17 Takeaways from SECTOR 17
Notable details from SEVENTEEN’s album repackage!
#1: “_WORLD” has a potential nod to “VERY NICE”
In “_WORLD,” a burst of confetti appears behind JOSHUA as he stands in front of flower displays, bringing to mind both the confetti blasts in “VERY NICE” and the flower-filled settings in many previous SEVENTEEN music videos, especially “Ready to love.”
#2: “Ash” and “CHEERS” are seemingly partner songs
“Ash” ends the pre-repackaged version of Face the Sun, fittingly completing the story with a message about leaving an old world in the dust and rising anew from the ashes of it. This concept is simultaneously representative of an ending and a new beginning, making it apt for a transition between Face the Sun and SECTOR 17. The connections between “Ash” and “CHEERS” are too numerous to be coincidental. The similarities are both auditory - both songs are full of heavily-electronified vocals and involve the same delivery and structure - and thematic, with “CHEERS” telling a story with the same degree of bravado about conquering future obstacles.
#3: SEVENTEEN continue to tell stories through their outfits
The members opt for all-white outfits when their comeback’s theme is a new beginning. They wear all-white outfits in their debut music video, “Adore U,” in the video for “Lilili Yabbay” (which tells a story of seeking to create and escape into a thirteenth month of the year), and in the video for “TRAUMA” (as they sing about an emotional rock bottom and visually represent a desire to overcome this tough time, despite it feeling like an impossible task). In the new music video for “CHEERS,” the members once again wear white, and they further symbolize a clean slate with the white cars with which they pose. These cars drive in circles and leave a mark when they do, so as the members use this comeback as a chance to expand their story into a new world, they do so while literally leaving their mark on it!
#4: WOOZI’s role
In WOOZI’s solo “13 Inner Shadows” video, he wears a casual look while in an auditorium and a fancy look while lying on his bed. His makeshift bedroom is strewn with notes and sheet music, consisting of a tiny, elevated platform, and surrounded by staircases. When WOOZI is at the show’s venue, he is underdressed, and when he is alone in his room, he looks ready for his close-up. This perpetual feeling of being out-of-place is emphasized by him being alone on an island of sorts, with staircases that add to his paralyzing confusion about which direction is the right one for him to pursue. WOOZI can dress the part, but clothes do not make the man in this case, and he does not feel prepared for the nerve-wracking dreams he is trying to put in motion.
WOOZI once again is not dressed for the occasion in the “CHEERS” music video: he wears another casual look while seated at a fancy feast. His fame continues to paralyze him in a different scene, as he is swarmed by flashing cameras and a fervent crowd. A symbolic, lone spotlight seems to follow him, shining on him in both his “13 Inner Shadows” video and in “_WORLD,” where he stands alone up high, in front of a billboard. Once again, WOOZI is lonely at the top.
#5: The presence of both night and day
SEVENTEEN’s message about the importance of togetherness and not dealing with hardships all alone is emphasized by the constellation each individual’s Face the Sun teaser combines to form. The image would be incomplete without each member’s piece, and the final picture that can then form is of a sun. The contrast in representing day and night together - a sun in the night sky - complements the contrast in the “_WORLD” video, which pivots between nighttime and daytime.
#6: They use literal signs to send a message
MINGYU draws attention to a big sign in “HOT” by shooting it with an arrow to remove the “L,” so the sign that said “DARLING” now says “DARING.” SEVENTEEN once again make their ambition known in “CHEERS,” dancing in front of a neon sign that reads “Break the Records.”
#7: The keywords for the Face the Sun comeback remain relevant
The Face the Sun teaser poster’s keywords are “Control,” “Shadow,” “Ray,” “Path,” and “Pioneer.” Each of these words continues to represent a facet of SEVENTEEN’s story. They use SECTOR 17’s music videos and songs to further a story about taking charge of their destinies, forging a new path for themselves, and embracing both the light and the dark in life while doing so.
