Artist: BYS
Title: "Mind Games"
Release Date: June 6th, 2021
Genre: K-Pop, Hip-Hop, R&B
Record Label: Dahlhouse Entertainment
Songwriters: Mae Na Geum, Kyle Liu, Ye-Jun Sung,
Lee Yung, Ha Sebin, Lee Jae-min
Producers: Kenzi
From The Mini Album: Damage Control (2021)

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"Mind Games" is an official single release by Korean boyband "BYS" released on June 6th, 2021 as a single release from their upcoming mini album entitled "Mind Games". "Mind Games" also marks the official comeback of BYS, following their single "All Over U" which reached #2 on Chart Heat following it's week of release. The record itself was produced by Korean producer Kenzie and was written by Mae Na Geum, Kyle Liu, Ye-Jun Sung, Lee Yung, Ha Sebin and Lee Jae-min. The record has a subject about a love interest constantly playing mind games with the other, using different ways to mess with their head and keep them at the edge of their seat, all with the thought in mind that they'll still have them back at the end of the day. This record marks the first record released by BYS since they formed by Dahlhouse Entertainment in 2017.

The formation of BYS is an interesting one. The group, which comes out of Seoul, South Korea was put together by Anniken Dahl Smith after a international search for the next big boyband. The search lasted a little more than a year as the DahlHouse team scoured Asia in hopes of finding mainstays for this new boyband. After the search was over, the official announcement of BYS was made in the summer of 2016 as a seven member band, and the very first k-pop all male group in our industry. After the groups members were signed and the announcement was made via the Dahlhouse website, the boys began training in different areas for their debut. Shortly after, promotional videos were unveiled to the general public, highlighting each of the bandmembers to really give an insight into the BYS members. Following promotional videos of the boys, "All Over U" artwork was posted on their new website.

Followed by the songs official release, their debut, which highlighted their skill as a rap and singing group, delved into Trap-Pop and was an instant success. Coming in at #2 on Chart Heat. Following the release of All Over U, BYS have gained a devoted online fanbase despite just debuting. Following the release of All Over U, the group went quiet after announcing that they were working on their debut mini album. As this unofficial hiatus went on, some feared that the group was broken up unofficially. These rumors' were laid to rest when the groups lead rapper, Mark, took part in the I Wanna Dance Challenge in 2020, announcing that the group was working hard for their next comeback. This caused speculation that a comeback was immanent, causing fans to get extremely excited about the thought of a comeback. Following that, the groups leader Lee Yung, took part in reality show La Isla, although Lee Yung didn't mention the group on the show it still kept fans hopes up that a comeback was on the way at some point.

The band's website was officially relaunched in 2021 but shortly after, Kyle released his solo record some of the members went on to do their own things aside from the group. The group's lead rapper Kyle, released his solo record "Tokyo Street Life" in March of 2021, which went on to achieve moderate success on the chart, peaking at #7. With the inclination of solo work by Kyle, this caused fans to believe that the group was breaking up or that Kyle was leaving the group. However, these new rumors were once again laid the rest in early June when the band officially announced their comeback record via twitter, unveiling "Mind Games" as the official single from their mini album Damage Control. Along with the post, the dropped the official artwork to the song causing fans to go into a frenzy of excitement. That same day, BYS unveiled the artwork to "Damage Control" adding on a tentative release date of July 2021. The next day BYS released the group teaser on twitter which sees all the boys together. The teaser clip reached over a 2 million few in less than a day, proving that the hype of BYS has not gone stagnant since their time away from the spotlight as a group. In the teaser, it also was revealed that the song would be released on June 6th.

"Mind Games" is a track with firm roots in Hip Hop. The record's production is quite refreshing and addictive, with it's booming bass and dramatic, catchy chorus. The songs use of bass also helps make the song 'pack a punch' as the bass drives the song forward and adds extra emphasis to the pre-chorus, chorus and the lyrics. It's this that easily makes he song get engraved in your head and to top it all off, there is a dramatic piano piece that appears at the end of the bridge and also incorporated into the first section of the final chorus. It's these blends, coupled with the vocal performances by the members that makes this track stand out for BYS, who are looking to make a statement with their first record since their debut. During the songs opening moments, the chant like "These mind games" is chanted by the songs main vocalist "Jaemin" before the song breaks into a pounding backing beat, coupled with thick bass and zipping synths. Here, the bands leader Lee Yung takes the song away with this proclaiming voice, as he opens up about a loved one who is problematic. Lee Yung mastery of "rap-singing", allows him to make the song feel hypnotic and all the more catchy. Jaemin then sings the second part of the beginning, bringing in his smooth, higher registered vocals, followed by mark who sings the next part of the record before it fades into the pre-hook which is the repeat of the opening lines of the track before the song breaks into a synth heavy-hip hop infused chorus. The record has interesting melodies to show off vocal flair throughout the record. The groups vocalist Joon, sings the piano driven bridge, showing off his vocal range, and emotion to the lyrics before the song breaks into it's rap verse, by the uber talented Kyle, but the song reaches it's very final chorus, which sounds bigger than the previous ones before the song comes to an end.

