In the midst of a series of high-profile American promotions, TXT’s Yeonjun has released a follow-up music video for the track Fxxking Star from his newest album. It always cracks me up when artists use an “x” to self-censor a cuss word because it pretty much confirms they’re using the language as aesthetic branding with no real teeth to it.
A lack of composition credit makes me wonder how much Yeonjun stands behind the concept of Fxxking Star. He definitely gives the performance his all, but he does that with any material HYBE gives him. He’s a great idol performer seeking to become something more. That’s an admirable step, but to make it successfully you need stellar material tailor-made for the artist. Fxxking Star contains many signifiers but little real excitement. I like his voice backed by distorted guitar. This same arrangement has worked wonders on many TXT tracks and matches the grittiness of his vocals.
As a song, I get the sense that the driving feature from a producer/composer’s standpoint is the desire to shout “I’m a fxxking star!” loudly and defiantly. Everything else is just window dressing to get to that soundbite. It’s not bad or unenjoyable window dressing, but it doesn’t feel the least bit vital and that’s disappointing for a song meant to convey such a confrontational energy. Do I believe Yeonjun has ever (or will ever) break a guitar? Probably not. But given the right song, I could happily play along with the fantasy.
Hooks
6
Production
8
Longevity
7
Bias
7
RATING
7