The Timelessness of SEVENTEEN
The Timelessness of SEVENTEEN
How the 17 IS RIGHT HERE era summarizes the essence and eternal relevance of the group
In this essay about SEVENTEEN’s remarkable musical storytelling, SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN and the corresponding “God of Music” video are described as follows:
“SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN is a celebration through and through: a celebration of SEVENTEEN’s discography throughout the years, of everyone’s inner light, and of the ways music brings people together to cherish the latter.”
This synopsis fits 17 IS RIGHT HERE just as well. The compilation album features four new songs and music videos, making it both an homage to SEVENTEEN’s catalog so far and a testament to their need to keep experimenting. The new material features a treasure trove of auditory, visual, and thematic Easter eggs, all applied in ways that are anything but derivative. On top of mixing old and new, what is par for the course for SEVENTEEN is favoring addition over subtraction. It isn’t quite accurate to say that SEVENTEEN are at the top of their game, because there has never been a “top” to reach! The ambitiousness of their music and clarity of their message have only grown greater with time.
17 IS RIGHT HERE speaks to the limitless creativity that is unleashed and the positive feedback loop that is established when a motive remains unflappable, and theirs is still to use the power of music in all the best ways. They keep enriching their “Fantasia,” a musical world in which all contributions and contributors are deemed valid and worthy of attention.
The Meaning of 17 IS RIGHT HERE’s Imagery
The 17 IS RIGHT HERE album cover is filled with images representative of SEVENTEEN’s past musical eras. The open windows of a gray house reveal colorful rooms that have the following themes and then some: baseballs (key to the plots of music videos like “HOME;RUN”), sunflowers (a key symbol in the video for “Getting Closer”), science equipment (seen in “Adore U”), a sun (“HOT”), a boat (“BOOMBOOM,” “F*ck My Life,” “My My,” and more), lollipops (an Attacca-era teaser video), and toy blocks (the Face the Sun highlight medley video).
Other nods to SEVENTEEN’s past eras fill the 17 IS RIGHT HERE concept photos. One of the main photo shoot settings is a place with sand and street signs covering the ground and three winding paths leading to a rainbow-colored, spray-paint-covered house.
Just like how all fans can see whichever era has struck the most personal chord with them represented on the album cover, all fans can add a personal touch to the ways they take in the concept photos. Viewers’ eyes can take different paths to the front door, and they can envision different roads being formed out of the sand. Regardless of those different routes, though, everyone ends up at the same house. Likewise, SEVENTEEN’s three subunits are represented by the three pathways, and all three paths lead to the same finish line. Literally and metaphorically, the destination depicts the unique colors each person contributes to making SEVENTEEN’s story complete, compounding the significance of their diamond logo being on a front window.
The Meaning of 17 IS RIGHT HERE’s Music Videos
In the four new music videos, the members of SEVENTEEN interact with each other’s key objects from past videos, showing the intertwined nature of their characters’ experiences. S.COUPS spits out a coin in “LALALI,” like the coin MINGYU catches after S.COUPS throws it in “HOT.” JEONGHAN wears angel wings stained with black paint in “HOT,” and HOSHI now wears a cleaned-up version of those wings in “Spell.” JUN holds a compass in “Spell,” and a compass is the key symbol that WOOZI holds in “Pinwheel.” JEONGHAN smears lipstick across his face in “Fear,” and MINGYU now leaves his lipstick prints on a balloon in “LALALI.” And VERNON’s fish-themed “Inner Shadows” video comes to mind when seeing SEUNGKWAN and DK interact with a fish in “Cheers to youth.” Memorable elements in SEVENTEEN’s past videos are back but are now affiliated with different members. Again, SEVENTEEN members go different ways while telling a shared story.
The audience continues to have a role in shaping that story, too. From an essay about the SECTOR 17 era:
“... listeners are the final puzzle piece; SEVENTEEN’s releases always include a participatory component, making the audience active contributors to the final product… SEVENTEEN always promote personalization.”
The “puzzle piece” comment has proven prescient: WOOZI takes a piece out of an otherwise-complete puzzle in the “Cheers to youth” video! He seems content with the look of the puzzle with a piece removed, a metaphorical door left open (much like the doors left open in 2019’s “Home” video).
