The trailer for SEVENTEEN’s fifth studio album, “HAPPY BURSTDAY,” presents two choices: “DARE OR DEATH.” In the video, the members of SEVENTEEN navigate their way through dark, cramped spaces, fleeing perilously through a tunnel as a burning car passes by, and more, all to evade an unknown foe. Once they find themselves within inches of the ledge of a rooftop, it’s time to make a decision: “CHALLENGE OR SETTLE”? The choice will lead them, and the viewer, to one of two different videos:  “DARE” or “DEATH.” If they choose “DEATH,” the SEVENTEEN members step back to safety, then vanish like smoke. But if they choose “DARE,” WONWOO leaps from the rooftop and transforms. The video concludes with the text, “FACE THE CHALLENGE, BURN ANEW.” It’s within this mindset that SEVENTEEN faces their 10th anniversary.

The album title—a combination of the phrase “HAPPY BIRTHDAY” with the word “BURST”—suggests that SEVENTEEN is focused less on celebrating the 10th anniversary of their debut as a joyous occasion and more on unleashing their fiery determination. In the concept film “NEW ESCAPE,” the group receives a message reading, “Get ready for the BURST,” packs their bags, and drives off. Their destination? A “NEW MYSELF.” Set against an all-white backdrop, the group, wearing geometric accessories all over, evokes the imagery of a futuristic sci-fi movie. Curled up, they open their eyes, spread out their shoulders, and rise, all spliced together with images of cell division and heartbeats. Much like a caterpillar undergoing the painful transformation into a butterfly, SEVENTEEN captures the process of rebirth into a new self through twisted, strained movements. Following “NEW MYSELF,” the sequence transitions to “NEW BURSTDAY,” where a full range of dramatic makeup from white and silver accents to bold, colorful, smoky styles gives shape to SEVENTEEN’s unprecedented and striking visuals. In this way, the intuitive representation of these new identities in “NEW MYSELF” connects to the group’s unshakable resolve represented by flames in “NEW BURSTDAY.” Here, we can see in the flickering flames what must be a fighting spirit in the SEVENTEEN members’ eyes. The boys light candles, symbolizing the phoenix that sets itself ablaze to rise again. Similarly, they break things apart and stand there amidst explosions. It takes a display this extreme to capture just how serious SEVENTEEN is about not settling. They face the challenge to be born anew.

The album opens with a sense of momentum through the crunchy, captivating electric guitar on “HBD” paired perfectly with MINGYU’s vocals. Taking turns, the members each sing the words “happy birthday to you,” emphasizing each and every syllable with palpable force. The track “THUNDER” begins with a leisurely whistle before abruptly picking up pace with an intense beat. Overtop the bassline and the round-like repetition of the whistling are vocals and sound effects that go “bzzzt like a thunderbolt,” embodying all the stormy energy you’d expect from a song with this title. Rather than celebrating their 10th anniversary with a rowdy party, SEVENTEEN opts to convey how their group is bursting with one-of-a-kind energy instead. “THUNDER,” driven by a brisk, EDM-influenced beat, is so infectious that listeners can’t help but start to groove in their seats. But while SEVENTEEN’s dance moves convey the laid-back feeling of the music, they also show us their well established, lockstep K-pop choreography. As the song opens, the group scatters into smaller groups, then comes back together to get things started with an upbeat vibe. As soon as HOSHI shouts “Falling, flash,” the group seamlessly locks into precise alignment, moving with a shared energy that makes it look like they’re painting one big picture together through cohesive, synchronized choreography, highlighting the unity of the group. When JOSHUA spreads his arms wide paired with the line “Now I’m funked up, step on the gas,” the rest of the group mirrors his moves, lending strength to his motions. The group members take turns being the center of attention while the others form a background behind them, always to the beat and never losing the sense of rhythm. In contrast, when the boys deepen their voices to a steady “ALO ALO” throughout the chorus, they bounce their bodies only ever so slightly. Moments like these, where they tone down the explosive energy to show poise and control, showcase SEVENTEEN’s mastery of the art form. SEVENTEEN balances the grandiose K-pop group choreography seen in songs like “Super” and “MAESTRO” with the ease and confidence earned in past successes with songs like “_WORLD” and “LOVE, MONEY, FAME” (feat. DJ Khaled). With “THUNDER,” SEVENTEEN not only incorporates the exuberant energy that comes with EDM but also demonstrates their command of carefully refined K-pop choreography through hard practice and the mastery that comes from their experience as artists. In short, the rebirth SEVENTEEN describes isn’t merely a back-to-basics narrative or a superficial transformation. Rather, it represents a declaration of intent—one to effortlessly give audiences what they’ve always been good at while continuing to reveal new and unprecedented artistic takes.

“HAPPY BURSTDAY” is made up of three group songs and 13 solo tracks. The solo tracks highlight the individual personalities of each member of the group, with most of them revolving around the theme of love. Here, SEVENTEEN expresses their emotions with unmistakable, straightforward clarity—from the cautious but certain tremor of affection in “99.9% (WONWOO Solo)” (“I think I like you 99.9%”) to the about-face in “Destiny (WOOZI Solo),” where someone who doesn’t believe in the idea at all eventually sings, “This is destiny.” At a time where a world brimming with uncertainty makes genuine relationships that much more valuable, SEVENTEEN serenades us 13 times on one album with consistently simplehearted messages. Last among them is the album’s closer and leader S.COUP’s solo song, “Jungle (S.COUPS Solo).” With lyrics like “Third-gen idols at their peak for a decade,” he channels hip hop swagger into pride for his group, simultaneously acknowledging who he’s become with lyrics like “I need fans … I need love.” There’s poetic musings in “HBD” (“Even if I were born again, I’d come back as me again”) and reasons to keep living the busy life in “THUNDER” (“Keeps ringing, phone keeps ringing”). The choreography for “THUNDER” concludes with the group standing in a line, turning around as one before walking onward in the same direction. Marking their 10th anniversary, SEVENTEEN executes intricate choreography with practiced ease, advancing toward what lies ahead together. Their explosive energy culminates in an unwavering sincerity that has endured for a decade. On top of that, there’s a promise to embrace change with open arms to ensure they’ll continue on even longer together. And as always, it all unfolds with the whole 13-member group.

Over the years, SEVENTEEN has soared the skies in “Super,” built their own “SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN,” and orchestrated the world as its “MAESTRO.” And at the end of it all, they showed real introspection and listened to the world speak back on “SPILL THE FEELS.” Today, in 2025, SEVENTEEN can hold fan meeting events in massive stadiums and put on 10th-anniversary events like their B-DAY PARTY on the riverfront Hangang Park in Seoul. At the same time, they headline international music festivals and spread hope worldwide as the UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Youth. As their concert venues have grown in size, so too has their status and influence as they continuously break record after record. And despite all that, SEVENTEEN still has so much energy left over that their anniversary is really a “BURSTDAY,” and they’re still looking ahead to what’s next with their fandom, CARAT, as always. Every time they reach the finish line, they draw a new starting line so they can keep running forward together. The roaring thunder is merely the signal of yet another new beginning. This is SEVENTEEN, 10 years in.