By: Kya Brogdon | 2 Nov, 2022
On October 7, 2022 - two months after youngest member Jaehyeong’s official military discharge - South Korean pop rock band The Rose released their first studio album, Heal. Using inspiration from their own lives and fan submissions, the band created a powerful message of growth and healing in their lyrics and melodies.
The pre-release single, Childhood, tells the story of allowing yourself to live your life to the fullest, and not letting the world deprive you of that child-like wonder, innocence, and passion. The build-up of the bridge with the lyrics “Judging me for who I am / Should’ve never listened no / Should’ve followed my own dreams / It’s better late than never yeah” allows for a huge release of emotion accompanied by soothing piano notes. Known for their emotional songs, this single fits right in with The Rose’s discography and made me so anxious to hear what the rest of the album would end up sounding like.
And the lead single of the album, Sour, did not disappoint. An upbeat stadium rock song, Sour is absolutely perfect for the crowd to sing along to during their current tour. The repetitive chorus of “My heart’s so sour without you” allows for both band and crowd interaction and for yet another cathartic emotional release (as is a staple in The Rose’s songs). I can already see Woosung and Jaehyeong jamming out on their guitars as the crowd echoes the lyrics back to them.
Personally, I can’t wait to sing along to my favorite song off of the album Time. This song has the classical pop rock feel that I love, and while it is more upbeat compared to some of the other songs on the album, the idea of healing is clear. The bridge, “Oh know the healing won’t be overnight / Countless nights crying over mights / Oh yeah know the healing will take time / Start dealing with it now oh / 시간을 그려 (translation: draw the time)” is the perfect message to communicate at this point in the album. Healing isn’t linear, and healing doesn’t have to be a sad thing. This song became an instant favorite from the first time I listened to it.
Overall, the wait for this album was more than worth it. Not only does it allow both the artists and the fans to explore the meaning behind the idea of healing, it also got fans excited for The Rose’s first major tour in over two years. I know I’m counting down the days until I see them in Phoenix.
