Devanshi Ghanshala, Delhi

TREASURE, the sensational ten-member K-pop boy group signed under YG Entertainment, has recently achieved a million sellers title for the first time in three years since their debut. After their successful 2023 Asia Tour ‘HELLO’, TREASURE made a comeback with their second full-length album REBOOT. The album was a grand return that resonated globally, broke all their previous sales records and sold 1.71 million copies worldwide.

Formed in 2019 through the survival program ‘YG Treasure Box,’ the group consists of Choi Hyun-suk, Jihoon, Yoshi, Junkyu, Yoon Jae-hyuk, Asahi, Doyoung, Haruto, Park Jeong-woo, and So Jung-hwan. Since their debut, they have always been in the spotlight for their music, incorporating YG’s signature rap style and party-like outros that make you want to join in the groove and sway effortlessly to their irresistible beats.

The Rap Trio of the group, Choi Hyun-suk, Yoshi, and Haruto, along with vocal members Junkyu and Asahi, actively write, compose, and produce music for the group. Their second album was a great success, and fans not only liked its title track, BONA BONA but also the mind-blowing B-sides like MOVE and B.O.M.B, written and composed by the members. These songs drew a lot of attention from the general public, who applauded the group for their impressive songwriting skills and incredible singing and dancing talent.

Now, let’s take a look at the musical treasure box created by TREASURE. Here are some of TREASURE’s most astounding songs that have left fans utterly captivated. 

JIKJIN

JIKJIN is the title track of TREASURE’s first mini album, THE SECOND STEP: CHAPTER ONE. The song is a hip-hop dance track with powerful and cheerful vibes showcasing the boys’ more mature side of the boys as compared to their earlier releases. JIKJIN is a strong performance-packed song with one of the hardest choreographies by TREASURE. The lyrics are about going straight towards achieving your goals with no rules and guides fueled by a burning passionate heart ready to dive into new challenges. What truly shines in “JIKJIN” is that all the members were able to express themselves freely. They have added unique details to their parts and enhanced the quality of the song.

The music video features dashing supercars and various sets for each part of the song. The real deal arrives in the outro, where the group’s teamwork shines through. All members come together as one, and then they start to dance together with exploding energy. 

DARARI

“Da-ra-ra-ra-ra-ra-ri (da-ra-ra-ra-ra-ra)
Neol bogo isseum eumagi, baby (Yeah, yeah)
Neoreul wihan melody, melody, yeah (Ooh)
Niga muse-nikka jal deureobwa, play it.”

DARARI is a B-side track of TREASURE’s first mini album, THE SECOND STEP: CHAPTER ONE. The track was composed and written by former member Yedam. The melody, lyrics, and soothing harmonies of this song caused quite a stir on social media platforms, especially on TikTok. Viral Queen DARARI entered Billboard’s Global Excl. U.S. at No. 13 and also ranked #100 on Spotify’s Global Top 200 chart, becoming the first fourth-generation B-side track to do so. The fan-made TikTok challenge emerged, involving the creative use of a fish-eye filter with vibrant saturation levels, accompanied by a lovely sped-up rendition of “DARARI.” This trend had captivated TikTok, taking the platform by storm. To add to the excitement, several renowned K-pop idols had also joined in the #dararichallenge.

The group later released a DARARI remix along with the music video. This remixed version stood out for its striking infusion of rock elements, where electric guitar riffs took centre stage, dominating the song’s backdrop that delivered a powerful and electrifying twist, unlike the original track’s adorable charm is characterised by soft vocals and playful choreography.

HELLO

HELLO is the title track of TREASURE’s second mini album, THE SECOND STEP: CHAPTER TWO. The song was co-written and co-produced by TREASURE members Choi Hyun-suk, Yoshi and Haruto. It’s a fun, vibrant and lively track, unlike TREASURE’s previous title tracks. Unveiling a new side of their style in the song, they show more refreshing and youthful energy. As you listen, there’s a sense of nostalgia that washes over, taking back to the EDM-infused sounds of the 2010s K-pop. The catchy chorus has repetitive words, “I’m like, ‘Hello, hello, hello, where you’ve been all my life?’” as well as “Yeah, I’m looking, I’m looking, I’m looking for you.” The interlude sung by Choi Hyun-suk, “One, two, three, four! You know what I’m waiting for.” followed by the outro added another hook to the song.

