Vedansh Varshney, Delhi

Stray Kids are nothing short of phenomenal. Their music is not only self-produced but also carries the power to inspire and initiate change in the lives of many.

Stray Kids (abbreviated as SKZ) is an 8-member K-pop boy group under JYP Entertainment who made their official debut in 2018. They have become one of the most popular K-pop boy groups domestically and internationally. They are recognized as representative faces of the 4th generation of K-pop. Stray Kids is also known for their meaningful and self-produced music, especially the members Bang Chan, HAN and, Changbin (collectively known as the sub-unit 3RACHA), who have been actively participating in the creative process since pre-debut. This article aims to appreciate their lyrical creativity and ability to bring out such well-written meaningful songs that can be inspiring, comforting and relatable to millions of fans. So here is a list of 6 amazing Stray Kids songs that I feel the most connected to!

Hellevator

“I’m praying for myself to hold on, to save myself from their unkind stares.
They’re arguing if I’m crazy or not, I’ll be somebody’s clown even if I make it through.”

Stray Kids releasing such a strong and impactful song as their pre-debut digital single showcased their immense potential to make it big in the K-pop industry. Well, fast forward, and they have become one of the primary leaders of 4th generation of K-pop. It’s praiseworthy to note that the members of 3RACHA participated in its songwriting, composition and arrangement when they were merely teenagers.

Hellevator expresses frustration and conveys a sense of despondence that is experienced when you’re stuck in a dark place and finds it challenging to escape, despite all of your hopes and efforts. They compare their own situation with being trapped in a ‘Hellevator”, i.e., Hell + Elevator, as if they’re constantly moving towards Hell; a metaphor that represents darkness, unfamiliarity and failure here. What makes this song meaningful and relatable to me is their expression of anguish about how they are being constantly criticized for trying to achieve their dreams. However, they choose to keep moving towards their goals. I feel that all these emotions are well-expressed through the angsty yet upbeat instrumentals and their powerful rap segments.

Placebo

“The positive belief that will even heal my wounds.
Keep going, the placebo that works on me.”

I’m really impressed by the fact that we have a K-pop song that talks about the “Placebo Effect.” This phenomenon describes how a person’s body or health can heal without actual treatment but just by thinking that it is receiving it. The lyrics “I’m fooled again by a single phrase that has no effect” highlight this effect, i.e., how negative talk and criticism can prove to be detrimental to one’s mental and physical health. However, positive talk and words of encouragement can have the reverse effect and make you feel confident and healthier too. In this song, Stray Kids emphasizes the power of positive thinking and its positive impact. By ignoring the negativity around them and having trust in their dreams and themselves works as a “placebo” for them and enables them to move towards success effortlessly.

My Pace

“Going ahead doesn’t mean you’re going to get there first, baby.
Look at it from afar, take your time.”

My Pace is an upbeat hip-hop song with a blend of rock instrumentals released in 2018 from their mini album I am WHO. In a society where constant comparison and criticism of our lives have become the basis for one’s self-worth and confidence, this song will help bring comfort and motivate a lot of people. My Pace tells you that life isn’t about winning the race but, most importantly, about continuously moving towards your goal, even if it’s slow and steady. The lyrics highlight that a constant sense of comparison and thinking that other people are always better or ahead of us induces feeling of anxiousness and demotivation. In summary, the song conveys this encouraging message “Even if you don’t know what your destination or success looks like, don’t worry, keep moving forward without looking back or at others. It’s your own race, so you set your own pace.”

19

“Twenty years old that I wanted to become so badly.
Did everybody go through this same experience or am I the only one that’s anxious?”

19 was written by the member Han Ji-sung and was released in 2019 as a part of their mini album Clé 1 : MIROH. It talks about how the transition to being an adult can feel overwhelming and burdensome. As kids or teenagers, we often wish to become adults faster as it would allow us more personal freedom but as soon as that happens, we realise the tough responsibilities that come along with adulthood and maybe we’re still not ready to shoulder them. Life seems to be in a rush and moving faster than before as if we’re living a daze. Stray Kids talks about wanting to go back in time to experience the simplicity and carefreeness of their youth again as they feel nervous with their approaching 20s.

MANIAC

“Barely holding on (Yup, yup).
After blinking once, back.
Again, back to cosplaying as what society defines normal to be pow.”

One of their most popular and viral songs, MANIAC is a trap and electropop song from their 2022 mini album ODDINARY. Firstly, let’s talk about the smart wordplay behind the album title “ODDINARY”, i.e., ODD + ORDINARY, which means that it’s normal to be different from the general crowd. I consider this to be one of their most creatively written and produced songs. Maniac has a silly and whimsical feeling to it which parallels the stereotypical traits associated with a person deemed as odd, strange or weird. The lyrics highlight the hypocrisy of treating people as unusual or odd when they don’t follow societal norms while hiding behind a mask of forced behaviour themselves. I love the way the word “maniac” has been used in this song as a metaphor representing a person who takes pride in their own unique identity and refuses to care about other’s unsolicited opinions, a positive symbolism in contrast to its traditional negative meaning.

Awkward Silence

“It’s not easy to laugh them away as expected, baby.
Don’t make your bright face grim.
It doesn’t suit you, awkward silence (Hey, hey, pop, pop).”

Awkward Silence is a fun and joyful sidetrack from their mini album I am WHO, released in 2018. I feel like this song can have multiple interpretations that can vary from person to person, but for me, it highlights the struggles of being an introvert in social settings. For example, the struggles of sustaining long conversations sometimes lead to moments of hanging awkward silences while you’re figuring out what to say next. Particularly the line “Oh my gosh, look at him, he looks so gloomy” hit the nerve because introverts are often referred to as gloomy or low-spirited because they’re quieter, mostly keep to themselves or find it difficult to approach other people to make friends. The song also tells you not to care about negative comments or small things that could upset you or ruin your day. That’s why I think this song will also feel relatable to all my introverted friends out there.

As Stray Kids continue to create meaningful and heartwarming songs, share your favourite SKZ tracks in the comments!