ONEUS Goes Darker in New Comeback

On August 19, ONEUS released a music video titled “To Be Or Not To Be” along with mini-album, “LIVED.”

“To Be Or Not To Be” is a famous line from William Shakespeare’s most notable literary pieces, “Hamlet”. The tragedy talks about the young prince, Hamlet, and his efforts to seek vengeance for the murder of his father. A majority of the play revolves around Hamlet questioning the decisions of his life and the idea of death itself, much like what ONEUS seems to display in this music video.

ONEUS takes an ominous approach to the play as a grim story unfolds in this video. This kind of concept is not particularly shown in a lot of mainstream K-pop videos, which gives this song a unique edge.

Hamlet’s story was not a happy one. That’s why it was called a tragedy. That being said, “To Be Or Not To Be” did not hold back in the slightest. ONEUS went all out and made sure everything, down to the smallest details, all held a more in-depth, darker story.

In the MV, we see images like; blood, romanticism era statues, thorns, blindfolds, and crowns. Emotions like; sadness, aggression, anger, and greed seem to be the main themes that took over much of the story, much like the play, “Hamlet.”

With Hamlet’s play set aside, ONEUS seems to be telling a different kind of story. The six members, (Ravn, Seoho, Leedo, Keonhee, Hwanwoong, and Xion), are blindly chasing after something. Because of their greed and desire for the unnamed thing, they are willing to die for it.

Trapped in this thorn-like a prison, they are in a never-ending battle to claim their crown. Like the prince in Hamlet, the members are fooled by their own and others’ deceptions for power. ”

I think the most significant thing in this music video was the colors. In the beginning, the images were flowery and bright. Colors were everywhere and in every shade, deceiving the audience of its hidden truth. As the music video continues, the story progressively becomes grimmer.

When the color red slowly makes an appearance, we are given the impression of its harsher side. Once the first show of blood comes into the story, more blood flows in like a dam breaking on a river. It becomes easier to achieve their wants, and the characters in the story become more sinister. The moment Ravn started his rap, is when the MV began to take its dark turn.

As much as the characters in the tale were willing to pay the stakes for the reward of power, they were also conflicted like Hamlet. They seemed to be playing a battle within themselves as we scenes of them reaching for help, sitting within a hand, and desperately trying to get out of the prison made of thorns. Unable to get out, the succumbed to the imprisonment of their mind.

From start to finish, the music video was AMAZING! From the storyline and its visuals to the actual performance, it was jaw-dropping extraordinary! ONEUS took the time and effort to make this music video a golden masterpiece.

There might be more hidden pieces shown in the music video that I haven’t got to mentioning or analyzing. Let me know in the comments what you found in the music video or your theories!

Watch the music video to “To Be Or Not To Be” below if you haven’t already, and stream the mini-album “Lived.”