“All About Luv” by South Korean act Monsta X was released Feb. 14, 2020, and was the group’s first all-English album. The album released through Epic Records is a well-blend of songs about various stories of love. A perfect album to release on a day all about love.
The album consists of 11 songs, three of which are collaborations and remixes. Among the artists that collaborated on this album are Pitbull, Steve Aoki, French Montana and Will. I.Am. “All About Luv” is a pop album that fully encompasses the ups and downs of love with the range of tracks.
Monsta X is going on six years in the South Korean music scene, and this being their sixth album completely diverges from the music they are used to making. As being a South Korean group, the music they usually produce is more dance-oriented which is expected to excel in the South Korean music market.
Yet, “All About Luv” moves away from the dance tracks and dives into loves numerous forms. One of the emotions that can result from being in love that Monsta X sings about is jealousy. The opening track “Who Do U Love?”, featuring French Montana, is from the perspective of someone who’s insecure in their relationship. The lyrics show the jealously and uncertainty of the person’s place in the relationship by repeatedly saying, “Who do you love, Is it him or me?”
The album also tackles the more pure side of love in the songs “Love U”, “Someone’s Someone” and “She’s The One.” These songs are more upbeat and light-hearted in the composition and lyrics.
Take the lyrics from “Someone’s Someone”, this song was dedicated to Monsta X’s fandom and is about being someone’s someone—yup just like the title indicated! The lyrics go “We all wanna be someone’s, Wanna be someone’s someone, With somebody we can’t live without.”
Just like love has various sides, so does this album. Monsta X also sings about the various forms of heartbreak. With songs “Happy Without Me”, “Middle Of The Night” and “You Can’t Hold My Heart,” these songs go into the different stages of heartbreak and falling out of love.
“Happy Without Me” and “Middle Of The Night” discuss the post-breakup feelings and longing to be back together with their ex. These songs express the pain and regret from seeing the person they love happy without them.
Still in the same spectrum of the sad side of love comes “You Can’t Hold My Heart.” This song talks about falling out of love and reluctantly letting go of that relationship. The lyrics show the sad realization that the relationship has run its course.
Monsta X sings, “How’s it gonna work when we can’t admit it? Pretend that we don’t know now, Tried to drag it out, but we beared it livin’, We can let it go now.” The song shows ultimately that feelings can change which is a sad reality that love does not always last forever.
The group also shows that love can be toxic. In the songs “Beside U (Feat. Pitbull)”, “Misbehave” and “Got My Number”, they sing about how desperation and desire can drive love in a not-so-healthy direction. These songs dive into how infatuation can cause people to do things that they normally would not even fathom.
Every track in “All About Luv” distinctively tells its own story about love and embodies the various emotions that can come along with loving someone. The album takes the listener through a rollercoaster of emotions—one moment you will be jumping about happily singing about love to belting out heartbreaking lyrics. Monsta X definitely encompasses what love is all about in this Valentine special.
The Beat @APU 