By Avree Noelle Linne | 20 March, 2024
DAY6 Fourever Album Sampler Cover. Provided by JYP Ent.
When most people think about K-pop, they picture groups like BTS or BLACKPINK with flashy choreography and hip-hop beats. While dance is a major piece of many popular K-Pop acts, DAY6 sets itself apart as an instrument-playing pop rock band. With hits like “You Were Beautiful (예뻤어)” and “Shoot Me”, DAY6 cemented themselves as a mainstay within the K-pop community and you would be hard-pressed to find a K-Pop fan who has never heard of the group.
Due to the members enlisting in the military, as well as former vocalist and lead guitarist Jae leaving the group for personal reasons, fans of DAY6 (known as MYDAY) have been patiently waiting three years for new music from the group, unsure of what to expect. On March 18th, the wait was finally over, and the band’s 8th mini album Fourever was released with the title track “Welcome to the Show”.
“Welcome to the Show” opens with the lyrics “이젠 혼자가 아닐 무대 / 너무나 감격스러워 / 끝없는 가능성 중에 / 날 골라줘서 고마워 / 나와 맞이하는 미래가 / 위태로울지도 몰라 / 하지만 눈물 가득한 / 감동이 있을지도 몰라” (translation: I'm so moved by the stage / That I won't be alone any longer / Among all of the possibilities / Thank you for choosing me / The future that you're welcoming with me might be risky / But there might also be tear-filled impassion). The music video depicts a sound engineer, lovingly gazing upon an actress who envisions one day standing in the spotlight. It is easy for MYDAY to picture themselves as the engineer proudly gazing upon DAY6 who themselves are stepping into the spotlight after so long. While the task of a title track is usually to promote an artist to new audiences, this song feels more like a love letter to their fans. Composed by members Young K, Sungjin, and Wonpil and lyrics written by Young K, the message they are trying to convey is clear; they are nervous about coming back to the stage after so long, but they know their home is the stage and that true MYDAYS will be right there next to them as they embark on this new chapter of their careers. It’s a promise that as long as their fans are there, they will be too.
Sonically, the song grabs your attention in the rhythmic verses, builds tension through the pre-chorus, crescendos through the chorus, and then gives the audience an emotional relief through the woah’s in the refrain. This is a familiar structure to those who know DAY6’s music, which makes it the perfect introduction to the album. It acknowledges who they were in the past while still showing how much they have improved in their vocals, composition, and artistry. It also sets the tone for the next track, “HAPPY”.
“HAPPY” leads with an upbeat instrumental and bright vocals. Initially, it feels like the perfect casual springtime song. Yet, rather than being carefree, the song is a cry to the universe for permission to truly be happy. It begs the question, why is it so difficult to go through each day without breaking down? This is a genius dichotomy presented by the band. The intense message of the lyrics needs to be balanced in order to not weigh on the listener too heavily. The bright guitar and quick tempo underlying the belted-out chorus brings that necessary relief. Listening to this song for the first time sent me back to when I was living in Korea scream-singing their track “반드시 웃는다 (I Smile)” at the karaoke rooms. There are times where a slow sad ballad is healing, but it's a different type of therapeutic when one is allowed to let out their fears about the world without feeling that weight.
The next track titled “Power of Love” feels like the response to “HAPPY”. The song has a similar upbeat instrumental punctuated with a zippy synth and cheery vocals. The chorus goes: “You need the power of love / Power of love / 이거면 다 돼요 / 어둠을 밀어내는 빛처럼 / 황홀한 느낌” (translation: You need the power of love / Power of lovе / It will be all good if it is that / Like the light pushing out thе darkness / A feeling of bliss). Where “HAPPY” searches for answers, “Power of Love” provides them. It is perfect that these songs follow one another in the album, continuing to tell the complete story that this album presents. The track is also reminiscent of the sound that the band produced with the subunit Even of Day in their album The Book of Us: Gluon – Nothing Can Tear Us Apart, and fans of that sound can now hear a similar musical color featuring the vocals of member Sungjin, who was on hiatus at the time of that release.
“널 제외한 나의 뇌 (Get the Hell Out)” changes up the tone of the album focusing more into a heavy rock sound. It begins with member Wonpil backed by a guitar, truly showcasing Wonpil’s raw vocal talent before coming in hard with the full band. This song perfectly compliments the more gritty side of Wonpil, Sungjin, and Young K’s vocals. Due to Dowoon’s thunderous drumming underscoring the song, the intense instrumental hits in the way a rock track should while not overshadowing the vocalists. The lyrics are spat out with an emotional ferocity that further highlights the message of the track. The shortest song at only two minutes and forty six seconds, this song packs a punch leaving the listener satisfied yet also wanting to put the track on loop in order to get their fill.
DAY6 has a special talent of creating sad songs that fans can belt out and relieve stress with, but they are also known for those slow ballads that tug at listener’s heartstrings. When the tracklist was originally released, many fans (including myself) predicted “나만 슬픈 엔딩 (Sad Ending)” would be said slow ballad of the album, and we were so wrong. “나만 슬픈 엔딩 (Sad Ending)” begins with a fun synth emulating “Power of Love” before devolving into pure madness. As the English title suggests, this song is about a sad ending to a love story, but the Korean title adds the context that this sad ending is one-sided, only for one singing the song. The instrumental perfectly reflects these lyrics that describe someone who is trying their best in a relationship when they are told their partner doesn’t recognize this effort. The singer explodes, belting “네겐 불행이라면 / Let's end it all / Let's kill it all” (translation: if you’re unhappy / Let’s end it all / Let’s kill it all.)
“사랑하게 해주라 (Let Me Love You)” is reminiscent of 80s glam rock ballads. While the vocals do not disappoint in conveying the sweet message of the track, the airyness of the electric guitar is the standout for me. Whether it is paired with the synth and the kick drum to create a nostalgic introduction or strumming underneath the melody, it truly elevates the song. Instrumentally, this song isn’t as busy as some of the other tracks on the album, so it’s easier to hear the care put into the composition by the members. Not a single moment is there just to fill time; every instrument, background vocal, and lyric is delicately placed to create the perfect love song.
The album rounds out with “그게 너의 사랑인지 몰랐어 (didn't know)”. This is the type of song that tears out your heart and stomps on it the way some fans expected “Sad Ending” to. This is DAY6’s specialty for a reason. The song reflects on a relationship where their partner showed their love with actions instead of words. The singer realizes how beautiful that love was and how much they miss the person they were when they were with their partner.
My first thought when listening to the final track was how well DAY6 connects to their fans through their music. I thought about how, as someone who knows Korean, I hang on every single lyric and internalize every little meaning. But, one doesn’t need to know Korean to feel the pain in the voices of the vocalists on the track. The way they round out their vowels mimic someone who is trying to talk through tears. This is contrasted by the introduction to the song which sounds like the way that light sparkles through glass. There is a feeling that even though the singer knows that their love is over, they aren’t going to let that overshadow the beauty of what they had.
This mini album showcases so many stages of a relationship from the best to the worst moments. DAY6 have long given a voice to the feelings many cannot describe, making them so special to their fans. Due to the circumstances of its release, there was a lot of pressure leading up to this album, and I feel like it lived up to everything I had been imagining these last three years. I hope that other fans of the band feel as healed by this release as I did. If you haven’t had the chance to check out this album yet, be sure to listen to it here.
