As the New Year approaches, New Year’s resolutions are at the forefront of everyone’s minds. From small lifestyle changes to sweeping metamorphoses, New Year’s is the perfect time to dream of a new, better self. But dramatic transformations are often easier said than done and it is all too easy to just stay in a comfort zone.
K-pop boy band 82MAJOR, on the other hand, is the master of dramatic transformations. Like secret agents switching from one disguise to another, this multi-talented six-member group of K-pop artists never fails to surprise fans with yet another new image and concept with each album release.
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82MAJOR came back on October 15th with their 2nd mini-album [X-82], showcasing their growth and renewed confidence. The album tracklist features four diverse tracks that combine each member’s unique charm and talents, including two songs (“Gossip” and “Face Time”) that all members participated in writing and producing.
The title track “Stuck” and its music video is a comedic action piece featuring the six members as secret agents wielding giant pink combs, gained instant worldwide popularity. The song had 11 million views on YouTube in just one week after upload.
Billboard Debut
Beyond the popularity of the “Stuck” music video, something about 82MAJOR and their second mini album [X-82] has definitely hit a chord with global audiences. With [X-82], 82MAJOR debuted on Billboard Charts on November 5th, propelling 82MAJOR forward into global stardom just over a year after their debut.
This astonishing feat surprised even the members themselves, as 82MAJOR is a relatively rookie group.
“I felt so grateful! When I first heard about it, I was really surprised,” said rapper and youngest member Kim Do Gyun of the moment he heard the news of 82MAJOR’s debut on Billboard Charts. “I felt so grateful. When I first heard about it, I was really surprised. I couldn’t believe it so I went to the website and checked for myself. Even then, it didn’t feel real. This is all thanks to the love of 82DE (82MAJOR fandom name). We could not have achieved this if they hadn’t listened to our music and showed it so much love. Thank you, 82DE. 82MAJOR will continue to become an even better group!”
On 82MAJOR’s success on Billboard Charts, Rapper Hwang Seong Bin said, “I think fans recognize all the effort we put into our music and for that I am very grateful. Also, I think many global fans are taking interest in K-pop thanks to the great K-pop artists who have paved the way before us in the global music scene. We have a long way to go, but we are sincerely thankful to the global fans who shower us with love and support.”
[X-82] and “Stuck” Music Video
On the album’s interesting name and its contents, rapper Nam Seong Mo explains, “We put a humorous spin on the fact that ‘X-82’ and ‘X-file’ are similar in pronunciation in Korean. The title ‘X-82’ signifies that we are showing sides of 82MAJOR that have not been publicly revealed before. The album contains new music, like an ‘X-file’.”
Moreover, the leader of the group Cho Seong Il said that “the album conveys the message that we will become secret agents and conquer the hearts of listeners all around the world with 82MAJOR’s music. We tried to show our present thoughts and stories in an honest manner. The music in this album reflects our true personalities, both serious and witty.”
“Both serious and witty” is indeed a perfect way to describe 82MAJOR. The theme of duality is continued in the music video for the title track, “Stuck”. Though the music video borrows elements from the comedy-action film genre, it is much more than a simple parody — according to rapper Park Seok Jun.
“The music video wasn’t filmed with a specific movie in mind!” he said. “Instead, the concept of the video is that we become secret agents to carry out the mission to make 82MAJOR’s music stuck in the hearts of listeners all around the world. The plan was to show our charismatic side and humorous side at the same time, with an additional touch of Korean elements. I think all these ideas were realized into a great video as a result.”
One of the key elements of the music video’s visual appeal is, without a doubt, the costumes. From hot pink martial arts uniforms and blue and green tracksuits to pilot uniforms and chef coats, 82MAJOR members go through a number of outfit changes throughout the video.
On the various outfits, Cho Seong Il said, “my favorite is the long coats. Since all members are quite tall, the long coats looked great on us and really brought out our best visuals. The coats were quite heavy so filming the performance scenes was a bit challenging, but I’m really happy with the results. Our fans also love that outfit, which makes me love it even more!”
Photoshoot and Fashion Thoughts
To the delight of Cho Seong Il, 82MAJOR recently did a photoshoot wearing suits, including the exact same outfit from the music video. The concept of the photoshoot revolved around highlighting the members’ boyish humor and noir-inspired maturity.
Cho Seong Il shared the challenges of expressing these contrasting sides, stating, “we paid a lot of attention to our facial expressions and gestures. All members are still pretty young so we weren’t sure how to show our mature sides at first. But we wanted to express noir in our own way, so we tried using serious facial expressions to capture that maturity. As for boyish humor. That’s just how we are everyday, so we just had fun and laughed a lot during the photoshoot.”
While 82MAJOR members may look like models in the photos, in real life they have different approaches to daily fashion. When he is not performing or posing in front of the camera in a fitted suit, Cho Seong Il relies on accessories for a fashion flair. “My style leans toward dandy, but I utilize accessories to add a modern touch. I love faux glasses and hats, so I wear them all the time,” he said.
Nam Seon Mo likes to have a bit of fun with his clothes. “I like to spice up my fashion with accessories and one thing I really like to do is mix and match sports uniforms with general clothing.”
Meanwhile, Park Seok Jun is more focused on small details. “I enjoy styles that are simple yet fashionable, but not too flashy. My go-to items are usually clothes or accessories with a bit of interesting details.”
Hwang Seon Bin likes to keep it simple. “These days I think I wear a lot of casual outfits that don’t stand out too much. Sometimes I try out jackets or pants with unique patterns.”
Rapper Yoon Ye Chan, a self-proclaimed fashionista, said “I go vintage shopping a lot. I use the Pinterest app to get inspiration and think about how to style my outfits. Actually, rather than sticking to just one style, I just wear whatever I think looks good. And it’s not exactly a fashion item, but I still carry around the wallet that my mom gave me. My grandmother gave that wallet to my mother and now it’s been passed down to me. That’s my special item.”
In contrast, Kim Do Guyn is a self-proclaimed fashion rookie. “I haven’t taken interest in fashion until quite recently. I’m trying out a lot of different styles to figure out which style fits me best.”
Despite the wide range of approaches to fashion and style, the six members of 82MAJOR are united in their ambition to experiment and challenge themselves with new visual concepts. Nam Seon Mo ponders about the possibility of combining all six members’ styles for a future album. “It would be interesting to combine styles that each member wants. Some members prefer similar fashion styles, while other members prefer quite different styles. I think it would be a lot of fun to combine our day-to-day fashion styles and create a visual concept ourselves.”
The Future of 82MAJOR
Boyish charm and mature charisma, effervescent joy and professional seriousness — 82MAJOR embodies contrasting images and ideas. This duality represents 82MAJOR’s continued growth and evolution over the years. Now, 82MAJOR has solidified its identity as six versatile artists with a serious approach to music yet a joyful attitude toward life and each other.
With unwavering confidence in their artistry and the daring ambition to continue to change and show new sides, 82MAJOR is set on course to bring a new wave to the K-pop industry.
Yoon Ye Chan leaves a last heartfelt message to the fans. “Thank you for your unwavering support and love,” he said. “Whenever we think of 82DE, we want to make better stages and practice even harder. 82MAJOR still has a lot more to show the world. We will continue to create even better music and better stages, so please look forward to us. We love you 82DE!”