| Tomorrow and Eternity, the Period at the End of Tomorrow X Together's Promise to the Stars |

Tomorrow and Eternity, the Period at the End of Tomorrow X Together's Promise to the Stars

"This story is about five boys and a star." When Tomorrow X Together debuted in 2019 with "The Dream Chapter," the subtitle was 'Star.' While attention was focused on the unique title of "Crown," which garnered buzz, fans observing the arrival of this intriguing rookie group chose to advance to a special relationship after hearing the guiding song 'Nap of a Star,' which quietly guided the narrative and direction of the team. In a world plunged into darkness due to forgetting the promise with the stars, the boys grew confused as they experienced growing pains—antlers sprouting from their heads, wings growing, and their eye colors changing—only to embrace each other after wandering through their struggles. Even if they shake and collide countless times and forget their dreams, they vow never to forget the brilliant light. They promise eternity and draw their tomorrows together.

"The Star Chapter: Together" (hereinafter referred to as 'Together') marks the end of the grand narrative journey woven by Tomorrow X Together, which has brightened the night sky with a clear trajectory. The end of an era, hinted at last year through 'minisode3: TOMORROW,' becomes evident with the regular album, which is a return after two years, through the dazzling haven, 'The Star Chapter: Sanctuary.' The concept trailer film introducing the album and the music video for the title track 'Beautiful Stranger' reveal traces of the past seven years carefully hidden within, proving that Tomorrow X Together’s worldview is not merely a promotional tool or a one-time plan. In a time where everyone shines a light on 'me,' the group, wanting to endlessly communicate while telling the story of 'you,' faces chaos, wrestles with reality to reclaim its name, and sends promises from a glowing childhood in a glass jar of unwavering memories to the night sky.

The experience of growth shared through Tomorrow X Together's delicate music and stories is a K-pop portrayal of 'In Search of Lost Time.' If the protagonist of Marcel Proust's novel recalls memories from a middle-aged perspective, Tomorrow X Together has walked through the narrative of growth in real-time, stepping from childhood into adolescence, and from adolescence into adulthood. The antlers signaling self-awareness and the beginning of teenage growth are a sign of encounters with the unknown. Amidst rallying chaos, the feelings of liberation and joy experienced through unfounded conviction unfolded like magical moments. From romantic sentiments like 'You and I found in the sky at 5:53' to the somber loneliness of 'On the night the world burned, we…' the range is vast.

Youth that is appropriated by the aging, and youth that decorates the debut of boy groups in the idol pop genre is not merely a template. An inexplicable world that cannot be defined in a single word is metaphorically represented in lengthy song titles and visual elements that apply famous fairy tales, such as 'Peter Pan' and 'The Little Prince,' throughout. The anxiety and worries that all teenagers harbor, and the boundless potential that lies dormant within them exploded in the ‘Chapter of Chaos’ and ‘Chapter of Names’ as they became young adults. Personally, I received a strong impression last year that Tomorrow X Together’s narrative culminated in 'minisode3: TOMORROW.' It was the reason why the third album 'Chapter of Names: FREEFALL,' filled with the realizing will and enlightenment of young men who had completed their growing pains, turned back to forgotten friendship and stories of eternity. The Morse code symbolizing each member appeared in the song titles, and the ending, shining brightly, hinted at the farewell moments of 'I’ll be waiting for you from tomorrow' and 'DejaVu,' practicing the adage that the end is a new beginning. The overwhelming synth-rock of 'Miracle' and the completeness filled with the members' unit songs were also significant. Even though the 'minisode' series takes a turn from the main narrative to experiment with new possibilities and offer a chance for respite, it was an unusual promise of salvation.

The significance of this regular fourth album lies in the conclusion itself. Every story has a beginning and an end. Just as a good start is important, so too is arrival. The narrative that seemed to conclude in the 'minisode' brings back the promise of 'Nap of a Star,' finally unfolded into the 'Star Chapter' of the members who have reconnected. It reflects a firm will to dedicate an entire chapter to it. Filled with the joy of reunion, the love of assurance, and the friendship with companions who have grown together, last year's EP was, as the title suggests, a 'Sanctuary' for Tomorrow X Together and its fans.

