Rock band Goose ousts drummer over cryptic 'behavior' in 'personal life'
Rock band Goose ousts drummer over cryptic 'behavior' in 'personal life'
Show Caption
Hide Caption
K-pop singer, Taeil splits from band amid sex crime accusation
K-pop singer Taeil has left the boy band NCT amid accusations of being involved in an unspecified sex crime, according to his label SM Entertainment.
unbranded - Entertainment
Rock band Goose is saying goodbye to one of its members.
In a post to Instagram Sunday, the group released a joint statement hinting at a troubled split with drummer Jeff Arevalo.
"We have been made aware of behavior in Jeff's personal life that does not align with the band's core values," the statement reads. "As a result, Jeff will no longer be a part of the Goose organization."
Once a five-man collective fusing psychedelic and funk sounds, the band will now play as a foursome.
"This is an incredibly unfortunate, unexpected situation, and we did not anticipate having to make another painful change to the band," the statement continued. Arevalo first stepped back from his role in the band at the start of the year, releasing a statement in February that implied a more temporary hiatus for his own "well-being."
"It is clear that this is the only way forward as we remain committed to upholding the values that define our community," Goose's joint statement said, "particularly when it comes to respecting others and creating a safe environment."
This is not the band's first shakeup. Since its founding in 2014, Goose has been home to a rotating cast of characters. Following Arevalo's exit, the band is currently comprised of Rick Mitarotonda, Trevor Weekz, Peter Anspach and Cotter Ellis. Only Weekz and Mitarotonda are founding members.
The details around Arevalo's alleged behavior remain unclear. He first joined the band in 2020, serving as the group's post-pandemic percussion as they played various festivals and stadium shows.
The group, which is headed out on tour again in April, traveled the country in 2024 for a spate of live shows.
"This past tour was an unexpected challenge to navigate, but through it all, the four of us forged a deeper connection on and off stage," the statement said.
"We're feeling inspired to continue growing as a unit as we move into this next chapter, and are deeply grateful for everyone with us on this journey."
In January, the group announced its fourth studio album "Everything Must Go," which is expected to drop in April. It is unclear whether Arevalo will play on the whole project, but he is credited on the first two singles: "Give It Time" and "Lead Up."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Brian Wilson Learns to Smile
This story was originally published in the October 14, 2004 issue of Rolling Stone. Brian Wilson is waiting in the driveway of his Mediterranean-style Beverly Hills house, dressed entirely in brown corduroy, bouncing on his toes. More from Rolling Stone Watch Brian Wilson Play 'California Girls' and 'Good Vibrations' at His Last Concert Brian Wilson, Beach Boys Co-Founder and Architect of Pop, Dead at 82 Hear Neil Young Duet With the Beach Boys' Al Jardine 'Let's go!' he says, jumping into the car. 'Go down here, make a U-turn, I'll give you directions.' His silvery brown hair is uncombed, and he's unshaven, in a relaxed, Sunday-afternoon way. His face is tan; his smile is gentle, easy. Wilson looks good. 'We don't have to introduce each other, because we've met before,' he says. 'So, how you been?' 'Good. How about you?' 'I'm good,' he says. 'I'm great. Doing a lot of work. It's a big relief — whew! — because, you know, I've been through some rough times in my head, but I've been fighting it off.' Wilson is more active now than he's been since the Beach Boys were America's top group in the mid-Sixties. He tours relentlessly with his superb band; he released a solo album this summer, Gettin' In Over My Head, with cameos from Elton John and Paul McCartney; and now he's preparing to put out what may be his crowning achievement: an entirely new recording of the legendary, unfinished Smile, which was scrapped in 1967 and has become the most famous unheard album in rock history. Launched as the follow-up to the Beach Boys' classic Pet Sounds— and in response to the Beatles' masterful Rubber Soul and Revolver— Smile was intended to be the grandest, most complex