Monday 18 March 2024

Stray Kids - 樂-STAR (Rock-Star)

Hello

안녕하세요

(Annyeonghaseyo)

こんにちは

(Konnichiwa)

你好

(Ni Hao)


樂-STAR (Rock-Star) is Stray Kids' 8th mini album.
On the 5th of October 2023, the Rock-Star Prologue Video was released.
Owned by JYP Entertainment
On the 19th of October 2023, the UNVEIL: TRACK 1 "MEGAVERSE" was released.
Owned by JYP Entertainment
On the 22nd of October 2023, the SZKFLIZ Teaser was released.
Owned by JYP Entertainment
On the 23rd of October 2023, the UNVEIL: TRACK 2 "Leave" SKZFLIX Sequel was released.
Owned by JYP Entertainment
On the 2nd of November 2023, SKZFLIX was released.
Owned by JYP Entertainment
On the 5th of November 2023, the Rock-Star Mashup Video was released.
Owned by JYP Entertainment
On the 6th of November 2023, the 락 (樂) (LALALALA) M/V Teaser was released.
Owned by JYP Entertainment
On the 7th of November 2023, the 락 (樂) (LALALALA) | [Stray Kids: Docuseries] Teaser was released.
Owned by JYP Entertainment
On the 8th of November 2023, the Intro: Rock-Star was released.
Owned by JYP Entertainment
On the 10th of November 2023, the M/V for 락 (樂) (LALALALA) was released, along with the physical and digital release of 樂-STAR (Rock-Star).
Owned by JYP Entertainment

락 (樂) (LALALALA) won Stray Kids 3 music show trophies, winning 1 on Show Champion, 1 on Music Bank and 1 on Show! Music Core.

3Racha (Bang Chan, Changbin & Han) wrote the lyrics for Megaverse, 락 (樂) (LALALALA), 사각지대 (Blind Spot), Comflex, Social Path Feat. LiSA (Korean Ver.) and 락 (樂) (LALALALA) (Rock Ver.), with 3Racha also co-composing on the tracks.
Hyunjin and Bang Chan wrote the lyrics for 가려줘 (Cover Me), with them both also co-composing on the track.
Bang Chan and Changbin wrote the lyrics for Leave, with them both also co-composing on the track.

樂-STAR (Rock-Star) peaked at No.1 on the Circle Albums Chart, No.1 on the Oricon Albums Chart, No.69 on the UK Official Albums Chart, No.1 on the Billboard 200 Chart and No.1 on the Billboard World Albums Chart.
Circle Sales = 4,259,384+
Oricon Sales = 221,873+
US Sales = 381,000+
Total Sales = 4,862,257+
*YouTube views correct at time of writing post*
The M/V for 락 (樂) (LALALALA) has so far gained 123,529,296 million views, with the views still increasing rapidly on a daily basis.

樂-STAR (Rock-Star) was released in 12 versions: 2 standard versions (Rock & Roll), 1 Limited Star, 1 Headliner and 8 Postcard versions.
The Rock & Roll versions are set out in a paperback book style case and comes with the Cd, photobook, random mini poster, sticker sheet, random unit card and a random photo card. It also came with pre-order benefits of a random folded poster and a random film photo cards set.
The Limited Star version is set out in a paperback book style case and comes with the Cd, photobook, random panorama mini poster, sticker sheet, random unit card, random photo card, random special mini poster and a 4-cut photo film. It also came with pre-order benefits of a random folded poster and a random film photo card set.
The Headliner version is set out in a paperback book style case and comes with the Cd, photobook and a random photo card. It also came with the pre-order benefits of a random folded mood board poster.
The Postcard versions are members based and are set out in a fold-out card case, and come with the Cd, member based postcard set, lyrics paper, mini folded poster and a random photo card. It also came with a pre-order benefit of another random photo card.
All photobooks are different.

Track List
MEGAVERSE
락 (樂) (LALALALA)
사각지대 (BLIND SPOT)
COMFLEX
가려줘 (Cover Me)
Leave
SOCIAL PATH (Feat. LiSA) (Korean Ver.)
락 (樂) (LALALALA) (Rock Ver.)











































I have the Limited Star version of the album, and out of all of Stray Kids album layouts, I have to say this is my least favourite. It's really thin and all the inclusions just fall out of the album. I also bought my album from Amazon and I've not seen the Felix in anyone else's unboxings, and I haven't seen it appear on the albums info either, so I'm thinking it may be an extra from that seller on Amazon. I love the photo book, I love how the pages change from glossy to more of a matte halfway through.
The album itself is my favourite release from them so far, I love each of the tracks, they all could easily have been the title track. There's a good mixture of upbeat and ballad tracks and it really shows how versatile and talented Stray Kids are.

I absolutely love MEGAVERSE. I love the beat, I love the vocals and I love the raps. It just flows perfectly throughout the track. It's definitely a great song to introduce the album with.
MEGAVERSE

락 (樂) (LALALALA) is definitely one of my favourite Stray Kids title tracks. As soon as I heard the track in the M/V Teaser, I knew I was going to love this song. I love how the track changes up and I love how the beat slows down for the drop at the chorus. For me this is one of those songs that I'll never get bored of.
락 (樂) (LALALALA)

From the first listen of this album 사각지대 (BLIND SPOT) made it's way to my favourite track. It's one of my favourite Stray Kids b-sides too. I love the melody, I love their vocals, the raps and the lyrics. I just love everything about it. For me this song embodies everything Stray Kids stands for, as well as their journey their career has taken.
사각지대 (BLIND SPOT)

I love how COMFLEX changes up throughout the track. I love the raps, and I love the vocals in the build up to the chorus, as well as the play on words. To the unknown ear, the Korean for shh, sounds like they're saying shit. so the line I don't give a 쉿, sounds like they're saying something else.
COMFLEX

가려줘 (Cover Me) is definitely one of my favourite ballads on this album. The melody is stunning, their vocals are stunning. This is one of those songs that allows them to shine as vocalists as well as rappers. It shows how talented they are as a group as well as individuals, I personally don't think you'd get a song like this if the dynamics in the group weren't on point.
가려줘 (Cover Me)
ShadowByYoongi

As soon as Leave starts, I automatically begin swaying along with the melody. The melody is stunning. Everything fits into the melody do perfectly, even their different vocal tones.
Leave

I love SOCIAL PATH (Feat. LiSA) (Korean Ver.), I'm used to LiSA singing anime openings in Japanese, so it's odd for me to hear her sing completely in English. I love the melody of this song and LiSA's voice works perfectly with the Stray Kids members.
SOCIAL PATH (Feat. LiSA) (Korean Ver.)

I obviously love 락 (樂) (LALALALA), but 락 (樂) (LALALALA) (Rock Ver.) is on another level.
락 (樂) (LALALALA) (Rock Ver.)

This is definitely my favourite Stray Kids album so far, each track stands out and I think either one of them could have been the title track. I say with every post how they get better with each release, and I don't see that changing any time soon.
I'm so excited that I get to see them play the BST Festival in July, I've waited 5 years to be able to see them perform live, and I'll be surprised if I don't shed a few tears.

Stray Kids everywhere all around the world, you make Stray Kids Stay!

Were you a fan of 樂-STAR (Rock-Star)?
Do you have a physical copy?
Which version(s) did you get?
What were your thoughts on 락 (樂) (LALALALA) as the title track?
Do you have a favourite track from the album?
Let me know in the comments below.

See you soon!


안녕
(Annyeong)
さようなら
(Sayonara)
再见
(ZaiJian)
Bye