MONSTA X Face Their Past and Present in “Growing Pains”

Imagine it’s been almost four years since you’ve reunited with your groupmates for a world tour. After delivering one showstopping performance after another, you rally together in a final goodbye to fans before finishing your sold-out show in Korea. Jumbotron screens go black, lights turn on, but wait — your new song gets announced instead.

This is a dream many fans hope to experience at their next concert. Fortunately for MONBEBEs, it became their reality. Starting off their fifth world tour THE X : NEXUS with a bang at KSPO Dome, MONSTA X announced the track “growing pains,” which was released on February 6. The song comes as a welcome surprise and early Valentine’s Day gift for fans, and will be the second lead single for the group’s third English album coming later this year.

GROWING OLDER AND WISER

Nostalgia never seems to go out of style, and MONSTA X isn’t afraid to show it. A day prior to the official streaming release of “growing pains,” the group posted an exclusive music video. Reflecting the self-cams used for older songs like “Perfect Girl” and “Need U,” MONSTA X treated MONBEBEs to a blast from the past with vibrant visuals.

To start us off, main rappers Changkyun and Jooheon delve straight into honest storytelling. Both express their desires from an early age to pursue their dreams, while recognizing the sacrifices that came with that choice. This leads into the chorus, where Shownu and Kihyun sing the lyrics “I’ll be okay,” accompanied by the signature phrase “Dealing with these growing pains.” It almost feels like both members are reassuring their younger groupmates that everything will work out in the end.

We move onto Hyungwon’s part in the second verse as he sings, “I’ve been crawling through fire just to find my feet.” The subtle lyric is a meaningful throwback to other songs he’s produced, including “Wildfire” and “Burning Up.” He adds, “And I know everyone at home is still so proud of me.” This is one of the most heartfelt lyrics of the song, implying that no matter where he goes, he knows there’s always a home to come back to.

Minhyuk confesses his shortcomings later in the song. He sings, “Trying to find a different person but I’m someone else.” In a defiant stand, however, he declares he’s not letting “the chains of my past” hold him down any longer.

The final chorus ends with an extraordinary high note from vocalist Kihyun. Even in the outro, MONSTA X truly makes the most of every second, delivering harmonies that are sure to linger with listeners long after the track finishes.

THE HEALING ERA

Growing pains are commonly treated as inconvenient aches that are troublesome to deal with. But MONSTA X uses the term to drop a newfound revelation on us: growing pains, while uncomfortable, might be the cure to accepting ourselves we’re all looking for.

With a full English album and more tour stops planned across Asia and Latin America this spring, MONSTA X is the definition of “clocked in” right now. By going back to their roots together, it’s obvious that this group is on the cusp of discovering something new. Life comes in waves of good and bad moments, so it’s refreshing to see that veteran groups like MONSTA X are still finding their way like all of us.