Track By Track: We’re ‘Over The Moon’ With TXT’s The Star Chapter: SANCTUARY

MOA, is there any better feeling than knowing there’s a new TOMORROW X TOGETHER album that’s about to turn your world upside down? Because that’s exactly how we felt the first time we listened to TXT’s seventh mini-album, The Star Chapter: SANCTUARY.

The Star Chapter: SANCTUARY

We’re entering uncharted waters with this album! TXT’s storyline had a full-circle moment with their last release, ‘Deja Vu,’ and tied up some loose ends with minisode 3: TOMORROW. This, in a way, liberates them to try something new, which is pretty much exactly what they’ve done.

Don’t get us wrong, SANCTUARY is still classic TXT, but it’s a new iteration following the healing and acceptance themes we’ve seen in the last couple of comebacks. Now, they’re ready to take on new challenges, and they can embrace adrenaline and uncertainty, instead of distancing themselves from it. We mean, come on, we got a love song as the title track, which hasn’t happened in literally years.

All of this is to say we’re thrilled about this new era for TXT. We can’t wait, not only to see how The Star Chapter plays out, but what this means for TXT’s lore further down the line! Our excitement cannot be contained, so here’s a deep dive into each track on The Star Chapter: SANCTUARY!

‘Heaven’

Has there ever been a more aptly named opening track than ‘Heaven?’ Well… Maybe ‘Opening Sequence’ or ‘I’ll See You There Tomorrow,’ but it’s not our fault that TXT is known for their iconic song titles. Regardless, this song has sent us to ‘Heaven,’ and we don’t want to come back down any time soon.

‘Heaven,’ written by Yeonjun, Soobin, and Taehyun, is an enchanting mix of disco and sweet-as-pie-pop. The vocals are as angelic as you’d expect, and it’s another huge win for the Soobin falsetto enthusiasts among us (everybody). The track is uplifting, hopeful, and youthful, which is exactly what we needed to follow minisode 3: TOMORROW’s closing track, ‘Quarter Life Crisis.’ In fact, not only does ‘Heaven’ do a perfect job of setting the tone for this album specifically, but it sets the tone for TXT’s wider narrative post-TOMORROW, too. It opens the storyline with a focus on ‘you,’ (their angel!!!), and it’s the most starry-eyed love song we’ve heard from TXT in a long time. There are still elements of TXT’s previous eras, though; the siren-like temptation reminds us of The Name Chapter, and the adorable TikTok challenge incorporates a few of their old choreographies (and Huening Kai’s dad’s go-to dance move)!

Our Favorite Lyric: “From one to ten, you’re like an eleven.”

‘Over The Moon’

Next up from The Star Chapter: SANCTUARY is ‘Over The Moon,’ and we couldn’t be happier about TXT’s latest title track! It has the passion of ‘0X1=LOVESONG’ and the allure of ‘Sugar Rush Ride,’ but with more hope than we’ve ever heard from TOMORROW X TOGETHER. What’s not to love?

There are plenty of more overt references to TXT’s discography, too. The song literally opens with “You are my tomorrow,” and later “Only when we’re together, will tomorrow become reality,” references both minisode 3: TOMORROW and the ‘Reality’ concept of The Name Chapter: FREEFALL. In the music video, there are water droplets defying gravity like in the ‘Deja Vu’ music video, and the scenes of TXT running through a wedding set-up show their wish for a happy ever after – which is funny considering that in ‘Happily Ever After,’ they were the ones who told us that, “life is not a fairytale.”

We know which TXT reference in The Star Chapter: SANCTUARY has got you the most hyped though. It was the ear tapping, wasn’t it? For those of you who didn’t spot it, in the chorus TXT sing, “Whisper my name,” and tap their ears, evoking memories of the same move in ‘Run Away,’ over the lyric “Call my name.” The rest of the choreography follows similarly, focussing on the storytelling rather than intensity. Everything about ‘Over The Moon’ feels like flying, and TXT shows that with springy steps and outstretched arms. When TXT previewed the performance of ‘Over The Moon’ at the ACT: PROMISE Encore in Seoul, we promptly lost our minds.

Sonically, ‘Over The Moon’ is filled with beautiful contradictions, too. The siren-like vocals are back once again, this time over enticing R&B verses and pulsing rock choruses. The push-and-pull of the production, as well as the lyrics, create a fight-or-flight tension. It’s the perfect encapsulation of a crush; the mix of hope, exhilaration, and trepidation.

