“Howl” (Hangul: 하울) is the first and title track from Chuu’s first mini album [Howl].
The song was originally titled “Messiah”.
Description[]
Album[]
Title track “Howl” begins with a unique and distinctive intro that feels like being in space, and Chuu’s a cappella vocals without instrumentation, to add tension and immersion to the piece. The intense beat and explosive bass-line-based melody in the chorus combine with Chuu’s detail-oriented vocals to maximize the song’s mood. The lyrics, illustrating how two wounded people become small heroes to each other and heal each other, become consolation for one another in today’s age.[1]
타이틀곡 “Howl”은 우주에 있는 듯한 독특하고 개성 있는 도입부와 별다른 악기 없이 ‘츄(Chuu)’의 아카펠라 보컬로 시작하여 곡의 긴장감과 몰입감을 주는 곡으로, 후렴구의 강렬한 비트와 베이스라인을 기반으로 한 폭발적인 멜로디가 츄의 섬세한 보컬과 더해져 곡의 분위기를 극대화한다. 상처를 가진 두 사람이 서로에게 작은 영웅이 되어 서로를 치유하는 과정을 담아낸 가사가 요즘 시대에 서로를 위한 위로가 되는 곡이다.[2]
Lyricist’s commentary[]
Back when I was quite pessimistic, I wondered if I would be able to love someone outside of my family with my whole heart. Not for being unable to meet someone to passionately love, Not for lack of time to spare, conditions, environments, nor any external reason, But if it was from not having that degree of the emotion of affectionate love in me? If what I had to bear along with love felt like too much of a responsibility, a sacrifice?
If it’s plenty just to meet others, then split ways while passing by, sharing time and a part of your heart—if I didn’t want to let anyone inside this solid boundary of mine that is my life? Would I be alright like this? (Of course, to this day my conclusion is: such a life is fine as well.)
However such concerns were utterly shattered when I met her some number of years later.
Her entire body covered in black or white fur. Eyes that could hold the entire universe, sometimes glowing red. Pitch black lips, 42 tough teeth, and quite a long tongue. (Her kisses are very impassioned and sometimes poke deep into my nose.) Her spine is parallel to the ground and this line extends past the rear. She has four legs, and compared to her length she moves quite quickly We simultaneously became connected by a piece of rope a few meters long which became not a constraint for one another but a happiness, and now we look towards the same places and travel the same world.
We do love beyond species and I have never doubted that.
Addendum: Oh right, she lost a front tooth while playing excitedly, so only 41 teeth.[3]
Lyrics[]
Gallery[]
Promotional Images[]
‘Be My Little Hero’
Teaser #1
Teaser #2
Charts[]
Weekly charts[]
| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| South Korean Songs Download (Circle) | 30[4] |
Accolades[]
Year-end lists[]
| List | Publication | Place |
|---|---|---|
| The 25 Best K-Pop Songs of 2023 | billboard | 18[5] |
| The 25 Best Women-Led K-Pop Songs of 2023 | Clash | —[6] |
Links[]
Official[]
- MUSIC VIDEO:
- TRAILER:
- TEASERS:
- TRACK VIDEOS:
- PERFORMANCES:
- STAGES:
- arirangTV Simply K-Pop:
231016 - CHUU 츄 [Howl] Media Showcase: BEHIND | IDOLCHART | MHNSports | O! STAR | SportsChoSun | TongTongCulture | Topstarnews
- MBC M Show Champion: 231025
- Naver NPOP: 231018
- arirangTV Simply K-Pop:
- OTHER:
- AUDIO:
Download/Stream[]
| International | South Korea |
Audio[]
Credits[]
- Lyrics: Seo Ji-eum (서지음)
- Composition: Lise Sofie Reppe, Marion Skogseth Bjørsvik, Emily-Madelen Aarsheim Harbakk, Jason OK, Musikality
- Arrangement: Emily-Madelen Aarsheim Harbakk, Jason OK, Musikality
- Vocal Direction: Kriz
- Background Vocals: Chuu
- Digital Editing: Jang Woo-yeong (장우영) @doobdoob studio
- Recording: Jang Woo-yeong (장우영) @doobdoob studio
- Mixing: Simon Bergseth
- Mastering: Kwon Nam-woo (권남우) @821 Sound Mastering
- Original Title: Messiah
- Original Publishers: ASTRA admin by Kobalt, Nordic Music Partners, Musikade, Copyright Control
- Sub-Publishers: EKKO Music Rights, Fujipacific Music Korea Inc., Musikade
Videos[]
Trivia[]
- The chorus line “Woo-woo-wolf” is a play on the Korean word for depression, “우울” (woowool).[7]
- The music video for “Howl” was filmed in Portugal.
- This is the seventh LOONA music video that was filmed in an European country, preceded by HeeJin’s “ViViD (Acoustic Mix)” filmed in France, HaSeul’s “소년, 소녀 (Let Me In)” filmed in Iceland, HeeJin, HyunJin, and HaSeul’s “The Carol” in United Kingdom, LOONA 1/3’s “알 수 없는 비밀 (Sonatine)”, yyxy’s “love4eva” in Hungary, and “Underwater” also in Portugal.
References[]
- Korean lyrics: Melon
- English translation: “Howl” MV official English captions
- ↑ @litelljohnn. “[Lyrics] Chuu - Howl (231018)”. Team Subbits. 2023.10.18
- ↑ “''[Howl]'' album and track descriptions”. Melon
- ↑ @orrery_nim. “Lyricist Seo Jieum Instagram post
Lyrics backstory: Chuu - Aliens”. Twitter. 2023.08.19 - ↑ @loonastats. “Circle Download Chart (231015-231021)”. X. 2023.10.26
- ↑ “The 25 Best K-Pop Songs of 2023”. billboard. 2023.12.28
- ↑ “The 25 Best Women-Led K-Pop Songs of 2023”. Clash. 2023.12.22
- ↑ @orbit12moons. “this is such a bad take and i’m surprised at how many people agree with it bc Chuu refused to make her debut with a bubbly/energetic concept and released a song about depression, the fear of loneliness, finding people who bring the best out of you and EVERYONE called it boring”. X. 2024.09.05
