GOT7 Youngjae Fermata Album Review and the Healing Power of Music During Life Transitions
Discovering how Youngjae's latest release Fermata speaks directly to anyone feeling lost or overwhelmed in life. Sometimes we all need permission to pause, breathe, and start again.
Why Youngjae's Musical Message Hits Different in 2025
Remember that moment when you first heard about someone giving you permission to run away?
Like, literally telling you it's okay to escape when life gets too heavy?
That's exactly what hit me when I dove into Youngjae's comeback album Fermata.
Maya Angelou once said "There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you."
Youngjae's latest work feels like he's finally telling that untold story about struggling, about feeling lost, about needing to pause and catch your breath.
Fermata is a musical notation that means to hold or pause a note longer than its written value. It's essentially giving musicians permission to take their time, to breathe, to extend a moment of beauty or rest.
The Raw Honesty Behind Running Away Is Not Shameful
I'll be honest - when I first heard the title track "Running Away Is Not Shameful", I nearly choked on my morning coffee.
Not because it was shocking, but because someone finally said what we've all been thinking.
How many times have we been told to "stick it out" or "push through" when our mental health is hanging by a thread?
Youngjae's approach is revolutionary because he's saying the opposite.
"Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is admit you need to step back and regroup. That's not giving up - that's strategic self-preservation."
| Track | Genre | Core Message |
|---|---|---|
| Running Away Is Not Shameful | Alternative Hip-Hop with Rock Elements | Permission to pause and protect yourself |
| HERE WE GO | Alternative Rock | Strength found in community and connection |
Personal Growth Through Musical Storytelling
The thing that absolutely floors me about this comeback is watching Youngjae grow as both an artist and a human being.
Like, damn, this isn't just another idol releasing cute songs for the charts.
I remember back in 2019 when mental health conversations in K-pop were basically taboo.
Artists weren't supposed to admit they struggled, let alone create entire albums about it.
Fast forward to 2025, and here's Youngjae literally telling us it's okay to run away when things get overwhelming.
If you're someone who thinks showing vulnerability is weakness, this album might challenge everything you believe about strength and courage.
Why the Music Video Concept is Actually Genius
Okay, let's talk about that music video because WOW.
Youngjae playing dual roles - one version of himself who's struggling and another who provides comfort - is literally the most accurate representation of internal dialogue I've ever seen.
You know that voice in your head that beats you up when you're going through tough times?
And then there's that other voice - quieter, gentler - that reminds you you're human and deserve compassion?
That's exactly what this video captures.
The visual storytelling goes beyond typical K-pop aesthetics. It's raw, it's real, and it acknowledges that healing isn't linear or pretty.
What makes you feel like you need to escape sometimes?
This question hits different when you're actually going through it, doesn't it?
For me, it's usually when expectations pile up so high I can't see over them anymore.
Work deadlines, social obligations, family pressure, financial stress - they all compound until suddenly you're googling "remote cabins for rent" at 3 AM.
Youngjae's music validates these feelings instead of dismissing them.
He's not telling us to "think positive" or "count our blessings."
He's saying "Yeah, life is overwhelming sometimes, and that's okay."
How do you find strength when everything feels impossible?
Here's where "HERE WE GO" comes in clutch.
After giving us permission to pause in the title track, Youngjae offers something equally important - the reminder that we don't have to face challenges alone.
I've been there - sitting in my car in some parking lot, crying over things that felt insurmountable.
Sometimes the only thing that kept me going was remembering I had people who genuinely cared about my wellbeing.
That's the energy "HERE WE GO" captures perfectly.
The Bigger Picture About Mental Health in Music
What Youngjae is doing with Fermata goes way beyond just making good music.
He's contributing to a cultural shift where vulnerability is seen as strength rather than weakness.
Think about it - how many times have you heard mainstream artists explicitly tell their fans it's okay to take breaks?
Not "push through the pain" or "grind harder" but literally "pause when you need to, and that's perfectly valid."
Research shows that music can reduce cortisol levels by up to 61% when it resonates emotionally with listeners. Albums like Fermata don't just sound good - they literally help heal our nervous systems.
Is it weird to cry to K-pop songs about self-care?
Absolutely not, and anyone who says otherwise can fight me.
Music has always been therapy in disguise.
The fact that it comes from a K-pop artist instead of your local coffee shop indie band doesn't make it any less valid or powerful.
I've had full emotional breakdowns listening to "Running Away Is Not Shameful" because finally, FINALLY, someone with a platform was saying what I needed to hear.
Sometimes you need permission from an outside source to be gentle with yourself.
Does this album actually help with anxiety and depression?
Obviously I'm not a therapist, and music isn't a replacement for professional mental health treatment.
But as someone who deals with chronic anxiety, I can tell you that Fermata has become part of my self-care toolkit.
There's something incredibly validating about hearing your struggles reflected in art.
It makes you feel less alone, less broken, less like you're the only person who can't handle life sometimes.
That validation can be genuinely healing.
Personal Experience: I've started playing "HERE WE GO" during my morning routine because it reminds me that facing the day doesn't have to be a solo mission. Some days that's exactly the reminder I need.
Final Thoughts on Finding Your Own Fermata
Here's the thing that keeps hitting me about this album - Youngjae isn't just telling us it's okay to pause.
He's showing us what comes after the pause.
The breathing space leads to clarity, which leads to connection, which leads to the strength to keep going.
We live in a culture that glorifies the grind, that treats rest like laziness and boundaries like weakness.
Fermata challenges all of that.
It says rest is revolutionary, pausing is powerful, and sometimes the bravest thing you can do is admit you need help.
Youngjae's Fermata isn't just an album - it's permission to be human in a world that often demands we be machines. In a time when burnout is epidemic and mental health struggles are at an all-time high, this kind of artistic honesty isn't just refreshing - it's necessary. Sometimes the most radical thing you can do is give yourself permission to pause, breathe, and start again.
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Understanding Youngjae Fermata Release and How Music Becomes Medicine for Mental Wellbeing