rock & roll production ever: a loosely themed concept album about coast-to-coast 'Americana,' from Plymouth Rock to 'Blue Hawaii,' built from modular, cut-and-paste fragments of pop melody, orchestral instrumentation, recurring vocal themes and even the sounds of crunching vegetables and barnyard animals. Wilson, then twenty-four, described his epic musical tapestry as a 'teenage symphony to God.' Wilson's ambition, however, was undercut by intensifying, untreated mental illness as well as by drug use (including hashish and amphetamines) and pressure from the other Beach Boys and the group's label, Capitol, to stop messing around and start cranking out hits. Beach Boy Mike Love was the harshest critic, reportedly calling Smile 'a whole album of Brian's madness.' Wilson's behavior became erratic and paranoid. His Smile collaborator, the lyricist Van Dyke Parks, remembers going into Wilson's swimming pool fully clothed for a business meeting, because Wilson was afraid his house was bugged by his controlling father, Murry. One night, while recording a section of his 'Elements' suite about fire called 'Mrs. O'Leary's Cow,' Wilson distributed plastic fireman's helmets to the orchestra and lit a small fire in the studio so they could smell smoke. Later, Wilson learned that a building near the studio burned down and that there had been several other fires across Southern California. Wilson believed his music caused the fires, and he immediately stopped work on the song and locked the tapes away in a vault. BY May 1967, after more than eighty recording sessions, Wilson's masterwork was unraveling, and so was he. Smile was abandoned. Its best tracks — 'Heroes and Villains,' 'Wonderful,' 'Surf's Up'— turned up on subsequent Beach Boys albums such as Smiley Smile; bootleggers tried to piece together the rest. Some say Wilson never recovered from the monumental disappointment of Smile's failure. 'He was a man so lonely and so abused and maligned, ostracized,' says Parks. 'It was an outrage what he suffered.' Today he won't say much about that time except that Smile 'was too far ahead of its time, so I junked it.' Until recently, he didn't seem interested in revisiting the work ('Bad music, bad memories,' he told me in 2001), but a year and a half ago, looking for a new live project, Wilson's wife, Melinda, suggested trying Smile, and his bandleader, Darian Sahanaja, began to organize the project. 'It took courage,' says Wilson over steaks and Heinekens at the Mullholland Grill, near his house. 'We worked on it little by little, week by week, until finally we got it right.' 'You can hear that Brian has a glimmer,' says Parks, who worked with Wilson on the new SMiLE (differentiated in typography from the original Smile). 'That is what I think is wonderful about this project… It bathes Brian in some real redemptive light. It shows that he is very generous and very talented, and that he uses his talent to console, in a powerful way.' Work on the new Smile began in the fall of 2003, Sahanaja showed up at Wilson's house one morning with all the existing fragments of Smile he could find (both from bootlegs and the Capitol vaults) loaded onto his iBook. 'I knew Smile is not Brian's favorite topic,' says Sahanaja. 'And he had a look, like he was looking over the edge of the Empire State Building with no support.' At first, Wilson offered little reaction. 'He was quiet for a long time,' says Sahanaja. 'Then I played him 'Do You Like Worms?' and I thought he was going to freak out. But he went, 'That's pretty cool. We did that?' And it just started going, grouping different sections and songs together.' To Sahanaja's amazement, Wilson began to remember harmonies and arrangements that were never recorded. At one point, they were working on a portion of 'Do You Like Worms?' (now renamed 'Roll Plymouth Rock'), and Wilson couldn't read Parks' thirty-eight-year-old lyric sheet. 'We just couldn't figure it out,' says Sahanaja. 'Brian goes, 'Van Dyke will know.' So he picks up the phone — hasn't called Van Dyke in years — goes, 'Yeah, Van Dyke. It's Brian. Do you know the song 'Do You Like Worms?' What's this line?' ' The next morning, Van Dyke Parks showed up at Wilson's house to begin five days of work. Parks says his main goal was to bring Smile out of the past, to make it the work of a man looking back at his younger days, not to try and simply re-create material thirty-seven years old. 