TEENFRESH by STAYC: Your Ultimate Guide to the Fresh Summer Mini Album

TEENFRESH STAYC brings a refreshing "orange-flavored sparkle energy" to the K-pop scene, marking the group's third mini album release on August 16, 2023. This vibrant summer comeback arrives approximately six months after their previous single album "Teddy Bear."

The mini album features six dynamic tracks, including the catchy title track "Bubble" along with its English and sped-up versions. Fans can choose from 10 distinct versions of the physical album: Bubble, Arcade, US, Platform, and six member-specific Digipacks. Each version comes packed with a 52-page photobook, a 12-page comic lyrics book, and various collectible items like photo cards and posters.

What is TEENFRESH by STAYC?

STAYC's third mini album TEENFRESH represents the culmination of the group's musical identity since their debut. Officially released on August 16, 2023, this vibrant collection showcases the group's evolution while staying true to their signature sound.

Release date and background

High Up Entertainment first confirmed STAYC's comeback on July 17, 2023, with the album's name and format revealed on July 24. Following the massive success of their "Teddy Bear" single from February that topped Melon's real-time streaming chart for the first time in their career, expectations were high. The album exceeded those expectations, debuting at number one on South Korea's Circle Album Chart with 269,367 units sold. Hanteo Chart reported 352,402 copies sold in the first week, breaking STAYC's previous sales record. This impressive performance earned TEENFRESH a Platinum certification on Circle Chart in October 2023 for surpassing 250,000 copies.

The meaning behind 'TEENFRESH'

"TEENFRESH" isn't just an album title—it's the essence of STAYC's identity. The term combines "teenage" and "fresh," coined by the group during their 2020 debut. It refers to their unique, upbeat signature music characterized by positive energy and distinctive vocal colors. As Sieun explained: "Our biggest strength is in our honesty. We often act like playful teenagers, but also do not shy away from showing our own distinct colors". J, the group's youngest member, added that compared to their previous album, they've "added a scoop of refreshing energy".

How it connects to STAYC's past albums

TEENFRESH builds upon the foundation laid by STAYC's previous releases while showcasing their artistic growth. Since debuting with "Star to a Young Culture" in November 2020, STAYC has consistently developed their discography through four single albums, one Japanese single, and two mini albums. The "Stereotype" mini album earned them their first music show trophy in September 2021. TEENFRESH maintains their commitment to spreading "healthy minds and energy to listeners" while demonstrating a more mature approach to their trademark sound. Rather than feeling pressured by past successes, member Sumin noted, "We always think that [the end result] depends on the amount of effort we put into it".

Breaking Down the TEENFRESH Tracklist

TEENFRESH showcases STAYC's musical versatility with six distinct tracks produced by High Up Entertainment's renowned producer Black Eyed Pilseung (B.E.P), alongside K-pop hit producers Jeon goon, FLYT, BXN, and will.b. Each song highlights a different facet of the group's "teenfresh" concept.

1. Bubble – The title track

The bouncy title track "Bubble" encapsulates STAYC's signature freshness with its bubblegum pop sound. Starting with a majestic intro featuring fireworks and string lines that herald a festival's beginning, the song immediately captivates listeners. Its catchy synth bass and addictive hook, accompanied by lyrics about popping soap bubbles, enhance the group's lively charm. Thematically, "Bubble" encourages listeners to break free from criticism bubbles with empowering lines like "being different and being wrong is different."

2. Not Like You – A moodier side

"Not Like You" presents a moodier tone compared to "Bubble," featuring powerful 808 bass and Afro rhythms. The impressive track adds left-right sound effects to the vocal chorus, creating an engaging listening experience. Lyrically, the song celebrates self-love and confidence with bold statements such as "How can I be shameless, shameless but I like it / I want you to respect me." This hip-hop-based track reinforces the album's theme of embracing individuality.

3. I Wanna Do – R&B nostalgia

"I Wanna Do" takes listeners on a nostalgic journey with its contemporary R&B sound. The song features a strong bell sound and drill beat that harmonize beautifully. With twinkling synths layered over a smooth, mid-tempo progression, this track offers comfort through its warm melodies. The lyrics convey a heartfelt message that STAYC will always be by their fans' side during difficult times.

4. Be Mine – Retro pop energy

"Be Mine" brings Y2K-inspired alternative pop energy with its bouncy instrumental and sampled riff. The bright vocals have a slight R&B tinge, while the second verse features intriguing hazy rapping. Unlike the previous tracks' themes of self-confidence, "Be Mine" depicts a girl in love, expressing feelings for someone special with lyrics about being "clumsy" and "needy."

5. Bubble (English Ver.)

The English version of "Bubble" features lyrics co-written by rapper ILLSON and Sean Rhee. This version maintains the original's upbeat energy while making the empowering message accessible to international fans with lines like "Let 'em talk, let 'em hate, I don't care, I'm not afraid" and "You could love or hate. Baby, I will never change my ways."

6. Bubble (Sped Up Ver.)

Completing the album is the sped-up English version of "Bubble," an adaptation following the popular social media trend of accelerated tracks. According to member Sieun, this version was included after listening to other artists' sped-up songs, giving fans another way to enjoy the summer festival feeling that defines TEENFRESH.

