TWS Revisits K-pop Legend Seo Taiji: 'Grateful to Reinterpret a Classic in Our Style'

▲ Members of K-pop boy band TWS speak during the media showcase for their first single album "Last Bell," held in Seoul on Nov. 25, 2024. (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Nov. 26 (Yonhap) -- “It’s thanks to my parents that I got to enjoy Seo Taiji and Boys’ 'Last Festival.' It’s an honor to reinterpret this groundbreaking K-pop legend’s song in TWS’s own style,” said Jihoon of K-pop boy group TWS. 

The rising group has reimagined the work of their senior in the music industry, Seo Taiji.

TWS shared their excitement, saying, “We hope this will be a chance to showcase another side of TWS. Please pay attention to how we express the feelings of excitement and anticipation," at a showcase held at the Blue Square Mastercard Hall in Yongsan, Seoul, on Monday to celebrate the release of their first single, "Last Bell."

◇ Last Bell: A Tribute to Nostalgia and New Beginnings

The single Last Bell features three tracks, including the title song "Last Festival," "Your Name (Highlight)," and "Draw a Comma, Not a Period." The title symbolizes both the ringing bell marking the end of the school year and the inner chime of emotions at the start of something new.

Jihoon reflected on the creative process, noting, “This year marks my last as a teenager and my debut with TWS, so listening to 'Last Festival' moved me to tears.” He added, “The song is so meaningful to us that we stayed up late practicing together, making the process a treasured memory.”

The title track "Last Festival" takes inspiration from the 1993 hit by Seo Taiji and Boys. While TWS borrowed the concept of “preparing a performance for someone special before parting ways,” they created entirely new lyrics and music to deliver their own interpretation.

The song incorporates dreamy synthesizer sounds that heighten its wintery mood. It also nods to Seo Taiji’s original with lyrics like “Let’s remember our warm hearts.”

“There’s a shared theme of expressing the sadness of a farewell in a way that doesn’t feel heavy,” said Youngjae. “We infused the sound with TWS’s unique color, offering listeners a fresh take on Last Festival.”

The group emphasized the dual emotions of longing for the past and excitement for new beginnings. The team's foreign member Hanjin shared his experience discovering Seo Taiji’s music during the preparation process: “I was amazed when I first listened to his songs and learned so much from watching his performances. To fully understand the emotions, I translated each lyric line and shared my ideas with the group.”

▲ K-pop boy band TWS perform during the media showcase for their first single album "Last Bell," held in Seoul on Nov. 25, 2024. (Yonhap)

◇ A Milestone Year for TWS

TWS has had a whirlwind year, starting with their January debut track First Encounters Never Go as Planned and releasing three albums in total. They capped off 2023 with the Best Male Rookie Award at the MAMA Awards US on Nov. 21.

Reflecting on their journey, Dohoon said, “This year was TWS’s ‘first encounter.’ We’ve met so many people, and we’re eager to continue showing our endless charm.”

Known for capturing the emotions of youth through their music, TWS aims to prove their sincerity on stage.

“We hope people recognize how serious we are about performing. This promotion will show how much stronger we’ve become,” said Youngjae.

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