Contrary to the lightness of the previous work, featuring the refreshing love song 'Over the Moon,' the trailer film of 'Together' presents a dystopian worldview where special forces attempt to control humans amidst a shower of shooting stars. Leaving behind the memories of childhood from their debut album, the boys conflict and stand against each other in a space filled with the traces of their past. For the children who have forgotten the promise with the stars, tomorrow and eternity do not exist. As special forces storm in, in search of Subin who has ascended to the sky like ‘On the night the world burned, we…’, the children awaken their potential that they had in their youth one by one in search of each other. Taehyun finds a clue, and Yeonjun, who had cut off one horn due to the pains of growth, breaks the remaining horn on his head to cut through the dark curtain blocking their path. With Beomgyu’s healing, Huening Kai, who has grown wings, takes flight, and the members embrace each other. The overwhelming band-style 'Song of the Stars,' harmonizing with 'Nap of a Star,' resonates.

The title 'Beautiful Stranger' follows the trailer, culminating in a complete swan song. In a monitored and controlled society, as the countdown nears its end, the members, under artificial lights, wither and shed tears. On a trap beat reminiscent of 'DejaVu,' the members sing with desperate wills, vowing to call their names, accompanied by the lyrics “In a world where spells break, we are beautiful strangers.” The boys who sang 'Call me' ('DejaVu') and 'Whisper my name' ('Over the Moon') now promise salvation with 'I’ll call your name.' This powerful song reiterates that the ‘encounter with the unknown,’ often repeated in their careers, is not with others, different concepts, or society, but with ourselves, and with each other. The boys from 'One Day' who were saying, “The you staring blankly in the mirror isn’t me” have grown this much.

In line with its theme, 'Together' is structured as a dedication to long-time fans of the group. Despite being a regular album, all songs except for 'Upside Down Kiss,' the title track, and 'Song of the Stars' are solo songs by the members. The decision to select individual songs over group tracks might initially seem contrary to the purpose of Swan Songs. However, not until listening to the music does the overall coherence of the project hold steady while elegantly assigning suitable directions to each member’s music without sacrificing the unit. Tomorrow X Together faithfully follows the trajectory left by BTS with the 'The Most Beautiful Moment in Life' series and 'WINGS' through the 'Star Chapter' and 'Together.'

Yeonjun’s solo track 'Ghost Girl,' featuring British rocker Yungblud, extends the seductive essence of 'Upside Down Kiss' with rough vocals over a rhythm reminiscent of 'Tinnitus.' This impression is also carried over in Beomgyu’s 'Take My Half' and Subin’s 'Sunday Driver,' which evoke the group's rock numbers. Taehyun's delicate singing in 'Bird of Night' has echoes of 'Anti-Romantic.' A unique case is Huening Kai. His song 'Dance With You,' which attempts calm R&B based on hip-hop, stands out as something new. Although he might have been somewhat late in showcasing his vocal capabilities, this song gives a glimpse of his vast potential, amplifying individual abilities to lead to new beginnings.

“Is the worldview still valid in K-pop?” The answer remains that there cannot be a group without a worldview, and even if they exist, they cannot reach the level of empathy beyond a one-sided relationship between artists and fans. Still, post the 'easy listening' trend, skepticism has deepened. Groups that emerged with grand narratives and massive messages now exhibit more flexibility than concepts. Tomorrow X Together was different. Despite the cynical view that no one cares about such things anymore, the group imbued every element they touched with meaning, linking all their songs and activities. By slightly deviating through the 'minisode,' they expanded the concept, leading to the emergence of other intriguing worlds. Beyond mere planning, the story of young boys growing into adulthood was comfortably processed and applied so that it could feel like its own to the fans, naturally delivering profound resonances within enjoyable experiences without burden. Looking back, releasing the 'Star Chapter' in line with the discussions about re-signing in their '7th year' holds significant meaning.

In the final scene of the music video for 'Beautiful Stranger,' amidst complete darkness with all lights extinguished, the boys emit joyous laughter. Tomorrow X Together relentlessly chased the stars hidden in the dark night sky by light pollution and lost faith. They did not forget the vow and dreams they made while gazing at the stars in their childhood. Their friends still remain near them, and many who love them are present. Even if the pitch-black night comes, they are not afraid. As long as they do not forget their promise, tomorrow will inevitably come, and their eternity will be bound together.

Kim Do-hun (Music Critic) / zener1218@gmail.com

<Photo Source=Big Hit Music>

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