Alongside their full-group comeback Maestro, Seventeen’s specialized units are also releasing music videos for their new songs. We’ve already heard from the Hip-Hop and Performance Teams, and now it’s time for the Vocal Team to bring this series to a finale.
Sub-unit Seventeen BSS found tremendous success with a cheering song last year, and Cheers To Youth (청춘찬가) feels similar in intent if not energy. Despite its buoyant, brassy instrumental, bounding bass and surging percussion, its melodies are more in line with Korean OSTs. It’s hard to put my finger on exactly why this is, but there’s a certain style of sentimental songwriting unique to this sub-genre. Seventeen’s vocal team makes a great conduit for this approach, but its mushiness dulls Cheers To Youth‘s effect.
Even so, this is probably my favorite unit release of the three. It feels the most musically robust, offering a fleshed out arrangement that doesn’t rely on repetition. The song is at its best when we hear individual elements breathe, especially during the intro where the vocal solo is followed quickly by compelling bass and a ceremonial swell of brass. These highlights become progressively buried as Cheers To Youth goes on, swallowed by the song’s sheer effusiveness. A more inventive melody could have poked through to act as an anchor, but much of Cheers plays things safe and comfortable.
Hooks
7
Production
8
Longevity
8
Bias
8
RATING
7.75