[Review] RUN IT – Stray Kids

In a flurry of announcements earlier this week, Stray Kids confirmed that their upcoming comeback will be in August with their 10th mini album, THIS & THAT, a new pre-release single RUN IT would be unveiled later in the week (today) and plans for a world tour that shares the same name as the mini album and starts in July. Today, I will be reviewing RUN IT, their first major release since Do It and DIVINE from the end of last year.

RUN IT sees Stray Kids focus less on the electronic sound that they have been promoting over the past couple of releases and focus more on the anthemic and melodic side of music. This anthemic side felt as if Stray Kids were rallying the troops for their next release, which is a different way of hyping up the crowd for the upcoming release. The brass elements and militaristic percussion style really complement this idea as well. The chanty aspects of the chorus pull everyone together to be as one, fitting for the ongoing World Cup. RUN IT also features a more prevalent focus on vocals. Whilst very nice sounding (FELIX and LEE KNOW’s bridge moment, as an example), I will admit that some of the vocals do feel overly soft for the broader feel of RUN IT, which holds the track back and softens the powerful potential of the track. RUN IT really feels strongest during those anthemic chants and through HAN and CHANGBIN’s rapping at the end. I really appreciate the oomph that the rappers give in the song’s final moment, and their transition from one another was quite seamless.

RUN IT appears to build on the traditional concept that DIVINE‘s music video flourished with and combines it with an army-building concept (going back to the idea of ‘rallying the troops’). The black-and-white contrast of their outfits and the dancers’ outfits probably represents differences between people, and it’s through Stray Kids’ confidence and leadership that brings everyone together as one, per the ending of the video. I also enjoyed the artistic side of the music video, which brings out a whole different vibe and pace from their usual style and concept.

Like all of their choreography, Stray Kids impresses with this one. On this occasion, they really embraced a powerful and intense side to showcase their confidence and drive that they express in RUN IT‘s lyrics. I do wonder how they will bring everything together on stage, but I am definitely hoping for each member to have a solo moment as shown in the music video. That is most likely enabled by how the music video is set up, but that would be a cool stage concept, especially for Stray Kids. I am most excited for FELIX and LEE KNOW’s solo moments during the bridge.

Song – 8.5/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 9/10
Overall Rating – 8.8/10