The Dream Chapter: Star, our debut album, was about the "happiness and excitement of meeting that special someone." The Dream Chapter: Magic was about our magical adventures that we set on as a group of friends. Our newest, The Dream Chapter: Eternity carries on that story -- our group of friends hits a wall as we confront reality.
— Tomorrow X Together on The Dream Chapter: Eternity, Billboard.[13]
Music and lyrics
The Dream Chapter: Eternity is thematically a continuation of the band's concept of growth and explores the darker side of youth and friendship.[14] Lyrically, the concept album[15] is about "facing troubles in relationships" and has a theme of self-reflection.[14]The Dream Chapter: Eternity consists of six songs and is musically diverse with a wide range of genres including funk-pop, dreampop, trap, hip hop and alternative R&B.[14][13] The album's lead single, "Can't You See Me?" is a trap and pop song based on a "thumping pop synth".[15][14] It features grunge-influenced chord progression and a piano melody.[15][16] The lyrics detail the confusion and emotional turmoil when a young person encounters a conflicting phase in friendship and relationship.[14][17] "Drama" is a
funk-pop song with a "funky" guitar rhythm and an "addictive" melody. It derives from piano and brassinstrumentation.[16] The third track on the album is a remake of Light & Salt's 1990 classic single, "Fairy of Shampoo".[18] The jazz-pop song was arranged in dreampop genre with a capella vocal harmonies and synthesizer instrumentation, and features a new rap written by Yeonjun.[14] "Maze in the Mirror" has lyrics co-written by all the band members. It was co-produced by Beomgyu and Big Hit's in-house producer Slow Rabbit.[15][16] It is an acousticBritpop track for which guitar, piano and bass provide minimalist instrumentation.[15][16] The lyrics were inspired by the experiences the band had as trainees.[13] "Puma" is an intense hip hop and trap song with "simple" musical composition.[16] "Eternally" is an alternative R&B song which starts in an acoustic pop style and shifts into darker beats. It features repetitive melody and minimalist fragmented sounds.[16]
Release and promotion
On April 29, the band released a concept trailer of The Dream Chapter: Eternity.[19] It shows the five members sitting together around a round table. Gradually, Soobin begins to distance himself from the rest and finds himself trapped in a transparent glass box. The teaser ends with the words, "save me".[20] On April 30, a concept photo teaser was released featuring a shabby plush toy in frame of surrealist painter René Magritte's famous painting The Treachery of Images (1929).[21] The caption is a French sentence which translates to 'This is not a teddy bear'.[22] From May 1 to May 4, the band released two versions of concept photos- "Port" and "Starboard", both done up in manner of a social media feed.[23][24] The "Port" version represents "cracks among friends" while the "Starboard" version depicts "the appearance of the boys longing for eternity."[25][26] The full album tracklist and digital cover art were released through Big Hit's SNS account on May 5.[27] On May 7, solo teaser videos of Yeonjun and Beomgyu were released for the EP's lead single "Can't You See Me?"[28] On May 8, individual teasers for Taehyun, Huening Kai and Soobin were released.[29] On May 11, the first group teaser for the music video of the lead single "Can't You See Me?" was released.[30] The second group teaser of the music video was released on May 13.[31] On May 15, an album preview was released featuring a snippet of each track along with concept photos and a concept sketch video.[32] The album was released on May 18, 2020, in CD and digital formats.[17][33] An accompanying music video for the lead single, "Can't You See Me?" was released in conjunction with the release of the album.[4] The video is metaphorical and depicts the group in a darker ambience as opposed to their previous music videos and portrays the pain of friendship becoming distant.[14][34]