But the key to the song is how profound the lyrics are in the verse, unlike the bright and colourful music video. The lyrics talked about a lone lost boy who’s wandering around in the crowd, only to find the one he has been seeking all his life. Then when he finally meets the person he needs, he goes’ “Hello Why did you show up now? where you’ve been all my life?” He pleads with the person to stay with him forever and fill his dark lonely life with rainbows and sunshine.  

MOVE – T5 (TREASURE)

MOVE was the pre-release single for TREASURE’s second full-length album REBOOT. It was the debut song of T5, a subunit of TREASURE consisting of 5 members, primarily the visual members known as the “flower boys” i.e., Jihoon, Junkyu Yoon Jae-hyuk, Doyoung and So Jung-hwan. The song was released on 28 June 2023, and a spoiler dance practice video was released a week before on 21 June 2023, to increase the anticipation of the fans. The song was written by Junkyu and composed by Junkyu and DEE.P. The song reached #1 on the iTunes Top Song Chart in 20 countries.

MOVE is a groovy dance track with an energetic dance break, captivating hooks and memorable choreography. What’s truly intriguing is that the T5 unit, consisting only of the vocal members, still manages to draw out the iconic YG hip-hop influence despite the absence of any significant rap segments. Instead, the members showcased a robust vocal performance.

ORANGE

ORANGE is a B-side on TREASURE’s debut studio album, THE FIRST STEP: TREASURE EFFECT. Orange with its classic retro vibes, sounds familiar yet refreshing. ORANGE is not just any ballad; it’s a timeless gem that gleams through the prism of “Newtro” (new retro or modernized retro) and “lo-fi” sensibilities. The lyrics tell a story of cherishing the present moment, of clinging to the fading sunlight, a sentiment that’s beautifully captured in the line, “Until the sunset turns orange, we cling to time because we don’t want to part.” You yearn to keep your special someone forever by your side. Without a second to spare, you confess before the sun goes down that like the sun that always shines, you want them to smile every because they shine the brightest in your eyes.

As the song progresses, after the chorus, you will find the intersection of singing and rap by the three rappers of the group, adding a unique contrast that enriches the overall musical tapestry without disrupting its harmonious vibes.

YAMAI

YAMAI (病) is a Japanese track from TREASURE’s second Japanese extended play, THE SECOND STEP: CHAPTER TWO – JP EDITION (2022). The song was written by Asahi and Haruto and composed by Asahi and DEE.P. ‘Yamai’ translated from Japanese to English means ‘Illness’. The Korean version of YAMAI known as ‘LOVESICK’, was released as a B-side on TREASURE’s second full-length album, REBOOT.

The song is a soft ballad with heart-wrenching lyrics. It is a song written in the memories of a loved one who is bygone. The song resonates with the deep longing for their presence and how the simplest things in our surroundings can rekindle memories of that special person. These painful flashbacks are like illnesses from which we can’t recover. Listening to this song is akin to embarking on an emotional odyssey where nostalgia evokes joy and sorrow, a journey that encapsulates the bittersweet essence of love and loss.

It hasn’t been long since TREASURE entered the K-pop scene and they’ve already set it on fire. The growing global fandom of TREASURE named Treasure Makers or Teumes is evidence of their ever-increasing popularity and the love they’ve garnered from fans worldwide. TREASURE’s music is a roller coaster of emotions that showcases their incredible songwriting, dancing, and singing abilities. Their melodies resonate long after the music ends, leaving us with memories to cherish. Because they have all types of songs for all types of moods, let their music accompany you through the highs and lows of life. 

What are your favourite TREASURE songs? Let us know in the comments!