#8: The new prose
New narrations have been added to SEVENTEEN’s story via their official Instagram Stories, including one reading as follows: “Shine light and bring warmth from the darkest, coldest places. The green leaves put their heads out on the dry ground, and the flowers filled with happiness [begin] to bloom one by one. A smile [blooms] on our faces, as we look at the new things unfold[ing] before our eyes. All that blooms now are our dreams and hopes. A new world is opening for me, for you, for us.” With this passage, SEVENTEEN reiterate their desire to both rescue themselves from the depths of dark thoughts and rescue others in the process. They are ready for the hardships of winter, metaphorically speaking, to melt, so they can blossom anew in the spring. SEVENTEEN’s themes of teamwork, compassion, and determination are summarized well through both this passage and their SECTOR 17 songs and videos.
#9: The “Face and Sun” and “Power of Love” Eras’ link
The “Power of Love” Era is proven to have been a seamless precursor to the “Face the Sun” Era: the power of love appears to have been the tool needed for the members to face the sun and enter a new world of possibilities. Part of the text on the screen during a “Power of Love” Era teaser video seems to have foreshadowed this connection between eras: “Love is the light that shines on us.”
#10: The camerawork
As written about in a previous essay, SEVENTEEN add an extra layer of immersion to the viewing experience of their music videos by seemingly controlling the videos’ motions. The camera pans as if on command, in accordance with the gestures the members make. From the camera moving to where the members are pointing to the lighting changing in response to a wave of a member’s hands, they make their videos feel as if they are being filmed in real time. This effect is back in “_WORLD,” where both DINO and THE 8 appear to cause a fire hydrant to burst by simply pointing at it from a distance.
#11: SEVENTEEN’s new world is not entirely new
“_WORLD” appears to reference many previous SEVENTEEN eras. Some notable lyrics that bring to mind previous eras include “[L]et’s start your interview” (“Pretty U,” and other early releases about getting to know a crush), “Knockin’ on Heaven’s door / Run your fingertips over the… cloud” (“Heaven’s Cloud”), and “Too Fast?” (“Fast Pace”). They also shout out some song titles by name: “Come to me” and “CLAP.” Although some references might be unintentional, there are so many that the lyrics taken as a whole are still impressively summative of the closing of one SEVENTEEN chapter to begin another one!
#12: SEVENTEEN haven’t fully conquered their fears and doubts yet
SEVENTEEN’s discography is full of literal questions, and here is just a sampling of them: “[W]hat should I do today?” (“Pretty U”), “[W]hy are the expectations so high?” (“Space”), “What made me this way?” (“Still Lonely”), “Where is everyone going so busily?” (“BEAUTIFUL”), “How do I describe this feeling?” (“BOOMBOOM”), “[W]hy can’t we let go?” (“Fast Pace”), “Am I longing for the past?” (“I Don’t Know”), “Anybody listening?” (“TRAUMA”), “Why am I losing strength?” (“IF I”), “What do I do because of you?” (“Oh My!”), “Will the memories… remain?” (“24H”), “If a second life… is to come to me / Will I be by your side?” (“Second Life”), “Where did I disappear?” (“Lucky”), “What has bothered me so much?” (“Fearless”), “Why do you keep on hesitating?” (“Do Re Mi”), and “Can we stay together?” (“Ready to love”). They continue to reflect on the complexities of their feelings and the state of their lives on “_WORLD”: “Where am I going? What are you watching for?”
#13: JEONGHAN’s “13 Inner Shadows” video
From the sound of a clock ticking to the act of sending a letter to someone, a key component of each member’s “13 Inner Shadows” teaser video is represented in at least one of the new songs and/or music videos (more on this in an upcoming episode of 17 Carat K-Pop!) - except for JEONGHAN’s. This might be intentional, since JEONGHAN’s corresponding teaser image is labeled “The Wire Jail.” Now that the members are embarking on a new, freer journey, they have successfully left all remnants of JEONGHAN’s cage and what it represents in the past.
#14: SECTOR 17 is a natural extension of previous chapters in SEVENTEEN’s story
The “NEW RINGS CEREMONY : The Sun Rises” monologue covers a host of topics that remain relevant to SEVENTEEN’s story. It describes the ways the members have been able to tackle adversity, face their inner shadows, and emerge seeing (and being) a light at the end of the tunnel by working together. Their unity and solidarity give them the strength to take risks, believe in themselves, and find their greater purpose. Their pride in their unity is clear through the matching rings they wear, as well as the focus on “We” in “CHEERS,” thematically and visually, ending with the members putting their hands together. An endless road appears thrilling instead of daunting when it is not walked alone, and that message is what concludes the monologue: “We will now break free from the shadows that shackled us and soar towards the sun. We will be the sun to CARATS… and to the people the world over, and share our music and message with them. I believe that this road that leads to you will never end.”
