Let's Talk About The Rose

Seeing the stats for K-pop related content are better than those of K-drama, I've decided to write about another favourite yet underrated band of mine - The Rose. Good bands are hard to come by since the good old CNBlue and FT Island days back then, but Day6 and The Rose are the exception for me. 

This has been a little secret among the Black Rose (fandom) because this is the kind of group makes you want to keep it to yourself but at the same time you can't, knowing that they deserve way better recognition for what they have accomplished. 

It's just a little sad to see the issue that they are currently facing with their agency. Back in February, The Rose requested termination of contract with their agency after apparently not being paid for the past 3 years despite the busy schedule they had.  (Source: https://www.soompi.com/article/1385551wpp/the-rose-requests-termination-of-contact-with-agency-j-star-company-responds) Since then, things got a little quiet and no one knows what happened to the band. 

I'm still keeping my hopes up that they won't disband. *fingers crossed* #WeStandWithTheRose

Alright, let's get to know more about these guys/boys - shall we? *drum roll* I present to you 

The Rose (더 로즈)

(From left to right: Jae Hyung, Do Joon, Ha Joon & Woo Sung)

Formed since 2017, the four-member rock band started off as an indie band and met through busking on the streets of Hongdae before making their official debut with their first single "Sorry". Why choose a rather common name for a band, you ask? 

Here's the answer from the leader of the group, Woo Sung. (If this is not the most poetic answer, I honestly don't know what is)

"It’s a name to show music that coexisted with the beauty of flowers and the sharpness of thorns”

Random Facts about The Rose

(Extracted and credits to https://kprofiles.com/rose-members-profile/) 

Kim Woo-Sung (우성 or Sammy) - Leader, Lead Vocalist, Electric Guitarist

• DOB: February 25, 1993 (Pisces)
• Flower: White rose
• From Los Angeles, California 
• The last member to join The Rose
• Friends with Day6's Jae and K.A.R.D's Matthew 
  (Watch the QnA video Jae did with Sammy and Mckay - so funny to watch)
  
  
• Favourite TV series: Stranger Things
• Favourite Disney movie: The Lion King
• Has two tattoos - one on his arm which is his mom's birth date in roman numerals and the other is a crown above his left elbow
• Special talents: Beatboxing, mimicing a crow ('Pops in Seoul')
• Prefers cats over dogs but is allergic to cats
• Debut solo on July 25th, 2019 with his mini album 'Wolf'

Park Do-Joon (도준 or Leo)- Main Vocalist, Keyboardist, Acoustic Guitarist

• DOB: April 20, 1993 (Taurus)
• Flower: Red rose
• Born in Busan, South Korea
• Lived in New Zealand for 5 years
• Main vocalist in a band called Windfall with Ha-Joon and Jae-Hyung
• Favourite animal: Tiger
• Role Model and Favourite Singer: Jason Mraz
• Appeared in the drama 'Entertainer' and MV for Eddy Kim's Coffee & Tea with Ha-Joon and Jae-Hyung

Lee Ha-Joon (하준 or Dylan) - Drummer, Sub Vocalist, Rapper

• DOB: July 29, 1994 (Leo)
• Flower: Blue rose
• Born in Gwangju, South Korea
• Drummer in the band called Windfall with Do-Joon and Jae-Hyung
• Likes One Piece
• Special talents: Mimicking people
• Favourite animal: Puppy/Dog
• Appeared in the drama 'Entertainer' and MV for Eddy Kim's Coffee & Tea with Do-Joon and Jae-Hyung

Lee Jae-Hyung (재형 or Jeff) - Bassist, Sub Vocalist, Visual, Maknae

• DOB: November 3, 1994 (Scorpio)
• Flower: Pink rose
• Born in Pohang and grew up in Samcheok, Gangwon-do, South Korea
• Really likes Coldplay and Roy Kim
• Favourite animal: Meerkat
• The 'mom' of the group as he is a great cook
• Bassist in a band called Windfall with Ha-Joon and Do-Joon
• Acted in 'Six Love Story', a webtoon in 2018
• Appeared in the drama 'Entertainer' and MV for Eddy Kim's Coffee & Tea with Do-Joon and Jae-Hyung

Best of The Rose (Saraa's Picks)

Note: Do keep in mind that these are my personal favourite songs from the band and I do not mean it in any other way that their other songs are not good. These are my personal favourites for every bit of the song resonates with me the most and closest to the type of music I enjoy. 

Sorry 

The perfect post break-up song where the guy apologizes for his selfishness and for the fact that he can't take back the words he said to her. You know how feelings hit harder when your tired and exhausted? That brought him back to the sights of the paled city lights and the cold voice. It might be too late, but he still wants to say sorry. 

This was the first song I've heard of them (though not in 2017) and just after the first line, I was already captivated by his unique voice (Woo-Sung) just after the first line. I don't know how to describe his voice but I could feel his sadness when he sang the lyrics of the bridge (my favourite part) : 

The eyes that looked at me before

Your hands, I've get used to already

Now I'm in the picture too

But my tears have turned red

The street I've met with you

The hours that we spent together

I think I can't let them go

Like We Used To (좋았는데)

Those times were better

Those days were happier

Even moments I tried to forget you

But I couldn’t because of these feelings

I liked it all

All the feels came rushing in when they sing in the chorus about how those times are better and happier while explaining the reason why he can't forget her because he liked all of these feelings. As if Sorry hasn't reeled me in enough to be a fan, this song did more of that. 

The perfect song to play in the car, on a drive alone at night, just feeling the song on a rainy night. 

She's In The Rain 

Once again, Woo-Sung singing the first two lines followed by Do-Joon feels so good to my ears. 

Do you hear me covered in gray fog, a gloomy day

I’m afraid I’m blind now, I’ve lost interest in everything

I think it is safe to say that this song gives hope, seeing that he is willing to stay with her in the rain. While knowing that she's dying inside, he kept his distance until the last part of the song. 

She’s in the rain

You wanna hurt yourself

I’ll stay with you

You wanna make yourself go through the pain

It’s better to be held than holding on

 

We’re in the rain

In this falling rain

I fill the scattered you

So I could see how beautiful you are

I love how the last part of the song are in English as if to make it easier for the international fans to understand especially on the line 'It's better to be held than holding on' that switches the perspective from the first chorus. 

I don't know if this is a message to the fans but I find it comforting to hear this for I'm sure we all struggle with our own set of obstacles and this line is to tell us that we don't necessarily have to go through them and experience the pain alone. It will be better and perhaps easier when you have someone with you in the rain - even if all they do is to be there for us. 

(My heart melts for the millionth time because of the beautiful lyrics)

R.E.D

Okay, this last one is a little happier and upbeat compared to the first three. This song talks about them wanting to be red, like the burning fire and the sky painted in red without a care in the world. No matter what sticks and stones may come their way, they will walk on this road in the dark or even alone. They just want to be fireworks, spread high above like fire - just like how happy they are in the MV. 

In this road I walk alone 

I want to shine in this darkness 

Throw your sticks and stones 

So what if we’re different from others 

Don’t mind anything...

Well now that you learned more about The Rose and their music, do go ahead and give their songs a listen and I hope you will enjoy them as much as I do. 

See you in my next post! Singing off as a Black Rose. 

Love, Sara