TXT is a 5 member K-Pop group formed by HYBE Labels, formerly known as Big Hit Entertainment. They debuted with their title track Crown back in 2019 and have since then become known as monster rookies in the K-Pop scene. They have indisputably set their mark as one of the best 4th generation K-Pop boy groups.
TXT has amazing choreographies that are intrinsic, complex, and truly capture all the emotions of the given song. Their concept is constantly changing; the group has brought something new to the table since the day they debuted.
Similar to BTS, TXT’s videos all incorporate a storyline that is fun to watch grow and progress. Their screen writing for their videos is something that HYBE labels are famous for. Their videos not only offer visuals and dancing— which are a must in the K-Pop scene— but also a consistent and running storyline that is also consistent with their songs, showing a wider variety of concepts
Starting off with a cute concept in their first mini album— meaning in comparison to a full length K-Pop album, which has about 10-12 songs, a mini album would typically have six or less— The Dream Chapter: Star, their title track CROWN covered the struggles of finding self love, which was well received in the kpop community.
From there, TXT released their album The Dream Chapter: Magic, their first full length album.
HYBE labels discography details that while The Dream Chapter: STAR expressed utter happiness and the feelings associated with meeting someone special, The Dream Chapter: MAGIC tells the story of a magical journey.
The members then released their album The Dream Chapter: ETERNITY which was a huge shift in their music style. Coming from a group that had a cuter concept, this album shined a light on their duality and evolved their concept.
The album followed a darker and eerie concept with their song “Eternally,” which is truly creative musically, as it switches from a brighter sound to a nightmare sound, fusing two different sounds together seamlessly.
With each addition to their powerful discography, TXT prove to be titans of the 4th generation of kpop. Their newest album The Chaos Chapter: FREEZE and the repackaged version with another title track, The Chaos Chapter: Fight or Escape, continue to explore this darker concept with more of a rock infusion.
LO$ER=LO♡ER (Title Track)
The song is a more painful rock song, infused with a strong message that transcends language and can be felt by just listening to it. The song focuses on a boy that is considered a loser but chooses to love others, hopefully someone that means the world to him.
With this song, TXT goes further and more out of the box than they have before, showing a more vulnerable and broken side to their music, stitching the emotions for the rest of the songs that follow.
Anti-Romantic
The song is a classic R&B and soft ballad infused song. Compared to many other songs that TXT has released, this song is a bit more pessimistic and expresses the fear of loving, as well as the pain that comes along with it.
This track is on the slower side, which enhances not only its powerful feeling, but the stunning vocal ability the members are able to use and make the pain of the lyrics shine. The instrumentals are powerful, but still allows room for the vocals to be in the spotlight.
This song is exceptional and just beautiful. The progression of the lyrics go from simply not believing in love to sharing the pain that comes in believing it. Musically the piece is well organized and the progression of each instrument is very satisfying.
0X1 = Lovesong (I Know I Love You) feat. Seori
This song was featured as the title track for the Freeze version, and was far different from any title track that TXT has released so far— infused with rock.
The fact that the title track is so different and new is what makes this release so satisfying. TXT is proving8ujiui that they aren’t predictable and can evolve; they can go out of their comfort zones and still produce a great track.
Although this song doesn’t have the more cheerful vibes that were present in their previous releases such as Crown or Blue Hour, the raspiness and pain is utterly present throughout the song.
The vocals were so unique in this track and features rasp and grunge which is a first from TXT—this song truly showed the depth present in their voices.
The musicality of the song was also surprising. It’s not everyday that you see a K-Pop group having a rock infused song as their title track. The song and instrumentals were the perfect balance of pain and emotion.
MAGIC
This track featured more of a disco and old pop feeling. The song was also completely in English—a first for TXT—as a gift for international fans.
This song is definitely one to get people on their feet with a catchy and relatively addicting rhythm which is a song that will get everyone moving for sure. This song comes as a happier and lighter note compared to the previous songs which were depressing and somber.
Noting that the album is called the Chaos Chapter, there’s chaos in the sense that there are many different emotions expressed in each song that truly bring the album together— and it is in this song that we see that the album isn’t just about heartbreak, but rather all emotions tied together.
Ice Cream
This song is much brighter and compares happiness to an ice cream. Noting that happiness melts away “just like ice cream”. Its sweet melodies and back voices all share the message of positivity when in reality the lyrics are far from it. The lyrics seem to take happiness in misfortune.
The juxtaposition between the lyrics and the actual song are truly interesting to look at and make this one of their more complex styles, but for TXT, creativity such as this is expected.
What If I Had Been That PUMA
This song ties back to their track PUMA from The Dream Chapter: ETERNITY which was about running away and into a path that they had chosen with no regrets. However, What if I had been that PUMA seems to be an internal dilemma asking which side is better and which one to choose.
The song lyrics also ode to their song PUMA as they explore the same choices that were present in the lyrics of PUMA and also explore the feelings that the song had as well.
Musically, the song features more rap and infuses trap vibes while still being chill and soft.
No Rules
It is undeniable that this song gives a look back to their song New Rules and even features some of the sounds from the previous song which truly ties their discography together and provides for a satisfying moment of cohesiveness.
While New Rules had been about being rebellious and creating their own rules, this song references a routine life which was really seen during the pandemic. The boys sing “I’m confused because of all the broken patterns” and then sing “my world is panic”.
The journey that TXT shows throughout this album is insane and this song shows the routine life that many have experienced during the pandemic, while still staying consistent to their previous albums and concepts.
Musically this song is a ‘bop’ this is definitely one song to make you “dance until you can’t no more.” The song is more of a pop vibe mixed with a funky beat that makes the soul dance exasperatingly.
Dear Sputnik
This track is musically genius. The track has the ability to change between raging about love and being eerie simultaneously which isn’t a surprise from TXT noticing their pattern in having songs that change genre seamlessly. Produced by none other than the member Hueningkai himself, the song has a similar vibe to 0X1=LOVESONG in their subject.
Frost
The raspiness from this song is so poignant and shows a color in the voices of the members which hasn’t been heard before. Their voices mirror the title of the album as the way that the song resembles an inner chaos almost as if the members were screaming their pain away–a mix of frustration but ultimately surrender.
Even if TXT has seemingly left the world of chaos, the outside hasn’t changed; they continue to be frozen in the chaos, an island of difficult choices and nightmares.
