Ateez Album Crawl: ZERO: FEVER Part. 2
This is an album I don't think I've ever listen to in its entirety, but I'm so glad I did. I'm interested in the larger project of the Fever era, an age of experimentation and musical diversity. I would actually compare this era to Golden Hour, in that there seems to be no obvious cohesion between installments, unlike in Treasure or The World, where they made frequent callbacks and references and there was a distinct, recognizable sound.
In fact, I might even speculate that Fever and Golden Hour are conceptually aligned in that they are both taking place lore-wise in "World A" or, at least, they're thematically about the growing pains of finding yourselves rather than finding treasure or achieving some more narrative-driven goal (as will be encountered in The World series). This makes sense if you consider that the Fever storyline takes place chronologically before Treasure.
These are songs about adolescence: yearning and rebellion. The target of their lyrics isn't yet a mysterious dystopian government, but instead the authorities in their lives: parents, teachers, the industry.
By the time the Fever era came around, Ateez were no longer monster rookies, but established junior artists who had already finished a sold-out world tour. They weren't some flash in the pan; they were here to stay. Their sales and reputation were improving with every comeback, and they subsequently faced much more scrutiny from the industry.
This album era saw them under SO MUCH pressure: COVID, Mingi's hiatus, some members filming Imitation, and the Kingdom competition show, during which Ateez was treated very poorly by Mnet and even worse by the international kpop fandom.
I find it helpful to understand this context when I listen to these albums, because there's so many ways the music and lyrics reflect the broader struggles faced by the members in real life, not just in their lore.
After all that introduction, I feel a little chagrined to admit that Fireworks is not a favorite of mine and I think it's one of the weakest tracks on this album. I appreciate what it represents in their discography. It's a real tonal shift: alternatively sultry/sexy and raucous/rousing. A good performance song, with killer choreography.
The Leaders caps off what I would call a mini-arc within the Fever series ("delinquent-teez") which includes THANXX, Good Lil Boy, and To The Beat.
These are songs full of defiant swagger and bratty energy, with a touch of machismo in their full-bodied chanting and rapping.
San and Seonghwa use their satoori dialects in this song, making it sound a little more "dangerous." I mean, the song also samples gunfire noises, so danger really does seem to be the vibe. The lyrics are targeting kkondae, which loosely translates as a “condescending older person,” calling them fools and pitiful.
You could also characterize kkondae as "haters," making the lyrics way more pointed:
We are the leaders (We are the leaders)
Lead every day, every night, every
Whatever, going it up
Treat us with respect
There something downright NASTY in the way the beat drops for that pre-chorus. It's the most memorable part for me. The way Wooyoung whispers his lyrics (*shivers*). This is an insane song.
Immediate tonal whiplash! Time of Love is a sweet digression, with inspirational lyrics: Oh, nobody's perfect, nobody's perfect. Hongjoong and Mingi have a great, snappy rap verse and there's something really pleasant about the build-up to the chorus.
Everyone feels pain the same way
Let’s tell each other, "I won't hurt you"
Now let's never forget the sadness we saw in the past
Let's pray that we won't cry against each other ever again
These are comforting words to hear in an uncertain time.
How very like Ateez to drop one of their best songs as a b-side for their sixth mini album. Take Me Home is a deeply satisfying retro throwback to 80s' jazzy synthwave, flavored with Fever era's characteristic yearning lyrics.
Somebody, take me home!!!
One of their best choruses (reminds me oddly of Mist), one of their best bridges, and one of their best outros. BRING BACK SAX IN KPOP!!!
This song cracks me up. I can't believe we get a full gospel track at the end of this album!! It's such a fun song, and so completely unexpected. JONGHO'S AD LIBS??!!!!
Mingi's lyrics are really poignant:
Our youth better than ever
I don’t mind it just don’t matter
No matter what moment comes
I just paint them with my own colors
I’ve colored in my emotions
Hundreds and five thousand of them
I’ll believe that I’m worth it (bless you)
Fever: Part 2 may not be my favorite installment in this series, but I think there's so much to appreciate about this album and the way it exemplifies the risk-taking and genre-mixing that Ateez does so well throughout their discography.