On May 18, a few hours prior to the album release, the band held a media showcase at the Yes24 Live Hall, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, which was broadcast online on YouTube.[15][35] Hours after the album's release, a special "Comeback Show", hosted by Mnet was premiered live worldwide, where they performed "Can't You See Me?" and B-side tracks "Drama" and "Fairy of Shampoo" for the first time.[36][37][38] The band promoted the album with a series of live performances on various music programs starting with Mnet's M! Countdown on May 21.[39] They also promoted the songs on KBS's Music Bank,[40]SBS
's Inkigayo,[41]SBS MTV's The Show.[42] and MBC Music's Show Champion.[43] In the second week of promotion, "Can't You See Me?" won first place on The Show and Show Champion.[44] On May 22, Tomorrow X Together made their first appearance on MTV Fresh Out Live where they performed "Can't You See Me?".[45] The band again performed the song on May 27 episode of the variety show Weekly Idol, alongside their previous singles "Crown" and "9 and Three Quarters (Run Away)".[46]
In his review for NME, Rhian Daly gave the album four out of five stars writing, "Until now, Tomorrow X Together’s output has mostly been bright, breezy and blissfully free from life’s worries, focusing more on fantasy and fun. Taking a different tact, [sic] though, has left them with an EP that is, for the most part, enriched by its embrace of the clashes we all go through."[47] Chris Gillett of South China Morning Post praised the band's songwriting and stated, "In The Dream Chapter: Eternity, the popular K-pop five-piece delivers another solid, varied set of songs to sing along to."[48]
Commercially, The Dream Chapter: Eternity debuted at number two on the Gaon Album Chart, selling over 181,000 copies in its first week and giving Tomorrow X Together their third consecutive top five album in South Korea.[49][50] The album topped Japan's Oricon Albums Chart on the chart issue dated May 24, 2020, becoming the band's first chart-topper in the country.[51] In addition, the album charted on the Billboard World Albums chart at number four and number nine on the Heatseekers Albums chart. All tracks from the album entered the World Digital Songs chart with "Can't You See Me?" charting at number two.[52]The Dream Chapter: Eternity was the fourth best-selling album of May 2020 in South Korea, selling 247,153 physical copies.[53] In July 2020, the album received a platinumcertification from the Korea Music Content Association (KMCA), denoting 250,000 shipments, giving Tomorrow X Together their first certification in the country since debut.[54]
Track listing
Credits adapted from the album's preview video.[55]
↑Lee, Seunghoon (May 5, 2020). "투모로우바이투게더, 첫 리메이크곡 담긴 '꿈의 장: ETERNITY' 트랙리스트 공개" [Tomorrow by Together, reveals track list of 'The Dream Chapter: ETERNITY' with the first remake song]. OSEN (in 한국어). Archived from the original on May 7, 2020. Retrieved May 5, 2020 – via Naver.
↑Park, Yoon-jin (December 4, 2019), [2019 마마] "올해의 가수는 방탄소년단!"…4개 대상 싹쓸이 '9관왕' [종합] [[2019 MAMA] "Artist of the Year is BTS!"…Swept 4 Daesangs 'Crowned with 9 awards'], My Daily (in 한국어), archived from the original on December 4, 2019, retrieved December 6, 2019
↑Lee, Ho-yeon (November 30, 2019). [MMA 종합] 방탄소년단, 대상 4개 석권·총 8관왕 “아미 ‘보라’해” [[MMA Synthesis] BTS, 4 Grand Prizes out of 8 Prizes, "ARMY we 'purple' you"]. Hankook Ilbo (in 한국어). Archived from the original on December 4, 2019. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
↑Kang, Seo-jeong (April 28, 2020). "투모로우바이투게더, 5월 18일 '꿈의 장: ETERNITY'로 컴백 확정[공식]" [Tomorrow by Together, May 18, 'Comeback of Dream: ETERNITY' Confirmed Comeback [Official]]. OSEN (in 한국어). Retrieved May 5, 2020 – via Naver.
↑Park, Yun-jin (May 6, 2020). "투모로우바이투게더, 새 앨범 트랙리스트 공개…'샴푸의 요정' 리메이크" [Tomorrow by Together reveals new album track list… Remake of 'Shampoo Fairy']. My Daily (in 한국어). Archived from the original on May 9, 2020. Retrieved May 9, 2020 – via Naver.