SEVENTEEN embrace their story’s incompleteness; they enjoy leaving room for ambiguity in their music video roles and blank spaces for audience members to fill in as desired. This blank space is literal in the case of 2022’s “_WORLD” era and metaphorical in SEVENTEEN’s new videos.
Extensions of Previous Music Videos
The “choose your own adventure” style of SEVENTEEN’s music video world-building involves drawing inspiration from past videos and making those familiar elements new again. One example is how the “MAESTRO” music video borrows a filming technique from 2022’s “DREAM” video. Both put viewers in the middle of the action, but “DREAM” does so by making viewers feel like they are being whisked through the scenes, and “MAESTRO” makes viewers feel like they are being yanked backwards and out of them. “MAESTRO” also borrows a formatting choice from 2015’s “Adore U” that makes viewers feel like they are in charge of what’s happening: Pop-up options appear on the screen, as if what’s happening is all on a computer. “MAESTRO” ends with a close-up of the viewer appearing to type “Who is the real MAESTRO?,” leaving the answer up to interpretation while letting “you” ask the question.
While “MAESTRO” casts “you” as the director, it also makes time for SEVENTEEN themselves to call the shots. As stated previously, SEVENTEEN are always adding instead of subtracting. Casting “you” as the director is not done instead of casting themselves in equally important roles, but in addition to that.
SEVENTEEN highlight three potential answers to the “Who is the real MAESTRO?” question. The answer appears to be “you” when considering lyrics like:
“Just tell me which rhythm, your wish is my command… I’ll always be with you.”
The answer appears to be “a member of SEVENTEEN” when considering how each member takes turns in the conductor role in the music video (in very distinct ways, from THE 8 playing a laser-blasting violin to JOSHUA conducting the movements of skateboarders on ramps that resemble piano keys).
The answer appears to be “all members of SEVENTEEN” when considering lyrics like:
“We take pride in our new combinations / From the beat to the melody / Mix and match, it’s our thing.”
And the answer appears to be “us” as in SEVENTEEN and “you” together when considering lyrics like:
“Look at us in harmony… ris[ing] to a crescendo.”
The bottom line is that there is no wrong answer. Everyone is seen as worthy of playing the role of a conductor and of turning whatever they want into their own personal instruments!
The Meaning of 17 IS RIGHT HERE’s Lyrics and Sounds
“MAESTRO” incorporates pieces of seven older SEVENTEEN songs: “Adore U” (their debut song, from 2015), “VERY NICE” (from 2016), “Oh My!” (2018), “Fear” (2019), “Rock with you” (2021), “CHEERS” (2022), and “Super” (2023). Remarkably, “MAESTRO” sounds completely original, rather than a disjointed and derivative hodgepodge. The sound brings to life what the lyrics proclaim about making music with all rules thrown out the window. The auditory collage formed by “MAESTRO” simultaneously celebrates who SEVENTEEN were and who they are becoming. This is epitomized perfectly through the song’s beginning, when they say their “SEVENTEEN right here!” catch phrase before putting a new spin on their debut song’s guitar riff.
The three other new songs on 17 IS RIGHT HERE also prove that looking backwards versus forwards is a false choice. They go back to familiar lyrical themes, but they metaphorically rhyme with their older songs more than they repeat them. “LALALI” has the rap trio’s typical bombast, as they agree to “bring it on” and continue with the taunting of 2023’s “Monster” (“Let’s make a noise about how cool you are,” they say in “Monster;” “Blah blah blah, even if you make noise again / Stick your attitude with your hands in your pockets,” they say in “LALALI”). “Spell” shares a sentiment with their past songs about finding novel ways to get through to someone (“a language only we know”). Lastly, “Cheers to youth” offers an on-brand, valuable mantra:
“Even in this suffocating world / Everything will be fine, because I will love myself as I am.”
Through SEVENTEEN’s new songs, they both talk the talk and walk the walk about marching to the beats of their own drums and having pride in setting that example.
