WHY..
“HYBE's rookie” BOYNEXTDOOR releases 1st ep 'WHY..' on september 4, 2023.
highly praised as '믿보넥 (trustworthy BOYNEXTDOOR)' their first comeback captures the journey from love to heartbreak, resonating deeply with youth.
new track 'But Sometimes' stands out with bold and honest emotional expression!
BOYNEXTDOOR, the rookie group under hybe, is set to release their first ep 'WHY..' on september 4.
having debuted in may with their first single 'WHO!' BOYNEXTDOOR (comprising Sungho, Riwoo, Myung Jaehyun, Taesan, Leehan, and Woonhak) chose “love” as the central theme of their debut release. they depicted the passionate emotions of first love with a youthful and confident charm. within just two months of debuting, these six boys garnered widespread recognition for their skills and charisma, even winning a rookie of the year award, quickly cementing their reputation as a trusted and promising group.
with 'WHY..' released just three months after their debut single, boynextdoor continues to explore the theme of love, further expanding the emotional depth of their music. while 'WHO!' focused on the subject of falling in love, 'WHY..' shifts the focus to the confusion and “why” behind their emotions, capturing the boys' first experience of “heartbreak.”
BOYNEXTDOOR's take on love and breakups in youth, as told in 'WHY..'
BOYNEXTDOOR sings honestly about the various emotions of loving and breaking up. 'WHY..' contains a total of six tracks, including their debut single songs 'but i like you,' 'one and only,' and 'serenade,' as well as new songs 'crying,' 'but sometimes,' and 'abcdlove,' naturally connecting the beginning and end of a first love.
the new tracks stand out with emotions contrasting those in their debut single. after ending their clumsy first love, 'crying' depicts the pain of difficult times, while the title track 'but sometimes' directly expresses the storm of complex emotions that come like waves after a breakup. 'abcdlove' captures the awkwardness of the void left by someone who has left, while also gradually imagining a more positive future, delicately tracing the shifts in feelings after love ends.
notably, just like in their previous album, members Myung Jaehyun, Taesan, and Woonhak contributed to writing and composing the three new songs, delivering raw, youthful music. the intuitive and striking lyrics offer deeper relatability and immersion for listeners of their generation. Zico, the CEO of KOZ Entertainment as well as a producer and artist, took charge of overall production and contributed to the lyrics for 'but sometimes.' meanwhile, Pop Time, a top producer who has observed the members' talents over a long period, served as the main producer for the album.
the unfamiliar and chaotic emotions of a first breakup... title track 'but sometimes'
true to its blunt and attention-grabbing title, '뭣 같아 (but sometimes),' BOYNEXTDOOR candidly pours out their raw emotions of sadness from experiencing their first breakup. through lyrics like, “because you hated my harsh words / even when i was angry, i couldn’t curse,” they reveal the sincerity of their love. yet, they resign themselves to saying, “well, maybe it’s for the best / let me vent it all out with a curse,” exposing their youthful, unfiltered emotions. on the other hand, lines like “sometime, just disappear, please / but sometimes, i still want to see you” reflect their inability to fully let go of lingering feelings.
the performance amplifies the intense energy of 'but sometimes,' blending movements that outwardly express anger with choreography capturing the aimless wandering of lingering regrets. the duality of these emotions is evident. the members showcase their skills with exceptional control of dynamics, seamlessly shifting between powerful gestures and delicate expressions. their professionalism shines through in this performance, reinforcing why they earned the nickname 'trustworthy BOYNEXTDOOR' right from debut.
the music video for 'but sometimes' vividly portrays the struggle to maturely accept a first breakup. the members' tilted expressions and chaotic emotions, unable to contain their anger, evoke a mix of endearment and pity.
the video stands out with its dramatic representation of breakup emotions. the neighborhood, where they once confessed love in the debut music video for 'serenade,' burns to ruins. the wounded members sink into deep waters with cherished belongings, symbolizing their emotional descent. props such as a kiss-time billboard showing just one person, a teddy bear bearing scars and bandages, and other poignant visuals powerfully capture the surge of feelings after a breakup.