↑"투모로우바이투게더, 미니 2집 콘셉트 트레일러 공개…5월18일 컴백 [공식]" [Tomorrow by Together unveils the 2nd mini concept trailer… May 18 Comeback [Official]]. Sports Donga (in 한국어). April 29, 2020. Archived from the original on May 7, 2020. Retrieved May 5, 2020 – via Naver.
↑Lee, Min-ji (April 29, 2020). "'컴백' 투모로우바이투게더, 미니 2집 콘셉트 트레일러 공개" ['Comeback' Tomorrow by Together unveils concept trailer for the 2nd mini]. Newsen (in 한국어). Archived from the original on May 7, 2020. Retrieved May 5, 2020 – via Naver.
↑Kim, Yeeun (April 30, 2020). "투모로우바이투게더, 새 앨범 콘셉트 포토 티저…궁금증 ↑" [Tomorrow by Together, New Album Concept Photo Teaser ... Curious ↑]. Xports News (in 한국어). Archived from the original on May 8, 2020. Retrieved May 5, 2020 – via Naver.
↑Gong, Mina (April 30, 2020). ""이것은 인형이 아니다" 투모로우바이투게더, 새 앨범 티저 깜짝 공개" ["This is not a doll" Tomorrow by Together, new album teaser surprise revealed]. Star News (in 한국어). Archived from the original on May 7, 2020. Retrieved May 5, 2020 – via Naver.
↑Lee, Jung-ho (May 1, 2020). "투모로우바이투게더 '꿈의 장: ETERNITY' 포트 버전 포토 공개" [Tomorrow by Together 'Dream Chapter: ETERNITY' port version photo released]. Star News (in 한국어). Archived from the original on May 7, 2020. Retrieved May 5, 2020 – via Naver.
↑Sun, Mi-kyung (May 4, 2020). ""완벽 비주얼"..투모로우바이투게더, 새 앨범 스타보드 버전 콘셉트 포토 공개" ["Perfect Visual" .. Tomorrow by Together, new album Starboard version concept photo released]. OSEN (in 한국어). Archived from the original on May 7, 2020. Retrieved May 5, 2020 – via Naver.
↑Kang, Seo-jung (May 1, 2020). "투모로우바이투게더, 새 앨범 콘셉트 포토 최초 공개..친구 사이 균열 생긴 소년들" [Tomorrow by Together, the new album concept photo is released for the first time .. Boys with cracks among friends]. OSEN (in 한국어). Archived from the original on May 7, 2020. Retrieved May 5, 2020 – via Naver.
↑Jo, Jo-kyung (May 5, 2020). "투모로우바이투게더, '꿈의 장: ETERNITY' 트랙리스트 전격 공개" [Tomorrow by Together unveils track list of 'Dream Chapter: ETERNITY']. Sports Donga (in 한국어). Archived from the original on May 7, 2020. Retrieved May 5, 2020 – via Naver.
↑Jeon, Hyojin (May 5, 2020). "'컴백' 투모로우바이투게더 연준·범규, '세계가 불타버린 밤, 우린' 티저 공개" ['Comeback' Tomorrow by Together Yeonjun and Beomgyu, Teaser 'The World Burned Night, We']. Sports Donga (in 한국어). Archived from the original on May 7, 2020. Retrieved May 5, 2020 – via Naver.
↑Kang, Seo-jung (May 8, 2020). "투모로우바이투게더, 신곡 '세계가 불타버린 밤, 우린' 태현X휴닝카이X수빈 티저 공개" ['Tomorrow by Together, new song 'The World Burned Night, We' Taehyun X Huning Kai X Subin Teaser]. OSEN (in 한국어). Archived from the original on May 8, 2020. Retrieved May 8, 2020 – via Naver.
↑Choi, Na-young (May 11, 2020). "'컴백 D-7' 투모로우바이투게더, 타이틀곡 단체 티저 최초 공개..5인 5색 비주얼" ['Comeback D-7' Tomorrow by Together, first title group teaser unveiled .. 5-person 5-color visual]. OSEN (in 한국어). Archived from the original on May 11, 2020. Retrieved May 11, 2020 – via Naver.