'It was important that this not arrive irrelevant and brain-dead,' he says. Parks made mostly subtle changes. At the start of 'In Blue Hawaii,' for example, Parks added the line 'Is it hot as hell in here? Or is it me?/It really is a mystery.' 'These words reveal Brian in the present tense,' says Parks, 'reflecting on this situation that happened to him all those years ago.' The new SMiLE was first performed by Wilson on tour in the U.K. in February, to rave reviews, then recorded at Sunset Sound and Your Place Or Mine studios in Los Angeles. It wasn't always easy. 'Darian's a perfectionist — he henpecks me,' Wilson says. 'It's hard work, but it's worth it.' Adds Sahanaja, 'Sometimes Brian was a little impatient. He would say, What do we need to do next? When am I getting my steak?' Sometimes I think he would have rather stayed at home, and, technically, he didn't have to be there a lot of the time. But he showed up, and, man, it was such a difference. Just his goofy way. We'd do a really beautiful version of 'Surf's Up.' We'd get to the last chord, and we're all there with our headphones on and we'd hear him scream, 'Right the fuck on!' That's so inspiring for us musicians.' Tonight it's hard to tell how excited Wilson is about SMiLE, but he's definitely excited about dinner. 'They have an excellent salad here; I think you should get it,' he advises, then calls the waitress over and orders two iceberg-and-blue-cheese salads and two rib-eye steaks, medium rare. Wilson seems relaxed — or as relaxed as I've seen him in recent years — as he drinks beer and talks about his courtside seats to the Lakers playoff games and about his four-month-old adopted son, Dylan. (just saying Dylan's name makes Brian burst out laughing.) 'Life's better than it's been in the past twenty years,' he says. Still, he admits that he works hard to keep depression at bay. 'Every day I have an anxiety attack,' he says. 'I can't explain why. It just comes on.' He takes medication for anxiety and depression, and he sees a therapist three times a week. 'I'm in bad mental shape, so I need it,' he says. A routine of work and exercise helps, too. Each morning before doing anything else, he spends an hour at the piano. He says he's written three new songs in the past week. 'The creative process blows me out,' he says. 'It's an amazing trip. Amazing. Just amazing. I'm older, wiser, more knowledgeable than I used to be, so I can get it together pretty quick.' He smiles, stares off for a while, gulps his Heineken, then looks up at me with pale greenish-blue eyes. 'I'll tell you something I've learned,' he says. 'It's hard work to be happy.' Best of Rolling Stone Sly and the Family Stone: 20 Essential Songs The 50 Greatest Eminem Songs All 274 of Taylor Swift's Songs, Ranked
Buzz Feed
2 hours ago
- Buzz Feed
31 Amazing Products You'll Wait By The Window For
A TikTok-famous microwavable popcorn popper that's basically a must-have if you've often considered ordering popcorn from the local AMC on Uber Eats. All you have to do is add the kernels, place a slab of butter on the lid, then microwave your way to theater-worthy popcorn. A piercing bump solution formulated with jojoba, grape seed, and rose to help keep any annoying keloids at bay! It can help shrink bumps and reduce scarring by promoting skin cell turnover and adding an extra dose of moisture. A set of press-on nails that requires ZERO messy nail glue — the adhesive is already on the nail!!! Just peel the backing off, press it, and forget it! Oh, and don't worry about accidentally ripping these off five minutes after you put them on — several reviewers say they're durable enough to survive everything from showering to furiously typing a passive-aggressive e-mail. A pair of teeth-whitening pens, which are SO much easier to use than traditional white strips. Just swipe it on and let the gel sit for 30 minutes — and eventually, you'll see years and years of stains start to disappear. This is a must for all my fellow coffee connoisseurs. An Ogx air-dry leave-in cream, which will give you Sephora-level results at a drugstore-level price. Now you can stop dreaming of buying one of those $400+ blow-dryers — this lets you air-dry your way to bouncy waves! The coconut oil and shea butter add extra moisture, while the citrus oils help add shine to your