After debuting in 2020 and receiving the title of “Super Rookie” due to their immediate chart success, the nine-member K-pop boy group CRAVITY is back with their three-track single album FIND THE ORBIT. Celestial symbolism follows the group wherever they go from their visuals to their styling, so it’s fitting that this album comes at a pivotal moment in their career.
The single album’s focus track, “Now or Never,” seems to execute just what it says in the title. The lyrics highlight the importance of staying present and taking advantage of every moment in every day while also acknowledging that doing so is easier said than done. Co-written by CRAVITY rappers Serim and Allen, “Now or Never” takes on a nostalgic atmosphere with its percussion-driven instrumentals, accompanied by rhythmic guitar riffs and a clock counting down the seconds during each pre-chorus. If you listen to it enough times in a row, you almost forget that it’s a boy group song with full choreography and might expect to see the members on stage playing instruments.
“In front of crisis, nothing can hurt me // Don’t wanna miss out //Life is a beautiful journey // Just for today, Carpe diem“
This feeling transfers perfectly into the single’s music video. Expressed intermittently with VHS-style footage, the video has a coming-of-age film quality to it. The natural lighting and casual clothing makes it feel less manufactured and more like a slice of life (albeit with a supernatural, end-of-the-world element layered within). The most enjoyable parts are the outdoor group shots and the nearly-candid duo shots as the song builds up. These scenes feel the most connected to the lyrics and express them visually in the most authentic way.
The other two tracks on FIND THE ORBIT hold the same nostalgic feeling of “Now or Never” while taking slightly different approaches. On “Secret,” the group sings about a relationship hoping to transform into a shared secret. This track sounds like it could belong to a different generation of K-pop, or like it could’ve come out at the beginning of the fourth generation which CRAVITY belongs to. Similarly, “Horizon” creates a dreamy narrative that’s connected to their recent appearance on the Korean competition program, Road to Kingdom: ACE OF ACE. Co-produced by member Woobin, the lyrics touch on their appreciation for their fans and the ability to lean on them in times of darkness.
Something about the wistful melodies captured on every track of this single album made it feel larger than it appears. K-pop single albums usually place a disproportionate amount of emphasis on the focus track, while the one or two B-sides are there to provide the necessary extra minutes to make it more than just a single. CRAVITY managed to create three songs that fit together seamlessly, allowing none of them to feel out of place. With all of their domestic and global success thus far, it might be smart to keep an eye on this group’s future.
Be sure to check out their single album here:
martina
Martina went to her first concert before she was even a year old thanks to the timing of her annual state fair and her music-obsessed parents.
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