The STAYC girls are back with their third single album WE NEED LOVE. The album, which features three new tracks and a remix, dropped on July 19. It comes five months after the release of the group’s mini album YOUNG-LUV.COM and title track “RUN2U” earlier this year. The sextet, comprised of members Sumin, Sieun, Isa, Seeun, Yoon, and J, stepped away from their usual teen-fresh concept to explore a new vibe for this comeback. 

BEAUTIFUL MONSTER

The title track “BEAUTIFUL MONSTER” opens with the group’s iconic tag line, “STAYC girls, it’s going down,” setting the mood for another hit. But unlike their previous comebacks, which have been bright and energetic, the song takes a melancholic and emotional direction. The passionate pop track is constructed around a guitar instrumental, with a minimalist electronic-pop drop in the chorus. Lyrics like “Even while I’m holding you/I’m so cold” and “You hurt me, and then you heal me” evoke feelings of melancholy not expected from a summer release. The acoustic verses are soft and highlight the relatively simple instrumental of the song, while the chorus highlights the singers’ impressive vocal control and range.

Set against classic summer backdrops, the music video embodies the feeling of warm summer nights. With their soft, glittery makeup, the girls of STAYC take on an almost fairy-like quality, complemented by the video’s visual effects. 

In a behind-the-scenes video, album producers Rado of Black Eyed Pilseung, Jeon Goon, and FLYT discuss the process of creating STAYC’s latest release alongside the group. The trio reveals that they took an intuitive approach to the song, focusing on good music instead of good K-pop music. They also focused on STAYC’s personalities when composing the song’s lyrics and overall message. With a focus on authenticity and honesty, “BEAUTIFUL MONSTER” is a song that complements the girl group’s existing image.

Sounds of Summer

B-sides “I LIKE IT” and “LOVE” build on the summertime concept introduced in the music video for “BEAUTIFUL MONSTER.” 

“I LIKE IT” is deceptively subtle at the beginning with a soft guitar instrumental that returns in the song’s chorus. The verses, however, have a more lively, chill feeling, with different members taking turns rapping. At the very end, the song takes an unexpected turn, with members harmonizing entirely in English over more instrumental layers. 

“LOVE,” on the other hand, feels like a classic summer pop song. The verses highlight STAYC’s beautiful vocal colors, featuring both the members’ rap and falsettos, before building up to a soft anti-drop chorus. It’s a song made to groove to, with the bridge once again highlighting the group’s talents before the song ends with the chorus instrumental.

The final track on the album, “RUN2U (TAK Remix),” continues the sextet’s tradition of releasing remix versions of their previous title tracks. The remix gives a new take on the instrumental for “RUN2U,” almost isolating the vocals. The chorus in the original song was a clear beat drop, whereas the remix takes an anti-drop approach for a more laid-back vibe.

STAYC’s third single album WE NEED LOVE and the title track “BEAUTIFUL MONSTER” are now available on all streaming platforms.

Interested in reading more about girl group comebacks? Read our article on aespa’s “Girls” here.

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