As an exercise in rediscovery, every other Friday we will place a single ATEEZ track under the microscope to explore its deeper meanings, both to ATEEZ's discography and universe and to ourselves.
I was not part of the fandom when Sunrise came out, which means that it was a song I had to discover on my own, and now I just thank the universe every day that Hongjoong wrote it.
Sunrise
Release Date: Oct. 8, 2019
Album: Treasure Ep.Fin: All To Action
Lyrics: EDEN, Hongjoong, LEEZ, BUDDY, Mingi
Composition & Arrangement: EDEN, Hongjoong, BUDDY, LEEZ
I was well into atinydom before I ever really sat with this song. I had heard it, obviously, in the way that I heard all ATEEZ songs, but I hadn't really heard it until one of my friends mentioned how much they liked the song and how it made them want to cry. When she said that, I couldn't even really remember what the song sounded like; I just remembered a single part of the song.
So I went back to it.
But I want to back up a little because I feel like I have to say this. I really don't like bringing up or giving any time to other people's negative opinions about ATEEZ because it just really doesn't matter, but in this one case, I feel I have to say it in order to accurately talk about this song.
Some people know that I used to be very active on Reddit. I'm not anymore for a variety of reasons, but Sunrise often makes me think about Reddit and the danger of letting other people's opinions get to you. You see, a very popular opinion on Reddit is that kpop groups have 'cringey English lyrics' and if they're not going to use English correctly, they just shouldn't use it. I have very strong opinions on why this is absolute and utter trash (and as a former English teacher I feel very qualified to have those opinions), but I will save those for another day.
Anyways, whenever these cringey English lyrics threads come up, I will bet good money that ATEEZ will be mentioned, and I know exactly what songs will be brought up, and exactly what lines will be pointed to. And one of them is Hongjoong's rap in Sunrise.
It got to the point where these opinions affected my enjoyment of the song. I am genuinely embarrassed that I let other people's really, really bad takes affect my own enjoyment of a very heartfelt and honestly great song.
I truly don't think it's worth mentioning the lyric or why people think it's cringy because I've come to realize that those people are being... what's the word... what's the nice word... asshats.
Everyone who listens to this song knows exactly what it means, and that is the point of language. To communicate feelings and emotions. And there are so many feelings and emotions wrapped up in this song. There is struggle, strength, yearning, hope.
Metaphorically, a sunrise is the promise of something more to come, and that's exactly what Sunrise the song tells us too. If we keep going and working hard, something more will come.
One of the things that I've always loved about ATEEZ is that they keep working as hard as they can no matter what. Get snubbed by MAMA for the third year in a row? We move. Don't chart on Korean charts despite incredible songs? We move. It doesn't matter the hardships, they just keep going.
I find that so inspiring.
And in so many ways, Sunrise is that story. It's that reminder that things get hard and sometimes you can work your ass off and still not see the results you want, but the only answer is to just keep going.
So that the the world can hear
Just keep it up
Even when things don't go as you planned
Just, just keep it up
You can also see how much this song means to ATEEZ when they perform it, and it's a good lesson in what we can tell ATEEZ as they experience these setbacks: "You don't have to worry, you're doing great." Because they are.
They really, really are.
I am, like many atinys right now, in the midst of being bitter about award show snubs and lack of recognition. But I am also so, so proud of who ATEEZ are as artists, performers, people. They are humble and kind to the bone, and they will keep going because they love what they do and they want to do it.
And at the end of the day, it's that. No one else's opinions matter.
And I think we can all take that with us from Sunrise.
I don’t know what it is about their happier, more hopeful songs but they always make me so wistful and kind of teary (I guess I’m just that kind of person). So I sometimes find it harder to listen to a song like “Sunrise” because of the feelings it brings out in me. It’s funny how music can move you - how it can sort of just be the background to your day or an active, intentional listen filled with meaning.