Revisiting Past Sentiments
As written about previously, SEVENTEEN’s grammar and punctuation choices are often no coincidence, so it is worth noting that the message on one of the concept photo’s street signs reads “PAUSE Take a Break.” There is an interesting irony in that statement. It is a reminder to slow down and take life at one’s preferred pace, a sentiment on which the ; [Semicolon] era focuses. On the other hand, there is no actual semicolon or comma on the sign that would represent taking such a break! There is a similar run-on format to the message on a flier that JOSHUA gets in the “Cheers to youth” video. It is a gag gift from people who see him turn into a meerkat during an otherwise mundane day at the office:
“we love how you look at us keep looking around like a meerkat and we will love you whatsoever SHUAKAT!”
The subtext that is so frantically featured there: “We see you as an honorary meerkat, so keep being yourself!” Rather than mocking or chastising JOSHUA for cosplaying as a meerkat at work, his interest in seeing the world differently is celebrated, and he is encouraged to not shy away from that tendency. This scene might sound more emblematic of a different era than ; [Semicolon], like Attacca, a term for part of a musical number that occurs after another part without a pause between them. However, the scene is actually emblematic of both eras. While expressing support for letting one’s true colors shine loudly and proudly, they also say that there is no “right” or “wrong” pace at which one does so. While reminding people to appreciate what sets them apart, they remind people that it does not matter how much they do or do not hesitate at first; no matter what, when they are ready, SEVENTEEN will be in their corner!
The Meaning in Small Gestures
In a rainy-day scene in the “Cheers to youth” video, everyone but JOSHUA has a black umbrella. At his cubicle, he is handed the same umbrella, but what makes him smile bigger is a different gift: a gag gift he finds in the printer later. What makes his day is not the item that helps him blend in with and feel equal to the other pedestrians on his way home, but the flier made just for him! The “Cheers to youth” lyrics include:
“On the way home today, I’ll tell myself that I did okay… That in this suffocating world / I still found little things that made me smile.”
The power in little acts of consideration is stressed through the advertising of the “Tissue Club.” The name refers to “Tiny Issue Club,” and an advertisement describes it as follows:
“Small Problems, Big Solutions! Tiny Issue Club is here to help you tackle your small problems together. We’re dedicated to addressing the minor challenges in your everyday life. Sometimes a simple conversation, some advice, or just a supportive hand can help you overcome the small obstacles you face. Our motto is ‘Wiping away tears and finding happiness.’ We believe no problem is too small, and often, these small issues can lead to significant changes. That’s why we encourage creating precious moments together. Join the Tiny Issue Club! We welcome you with open arms. Here, we’ll listen to your story, empathize with you, and be your companion through thick and thin. Let’s create precious moments together!”
There are many layers of meaning here! First of all, it is worth noting the capitalization of “Small Problems, Big Solutions;” it emphasizes the club’s mantra. Second of all, there is a reference to wiping away tears, and the group members are individually seen with a tear rolling down their faces. Crying plays an extensive metaphorical role in both SEVENTEEN’s songs and videos. Third of all, they specify that “you” are the one their advertisement is for, by including a mirror on the back of it (at least, in DK’s case). Fourth of all, the flier has drawings of tissue boxes that are just black and white outlines, as if they are coloring pages left for “you” to use! Lastly, the phone number listed on the flier includes SEVENTEEN’s May 26, 2015 debut date: 012-2015-0526. That coupled with the return of the “little things add up to make a big difference” sentiment (definitive of one of their earlier eras, “CLAP”) and the club address being listed as “Fantasia” says it all. SEVENTEEN are still the same SEVENTEEN they have been since day one, they are still “right here” for “you,” and that bond will only grow deeper as they spend more time with “you” in “Fantasia,” a fantastical, alternative reality in which their music lives and a nonjudgmental nature is normalized.
The Meaning in How SEVENTEEN Use Technology
Given the obvious value SEVENTEEN place on human connections, they might sound like the last people who would ever entertain a future where artificial intelligence and/or similar technology is willingly incorporated into their music. However, they manage to do so in on-brand ways, by demonstrating how technology can actually make “real-world” relationships stronger.