#15: SEVENTEEN allude to their past world not being replaced by their new world, but coexisting with it
SEVENTEEN continue to use TV screens in their music videos to hint at a parallel universe where their alter egos reside. They also nod to this “show within a show” premise through music videos where the camera equipment and/or green screens are intentionally left in the shot. In “CHEERS,” S.COUPS brings back this concept, watching himself on TV while appearing in front of a backdrop, as if he is in the middle of a photo shoot. The concave-lens shots add to the appearance of being in the middle of filming something. TV screens also play a role in DINO’s and THE 8’s “13 Inner Shadows” videos.
The story’s ongoing nature is reinforced through the final “13 Inner Shadows” teaser image, WONWOO’s. His is titled “World’s End… And.” The “And” implies the world that is ending is also indicative of another one just getting started, and this room for potential is the perfect final message with which to leave viewers.
#16: They have learned to prioritize the journey over the destination
Time and time again, SEVENTEEN have lamented about feeling stuck. They have found a plethora of ways to describe the feeling of being frozen in fear and despair, with lyrics about being stuck in the same place no matter how much they run. “The distance between me and you has no progress,” they say in “20.” “We’re on different streets… Can’t we go back?,” they wonder in “I Don’t Know.” “[U]s two 24/7 / We’re walking but getting farther apart…” they observe incredulously on “Fast Pace.” Over time, their discography has expressed more awareness that there is no clear end in sight. They first feel intimidated by this realization that life is one long journey, but they learn to be embolden by it. After accepting it, they can use that knowledge of an infinite journey lying before them to mess up and try again and again. They can remind themselves that life is a marathon and not a sprint. They can go easier on themselves when they mess up, because they have plenty of time to course-correct and try again. Arguably, they most concisely say all this in “HOME;RUN”: “There may be no end to our journey of dreams / So let’s take a break for today.” In addition to life’s journey not having a predetermined end time, it also does not require a clear end destination. Again, the initial worries that come with lacking a map are replaced over time with excitement about the world of possibilities open to them. On “Together,” they say, “Even though the shaking compass is stuffy / Let’s do it together.” On the new song “Circles,” they find comfort in remembering that if they get lost, they will always have tomorrow to find their way back: “It's gonna be okay, like the hands on the clock / They'll go in circles back to their places.”
#17: They emphasize the power of music
On “Circles,” the members sing about using songs as consolation, speaking for people when words fail: “So many days, I’m voiceless… With a song we handed to each other / Be brave for that day.” They also sing, “Let's sing together / To cover the sadness with the powerful song / It's gonna be okay.” The strength gained from feeling understood by the music one listens to has been previously mentioned in “Don’t listen in secret,” with SEVENTEEN encouraging a loved one to wallow in their feelings while listening to a song made for them: “You can listen to sad songs / And shed tears / Music is like that…” SEVENTEEN’s sound and style may continue to evolve, but one thing that remains consistent is their main goal: to use the power of music to share their stories, have them resonate with others, and learn pivotal life lessons they can pass along to listeners in the process, and vice versa. SECTOR 17 does a great job of reminding CARATS that music can help heal and give rise to a better era for all of us!
Catch up on previous episodes of “17 Talk” and previous writing about SEVENTEEN here, or at the links below!
SEVENTEEN is Back! (17 Talk, Vol. 10)
The story behind the making of “Ready to love”
Dissecting SEVENTEEN’s Song and Album Titles
What SEVENTEEN’s Music is Saying
The Changing Lenses in SEVENTEEN’s Music Videos
A Guide to SEVENTEEN’s Music Video Settings and Key Props
A Guide to SEVENTEEN’s Choreography
A Lyrical Exploration of SEVENTEEN’s Storytelling
SEVENTEEN’s Face the Sun: Album Review