curls. A Stash Scrunchie that would be perfect for Gretchen Weiners, because it's full of secrets. There's a helpful little zipper pouch so you can stash some cash, keys, or the lip balm you always leave behind. Welcome to your new life, where you no longer have to carry your giant tote bag around just to carry a few essentials!! A sleek and ultra-portable facial shaver that'll remove the pesky peach fuzz that's stopping your foundation from seamlessly gliding on. It's also great for tackling that one stubborn chin hair that even the best tweezers can't seem to tackle. It's become a must-have gadget for more than 102,000 raters. An exfoliating glove with immediate results you can actually see. Seriously, the dead skin just clumps up and rolls right off of your body. It's somehow satisfying and gross at the same time. A set of makeup sponges that'll make you question how you ever spent top dollar for a Beauty Blender. You can get five of these for less than $10, and reviewers say they blend everything from foundation to concealer like a dream. A carbonated clay mask from K-beauty brand Elizavecca — it bubbles up into a thick layer of foam that's infused with charcoal powder to mop up any excess oils. It'll also basically turn you into one of the trolls from Frozen, so get ready to take all the selfies. A grossly adorable Shrek-shaped toothpaste cap so you can start and end your day like the ~All Star~ you are. It'll also remind you to watch Shrek 2 every day, though I assume you already do. A hydrating OGX mist that basically does the impossible — gives you frizz-free, bouncy waves without any extra weight. You can thank the nourishing coconut oil and bamboo extract for that. The beloved Hard as Hoof nourishing cream made with beeswax and jojoba oil to condition brittle nails and cuticles (on your fingers AND toes!) and have them looking as shiny and fresh as they did before that gel manicure did its damage. It's designed to sink in quickly (a rare feat in the world of cuticle oils) and it also smells like coconuts. I probably should have led with the coconut part. 🥥 🤤 A pair of light-up "chop sabers" so you can bring a touch of The Force to every meal — and have a post-lunch lightsaber battle afterward. These are BPA-free and designed to be easy to hand-wash, so you might just reach for these every day. A highly rated cream-to-powder eyeshadow that's not only super easy to use when you're in a hurry, but it'll basically pull your whole look together in just a few swipes. There's even a built-in smudger, so you can touch up while on the go without bringing an extra brush with you. Oh, and the vitamin E-infused formula is designed with sensitive skin in mind! A Saucemoto dip clip for everyone who knows fries taste SOOOOO much better on your way home from the drive-thru. This absolutely genius invention clips right onto your vent and holds your sauce at the perfect level, meaning you can easily dip while you're stopped at a red light. A double-sided Maybelline liquid lipstick that's designed to last for a whopping 24 hours without caking or flaking, so you can say goodbye to constantly touching up your lip color every time you take a much-deserved coffee break. One side of the tube has the longwear lipstick, while the other side has a moisturizing lip balm so you can add some extra shine on top of your color. A jewelry-cleaning stick so you can quickly and easily add some bling back to your rings and make them 🎵 shine bright like a diamond 🎵. You can use it on basically any of your accessories that need a good sprucing-up — just twist the pen to dispense some cleanser onto the brush, then gently swipe on your jewelry to let the microfine cleansers wipe away dirt and oil. A blank acrylic dry erase board if you need a ridiculously chic place to write down all of your to-do lists, goals, or those weird dreams you've been having from falling asleep with your fave true-crime podcast on. TruSkin Naturals vitamin C serum to give you that coveted ✨ glowy but not greasy ✨ look that'll have you feeling like a Winx fairy. It's packed with vitamins C and E and botanical hyaluronic acid to help fade dark spots and add a radiant sheen to your skin. It has 94,000+ rave ratings, with many reviewers saying it instantly brightens and absorbs quickly. A popular heated massager with three adjustable speeds so you can fit in some much needed