SEVENTEEN: Remaining Genuine

Lately, more and more idol groups have become more involved in the songwriting and producing process of their music. When SEVENTEEN debuted, creative freedom amongst K-pop groups wasn’t common at all. However, SEVENTEEN was promoted as a self-producing group from the beginning and can create honest music because of their creative freedom. This privilege is largely due to the members’ diverse skills, amazing visual storytelling, and relatable lyrical themes.

 

 

SEVENTEEN debuted in May of 2015 with their EP “17 Carat,” which became the US’s longest-charting K-pop album of the year. The group was formed over multiple seasons of a series called Seventeen TV, which ended with the newly formed idol group’s debut showcase. SEVENTEEN was originally intended to be named after the expected 17 members, but when the group ended up with 13, Pledis Entertainment said the name was a reference to having 13 members, 3 teams, and 1 group. SEVENTEEN’s creative freedom is possible because of its three sub-units and the unique members that make up each unit: the vocal unit (Woozi, Jeonghan, Joshua, DK, and Seungkwan), the hip-hop unit (S. Coups, Wonwoo, Mingyu, and Vernon), and performance unit (Hoshi, Jun, The8, and Dino). Each unit respectively focuses on singing, rapping, or dancing.

 

 

Vocalist Woozi is largely involved in most of SEVENTEEN’s songwriting and other members frequently contribute to the songwriting process, production, and choreographing. The group’s members come from diverse backgrounds, and use beautiful visuals and creative lyrics, helping them to maintain genuineness in their music. 

Joshua played guitar for a worship team before joining SEVENTEEN, which adds to the gentle voice he uses in the group’s songs. Jun was a child actor and is now an animated performer. Woozi has written songs for many other artists and has a background in classical music. The8 was trained in Chinese martial arts and breakdancing, making him a great dancer.

 

 

 

The idol group also uses amazing visuals, not only in the actual design of their MVs but also in the movement showcased in their choreography. In “My My,” SEVENTEEN’s dancing paints a beautiful picture of riding a boat amongst a tossing sea. 

 

 

SEVENTEEN wants their listeners to relate to what they are creating, so they cover a wide range of topics from everyday life including persistence through tough times, self-love, and achieving goals. “Left & Right” was released during a worldwide pandemic and was prime material for a TikTok dance challenge. Although it has energetic choreography, the song’s message about youth not knowing which path to take is relatable to listeners.

 

 

SEVENTEEN is an amazing boy group that continues to gain more control over its image, concepts, and songs. With their ongoing creative freedom, the group will certainly persist in creating stunning performances and capturing global attention.