has been shown off in his ability to ‘match’ Felix’s part. His voice may not be as deep or dark, but it can maintain the vibe Felix introduces instead of changing course; see Maniac’s choruses.
Felix getting more intermingling lines is interesting and I am looking forward to seeing more. It’s opening up a dialogue between the members when previously he’d been more like an aside or a monologue.
One thing about me is that I love reading way too much into everything (I loved English class in high school) so in the pre-chorus, I got a little chuckle at the line “the show starts with a bang, bang, bang”.
Bang Chan’s last name is Bahng, and I’m sure all STAYs are very familiar with the puns by now. I think it’s neat that this can be interpreted as a nod to how their ‘show’ (both metaphorical and literal) began with Bang Chan. They were all chosen by him. Without Bang Chan, there’d have been no Stray Kids; no show to go on.
“The show must go on! (Go on)
While the flame still burns
Focus, stand up! (Stand up)
The curtain is opening”
(For reference, I’m using the Genius Lyrics translations and part match up – cross referencing with live videos.)
As a former performing artist (small leagues) there’s this kind of intensity that comes with the art. “The show must go on” is a very grand and circus-y statement, but it is used throughout all sectors of the performing arts. It doesn’t matter the injury or state of the performer, the show has to continue. I have fully collapsed mid performance and my colleagues continued our set while I was literally dragged off. One of my colleagues has gone on with a broken arm. Performers take their craft seriously.
This is particularly prevalent (and more importantly; visible) in the Kpop industry. Companies treat their idols like trash and the idols work until they have nothing left to give and then they give more. It is both admirable and concerning.
The line “while the flame still burns” is probably my favourite line in the entire song. There’s this sense of urgency. Kpop idols are starting younger and younger, and on top of that, it’s harder to make it than ever. The line can reference performing while they still have a shot, or even while fans still have interest. It could also be while they still have passion as burnout creeps ever closer in its inevitability. Either way, it’s perform before time runs out.
The last two lines of this pre-chorus are them steeling themselves. Plaster on that show face; the curtain is rising.
At first listen, I didn’t care much for the chorus, but now that I’ve listened to it for a while to properly write this unsolicited commentary, I can see how it fits. Lyrically, it’s fine. This song doesn’t strike me as intensely meaningful in the first place. I am intrigued by the line “like being trapped in your own mind”, but it’s very on theme. They are welcoming us to take a peak into the show. See our passion. Watch us – join us. This is our home, our life.
I do love the whisper bits though. I’m a sucker for those and the lines they chose to whisper all fit the vibe so well. Shh. The curtain is rising. The lights are going out.
Ah. We’ve now made it to Han’s rap. Like many other STAYs, I absolutely love it. It stands in such contrast to his usual style and colour. It has such a good groove – it really fits the song.
It’s also immediately followed up by Minho rapping which is one of my favourite things. Not only that, but it segues into another interesting fact with Lee Know functioning like a floater. Like how Hyunjin is used to substitute Felix, Lee Know is used to substitute Changbin. It is obvious both here and in Charmer. I think Lee Know and Changbin being complementary colours is fantastic, and it shows strength and dynamic to Lee Know’s voice.
(Nothing much to say for the chorus. It’s interesting to see more chorus Hyunjin? Once again though, the whisper is fun.)
Conversely to how happy that verse made me, I don’t care for the bridge. There’s nothing strictly wrong with it. It’s just kind of boring. It’s a very stereotypical bridge. To me, it just doesn’t quite fit the song.
Love the inclusion of the classic circus theme though. (Also Chan with that spoiler via commenting on watching Madagascar. Unbelievable). I almost wish we’d gotten a bit more circus? Like, it’s good, but we could have had more.
Finally, the outro. We get the reappearance of the line “like being trapped in your own mind” which to me has some weight. It ends with a more chanted version of the hook “feelin’ good right now, feelin’ good right now” which is also new. Stray Kids tend to end songs via instrumental fade or with a definitive sound effect. I think Thunderous might have a similar ending? I like the acapella. There’s a distinct lack of sound accompanying their voice when their music is usually very back track heavy.
That’s about it for my thoughts on the music aspect, so let’s move onto the visuals. Firstly! Dance.
I think the dance is really fun and it complements the vibe of the music. There’s fun moves like the strong man arm flex, finger guns, Han wiggling during his rap, and just in general, very bouncy and twisty footwork and movements. Notable moments to me were the intro tree-like pose. Stray Kids’ headliners always have something cool in the opening to complement the musical intro. Maniac had the Frankenstein table, Thunderous had a whole-ass throne carry going on, God’s Menu had the hand flower, etc. This was very EXO’s Wolf and that’s so on brand. To go with that I also really loved the end pose! We saw this in their Thunderous (Christmas version) which gave so many The Greatest Showman and just musical in general vibes. I adore musical theatre, and the merging of these two things is so fun! It's a showman’s move and it’s this final little ‘here I am, witness me’. Also really liked the little lighter charades thing Felix did during his whisper.
I can’t talk about dance without talking about the carousel bit with Chan, Han, I.N. and Seungmin. That was so cool and it definitely blindsided us when we found out it wasn’t just for the video but actually in the choreography. I love that for them. Chan is just really whipping around 3 grown men like it’s nothing. I.N.’s legs are so elegant when he lifts off, meanwhile Seungmin is doing his best. Han’s little run. It’s all so cute.
Other visuals worth mentioning! Hyunjin had a li’l hair chain and I like that! Putting accessories in his hair always looks so good. I.N. having the Harley Quinn dye job was also great. Costuming was all around good, but Felix’s half-skirt coat tail is something I need to make for my own closet because it looked so good. Give the boys dramatic capes and skirts. They’d have so much fun.
Music video-wise, it’s worth noting that the blue outfits were saved purely for dance breaks while the story aspect was conducted via SKZ dressed in dark almost Victorian circus style or a checkered mix of black and white. The video has these two groups first watch each other (checkers SKZ sneak in to watch dark SKZ and then when dark SKZ leave they take center stage only to have dark SKZ be the observers), and then in the end they have a whole interaction. It is worth noting though that neither group mixes. This is most likely due to filming difficulties, but they could have simply had the members interact with different members and not themselves. It’s very two sides of the veil that can see each other to me.
Lee Know’s brown leather-ish capelet personally offends me and I will not be touching on it.
Also, Seungmin gets tossed a box of matches with the word STAY on it. This is very “the symbolism of the chess pieces–” I know, but I think it adds some weight to my interpretation of the line “while the fire still burns”.
That about wraps up my thoughts on this comeback. I am a little late with putting this anywhere, but I wanted to get my thoughts written down. Almost 3k of utter nonsense, ha. Stay tuned for when I deep dive into how I see Stray Kids’ vocal styles?