self-care during your workday. Its compact design allows you to easily use it on your back, neck, legs, and feet. A nifty device that can turn hot coffee into iced coffee in 60 seconds, so it's perfect for the coffee connoisseur who drinks iced beverages year-round. It can also be used to quickly chill wine, which honestly might be even more useful. The unique design keeps the ice completely separate from the liquid you pour inside, so you'll get a chilled bev without diluting it. A trendy monogram necklace that's perfect for anyone looking for a statement piece with a personal touch. It's the perfect go-to gift for the jewelry lover who has everything. So basically, it's a perfect gift for yourself. A folding tabletop mirror with some impressively bright lights that will have you saying, "Hey, guys, welcome back to my channel!" like the glamorous beauty influencer you were meant to be. There's even a helpful storage spot on the stand so you can keep your go-to products ready at all times. A rechargeable electric lighter with a flexible neck that lets you easily reach down to the bottom of all your most-loved candles — and prevents the dreaded "oh no, my lighter is out of fluid!!!" moment all my fellow candle lovers have experienced more than a few times. You can recharge this with a USB cable, and each charge lasts for 600 uses! A Waterpik water flosser — your dentist called me and asked that I personally recommend this to you. It's racked up 111,000+ rave ratings from reviewers who say it does a phenomenal job of blasting away trapped food particles that traditional floss may leave behind, and that the massage mode feels ah-maz-ing on the gums. A reading light you can hang right around your neck so you won't disturb your partner during those nights when "just one more chapter" accidentally becomes a three-hour-long reading session. It has three brightness levels ranging from "trying to be discreet and polite on the airplane" to "are my keys hiding underneath the couch??" and it lasts for up to 40 hours on a single charge. A semi-permanent hair dye made without peroxide and ammonia, so you won't have to worry about damaging your strands when you feel like switching up your color. It'll work best on pre-lightened hair, but many reviewers say it also provides an impressive tint on dark hair as well! A soft-serve maker to turn frozen fruit into an ice cream-like dessert without all the hassle of making actual homemade ice cream. Just add the frozen fruit of your choice to the chute, push down with the plunger, and watch as a creamy, soft-serve-like concoction makes its way into your bowl. Reviewers say it's perfectly creamy and easy to use. A set of 12 bath bombs in various relaxing scents and vibrant colors so you can take your bath game to the next level. Watching these little fizz balls swirl around is almost as relaxing as actually soaking in the tub. A set of three owl-shaped plant pots that perch upon their very own bamboo stand to offer wisdom and guidance while keeping your succulents looking their best. It comes with everything you need to easily assemble it, and it even includes drainage holes for easy maintenance. You, stalking the UPS truck: Reviews here have been edited for length and/or clarity.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Every Song From SEVENTEEN's 10th Anniversary Album ‘Happy Burstday,' Ranked
From captivating Billboard upon their debut as the unexpectedly large 13-member boy band to now setting new Boxscore records for K-pop acts, SEVENTEEN is throwing a party to celebrate their 10th anniversary. The group marks the triumphant milestone with the new album, Happy Burstday, which captures every facet of their decade-long K-pop evolution while initiating a new chapter for the band in its next decade. More from Billboard Lady Gaga's 'Wednesday' Character Confirmed, First Six Minutes of Season Two Released Miley Cyrus Talks Pop Star Peers, 'Winding Down' Her Focus on Mainstream Success After 'Something Beautiful' Alf Clausen, Emmy-Winning Composer for 'The Simpsons,' Dies at 84 From the explosive rock-infused roar of the opening track 'HBD' to the declarative dance-pop single 'THUNDER,' the LP makes the bold claim that SEVENTEEN isn't just celebrating the past but charging headfirst like a buffalo into new territory. For the first time, each member delivers a solo spotlight