Monsta X’s twelfth mini-album gives us yet another Reason to dive into their endless saga of love stories of sundry shades (as delved into previously through albums like Fatal Love, Shape of Love, All About Luv, Flavors of Love, etc), and the Beautiful Liar music video is all about playing with danger when it comes to this immensely overwhelming emotion.
As much as love is about sinking into its irresistible taste, sometimes it brings its own share of red flags. Similarly, the five members of the South Korean band, signed under Starship Entertainment, just “can’t find the reason to erase” this love despite it growing in the most extreme situations, endowing it with a prickly “toxic” palpability.
While the leader of the group, Shownu, is away for his mandatory military service, the other five – Minhyuk, Kihyun, Hyungwon, Joohoney and I.M. have taken charge with a new comeback after the release of Shape Of Love in 2022. Premiering on January 9, 2023, their EP Reason has 6 songs on its tracklist – Beautiful Liar, Daydream, Crescendo (춤사위), Lone Ranger, Deny and 괜찮아 (It’s Okay), with the first one as the titular lead which has also received a music video presentation for it.
Hyungwon and I.M. have also contributed to the Korean lyric-writing process for the title track, while also being credited for their respective songs – Lone Ranger and Deny respectively. Usually this feat was achieved by Joohoney, who has previously composed other titles like Love Killa, Gambler, Rush Hour and more, but this time the duo of Hyungwon-I.M. has risen up to the challenge, along with him. Panning out to the punk-rock sound, the group has made a massive shift with their soundscape this time, especially when it comes to the title track itself.
So, what’s the “beautiful lie” they’re referring to? It’s indeed toxic love. The Beautiful Liar music video starts off with the quintet leading the scene in their eye-catching red leather attires, heavily contrasted against the black hooded figures that surround them, thus physically manifesting the dark dangers of the relationship being mentioned in the lyrics. As the members break out into a hard-hitting choreography that complements the ever addictive guitar riff, the entire scene is set ablaze, again symbolically signifying the intensity of the feelings held within the words.
Soon those entrapments become even more literal with the shift in location where Hyungwon and I.M. are tied to chains and almost appear like puppets being controlled by their drive for love, further supported by I.M.’s line “I like when I’m in danger”. Joohoney then appears as the darker and liberated reflection of Hyungwon, almost reminding one of a scene out of the anime Death Note. Kihyun further digs into the “toxic, but addictive” scent of this love that’s “completely destroyed” them but since “it’s dangerous so (they) like it more”.
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As always, the quality of their title video is astonishing. They’ve accomplished this feat time and again, yet it’s always a pleasure to witness it each time with their comebacks. While Joohoney and I.M.’s Yin-Yang reciprocative rapping styles are capable of putting fires alight, Kihyun’s eloquently emotive vocals are the guiding light through the dark. Minhyuk’s gravelly vocals further act as a gratifying incendiary fuel, which can only make peace with Hyungwon’s soothingly bewitching voice.
Watch the Beautiful Liar Music Video
Tune into Monsta X’s Reason, now streaming on Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music and more.
What do you think of the group’s latest comeback? Are you liking this shift from their usual hip-hop title tracks to punk-rock? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
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