A lot of us wish we could grow up faster when we're kids. As we get older, though, we start to cherish our youth, and then we're downright terrified when the responsibilities start rolling in. Growing up isn't always pretty; sometimes it hurts. This is the topic of Tomorrow X Together’s latest album, released this past October, The Name Chapter: Freefall.
“Growing Pain”, the album's first track, uses a dark rock sound to express the painful feeling of falling. The sound, unusual for kpop, allows listeners to visualize, “The sharp air that scratches my whole body.”* It's evident from the title that the pain described is the cost of growing up. Rather than running from this painful reality, the band “free-falls” directly into it, facing the uncertainty head-on even though they aren't quite sure what they're doing yet. The album’s title, “Chasing That Feeling”, describes the need to keep chasing a certain feeling even when it's hard, because, as the lyrics say, “It's all I know.” Following this feeling isn’t always easy, but the group plunges in headlong anyway. The struggle is acutely described, “My fate, come and kiss me. I just keep on chasing that feeling. Though I'm marred, leave me. I just keep on chasing.” This song is a continuation of “Growing Pain”, but we get to see the end goal: a feeling. It's never explicitly described what the “feeling” is, only that it’s what keeps them going even though everything hurts so much. The feeling is essentially a dream, as in something they want for the future, but this could mean any number of specific nuances. That much is left for the listener to interpret. “Chasing That Feeling” is a distinctly hopeful song, with a sentimental, falsetto chorus and a bright, retro-style pop-synth instrumental.
“Back for More” is another track that can be described as retro, parts of the song and choreography inspired by Micheal Jackson. The sound is smooth and addictive, confidently telling listeners, “If you walk away, baby, that's ok. ‘Cause I can see you coming back for more.” This song is a declaration of confidence and persistence, something necessary for the difficult journey described in the two previous tracks.
“Dreamer” picks up on the trend started by “Growing Pain” and “Chasing that Feeling”, describing a disappointing reality and a pledge to keep dreaming, even as it's sometimes necessary to wake up to the real world. A recurring theme for Tomorrow X Together is balance, and that's evident in this song: “A grown up that doesn't dream at all and a boy that only dreams/Between these two common roads, I'm gray”*. By waking up and continuing to dream amidst the chaos, they discover who they truly are.
“Deep Down”, the next song on the album, is a throwback to the group’s debut song, “Crown”. That song was about finding people who will embrace your differences with you, turning your monstrous “horn” into a crown. “Deep Down” follows the same thought path. This time, the emphasis is on how much they need the one who makes the horn into a crown. As far as sound goes, it's really the underlying beat that carries the whole song. It's a little repetitive, a little DJ-like, and a little magical.
“Happily Ever After” explores the fact that life, in fact, doesn't have a happily ever after. This is because, to quote, “Life is not a fairytale.” Instead, it's a continuous journey. This isn't treated as a bad thing, in fact, the singers are quite joyful about the fact. “Wow, the ending is unpredictable. That's why my life is even more beautiful.” The attitude makes for a bubbly, lighthearted song to enjoy.
“Happily Ever After” is about the beauty in life's ongoing, imperfect journey, but “Skipping Stones” takes the sentiment into a more specific context. Using the image of throwing stones into the water as a metaphor for letting go of our problems–or ourselves–in tumultuous times, “Skipping Stones” is a promise that things will get better; the waters will calm. There might not be one final happy ending, but there will be better times along the way.
Winding down the album is “Blue Spring”, a song dedicated to Tomorrow X Together's fanbase, Moa. “When we're high, when we're low, you're always by my side. You've filled up all my youth with your warmth. The warm waves of your breath made my cold world finally bloom like spring. You're my blue spring.” The song is about people who stick together for all of their youth; bearing through difficulty, chasing after feelings and dreams, appreciating the differences and struggles, enjoying the journey and waiting for better times. Together, they brighten each other's worlds and bloom like spring.
The final track, “Do It Like That”, almost seems out of place amid the others. This summer pop track featuring the Jonas Brothers ends the album on a bright note. It’s worth mentioning that this carefree love song comes only after several songs of self-discovery and deep personal journeys.
“The Name Chapter: Freefall” truly feels like a summation of all of Tomorrow X Together's previous work. Almost every song on the album uses magic or fantasy in some way, while also balancing these themes with the reality of youth. This balance is seen throughout the group's work, but never described in such detail as it is in this album. What can we take away from this? Growing up isn't always fun. We already know that much. According to Tomorrow X Together, though, we can bear through the hard times and reach a happier tomorrow by enjoying the journey and finding bits of magic along the way.
**Lyric translations from @translatingtxt on X
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