Stray Kids’ ‘ODDINARY’ packs a thematic punch
‘ODDINARY’ is the sixth extended play by the K-pop boy band Stray Kids.
Stray Kids is a well-known K-pop boy band that originated in South Korea and works under JYP Entertainment. They’ve made a variety of albums including “Noeasy,” “Mixtape,” and “ALL IN.” Their newest, an album by the name of “ODDINARY,” is their sixth Korean-language extended play, released on March 18, 2022.
In general, K-Pop has become extremely popular, especially after the 2010s when artists like BTS and Psy began to grow. According to a 2019 American survey conducted by the Statista Research Department, around 29.4% of those who responded said the genre was very popular within their home country. Groups like SKZ are not exempt from this phenomenon.
Stray Kids have had many different musical concepts over the years, but this one is their most impactful to date. The message they went for was “what’s odd will soon be normal”. Although the album is a bit more relaxed than some of their others, it shines most because of its unified theme. All the songs fit perfectly together, and they get across the point that even when things are confusing, a day will come when they can become normal to you.
To me, it even seems like they took inspiration from the pandemic. Perhaps this central point has something to do with how people have gotten used to living like this. It now feels normal to wear masks, to stay home more often.
In general, the seven songs within this extended play did not disappoint whatsoever. Similarly to previous tracks, there’s lots of upbeat rapping and unforgettable vocals. Everyone had a chance to work on this album and have moments to shine. No one was left out: every member can be heard.
Although Stray Kids may not be as popular as BTS, who have millions and millions of fans around the world, its fanbase is still extremely supportive. Many took to Twitter to express their appreciation, showering them all with love. As a fan myself, I’m glad to see them succeed.
My personal favorite from this whole album is a song by the name of “Venom.” It is extremely captivating, and its use of trap beats and sound effects really get me hooked. The lyrics are also quite thought-provoking, especially when it comes to these lines:
All in all, I really enjoyed this album. Although it isn’t necessarily my favorite of the band, it is definitely up there. I thought the message was very compelling, and I really just love all the members. I’m excited to see what they’ll be creating in the future.
Senior Rory Reigle is a third-year staff reporter for the Spotlight. Rory participates in GSA, and enjoys writing, reading, and painting in their free...