After ITZY’s release of Girls Will Be Girls, ITZY’s 10th Mini Album, fans had great expectations from their next release, and it has delivered! On November 10th, 2025, ITZY had a kind of return to form with a self-love-centered concept, but with a wider and developed message. One which purports confidence and self-sufficiency in achieving our dreams and goals, and being ourselves, in having Focus or Tunnel Vision. The story and structure of the album is hypnotic as well as conceptually satisfying, matching with a well-produced music video, makes it special among ITZY’s latest releases; apart from the fact it is ITZY’s first release since their contract renewal.
1. Intro: FOCUS
Focus, vision. New point, mind-sealed. Greedy eyes on. Keep my senses on.
The album begins with an intro song, setting an intent for the rest of the album. The minute-long grunge-esque song is loud and electric, with a sinister note, which diverts everyone’s attention toward it, like the message and the title of the song itself! It sets precedence for the next song, Tunnel Vision, wherein ITZY lock in, in their tunnel vision.
2. Title: TUNNEL VISION
Now I better pause, 모두 집중 on alert, never backing down, 빛을 쫓아 what I want.
On a surface level, Tunnel Vision has a message which is simple and self-evident—self-confidence in achieving one’s goals. They are “focusing on their level up” and hence why they have “tunnel vision,” moving toward their “quest” with precision and without any vacations! The song’s heavy Afro-beat percussion, synth-pop vibes, paired with generous heapings of rapverses throughout the song give it a fast-paced and hypnotizing texture, as if one is themselves in a state of being in Tunnel Vision. (As is expected from a DemJointz production!) Moreover, the choreography by the legendary Kirsten Dodgen and execution by the dance maestros that are ITZY, make it even more hypnotic.
The listening experience is definitely accentuated by the excellent visual story-telling of the music-video, via brief and hypnotic frames like the ones above. Hence, fans may get a deeper insight into the exact meaning of Tunnel Vision, which is meant by ITZY. These brief moments in the music-video fill in the blanks as to what ITZY’s main goal in their tunnel vision is.
Nothing’s gonna put me off, 빛이 날 비춰. I know what the hell I want, don’t need permission.
The motif of ants within the music-video highlight the fact that all of ITZY are committed toward a single direction, with their hands holding eachother’s, as if they are girls, who will be girls. Through the words of the above visual, we realize that Tunnel Vision is not only about chasing our ambitions, but also focusing on ourselves, in not losing ourselves in the “roars of cheers” and “endless flashes,”—in the stardom. Previous shots of YEJI being a “disgraced woman” in the music video also reinforce this. Hence, we can argue that ITZY are focused on mostly one goal. That is, being who they are, together as 5, unendingly and without the interference of anyone else! Sound familiar?
3. Track-3: DYT
Do your thing, don’t you want me? (Show me love!) 삘리 그래 이미
DYT perpetuates a return to the vibes of the music ITZY has always made, but with a fresh sound. The electronic dance and hyperpop-esque sound recalls songs like RACER and DYNAMITE, with similar bombastic and interestingly novel and addictive soundscapes, electric rapverses handled by the rap-line, and a playful bridge, the likes of which are missing in K-Pop songs nowadays! The song has a similar message to Not Shy, and acts as its spiritual successor, but with much more interesting lyrics and infectious instrumental.
4. Track-4: Flicker
한참을 달려봐도 모자라허나 될 때까지, do my best.
A song like this is a new genre for ITZY, although the nostalgic “trot”-like motifs and retro soundscape remind one of ITZY’s OST for Strong Girl Namsoon: SUPERPOWERS. It is bubblegum-pop meet K-pop and dance music, which takes one to heaven with its vocals and rap execution, but also makes us tear up with its message. That whatever happens in our way to live life and achieving our goals, we should always follow our extincts and what feels right, our guiding flickers on our paths in life, and to learn from them: to always shine without ever fading, regardless of what life throws at us.
5. Track-5: Nocturne
Now at the second-last track, we get a sinister and slowly-seductive song from ITZY. It is similar to their Mr. Vampire in both ethereal and out-of-the-world soundscape and vivid lyrics. “Nocturne” literally means, a slow piano composition inspired by a slow and evocative might. The song speaks of ITZY trying to break through a very vivid and scary nightmare, which was initially a kind of “sweet lie,” a deception, which led them to get further stuck in this nightmare.
달콤한 거짓 속에, 머물고 싶어질 때깨어나. Break, nightmare, 쓰디쓴 fruit (Who’s there?), 짙은 어둠 속 light it up.
In the song, it is not reported what exactly the nightmare is supposed to be, a bad lover, a literal bad dream, or some traumatic experience—it is left up to interpretation. The end of the song leads them to finally break out of this nightmare, hence ITZY give a message of never giving up when faced with nightmare: “포기하지 마, life is yours.”
문득 바라본 window, 나를 덮치는 sunrise. 서서히 걷히는 지독한 밤, 그저 꿈일 뿐 that’s not yours.
6. Track-6: 8-BIT HEART
Bing-bang-badda-zing-zang, badda-bing-bong-big-bam! Beat you, any match anywhere anytime.
Whatchu talking about? Whatchu talking about?
To close of the saga that is Tunnel Vision, we get a finale which is boisterous, chaotic, funny and playful: quintessentially what makes ITZY, ITZY. The return of hyperpop with retro-rock and rap sprinklings, from ITZY’s lauded album Wannabe, is self-evident in the loud, electrical, and elaborate soundscape and at times, meaningless lyrics!
What’s it like there living on the outside? Are you happy in another game?
The opening intro begins with a retro 80s video-game vibe wherein, the lyrics also pick up with the same concept. “Call be a sidequest, no shade, no tea!” The self-referentiality, and boldness in the song comments cheekily on the feeling of being overlooked or misunderstood by people, which resonates with ITZY deeply: wherein they have been pushed to the sidelines by the general K-pop audience. It is ridiculous, experimental, catchy and carries forward the message of ITZY’s new Renaissance with Tunnel Vision. They aren’t afraid to experiment or even being misunderstood. They have confidence in their resilience, regardless if you keep loading on their 8-BIT HEART!
A Back to Form
ITZY’s whimsical and meaningful release is not just beloved by fans but is also being enjoyed by the general audience. It has become ITZY’s fastest music video to reach 20,000,000 views since Cheshire in 2022 (5 days) and the music video, as of November 15th, dethroned GOLDEN by HUNTR/X in daily streams at 4,300,000 views. It has also peaked at #1 on the Korean Bugs chart, and stably increasing in streams on Spotify, alongside a stable increase in physical sales, surpassing 370,000 sales in 5 days. The album moreover, has peaked at #2 at highest debuting albums on Apple Music charts. Apple Music K-pop Music Video charts also have seen a general increase in ITZY’s songs wherein 6 of their recent songs are charting, with Tunnel Vision at #9.
Focus on my level up, I got Tunnel Vision.
ITZY, not only through their concept and excellent music, but also tangible results of their hardwork show us that being ourselves relentlessly, betting on ourselves and never giving up still has appeal. As a generation, we are witnessing ITZY’s reclimb toward a confidence in themselves and their concept. It will truly be an experience to see what ITZY has to show next.
Stream ITZY’s TUNNEL VISION on Spotify.