Why I love Stray Kids, why I am a STAY

It was October 2017 and I came across a mysterious music video release from JYP Entertainment YouTube channel.

At the time, I really listened to GOT7 and TWICE, so I kept up with their company's social media. Needless to say, I discovered Stray Kids all on my own and at the perfect time. With the collaboration of JYP with Mnet, a series of videos had been prepared to become released as the reality show of Stray Kids—all of this was before their debut. I was happy to have discovered a group in the right time and even more happy have heard such a great song. "Hellevator" was their pre-debut single and after watching the music video, I got hooked. Following that, I checked out the lyrics of the song. I. Loved. Every. Word. Before finding out the real meaning of "Hellevator," I interpreted the song as it being about teenage angst. I really took it personal and used it to check both my past and present. The specific line "I'm on a hellevator" really got to me. Not only the meaning, but the vocals of the members that sang this line gave me goosebumps right when I heard it.

The song is just about the members enduring through a lot in their trainee days, which is when they were all practicing for when one day, they'd be put into a group.

"Hellevator" is a combination of the words "hell" and "elevator." Here is the English translated lyrics:

My life was rock bottom, an edge of a cliff
I’m walking in a dark tunnel
Cruel and fearful days
I’m enduring through alone

The classroom hallways get farther away, I’m on unfamiliar paths
I’m so unlucky
On this path I’m on
I don’t even have a map
But I never want to turn around
It’s a maze
Shedding blood sweat instead of blood tears, I comfort myself

People tell me this kind of suffering
Is just a passing storm
That if I want to succeed, even though I’m afraid
I need to set up a trap called failure
As I bit on the bait that is pain
I’m wandering
As I put away my tired wings of passion

My life was rock bottom, an edge of a cliff
I’m walking in a dark tunnel
Cruel and fearful days
I’m enduring through alone
I hold out my hand
But no one is there to grab it
I’m riding on my pain and my tears
As I try to escape above

I’m on a hellevator
My hellevator
I’m on a hellevator
My hellevator
I’m on a hellevator

There’s nothing
No one to care or worry about me
Only cold words
Telling me to give up on my dreams
Those quitting words keep hitting my ear
Only despair grows
The hopeful sky only gets covered by other people’s hands

I’m praying to live as I try to endure
With the piercing eyes on me
I’m going insane
Even if I succeed
I’ll be someone’s clown
So people tell me to give up on becoming a singer
I’m getting weak
But I keep pushing myself

I’m on a hellevator
My hellevator
I’m on a hellevator
My hellevator
I’m on a hellevator

I’m trying to look for an exit
Take myself out from being trapped in the darkness
I’m fighting harder, run away from this place
I’m on the hellevator, I’m gonna go up
I’m escaping from my dark past
Shining on my path ahead
Tiresome times that drove me crazy
I’m running so I can forget
As the bell of a new start rings
I got on, hold my hand
And take me to the penthouse, my hellevator

I’m on a hellevator
My hellevator
I’m on a hellevator

Basically I was drawn to them because of they're relatable and different at the same time. I followed them ever since and enjoy ever step of their journey. They debuted earlier in March and had put out more "teenage angsty" songs along with motivational songs—saying to not give up and such.

I don't have much else to say, except what I mentioned above already. I love them because I finally discovered a group that I enjoy their music and sound before they debuted. And now, I just see them grow more as I also learn and grow too.

[Members]

Bang Chan: Leader, Vocalist, Rapper, Dancer / Writes, composes, and arranges songs