‘HAPPY BURSTDAY’: Seventeen unveil tracklist featuring Pharrell Williams and Timbaland

Seventeen / Courtesy of Pledis Entertainment

K-pop group Seventeen are set to mark a striking rebirth with their new title track “THUNDER,” part of their upcoming full-length album “HAPPY BURSTDAY,” whose track list was revealed Tuesday night.

Released via the group’s official social media channels at 10 p.m. on Tuesday, the video teaser unveiled that the fifth studio album will include 16 tracks in total — three group songs and individual solo tracks from all 13 members — making it the group’s largest collection of new songs to date.

The title track “THUNDER” compares the members' journey of expanding their individual worlds to thunder and lightning, symbolizing their transformation into unique, unmistakable artists. It was co-written and composed by Woozi, the group’s lead producer, and Bumzu, with member S.Coups also credited as a co-composer.

The album opens with “HBD,” a high-energy group track that abbreviates “Happy Birthday.” The song is a celebratory anthem that marks the group’s 10th anniversary and their musical rebirth. Another standout group song, “Bad Influence,” grabs attention for its star-studded credits — Pharrell Williams, the 13-time Grammy-winning artist and producer, took part in writing, composing and producing the track.

Track list of Seventeen's "HAPPY BURSTDAY" / Courtesy of Pledis Entertainment

Solo songs also promise to showcase each member’s unique voice and artistry, with Seventeen including individual tracks from all 13 members in an album for the first time. Notable tracks include The8’s “Skyfall,” Joshua’s “Fortunate Change,” Wonwoo’s “99.9%,” Seungkwan’s “Raindrops,” Hoshi’s “Damage (feat. Timbaland),” Mingyu’s “Shake It Off,” DK’s “Happy Virus,” Woozi’s “Unmyeong,” Vernon’s “Shining Star,” Jun’s “Gemini,” Dino’s “Trigger,” Jeonghan’s “Uyeon” and S.Coups’ “Jungle.”

Woozi and Bumzu, known for crafting many of Seventeen’s past hits, led the production, with all members actively participating in songwriting and composing, aiming for a highly polished final product. In addition to Pharrell, legendary producer Timbaland — who has worked with Madonna, Mariah Carey and Sam Smith — also contributed to the album. Other collaborators include renowned producers Pdogg, VINCENZO, EL CAPITXN, and singer-songwriter Ha Hyunsang.

The track list was revealed through a concept video shown from the perspective of CARAT, the group’s fandom. The storyline follows a mysterious party invitation, leading to a phone booth filled with stickers of each track’s name. The eerie mood and impending thunder hint at the explosive and unpredictable nature of the upcoming release.

Seventeen’s fifth studio album title, “HAPPY BURSTDAY,” combines “birthday” with “burst,” suggesting the explosive emergence of new possibilities. The group will kick off their comeback with a special “BURST Stage” performance atop Seoul’s Jamsu Bridge on May 25, the day before the album’s release on May 26.

This article from Xportsnews is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.