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Live In The Present With BSS’s 2nd Single Album ‘TELEPARTY’

Happiness is BSS and they are back! Here with their 2nd single album ‘TELEPARTY’, BSS is here to remind you to indulge in the ordinary through their three tracks: CBZ (Prime time), Happy Alone and Love Song. Produced by fellow SEVENTEEN member WOOZI, BSS’s energy is sure to hit the ball out of the park.

The first sub-unit under SEVENTEEN, BSS is made up of SEUNGKWAN, HOSHI and DOKYEOM – some of the most energetic members of the 13-member group. Meant as a one-off stage back in 2018 with the single Just do it, BSS was brought back in 2023 after fans’ cries of support. 

Their first single album ‘SECOND WIND’ in 2023 gave birth to one of the most iconic tracks: Fighting, featuring rapper Lee Young Ji. To say that the track would be hard to beat is a gross understatement. Sitting at the top of BSS’s discography with over 121 million streams, the song was also used as the official cheer song for the South Korean team at the Paris Olympics. 

Every CARAT hoped for a second album, but, with how iconic Fighting is, I had my doubts that anything could outperform it. It was the anthem, after all. However, with the snippets I’ve heard of CBZ, hyped isn’t enough to describe the song. Without further ado, let’s find out what BSS is delivering with ‘TELEPARTY’!

CBZ (Prime time)

Today’s dress code is jeans as BSS presents CBZ (Prime time) to the world. I might not be a psychic but I foresee this song making rounds as the perfect kickstarter for any concert or festival. Actually, kickstart doesn’t even encompass the sheer amount of energy and power this song encompasses. 

A vibrant mix of percussion, jazzy keys, vibrant guitar and brass elements, CBZ (Prime time) has enough energy to rival even Very Nice, one of SEVENTEEN’s most upbeat songs. In a trio made up of SEVENTEEN’s Performance Team Leader and two main vocalists, you know they are gonna make those 2.5 minutes worth your while. The festival-esque atmosphere is built from a relentless tempo and robust vocals – this is all before we even take a look at other aspects! 

Small things set off a mouthful
Of rough words on weekdays
To-do list exploding like
Hot popcorn 

I had already liked it on the first listen, but looking up the lyrics made me appreciate it even more. Not only does the composition hit the spot, but the imagery used makes the song even more visceral. Simple and to the point, you don’t need to dissect what BSS is trying to tell us with CBZ (Prime time), but that doesn’t mean it’s uninteresting by any means. 

Filled with lyrical snapshots of all the frustrations that everyday people face, I’ve never related to a song more. By connecting those details with the main message of the song, they made a track that may have come off as gimmicky into something optimistic and playful instead! 

Complementing the beats is, of course, a high-energy choreography. Fancy footwork, dynamic movements and large dance numbers – it’s to be expected for a song like this. In this visual feast of a performance number, if a serotonin boost was choreographed, this would be it. Playful and whimsical, CBZ (Prime time) builds up its choreography perfectly, keeping the energy high while working towards the climax of the song: the final chorus. 

Now, if you’re a first-time viewer of BSS and the CBZ (Prime time) music video, you might have been a little overwhelmed. With so many camera movements, extreme close-ups, celebrity cameos and jeans flying everywhere, I get it: it’s chaotic. But everything ties in with the song’s core message. But to dissect that, we have to look at the song’s title. 

While CBZ (Prime time) might just look like a string of random letters, the song is an abbreviation. Titled 청바지 (cheong ba ji) in Korean, it stands for 청춘은 바로 지금 (cheongchuneun baro jigeum), which translates to ‘youth is now’. Wait, so why do jeans keep appearing? Well, if taken literally, 청바지 (cheong ba ji) translates to jeans – a symbol of letting loose in the music video and overall concept. 

CBZ (CBZ)
Everyone go change into your
CBZ


Do whatever you want, who cares?
Except for one thing, father’s nagging
Why do you worry already?
Happiness is BSS, we are CBZ, let’s go

Overall opinion: I’m not gonna lie, I had this album on repeat while writing the article – safe to say that I’ve heard CBZ (Prime time) at least 10 times in a single sitting. Tailor-made to get your mood up even on the dreariest of Monday mornings, the song possesses the infectious energy synonymous with BSS. While it might not have the same qualities as its anthemic predecessor, that might be exactly why CBZ (Prime time) feels so addictive despite existing in a similar realm of music. If Fighting is the song that BSS is known for, then CBZ (Prime time) would be their theme song, perfectly capturing the essence of the three members. 

