SF9 recently made an incredible comeback with the album “Rumination” and its lead single ‘Trauma’, much to the joy of FANTASY all over the world, right in time for Christmas. Not only was this album representative of SF9’s sonic aesthetic but it also showcased the group’s unbelievable range and power. From the stunning concept photos to the music video, everything about this album screams “perfection”. The best part about the song, however, is the way it is brimming with layers of meaning and depth. Keep reading for a complete analysis and explanation of SF9’s ‘Trauma’.
The song starts off by drawing clearly contrasting images for us to immerse ourselves into SF9’s dark and broody world. “Love, once hot, shatters / Cold as ice / Pushing me away / Tangled like spiderwebs / Our connection reaches the end, oh no” Too much of anything is never healthy or conducive to growth and the same goes for love. What was once warm, has turned ice cold and peaceful engagement has become chaotic entanglement. That is how love ends. “Jammed in my heart / Shards of memories of you” Sweet memories that were made with love and affection, tucked away in the safest corners of the heart quickly take the monstrous form of shards of glass that threaten their own home. “To me, pain is duff / A trap of rage and unquenchable fire / It’s burned out. It’s gone.” Just like it hurts more to pull out a sword after being stabbed, the pain born of rage soon makes one numb. It is much easier to contain it than to let it out. It is easier to suffer than to heal. “You become my Trauma…Oh you are not my trauma” The chorus cries out to the lover, begging for them to return simply because their past, full of love, is haunting. Here, “trauma” is not just a casual metaphor. SF9 deals with this sensitive subject matter with the utmost respect, highlighting the emotional oscillation that a mentally wounded person has to go through before they can acknowledge the path to healing. “That trauma opens your eyes. You’re the brightness that fills my view” What seems like a very human separation in one moment, turns into cruel fate in the next and vice versa. The absence of rationality allows for paranoia to fester, further delaying recovery. It is only when one is willing to work on their shadow that light finally comes through. “I told you I’m the male version of Venus” SF9 makes an incredibly clever allusion to the tale of Venus and Adonis here that elevates the song to a whole new dimension. Venus, the goddess of love, fell in love with Adonis, a mortal hunter. One night, Venus had a vision foretelling her lover’s death. She warns him against going hunting but Adonis disregards her. As fate would have it, Adonis gets attacked by a wild boar, and Venus is consumed with grief as she discovers his lifeless form. With his verse, ZuHo shines a light on how he’s desperately trying to deter his lover from separation, assuring her that he will protect her. “We’ll just Keep going / You know it too / We are destined / Rewrite it from the start” When even gods cannot overcome fate, mere mortals can try but only in vain. When two people are destined to be together, even the heavens cannot keep them apart. The key to mutual happiness, therefore, is working on the relationship with sincerity and unadulterated love. “‘Cause you ain’t my trauma” At the end of the day, after all is said and done, one thing is for certain: love wins, and that is exactly the message SF9 sends across with the final verse. SF9 employs a range of brilliant imagery, symbolism, allusions, and more to create a richly illustrated world that you cannot help but be invested in. This song feels more like a love poem than anything else and we have to commend SF9 for blessing the world with artistry of this level. The vivacity of SF9’s worldview keeps transcending all possible imagination and we’re so glad to be able to witness it as it happens. What did you take away from ‘Trauma’? Share your thoughts with Kpopmap in the comments section down below. Don’t forget to let us know which K-Pop song or music video you’d like us to explain next!
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