↑Cho, Joseon (May 13, 2020). "투모로우바이투게더, 2차 단체 티저…완벽 비주얼+강렬 퍼포먼스" [Tomorrow by Together, 2nd Group Teaser ... Perfect visual + intense performance]. Sports Chosun (in 한국어). Archived from the original on May 13, 2020. Retrieved May 13, 2020 – via Naver.
↑Yang, Yu-jin (May 18, 2020). "[종합] "우정의 균열"…소년의 성장통 노래한 투모로우바이투게더" [[Overall] "Crack of Friendship" ... Tomorrow by Together who sang the boy's growth pain]. My Daily (in 한국어). Archived from the original on May 19, 2020. Retrieved May 13, 2020 – via Naver.
↑Yoon, Sang-geun (May 11, 2020). "투모로우바이투게더 엠넷 컴백쇼 18일 방송[공식]" [Tomorrow by Together Mnet comeback show broadcast on the 18th [Official]]. Star News (in 한국어). Archived from the original on May 13, 2020. Retrieved May 13, 2020 – via Naver.
↑Yeo, Gyeong-do (May 21, 2020). "'엠카' 투모로우바이투게더 컴백..몽환적 매력 발산" ['M Countdown' Tomorrow by Together Comeback.]. Star News (in 한국어). Retrieved June 2, 2020 – via Naver.
↑Yang, Yu-jin (May 27, 2020). "[종합] 투모로우바이투게더, '쇼챔피언' 1위…"모아 여러분 덕분♥"" [[Comprehensive] Tomorrow by Together, #1 in'Show Champion'… "Thank you everyone ♥"]. My Daily (in 한국어). Retrieved June 2, 2020 – via Naver.
↑Myung, Hee-suk (May 28, 2020). "투모로우바이투게더, '더 쇼' 이어 '쇼챔'서 1위 '대세 등극'" [Tomorrow by Together,'The Show' followed by'Show Champion' ranked 1st'Top rise']. My Daily (in 한국어). Retrieved June 2, 2020 – via Naver.
↑Lee, Seunghoon (May 22, 2020). "투모로우바이투게더, 美 'MTV Fresh Out Live' 출연..글로벌 인기 입증 [공식]" [Tomorrow by Together, US'MTV Fresh Out Live' appearance.. demonstrating global popularity [Official]]. OSEN (in 한국어). Retrieved June 2, 2020 – via Naver.
↑Hong, Se-young (May 27, 2020). "'주간아이돌' 투모로우바이투게더 첫 출연, TMI 대방출" ['Weekly idol' Tomorrow by Together first appearance, TMI release]. Sports Donga (in 한국어). Retrieved June 2, 2020 – via Naver.
↑Hwang, Hyejin (May 27, 2020). 투모로우바이투게더, 50개 아이튠즈 1위+日 오리콘 데일리-주간 앨범차트 1위 [Tomorrow by Together, #1 on 50 iTunes + Japan's Oricon Daily-Weekly Album Chart #1]. Newsen (in 한국어). Retrieved June 2, 2020 – via Naver.
↑Shim, Eon-Kyung (May 27, 2020). 투모로우바이투게더, 日도 알아본 '꿈의 장: ETERNITY'..오리콘 앨범 차트 정상 [Tomorrow by Together, Japan also recognized'Dream Chapter: ETERNITY'.. Oricon album chart top]. OSEN (in 한국어). Retrieved June 2, 2020 – via Naver.
↑Hwang, Ji-young (May 28, 2020). 투모로우바이투게더, 美빌보드 차트서 막강한 존재감 [Tomorrow by Together, a strong presence on the Billboard Chart]. Daily Sports (in 한국어). Retrieved June 2, 2020 – via Naver.
↑Choi, Na-young (May 28, 2020). "투모로우바이투게더, 컴백과 동시에 음악방송 2관왕 달성" [Tomorrow by Together, achieved 2 crowns of music broadcasting at the same time as the comeback]. OSEN (in 한국어). Retrieved May 30, 2020 – via Naver.