BOYNEXTDOOR... crafting music of youth through unfiltered and honest expression
BOYNEXTDOOR’s music is refreshingly candid and natural. if they’re in love, they express love; if they’re hurt, they express pain. watching them freely express their unvarnished emotions, listeners are reminded of their own youth.
this authenticity is also the group's goal. the members hope that everyone who listens to their music can feel a deep sense of connection, as if talking with a longtime friend from their neighborhood. with relatable themes, conversational lyrics, performances that reflect their words, and gestures inspired by their daily actions, BOYNEXTDOOR transforms everyday life into music and performances, delivering raw, heartfelt emotions. their effortless coolness and the relatability of their music define the unique identity of BOYNEXTDOOR.
[TRACK LIST]
1. 돌아버리겠다 (but i like you)
this track expresses the excitement of falling in love with a lively, rock-based teen pop sound, where the everyday, casual lyrics make it feel like you're talking with your friends, amplifying that youthful, fresh feeling. Myung Jaehyun, Taesan, and Woonhak participated in the songwriting and composition, bringing BOYNEXTDOOR's free-spirited energy to life.
[boynextdoor said...] '돌아버리겠다, but i like you' what does it feel like when you first fall in love? you start to question whether it's real, obsessing over the smallest actions, and eventually, you find yourself liking everything about that person, to the point where you don’t know what to do. it feels like you're going crazy, but you still like them.
2. one and only
this hip-hop dance track stands out with its stylish melody and unique, sophisticated arrangement. the trendy vibe of the song matches its witty lyrics, and the performance is made fresh by incorporating a door as a prop.
[boynextdoor said...] 'listen, i'm the one and only' confessing isn’t something you can just fix with desire. you need the belief that the other person will like you too, and the confidence that you're a good person. after some serious contemplation, you want to make sure you don’t regret your decision, so you pick the right outfit, spritz on some cologne, and gather your thoughts. listen up, i’m the one and only, and i’m cooler than anyone else!
3. serenade
the third track begins with a guitar riff and immerses you with a bass sound that pounds as strongly as a racing heart, creating a medium-tempo pop vibe. Myung Jaehyun, Taesan, and Woonhak participated in the lyrics, perfectly capturing the thrill of confessing your feelings. this is boynextdoor's style of serenade.
[boynextdoor said...] 'my first serenade, i swear you’ll like it!' no matter how much effort you put into looking good or calming yourself down, the nerves are inevitable. your face stiffens, your legs shake, and your heart pounds in a way you’ve never felt before. despite the waves of overwhelming emotions, you gather your courage and sing your first serenade with all your heart. you may not have much to offer, but one thing is for sure, you’re ready to love more deeply than anyone else.
4. crying
this medium-tempo ballad expresses the emptiness of a breakup after a deep first love, using natural guitar strums, vintage drums, and a heavy keyboard sound. Myung Jaehyun, Taesan, and Woonhak participated in the songwriting and composition, creating a delicate emotional line that leaves a lasting impression.
[boynextdoor said...] 'i'm crying like a baby' the first words of a breakup are as hard to accept as the feelings of falling in love for the first time. you try to pretend you didn’t hear it, and even try to handle it calmly like an adult, but it’s not easy. you act fine on the outside, but tears fall unexpectedly. love is so painful that you know you can’t go through it again.
5. 뭣 같아 (But Sometimes)
the intense electric guitar sound at the beginning grabs your attention. this track expresses the complicated emotional rollercoaster of the end of a first love, leaving only scars, through straightforward lyrics. Myung Jaehyun, Taesan, and Woonhak are credited with songwriting and composition. the song captures the conflicting emotions of hatred and anger, mixed with the strange desire to see the person again, in a raw and honest way.
[boynextdoor said...] 'sometimes, just disappear please. but sometimes, i still want to see you' i realized that the size of love between two people is never the same. i never mentioned the things you hated, paid attention to everything from head to toe to match your preferences. but all i got back were lies and betrayal. sometimes, i feel like i want to quit everything because of how awful i feel, but then i still want to see you.
6. abcdlove
after a familiar love leaves, this track expresses the hope that things will slowly get better, even though it still feels awkward, with a lighthearted groove. Myung Jaehyun, Taesan, and Woonhak participated in composing and writing the song. the catchy sing-rap over a chill melody and emotional vocals make it charming.
[boynextdoor said...] ‘Bring me back, my A-B-C-D-L-O-V-E. Or draw me a new love' the alphabet order is clearly ABCDEFG, but you always said that after ABCD, it was LOVE, telling the story of our love. after the breakup, the empty space left by that love feels hollow, and even reciting the alphabet order from ABCD to EFG feels strangely difficult. can i fill this dark and lonely heart with a new love?