across 13 brand-new tracks — a true testament to their individual strengths — while still coming together for three new group tracks, including the all-English cut 'Bad Influence,' produced by Pharrell Williams. Along with Pharrell in the mix, Happy Burstday lets the SEVENTEEN members write and produce songs with their longtime creative collaborators such as Bumzu and Shannon Bae, while also welcoming new names like Timbaland, BTS' longtime producer PDogg and K-indie singer Ha Hyunsang, among others. Whether delicate piano ballads or gritty club cuts, the solo songs reveal fresh dimensions of Woozi, Hoshi, Jeonghan, Wonwoo, Joshua, DK, Jun, Mingyu, The 8, Seungkwan, Vernon, and Dino's talents as individual artists and creators — and further underscore the momentousness of this milestone record. As SEVENTEEN celebrate a decade together with these 16 new groups and solo tracks, here are Billboard's rankings of all the songs across Happy of the most exciting aspects of a SEVENTEEN album listening experience is the experimentation showcased throughout the records. Making a surprise premiere during January's Louis Vuitton Fall/Winter 2025 runway show, Pharrell Williams debuted the collaboration, which was finally released in its official form five months later. 'Bad Influence' is a low-pitched, bass-heavy ode to living without worries as the album's only all-English track. It's unusually understated for a group that has some of the most bombastic and impactful singles, not to mention Pharrell's Grammy-winning body of work. While we're all for the Pharrell x SVT linkup — and the song is no doubt a bop and a half — the change up to a subtle sound might have been a little too unexpected and we'd like to hear them all go back into the studio soon. One of the most unexpected genre jumps on Happy Burstday, '99.9%' lets rapper Wonwoo try on a throwback jazz concept complete with twinkling piano, crisp percussion, and bold brass horns. The sweet, confessional track reminds us that the rapper is capable of far more music beyond the Hip-Hop Unit's signature sound and that he's got a soft side delivering Korean lyrics that translate to cute lines like: 'You'd say, 'Am I really that special?'/ Smiling while hiding your heart/ But my heart is already at 100%/ So don't worry — I'm sure.' 100% swoon-worthy. While the timing of Wonwoo's mandatory military enlistment this year may have prevented him from participating in creating the track (with Woozi writing and help co-compose the song), we're eager to hear Wonwoo's full work on future solo tracks. While it's every Carat's dream to go clubbing with Mingyu, his dance-ready rap track is a fun shift for the rapper-singer-model; however, we don't get to hear nearly enough of him throughout, as the production takes over large parts of the song. However, this may have been a deliberate choice, as Mingyu flexes his production skills, credited as a co-composer of 'Shake It Off' alongside rising hip-hop producer ioah. Still, we want more Mingyu! And as evidenced by global campaigns for brands like Calvin Klein and Innisfree, as well as recent appointments as brand ambassadors for Dior and Snickers, the world does, too. As the first member of SEVENTEEN to enlist in his mandatory military service, Jeonghan's voice returning to listeners through such a lovely, gospel-inspired ballad track makes the track all the more special. And it's no 'Coincidence' that Jeonghan perfectly embodies this track with his emotional delivery enhancing such a delicate piece. Once again, likely due to his military enlistment last year, Jeonghan did not participate in the writing or production of this track, but it makes us all the more eager to hear what he creates when he releases more of his own solo music. DK's 'Happy Virus' might be the most perfectly titled solo track as the vocalist with the big grin takes this light-rock/pop to deliver lines like, 'I'll be there for you…smile, smile, smile' in a song that's sure to infect listeners with the all the fuzzy, warm feelings. The subtle country influences on the track make it another unforeseen genre exploration on Happy Burstday, pairing well with DK's messages of wanting to help heal and protect one's wild to think SEVENTEEN's youngest member Dino, who debuted with the group when he was only 16, is now an adult, whipping out mature songs like 'Trigger,' co-crafted by BIGHIT MUSIC producer Pdogg. We get to truly hear his growth as a vocalist through the falsetto-heavy chorus, which feels like a genuine declaration that Dino is no longer a baby. 