Kpop Review: Seventeen's "Left & Right"

13 member boy group Seventeen is back in full force with their new single, "Left & Right." This sound is a look back to their roots that long time fans will love!

The Song:

This song reminds me a lot of Seventeen's previous songs like "Aju Nice" and "Clap." It's youthful and lighthearted with lyrics that focus on letting go and not worrying about which path to take. I think it's a song that's great for this generation, their generation, that is often tasked with deciding where to go next in a life full of twists and turns.

Vocalists DK and Seungkwan's usually spotlight-stealing vocals didn't stand out to me as much as they do in other songs. I did particularly enjoy leader S. Coups and lead rapper Wonwoo's raps though and thought they shined nicely in this song.

Overall, it's not my favorite Seventeen song of all time but I thought it was catchy and energetic enough that I could easily get more into it the more I listen!

Favorite Song on Heng:garae: "Together"

This song reminds me of something you would hear on a coming of age movie soundtrack. In fact, most of the album could be put into that category. It has a very uplifting and hopeful sound to it that just makes you feel like everything's going to be alright. The high notes by Seungkwan in this song are also completely insane, his vocal abilities are truly no joke.

The Music Video:

This is such a different look for Seventeen, especially compared to their last comeback! It's not as bright as "Clap," but not as dark and mature as "Fear" - it's a nice mix between the two that manages to portray Seventeen's growth and youthfulness at the same time. The filming was incredibly well done in this video, making the production quality feel even higher.

The choreography for this video was a lot simpler than it has been in a long time. It's clear that they're going for the viral dance concept for this comeback due to the "Left & Right challenge" that has been making its rounds online. I tend to prefer Seventeen's sharper, more complicated choreography but it was nice to see this more laid back and fun side of them.

It's always difficult to have equal screen time for all the members in such a large group. I did feel like members Jun and Seungkwan got overlooked a little bit. While some members got more screen time than others, there were a few that naturally stood out to me. Maknae Dino and main rapper Mingyu really stole the show for me. I love how recently Mingyu has gotten more and more chances to be the center in dance breaks and choruses.

I didn't always know what was happening during the video, but that's not anything too unusual for me! There were certain scenes that I really liked, such as the group tossing Hoshi up in the air (uwu) and Joshua turning all the signs around. My favorite part though, has to be the end where S. Coups is dancing by himself as the credits roll. So cute! It's nice to see him back with the group at full health again.

Overall, I thought this was a great summer comeback. It gave fans the encouraging pick-me-up that many of us probably need right now. It showed that Seventeen is just as capable of producing a wide variety of music as they were when they debuted, without losing all the growth they've made as artists. Seventeen is a truly talented group that never lets me down!