As discussed in a previous essay, SEVENTEEN’s “God of Music” video shows not just everyone is invited to join their party, but everything! Even the tiniest creatures, like the literal ant WOOZI gives a mini-microphone to, get to contribute to their performance! In “Cheers to youth,” SEVENTEEN decide to not stop there. They welcome everyone and everything into the fold: animal alter egos (like JOSHUA’s), technology-involved creations (like a “pet fish” made with a cell phone screen, and a version of WOOZI with a computer screen for a face), and even a pet rock! They show love and attention to even more things in “MAESTRO,” by adding robots to the list! A “MAESTRO” preview was made with actual artificial intelligence, and the preview’s dark mood made it seem like the full-length video would be a warning about robots replacing human musicians. Quite the opposite happens: the robots eventually join the members in a synchronized dance!
Rather than portray AI and technology overall as threats, SEVENTEEN treat them as just more opportunities to grow their ranks! In “Fantasia,” the more the merrier!
SEVENTEEN also acknowledge the upsides of technological advancements by using them to give shyer people the courage to be seen and heard. In “Cheers to youth,” WOOZI is not mentally up to a “Tissue Club” meeting, so he sends his virtual stand-in instead, and the club members react to it nonchalantly. They also pay no mind to JOSHUA appearing in his meerkat form! No one has to act or look a certain way to attend the club’s venting sessions; all that club members need to do is show up for each other in whichever way “showing up” suits their needs best.
The act of creating his virtual stand-in becomes another point of connection to someone in the physical world: WOOZI gets assistance when dressing it up, and he later hands his helper a bouquet to show his thanks. A “real” relationship comes out of his digital project, much like how SEUNGKWAN and DK bond over looking after a “pet fish” that is really just a digital creation!
How SEVENTEEN Find Harmony
This assessment of the “13 Inner Shadows” series of videos from SEVENTEEN’s Face the Sun era details MINGYU’s installment, called “Harmony-Discord”:
“MINGYU worries that he is just making ‘noise,’ not music, but now that he is around other people in ‘God of Music,’ SEVENTEEN see that ‘even noise is music to us / We each live by our own boom and pow.’... Alone, they feel like they are just making ‘noise,’ but in a group, their different styles are mixed into musical magic!”
A tiny metronome is featured in “Harmony-Discord,” and a giant one fills the background of the most invigorating scenes in “MAESTRO.” Individual scenes in “MAESTRO” might show people just making noise, but together, under the giant metronome, they make one big, dynamic musical number! The fact this has been shown before, with the inclusive, colorful “God of Music” performance, speaks to the consistency of the group’s belief that everyone can go from making noise to making music.
Metaphorically, everyone can go from using a desktop-sized metronome to a skyscraper-sized one; everyone can go from feeling cast aside and “making noise” that no one hears or cares about to feeling seen and heard while making music as part of a team.
Conclusion
The reason why SEVENTEEN will never reach their peak is because there is no endpoint to their narrative. They have never stopped making vibrant, richly meaningful music and videos because they have never stopped incorporating the vibrant, richly meaningful experiences of all kinds of people into them. Their open-mindedness and genuine desire to reach as many people as possible through music are the sources of their stories’ endless expansion.
By validating the richness and range of people’s interior worlds, SEVENTEEN embolden people to project elements from those worlds into the exterior, shared world. Growing and cherishing one’s individual identity is what makes it possible to add more enthusiasm and meaning to a collective identity, and SEVENTEEN foster that environment. Their music is as much about valuing each player as it is about valuing a whole team, a team all kinds of people are welcome to join. They reject a zero-sum mindset and recognize that shining one’s own light does not dim another’s. Quite the opposite: The brighter one shines, the brighter the world overall is, and the better others can see the paths they can take to get their own lights to shine equally. There is no need to choose between self-hype and uplifting others.
The new songs and videos affiliated with 17 IS RIGHT HERE excel at conveying SEVENTEEN’s evergreen values of inclusion, individuality, empathy, and creativity. Lyrically, auditorily, and visually, their work represents emotions and experiences with the humor, wit, compassion, depth, and nuance they deserve. They treat anyone and anything that makes noise as someone or something worth trying to harmonize with; they see potential everywhere, allowing their dreams to feel realistic and their music video world (aka their “Fantasia”) to feel like its front gates are always open.
For even more 17 IS RIGHT HERE takeaways, check out the corresponding episode of the 17 Carat K-Pop podcast!
Stream the episode on Spotify here!