'Skyfall' is the first of the SEVENTEEN members' solo tracks in Happy Burstday's tracklist with THE 8 kicking the energy back up after the Pharrell Williams–produced 'Bad Influence.' Subtle electronica beats surround THE 8's light delivery before booming 808s, hard synthesizers, and bustling breakbeats enter the mix, creating a euphoric blend that represents the singer-dancer-model's hope to let go and drift like a feather. In a cool nod to his crossover appeal, 'Skyfall' includes lyrics in Korean, English and THE8's native Chinese. Beyond the excitement surrounding three new group songs and a solo track from each member, the biggest surprise when SEVENTEEN revealed its Happy Burstday tracklist had to have been the featured guest appearance from Timbaland on Hoshi's track, 'Damage.' The track opens with a funky bassline hook that screams classic Timbaland with the Performance Unit leader introducing the track by announcing himself and SEVENTEEN's main producing member with 'Hoshi, baby/ Prod. by Woozi and…' before Mr. Mosley drops his signature 'Timbo' tag. With contributions from Hoshi, Woozi, Timbaland, and some of his go-to collaborators such as Angel 'BabeTruth' Lopez and Federico Vindver, 'Damage' feels like a balanced mix of the two artists' worlds. We would to see each side push the other into a more experimental place next time, like the best Timbo bangers, but we'll gladly take this smooth solo song for now. A cool rush of electro-pop beats punched up by electric guitar riffs star alongside Jun in the infectious 'Gemini.' In one of the album's best-written cuts, 'Gemini' paints a poignant picture using the celestial twin's zodiac sign to represent aching over a lost love, as if the other half of its soul has been lost. With his birthday on June 10, 1996, Jun is a true, multifaceted Gemini, as evidenced by his talents in singing, rapping, dancing, composing, acting, hosting, and modeling, all demonstrated over the past 10 years alongside and composed by Seungkwan with introspective indie songwriter Ha Hyunsang of the band Hoppipolla, the classic power ballad 'Raindrops' recalls the special moments with someone who may be gone but remains in one's heart. The emotional track is bound to stir up intense feelings as Seungkwan details the happiness and pain of his memories, ultimately coming to terms with his feelings and deciding that everything is all right. While Seungkwan has not confirmed the meaning of the song, many interpreted 'Raindrops' as a tribute to his late friend Moonbin, a member of the K-pop group ASTRO, who tragically passed in 2023. Fans have discovered a past interview with the late singer where he shares a memory of him and Seungkwan walking in the rain together. The sentimental lyrics now tied to this memory make this a poignant tribute track that Seungkwan can be proud to dedicate to his dear friend. Vernon has shown his tastemaker music preferences through solo collaborations with the likes of A. G. Cook, Charli XCX, Omega Sapien, Tobi Lou, Drunken Tiger and Rina Sawayama, while shouting out his love for rising stars like 100 gecs and Bladee. With production that recalls William Orbit's spacey pop-rock stylings, 'Shining Star' once again showcases his artistic range with a track that employs starry metaphors to remind the listener that they still shine, even when they're feeling burned out. Speaking of William Orbit, can we link him, Vernon, Woozi, and the crew together for a special track on the next SEVENTEEN album? As the member producing a majority of the songs on SEVENTEEN's albums, Woozi had a hand in two of the group songs and five solo songs for Happy Burstday. But for his solo track, the musical mastermind rather unexpectedly does not have any credits, instead singing a track written by Bumzu (who has been a producer with the group since their debut single 'Adore U'), who co-produced the track with Kitae Park (who has credits across several SVT albums including their sophomore record, Boys Be). The musical admiration and closeness among the three is crystal clear in 'Destiny,' with references to some of Woozi's most famous productions, as the star angelically delivers the introspective lyrics about