If we had to describe ‘Over The Moon’ in two words, they would be ‘ethereal’ and ‘determined,’ which is exactly how we’d describe TOMORROW X TOGETHER, too.

Our Favorite Lyric: “Let’s make an ancient future.”

‘Danger’

We’re going to level with you now: we’re going to try to be chill about how much we love this song, and we’re almost definitely going to fail.

‘Danger’ is for those of us who first fell in love with pop music in the early 2000s; it’s giving Justin Timberlake’s Justified. The bass is crazy, and the mix is so good – this is a song built for headphones. Again, the mix of excitement and apprehension creates a fight or flight thrill. TXT sings, “What you doing to me?” but have they considered what they are doing to us?

Written by Yeonjun, Beomgyu, and Taehyun, the track opens with Yeonjun whispering “TOMORROW X TOGETHER.” It immediately made us think of his solo work in ‘GGUM’ and KATSEYE’s ‘Touch,’ with the whispered “YJ.” We would absolutely love it if this became a calling card in TXT tracks! And speaking of the 4th Gen It Boy, ‘Danger’ is the first time we hear Yeonjun rap in SANCTUARY, and he absolutely killed it.

Our Favorite Lyric: “You’re my ride or die, I don’t hesitate.”

‘Resist (Not Gonna Run Away)’

Tubatu are in their reggaeton era, and we couldn’t be happier about it! TXT has already shown so much range throughout The Star Chapter: SANCTUARY, but here they step it up a notch. ‘Resist’ is an empowering mantra, as TXT promises to themselves, and ‘you,’ that they’ll stand strong through fear and obstacles in order to stay by ‘your’ side. Whilst ‘Resist (Not Gonna Run Away)’ is in a league of its own in terms of production, the emotions are so reminiscent of ‘0X1=LOVESONG.’ Most notably, TXT sings, When I see you I can resist, you’re my one and only,” and ‘0X1=LOVESONG’ opens with “In this world of zero, I know you’re my one and only.”

Four out of five members had a hand in writing this one: Soobin, Beomgyu, Taehyun, and Huening Kai. And it shows, as the passion in TXT’s vocal delivery is so good. We’re entirely obsessed with the way Taehyun sings “Down with you,” and the edgier mumble delivery in the verses, contrasting with the full falsetto choruses, is so cool. Also, this is a side note but… we’re terrified of getting choreography for this one.

Our Favorite Lyric: “I’ll embrace this bruised heart, I can resist.”

‘Forty One Winks’

Let us start by saying that the concept of ‘Forty One Winks’ is completely genius. The idiom ‘forty winks’ means to take a nap, so saying that this moment in time is the ’41st wink,’ means TXT waking up, realizing, and feeling reassured by, the comfort that ‘you’ bring. The production of ‘Forty One Winks’ matches these emotions; it’s an indulgent, wistful R&B track. TXT is known for incorporating fairy tales into their story, and you definitely feel that starry-eyed vibe here.

Most excitingly, the streets (by which we mean MOA Twitter) are saying that ‘Forty One Winks’ is The Star Chapter: SANCTUARY b-side that TXT will be promoting alongside ‘Over The Moon.’ We know the stages would be so dreamy, and we’re already imagining styling that will give us ‘Farewell Neverland’ nymph energy.

Our Favorite Lyric: “Our own forty-one winks, more than a language, it’s something.”

‘Higher Than Heaven’

Are you as sad as we are that we’ve already reached the last track of SANCTUARY? Luckily, TXT goes out with a bang. It’s a true full circle moment; we opened with ‘Heaven’ and now we’re ‘Higher Than Heaven,’ however, there’s a plot twist! In ‘Heaven,’ it was ‘you’ who lifted TXT, but now they’re going to carry ‘you’ even further; “I’ll take you, higher, higher than heaven.” Taehyun helped create this one, and his high note is certifiably life-changing. Plus, the thudding guitar and giddy perseverance in this rock track are so TXT-coded.

Our Favorite Lyric: “We’ll fly anywhere, you and me.”

So there you have it: our deep dive into TXT’s The Star Chapter: SANCTUARY! Do you agree with our thoughts? Which is your favorite track? We wanna hear from you! Let us know on Twitter @TheHoneyPOP! You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram!

Want more TOMORROW X TOGETHER? Don’t worry, THP’s MOA have got your back.

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