“Plot Twist” (첫 만남은 계획대로 되지 않아) by TWS, Tuesday, June 11, 2024

TWS (pronounced two-us or in hangeul 투어스)  debuted earlier this year on Pledis Entertainment, an independently-operated sub-label of Hybe Corporation. Today all successful K-pop group members promote their group on social media, but the concept of Pledis’s latest boy band was to release “boyhood pop,” or pop music that “captures the daily stories of boys.” Furthering this concept, the group uses the tagline: “twenty-four seven with us.” The group is well-marketed as the cool boyfriends of voyeuristic K-pop fans. With members ranging from 16 to 20, TWS serves as a fifth (or fifth?)-generation K-pop group, marketed to middle school and high school students, which can be seen in their highly-stylized music video “Plot Twist.” The video features the group living in dormitory-style quarters and attending a co-educational high school.

FIRST ENCOUNTERS ARE ALWAYS HARD.  Lyrically, "Plot Twist" by TWS is about the awkwardness and nervousness of first encounters. The lyrics describe the feelings of stiffness and self-consciousness that people often experience when meeting someone new. The song also conveys the idea that despite the social discomfort, there is potential for a deeper connection and relationship to develop. The song utilizes both old and new musical styles. Using synth programming, the song sounds fresh; however, the guitar and synchronized hopeful vocal delivery sound akin to early ‘90s boy bands.  The music video for "Plot Twist" reinforces the themes of awkwardness and nervousness of first encounters. The video shows this in a high school as the group members interact with each other and with female students. The video is stylized, focusing on shades of blue--a color the group has adopted in their singles and EPs since their debut earlier this year. There is also a motif of water, signifying the freshness of the group’s sound. It’s no wonder that the Korean soft drink Lotte Chilsung Milkis had TWS as part of their 2024 ad campaign for the refreshing yogurt soda. 

WE MAY ACT A LITTLE STIFF.  In their dance performance videos, TWS shows a blocky style of dancing. The moves are exaggerated, almost as if the members are making themselves look bigger as if doing taekwondo or confronting a bear. However, each member adds subtlety to the movements, whether it's a wink or a snap of the fingers, adding a level of cuteness to the big movements. The dancing along with their baggy clothes--when they aren’t dressed in school uniform for the music video of “Plot Twist”--, the group seems to be a harbinger of a ‘90s revival in K-pop. K-pop and general musical trends were set in the ‘80s, but the early ‘90s seem to be reemerging, despite the stars who are bringing the trends back being born in this century. While TWS may not be a “Plot Twist” to K-pop, their refreshing sound makes them an interesting group to watch with their second EP, Summer Beat! coming out on June 24th. I’m certainly not going to be waiting for the “daily stories of [these] boys,” though.  

 

Read the Korean lyrics on Genius.

Read the English lyrics on Genius.