embracing the inevitable highs and lows in one's unfurling is intrinsically linked with SEVENTEEN after a decade as the team's leader — which is probably why his solo track 'Jungle' sounds as if it could be a track sung by all 13 members. Celebrating the group and their fans' journey together, 'Jungle' delves into a hard-hitting, hip-hop sound that has consistently embraced throughout his career, dismissing negativity and focusing on the positive. He sings and spits through English and Korean lyrics: 'I don't need respect, our lives are different/ I need fans, when I have them, it's perfect/ I need love, even if the world changes, that doesn't.' Written entirely by 'Jungle' is the final track on Happy Burstday to leave listeners with a lasting reminder that SEVENTEEN is a group from K-pop's 'third generation who's been rising for 10 years' and plans to keep on doing so in the years to come. Opening with no-frills synth beats that hint at the song being a simple dance track, Joshua delivers one of the most satisfying songs on Happy Birthday with 'Fortunate Change.' Soothing synthesizers and warm guitar riffs blend with Joshua's breezy tenor and falsetto deliveries, creating a song that forgoes traditional song structure without a second verse or repeating refrain yet still feels fully whole and encompassing as a standout solo cut. The acid jazz influences of 'Fortunate Change' are among the most unexpected yet refreshing sounds on the record. Plus, Joshua's joy is palpable through the song as he sings about seeing the world in a new light thanks to love. It's a universal message that SEVENTEEN can dedicate to fans, and fans can share back with them. But one can also dedicate the song to a lover, friend, team, colleague, group, relative, or anyone else you want to say, 'Thanks for coming to me.' The appropriately titled 'HBD' opens Happy Burstday with one of SEVENTEEN's most rock & roll tracks to date. However, as with most SEVENTEEN tracks, there are numerous twists and turns as 'HBD' is infused with influences of big-room EDM and breakbeat percussion for a truly explosive listening experience. Using birthdays to symbolize rebirth, the band shares their mantras to live as authentically as possible and light up life like the candles on a birthday cake. They chant in Korean and English, 'Today, it's my way/ Light a candle, make a wish — it'll all come true/ Happy birthday to you…/ Tonight is my celebration night, I won't stop for anything.' As the first of 16 new tracks on Happy Burstday, 'HBD' very much settles the listener into the true musical journey of SEVENTEEN's latest album, which marks their most expansive set of genres and styles together the song to represent SEVENTEEN after a decade is no easy task (Billboard's Abby Webster somehow pulled off the impossible task of selecting their 10 best songs), but 'THUNDER' feels like the kind of track that captures the true electricity surrounding the group at this moment. With an undeniable whistle hook incorporated throughout to give it universal Top 40 appeal, 'THUNDER' is a booming surge of complex, powerful K-pop that allows each of the 12 members on the record to shine through its various shifts and shakes. (13th member Jeonghan was the first member to serve his mandatory South Korean military service and seemingly enlisted before recording.) The lyrics show a more mature SEVENTEEN that's still bursting with rebellious youth as they try out more adult lines like 'Now I'm funked up, step on the gas,' but also has SVT's signature sense of knowing one's self (Vernon boasts, 'Rumors spread like fire, chatter everywhere/ Now they're crowding around, ah, what a feeling'). Produced by SEVENTEEN's longtime producer Bumzu (who is sometimes referenced as their '14th member' given how many songs he's done with the group) with Woozi and helping on the lyrics and composition, 'THUNDER' also brings in an offbeat element that only SEVENTEEN can make work, with a chorus mostly made up of the guys trading off the chant, 'ALO! ALO! T.H.U.N.D.E.R. ALO! ALO!' It's explosive, it's captivating, and it's unlike any song out there. 'THUNDER' does a worthy job of serving as the representative single for SEVENTEEN's 10th-anniversary album, indicating that the group will continue its musical greatness for the next decade and beyond. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
