Song Revew:: Catch the Young: FOOTSTEPS

• Release date: 2025 December 20

• Album tracklist: FOOTSTEPS, FOOTSTEPS (Inst.)

• Album runtime: 8 minutes

 I was wondering when we were going to be getting something else from them. I was hoping we'd get something for their second anniversary, but we didn't. Still, I'm curious about this one because it's just as possible for this to be a seasonal song as not. Also, it's over four minutes long, and I love that for them. And us. This is another case of my irritating loyalty because on November 2nd, 2023, I found out the company that JR had gone to after Pledis (Evermore) and found out that they had debuted, literally the day before, a new band, one of whom had helped write DOOM DOOM, JR's solo from NU'EST's second album, Romanticize. I was going to support them no matter what because of that, but thankfully, so far I've just enjoyed everything they've put out. 

This is such a classic and wonderful example of a tension and energy build that even just listening to the instrumental first, because they so wonderfully provided the instrumental on its own, it's remarkably easy to track the story of the song because there's a story being told here in the instrumental. Just about every instrument gets a chance to shine, and shine well, but I have to say that I immediately fell in love with the song from that opening piano because it reminds me of Not A Day Goes By by Lonestar (I'm providing the link to the music video only because I'm feeling a lot of similarities in the instrumentals and if you like this one, you might like that one). Do I think this song is going to be a particularly sad one when I take a listen to the lyrics? Not necessarily, but at minimum, this one is going to be poignant, if the title is any indication. Gorgeous guitar solo though

I may do a review for their debut song at some point just so y'all can hear how far they've come vocally already, and only in two years. This song sounds like it belongs to a much older band, with the vibrato I expect from third and second gen groups. Although, I just learned something that explains why it's resonating with me so much. This is a remake of a 1997 song, of the same name by the band Emerald Castle which makes this their second official remake they've released, both of whom have been this year. But, y'all, I love it when I put faith in groups or bands and then they show off exactly why they're in the music business. Namhyun has an amazing stunning voice and the harmonizations from Sani and Junyoung just put me in my happy place. 

It's very much a vibes and visuals music video, although that guitar solo is just sick. But I do have to point out and compliment the choice to start the music video out in grayscale, and then transition it to color. It creates a very specific feel to the song, and I appreciate it.