Happy Alone

Like the previous album, ‘TELEPARTY’ starts at the peak of its energy before mellowing out. Happy Alone is where that energy meets in the middle – while not as hype, it’s still bright and chill, unlike a ballad. The track retains some of the energy from the title track but carries a more wistful and soothing melody. 

Departing from their usual music, this track’s style is reminiscent of 80’s and 90’s music. Crafted in the New Jack Swing genre, Happy Alone blends elements of hip-hop, R&B, and dance-pop, making it feel nostalgic but also refreshing. One of the more vocally challenging songs, we see main vocalists DOKYEOM and SEUNGKWAN’s vocal prowess truly shine through this song. Even though the chorus repeats three times, it never once gets boring, with the members’ divine vocals keeping the experience invigorating. 

Every day, I’m a small flower blooming on the edge of a cliff
Just for today, I want to treat myself well
As the happiest person in the world
I’m happy, happy, happy, happy alone

Perfect for a long drive when you need to clear your head, Happy Alone provides a place of solace and encouragement to take time for yourself. This song is a far cry from the energetic releases that BSS is known for – but it’s by no means a bad move. Even without intense, fast-paced tunes, this song is uplifting the way a sweet treat is on a particularly terrible day. With a fresh new style of music under their belt, I’m sure CARATs can’t wait for BSS to venture into other genres. 

Overall opinion: Introverts, this song might very well be for you. Celebrating self-contentment and independence, Happy Alone reminds listeners that it’s okay to enjoy your solitude. In a society where you are constantly surrounded by people in an environment that’s not necessarily healthy for you, Happy Alone provides a reminder to make time for yourself – definitely my favourite of the three. 

Love Song

With life comes ups but also downs. Some days, you just can’t avoid the negative feelings that bubble up. No worries, Love Song is here to sit here with you and stew in that headspace. A bittersweet ending to the chipper ‘TELEPARTY’, the track takes cues from 2000’s style R&B, without laying it on too heavy. Nostalgic and comforting, the song brings listeners back to those times, creating a soft, blanket-like atmosphere. 

As the sun sets, Love Song evokes a contemplative stillness that only comes with the night. Diving into the more painful aspects of romantic nostalgia, the track isn’t sombre and heartwrenching but rather a resigned peaceful acceptance brought out through the mellowness of the piano and guitar. 

When a day goes by and a month passes
I tried lying that I forgot about you
But my playlist is full of love songs
That you filled up

A classic love song about a love that’s long gone but still leaves echoes of emotions, BSS balances nostalgia but also contemporary appeal, showcasing that they are more than just the heart-pumping energetic performances they are known for. 

Serenading us with divine vocals and their mellifluous voices, BSS is here to provide a balm for aching hearts. Echoing the longing that comes with loving someone, BSS voices all the yearning and acceptance through a gentle melody, letting listeners know that they understand the struggles as well. 

Giving you my all wasn’t a waste
Becausе I wanted to give my heart

Overall opinion: Love Song absolutely stands out among the three songs, showcasing BSS’s vocals in a light that fans haven’t seen very often, even within SEVENTEEN. Like a warm blanket or waves crashing against the beach, this track is soothing in its reliability – something that you can keep coming back to no matter what changes. 

BSS 2nd Single Album ‘TELEPARTY’

That sure was a hell of a party! With BSS’s never-ending energy and scarily realistic lyrics, it doesn’t matter if you’re a student, a teacher or an office worker – there will be at least one song in this album that will provide solace while bringing a smile to your face. Dubbed the ambassadors of youth, BSS is here to remind you to slow down and revel in the ordinary but precious moments in life while ‘TELEPARTY’ plays on your earphones. 

If BSS’s ‘SECOND WIND’ is an album you can add to your daily cycle of songs on the way to work or school, then ‘TELEPARTY’ is for those times when you need a bit more spice in your pick-me-up or when you’re celebrating off-days. So if you need a couple of new tracks to add to your playlist, then check ‘TELEPARTY’ out. Wanna see all the challenges other idols have done to CBZ (Prime time)? Then, visit SEVENTEEN’s TikTok page. Here’s to hoping the energetic trio will grace us with a live performance of at least one song during SEVENTEEN’s upcoming world tour! 


Visuals courtesy of SEVENTEEN. Lyric translations courtesy of Genius.com and @svtranslation on X (formally Twitter)

Jolyn Goh

Yapping about food or K-pop 24/7

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