⋆ Korean Title: Balance Game
⋆ Genre [Source: Naver/BigHit]: Hip hop
⋆ Producing Credits: Slow Rabbit
⋆ Writing/Composing Credits: Ebenezer, Magnus, YEONJUN, danke, hitman bang, TAEHYUN, Jo Yoon Kyung, BEOMGYU, January 8th, LUTRA
ABOUT/MEANING: ‘What If I Had Been That PUMA’ explores the anxiety and regret tied to the significant decisions the boys face as they mature. Building on TXT's earlier song ‘PUMA,’ where they symbolized freedom and excitement by likening themselves to a puma escaping a zoo, this track delves into the emotional weight of the choices they've made. The song presents a "balance game" dynamic, where the boys are confronted with a series of uncertain, binary choices (A or B), reflecting their internal conflict over what paths they could have taken. The track captures their struggle with the heavy responsibility of growing up, highlighting the tension between the initial thrill of freedom and the sobering reality of regret that follows. The emotional freeze they feel mirrors the uncertainty and pressure of their new reality, where every decision seems to come with the possibility of regret. [Please note that this is our interpretation of the song's meaning, based on the ongoing narrative of TXT's discography and insights from the members and official press releases. It's perfectly fine to have a different interpretation—after all, that's the beauty of music ♡]
LYRICS - ENGLISH TRANSLATION (translations by @translatingTXT)
Pick your answer A or B,
In front of a balance game with a puma
In Korean, "Balance Game" refers to the game commonly known as "This or That," where participants are asked to choose the more favorable option between two choices.
Uh, do I really have to choose?
In front of that question
I’m mute as if I've eaten honey
The Korean idiom used here is "꿀 먹은 듯 벙어리," which literally translates to "a mute who has eaten honey," and is used to describe someone who typically speaks easily but has chosen not to speak in certain situations. The closest English equivalent is "has a cat got your tongue?"
Among this tricky palette of choices, I don’t know my color
This continuous dilemma ends in darkness
I need you to tell me if you feel the same
I need you to tell me
My EXP is still zero (zero)
In gaming, "EXP" stands for "experience points."
I hate unfamiliar places never ever (ever)
What should I choose, what’s good for me?
A matter with no answer
A sense of freedom lingers outside that door
(Run away!)
Ay, ay, the moment I face it
(Throw it up!)
All around me are my chasers
Be careful, it'll spread in an instant
Try choosing: believer or saver
Jaded by this endless game
Feeling a headache now
Whatever the result, I don’t care
I just wanna skip it
Pick your answer A or B
In front of a balance game with a puma
Uh, do I really have to choose?
In front of that question
I’m mute as if I've eaten honey
Among this tricky palette of choices, I don’t know my color
This continuous dilemma ends in darkness
This game of freeze tag repeats in my head
I just want an answer
At this crossroads, I’m clumsy
The odds are fifty-fifty
My choice becomes reality
Neither side I'm sure of
Close my eyes and guess it, guess it
My choices of either A or B
It might be better, but it's a hit-or-miss
As it sounds, it's not easy
What can it be? There might be no answer
Asking reveals no reasons
I speak well and make it all sound convincing
Then come and bet, if it’s life, can you?
There’s no right answer,
So why insist on a conclusion
I keep falling into this dilemma
I can’t live like this, low-key
Please stop, my mind is already overloaded
Maybe if it were me, I’d stay in the zoo
But I can’t guess back then
What were the puma’s feelings
I don’t know, just skip it
Pick your answer A or B
In front of a balance game with a puma
Uh, do I have to choose?
In front of that question
I’m mute as if I've eaten honey
Among this tricky palette of choices, I don’t know my color
This continuous dilemma ends in darkness
This game of freeze tag repeats in my head
I just want an answer
At this crossroads, I’m clumsy
The odds are fifty-fifty
My choice becomes reality
Neither side I'm sure of
Close my eyes and guess it, guess it
My choices of either A or B
It might be better, but it's a hit-or-miss
As it sounds, it's not easy
Maybe tomorrow I’ll escape reality
Still indulging in imagined doping
I don’t want to choose, I don’t care
I just wanna skip it
Pick your answer A or B
In front of a balance game with a puma
Uh, do I have to choose?
In front of that question,
I’m mute as if I've eaten honey
In this palette of tricky choices, I don’t know my color
This continuous dilemma ends in darkness
This game of freeze tag repeats in my head
I just want an answer
On this crossroads, I'm clumsy
The probability is fifty : fifty
My choice will then be reality
Either one, I’m not sure of it
Close my eyes and guess it, guess it
My choices of either A or B
It might be better, but it's a hit-or-miss
As it sounds, it's not easy
Helpful Context (Album Series Summary): Following the complexities and challenges that disrupted the boys’* dreamlike world in 'The Dream Chapters' and 'Minisode 1', 'The Chaos Chapters' depict the unraveling of this idyllic existence as they confront the harsh realities and responsibilities that threaten their dreams and relationships. Their once-peaceful lives are thrown into turmoil, leaving them feeling frozen and overwhelmed - until a transformative presence, symbolized as 'you'*, appears before them. This series marks a shift from the nostalgic and hopeful themes of earlier chapters to a deeper, more introspective exploration of both internal and external conflicts. Influenced by real-world events, particularly the COVID-19 pandemic, The Chaos Chapters reflect the broader struggles and chaos of youth. [*Within TXT's discography-based narrative, the term 'boys' or 'boy' represents the TXT members while also serving as generalized protagonists to convey the broader experiences of youth. While 'you' is intentionally kept broad, allowing for various interpretations of the relationship whether it be platonic, romantic, fan-artist, or another dynamic.]
Helpful Context (Album Summary: The Chaos Chapter: FREEZE) : 'The Chaos Chapter: FREEZE’ portrays a world where the warmth of friendship and youthful dreams is disrupted by isolation and emotional coldness. As his once-peaceful world crumbles, the boy* is confronted with alienation and the harsh realities of growing up, leaving him feeling frozen - insignificant, empty, and unable to move forward. Yet, amidst the chaos, the arrival of 'you'*, a special someone, brings warmth and light into his life, awakening a love that becomes his anchor. Believing that you are his true and only world, he finds refuge in this love, making it his sole reason for enduring the emotional coldness of an unforgiving reality. [*Within TXT's discography-based narrative, the term 'boys' or 'boy' represents the TXT members while also serving as generalized protagonists to convey the broader experiences of youth. While 'you' is intentionally kept broad, allowing for various interpretations of the relationship whether it be platonic, romantic, fan-artist, or another dynamic.]
Helpful Context (Album Summary: The Chaos Chapter: FIGHT OR ESCAPE): ‘The Chaos Chapter: FIGHT OR ESCAPE’ a repackage of 'FREEZE,' expands on the themes of the previous album, where the boy* faced emotional coldness and isolation after the collapse of his peaceful world. In 'FREEZE,' he found refuge and meaning in 'you,'* who became his sole anchor in the chaos. In 'FIGHT OR ESCAPE', having experienced the transformative power of love, the boy now faces a new internal struggle. With love as his driving force, he must decide whether to fight against the chaos or escape in pursuit of love. The repackage introduces new tracks that explore this tension, capturing the ongoing battle between confronting adversity and seeking solace in connection. [*Within TXT's discography-based narrative, the term 'boys' or 'boy' represents the TXT members while also serving as generalized protagonists to convey the broader experiences of youth. While 'you' is intentionally kept broad, allowing for various interpretations of the relationship whether it be platonic, romantic, fan-artist, or another dynamic.]
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