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LYRIC COLOR KEY
(From left to right)



LEEYUNG JAEMIN JOON RAE DANNY
KYLE KIM
ALL


MIND GAMES


You keep buildin' me up
Buildin' me up
Just to tear me down
Tear me down
You keep buildin' me up
Buildin' me up
Just to tear me down
Tear me down

It's my mind
But you take it as your own baby
Your own little toy leaving me feeling so alone, baby
I can't stand this feeling of not knowing what's in store, baby
Cause when it comes to you, comes to you baby?
My heart's never left a bore baby, left a bore baby[/b]

You build me up, then tear me down
Wanna be friends just to keep me around
That ain't the end, that ain't the end
You tried to tease me with my own best friend

You have me hooked in line on the bait
You have people questioning their faith
Are we to be or are we not to be?
Do you really care or like the misery
Sometimes I feel this not meant for me
But the pretty eyes and smooth words
That deadly chemistry

You keep buildin' me up
Buildin' me up
Just to tear me down
Tear me down
You keep buildin' me up
Buildin' me up
Just to tear me down
Tear me down

Baby, baby you and your mind games
You got me chasing you and it's a shame
And I wish that I could give you up
But you got me glued and I'm feeling so stuck
(Whoa-oh, Whoa-oh)
Baby, baby you and your mind games
You know you got me and it's a shame
And I wish that I could give you up
But you're such a star and I'm feelin' struck
(Whoa-oh, Whoa-oh)
(Whoa-oh, Whoa-oh)

As this goes on longer and longer, baby
Your power over me just builds stronger and stronger baby
I try to put a smile on for me, and for you
But who knows why I do, I just do
It's cause I'm in love like a fool, like a fool
And I wanted a challenge where it was me versus you
Now I'm losing this duel, losing this duel
Somebody throw in the towel, throw in the towel

You told him make me jealous
(Don't know why)
It drove me wild and crazy
(That's my guy)
They say you want me badly
(Couldn't ever tell)
And I would take would gladly
(You just crave for me to yell)

You have me hooked in line on the bait
You have people questioning their faith
Are we to be or are we not to be?
Do you really care or like the misery
Sometimes I feel this not meant for me
But the pretty eyes and smooth words
That deadly chemistry

You keep buildin' me up
Buildin' me up
Just to tear me down
Tear me down
You keep buildin' me up
Buildin' me up
Just to tear me down
Tear me down

Baby, baby you and your mind games
You got me chasing you and it's a shame
And I wish that I could give you up
But you got me glued and I'm feeling so stuck
(Whoa-oh, Whoa-oh)
Baby, baby you and your mind games
You know you got me and it's a shame
And I wish that I could give you up
But you're such a star and I'm feelin' struck
(Whoa-oh, Whoa-oh)
(Whoa-oh, Whoa-oh)

I'm about to give up on this,
I'm scared if I gave you my heart it would be a miss,
I don't want this to be a mind game
I don't want to think
I don't want this to be
I'm just trying to make us a forever lasting alchemy


Girl take a second, realize
What you got, a grand prize
If you ever in some trouble
Say my name and I arrive
Don't you mess with a good thing
Tie me down with puppet string
Take my heart have it sing
Only after it's in a sling
Second to no one, under the morning sun
This old school gangsta, Tommy gun
You Bonnie I'm Clyde and together we both ride
I want you in my corner not so I could get blindside

You keep buildin' me up
Buildin' me up
Just to tear me down
Tear me down
You keep buildin' me up
Buildin' me up
Just to tear me down
Tear me down

It's my mind
But you take it as your own baby
Your own little toy leaving me feeling so alone baby
I can't stand this feeling of not knowing what's in store baby
Cause when it comes to you, comes to you baby?
My heart's never left a bore baby, left a bore baby


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