Anti-Romantic

⋆ Genre: Electronic pop

⋆ Producing Credits: Alex Hope, Slow Rabbit

⋆ Writing/Composing Credits: Alex Hope, Salem Ilese, Slow Rabbit, hitman bang, danke, Song Jae Kyung

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ABOUT/MEANING: ‘Anti-Romantic’ delves into the boys’* complex relationship with love and vulnerability. Haunted by past hurts and disappointments, the song explores their fear of intimacy and reluctance to embrace love. This emotional numbness reflects their broader internal struggle as they grapple with the coldness of the world around them. Unlike earlier portrayals of idealized love, ‘Anti-Romantic’ marks a shift toward exploring the emotional complexities of love as the boys mature, focusing on the disillusionment and challenges that come with navigating connection in a chaotic and cold world.

*For further context on the song check out 'The Chaos Chapter: FREEZE' album summary

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LYRICS - ENGLISH TRANSLATION (translations by @translatingTXT)

I don’t know who loves me

And I don’t care, it’s a waste anyway

This romantic feeling

Scares me a little

Sweet and bitter chocolate

The aftertaste is always the same

Like the saddest movies

In my eyes, there are only tears

I know

That sweet love song

The vows that were made

But in the end,

That someone turns into a stranger

Sorry I’m an anti-romantic

I want to run far away

My heart, already chasing you

Burns up in a small flame

Sorry I’m an anti-romantic

I no longer believe in it, romantic

I'm afraid my heart will all burn away

And only black ashes will remain

La-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la 

Ah-ah-ah , ah-ah-ah 

I know that you love me

You make me deeply drunk again

You're like champagne

It can't be like this

I can see it all, the end

It’s worse than a hangover

It will be difficult

So let’s end it here and now

So stupid

This sweet love song

A wasteful rom-com

As happy as it was

There's a red line on the final bill

CONTEXT/EXPLANATION: A red line on a bill often signifies financial loss, debt, an unpaid balance, a final notice, or even cancellation. In this context, it suggests that the 'cost' of love was too high, leaving behind not just fleeting happiness but a costly emotional burden - one that was destined to be canceled from the start.

​Sorry I’m an anti-romantic

I want to run far away

My heart, already chasing you

Burns up in a small flame

Sorry I’m an anti-romantic

I no longer believe in it, romantic

I’m afraid my heart will all burn away

And only black ashes will remain

La-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la 

Ah-ah-ah , ah-ah-ah 

Sorry I’m an anti-romantic

I want to run far away

My heart, already chasing you

Burns up in a small flame

Sorry I’m an anti-romantic

I no longer believe in it, romantic

I’m afraid my heart will all burn away

And only black ashes will remain

La-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la 

Ah-ah-ah , ah-ah-ah

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Helpful Context (Album Series Summary): Following the collapse of their dreamlike world, The Chaos Chapters trace the unraveling of that once-perfect ideal. The boys confront harsh realities and new responsibilities that threaten their dreams and relationships. Their once-bright lives spiral into disorder, leaving them frozen and uncertain - until a transformative presence, symbolized as ‘you’, begins to thaw the cold. These albums mark a shift from nostalgic hope to introspection, exploring both inner turmoil and outer chaos. Influenced in part by the real-world upheaval of the COVID-19 era, the series reflects the disorientation of youth navigating a fractured, changing world.

Helpful Context (Album Summary: The Chaos Chapter: FREEZE) : The Chaos Chapter: Freeze portrays a world where the warmth of friendship and youthful dreams has been shattered by isolation and emotional coldness. As his once-stable life crumbles, the boy* feels frozen, insignificant, and numb in a reality that no longer feels familiar. Amid this emotional winter, the arrival of ‘you’*, a special someone, brings unexpected warmth. This love becomes his anchor - the only constant in a collapsing world. Clinging to that connection, he finds a reason to endure the chaos and the cold.

Helpful Context (Album Summary: The Chaos Chapter: FIGHT OR ESCAPE): A repackage of The Chaos Chapter: Freeze, The Chaos Chapter: Fight or Escape expands that emotional landscape, diving deeper into the aftermath of isolation and collapse. If Freeze captured the paralysis of a cold, unfamiliar world, Fight or Escape explores what comes next: will the boys* fight against the chaos, or retreat into the comfort love offers? The album captures youth’s restless tension between resistance and surrender. It channels frustration with societal judgment, the urge to break free from expectations, and the longing for genuine connection. Yet amid the turmoil, moments of light persist - flashes of hope, gratitude, and emotional grounding in relationships that endure. It offers no easy answers, only the raw urgency to survive, love, and move forward through the chaos.

*In the context of TXT’s discography, the term ‘boy’/‘boys’ are used to represent both the members themselves as well as serve as generalized protagonists embodying the universal experiences of youth. Similarly, ‘you’ is intentionally open-ended, allowing multiple interpretations of the relationship - whether platonic, romantic, fan-artist, or otherwise - inviting listeners to connect with the story in their own way.