Song Review: Firework by &TEAM

Technically, &TEAM is not a K-pop group, but because of their almost ambiguous nature thanks to the origin of some of their members and their connection to ENHYPEN, I’ll let them through (lol). More importantly, I believe that ‘Firework’ is easily the best HYBE boy group title track released in the last year so it would be an absolute shame to not write about it.

If I were to look at the last couple of HYBE boy group title tracks, none of them really blew me out of the park. I’ve already explained my mixed feelings on ENHYPEN’s ‘Bite Me’ in their album review. I’ve decided to hold back on writing a review on TXT’s ‘Sugar Rush Ride’ because of my anger towards the song (which has now faded into acceptance and a good listen from time to time). Seventeen’s ‘Super’ which has grown on me, is still far and away my favorite SEVENTEEN title track. BTS… yeah. (Their pre-2019 work is still far superior to anything else they put out after) There are always good b-sides here and there from all the mentioned groups, but it is always a shame to not feel the initiative to find a song that you want to play again and again and again (with the exception of ENHYPEN bar ‘Bite Me’). Thankfully, with the release of ‘Firework’, I have a HYBE bg title track that I will be playing for years to come.

Firework evocatively captures a hopeful yet solemn sentiment through its moving production and passionate vocal delivery by &Team’s members. In my opinion, the vocal delivery in ‘Firework’ is easily the best I’ve listened to from any HYBE BG in a while (TXT and ENHYPEN included). It feels so confident and self-assured, and the song would have only felt half as cathartic as it is without &TEAM’s delivery. This is something that surprised me as I have watched their survival show ‘The Howling’ and was never particularly struck by the vocal abilities of the members as none of them are particularly technical singers. However, sometimes, passion and style really go a long way. In particular, the singing of main vocalist (and the youngest) Maki has me impressed. He really emitted the feeling required for the song. All of the members also did a great job.

At first listen, I wasn’t the most impressed by the song’s chorus, but after the second listen, I got its appeal. It isn’t the most instantly catchy hook out there (like the likes of the recent Wild Heart by LUN8 or Kick It 4 Now by The New Six) but it grabs your heart as you listen to it more and more. Its structure is somewhat unusual, repeating immediately after 2 phrases, but it has a really interesting effect. It gives the feeling of chasing after something that you can’t catch, but you try and grasp it anyway. This is paired with the production which keeps up with the melody’s momentum, and it makes for an interesting listen.

Vocal effects and mixing adjustments were used tastefully in ‘Firework’, only adding to the song’s sentiment. All of the elements came together really nicely to achieve a very strong final product.

‘Firework’ is quite a delight and I hope others can find joy in listening to it too.

Hooks – 9
Production – 10
Vocal Delivery – 10
Overall – 9.75