All TEENFRESH Album Versions Explained

For collectors and fans, TEENFRESH offers an impressive array of physical album options to choose from. STAYC's third mini album comes in a total of 10 distinct versions, each with unique packaging and exclusive contents.

Bubble and Arcade versions

The two main versions of TEENFRESH are the Bubble (pink) and Arcade (yellow) editions. Released on August 16, 2023, these original photobook versions serve as the standard editions. Both feature identical track listings yet contain version-specific photobooks and aesthetics. The Bubble version emphasizes a bright pink color scheme, whereas the Arcade version showcases a vibrant yellow theme, reflecting the album's fresh summer concept.

US and Platform versions

Beyond the standard editions, STAYC released specialized versions targeting different markets. The US version maintains similar contents to the original photobook versions but includes region-specific packaging modifications. Additionally, the Platform version, announced on August 8, 2023, offers exclusive content not found in other editions. This special version contains a mini card (random 1 of 6), selfie photocard (random 1 of 6), jacket photocard (random 1 of 6), a complete set of 6 official photocards, a sticker, plus digital content.

Digipack versions for each member

Perhaps most appealing to dedicated fans are the six individual Digipack versions - one for each STAYC member (Sumin, Sieun, Isa, Seeun, Yoon, and J). These more affordable alternatives to the photobook versions were announced on July 27, 2023. Each digipack features exclusive cover art and photos focused on a specific member, making them particularly desirable for collectors with bias preferences.

What's inside each version

The contents vary significantly between versions. The Bubble/Arcade photobook versions include a sleeve case, outbox, 52-page photobook, 12-page comic lyrics book, CD-R with envelope, special 4-cut photo (random 1 of 6), two photocards (random 2 of 12), tattoo sticker, folding poster, scratch message card, furthermore a fragrance card. First-press editions additionally contained a limited poster (random 1 of 2).

In contrast, the Digipack versions contain more streamlined contents: a 12-page photobook featuring the specific member, CD-R, consequently two random photocards (from a set of 12).

This variety of versions helped TEENFRESH achieve impressive sales, eventually earning Platinum certification for exceeding 250,000 copies sold.

Photocard Collecting and Fan Tips

Collecting photocards remains one of the most exciting aspects of purchasing K-pop albums, moreover, TEENFRESH offers plenty of opportunities for SWITH (STAYC's fandom) to expand their collections.

How many photocards are there?

Each standard TEENFRESH album (Bubble and Arcade versions) contains two random photocards selected from a set of 12 possible options. This creates a total of 24 distinct photocards across both versions. The Platform version stands out by including a complete set of six official photocards along with additional photo items like a mini card, selfie photocard, and jacket photocard.

Where to find exclusive cards

Beyond album photocards, dedicated collectors can find exclusive TEENFRESH cards through various channels. Specifically, pre-order benefits from retailers like Weverse Shop and Withmuu offer unique photocards not available in standard albums. First, special TEENFRESH World Tour cards exist in both DVD and QR versions. Second, some retailers like KPOP USA include exclusive photocards (random 2 out of 12) with purchases. Third-party marketplaces like Pocamarket typically list rare cards, with J's hello82 US exclusive photocard costing around $9-11.70.

Tips for trading and collecting

For successful trading, experienced collectors recommend several key practices:

Know market prices - Research the typical price range for TEENFRESH photocards before trading to ensure fair exchanges
Verify seller authenticity - Check reviews and proof of previous successful trades, especially with newer accounts
Document everything - Many sellers require unboxing videos within seven days of delivery to process any claims for missing items
Use hashtags - Finding trades through social media hashtags like #wtt (willing to trade) helps connect with other collectors

Understanding pre-order benefits

Pre-order benefits (POBs) indeed make early purchases worthwhile. First-press TEENFRESH albums included a limited random poster (1 of 2). Depending on the retailer, additional exclusive items might be included. Generally, these benefits are only guaranteed before pre-order deadlines, though sometimes they remain available after release while supplies last. For international fans, many shops offer combined shipping options to reduce costs when collecting multiple versions.

FAQS

Fans frequently ask specific questions about ordering and receiving the TEENFRESH album. These practical FAQs will help SWITH navigate the purchasing process more effectively.

Many collectors wonder about shipping timelines for their TEENFRESH orders. Typically, albums ship approximately 7-10 business days after the official release date (August 16, 2023). After shipping, tracking information may take 2-7 business days to update, as orders are reflected on the Hanteo Chart first.

Regarding address modifications, fans can edit delivery information before the sales end date. For the initial release, this deadline was August 15, 2023, at 11:59 PM KST. After this cutoff, address changes become impossible.

First-time collectors often ask about album condition standards. Although minor scratches or dents on the outer packaging might occur during shipping, these imperfections cannot be grounds for exchange or return. This policy exists because the external packaging primarily serves to protect the valuable contents inside.

In fact, all TEENFRESH sales are final—no refunds or order amendments are permitted after purchase. This policy applies to all versions of the album, including member-specific Digipacks.

SWITH planning large purchases should note there's a limit of 20 items per transaction. For quantities exceeding this limit, multiple separate transactions are necessary. Essentially, each album purchased counts as one entry into promotional lucky draws.

For group orders, a minimum of 30 items is required. The deadline for finalizing group orders was August 14, 2023, at 5:00 PM KST for the initial release. Overall, understanding these policies helps ensure a smooth purchasing experience for STAYC's vibrant summer mini album.