CRIMINAL LOVE

"CRIMINAL LOVE" explores the themes of fatalism, forbidden attraction, and the cyclical nature of a cursed romance. As an original soundtrack (OST) for the webtoon DARK MOON: THE BLOOD ALTAR, the lyrics are deeply entrenched in the story's lore, which features seven vampire boys and a girl with a mysterious past.

Literal Meaning: On the surface, the song describes a relationship that feels illegal or wrong, hence the title "Criminal Love." The lovers are forced to hide in the dark ("when the light's out"), existing in a "ghost town" where they can only be together fleetingly. The lyrics express the pain of waiting and the agony of repeated separations, with one partner constantly leaving and promising to meet in the "next life," hinting at reincarnation or immortality.

Implicit & Lore-Based Meaning: Within the context of the Dark Moon narrative, the song reflects the vampires' eternal and often painful connection to the female protagonist, Sooha. The "criminal" aspect refers to the taboo nature of their bond—potentially between different species or conflicting factions. The references to "hours like minutes" and "luna nova" symbolize the warping of time for immortal beings and the darkness that surrounds their existence.

Psychological Interpretation: Beyond the fantasy element, the song speaks to the universal human experience of toxic or obsessive love. It portrays a state where logic is overruled by instinct ("jump over logic"), and the lover willingly accepts emotional imprisonment ("got my hands cuffed") because the fleeting moments of intimacy ("heaven allowed for a moment") are worth the suffering. It validates the feeling that some connections, no matter how destructive, are inescapable.

The narrative unfolds in a desolate, metaphorical "ghost town" where two lovers hide away from the world. As the lights go out and the moon is obscured by the dark night, the protagonist confesses a sense of familiarity with waiting, trapped in a deep darkness that feels like an eternal cycle. Time distorts, with hours passing like mere minutes, emphasizing the intensity and brevity of their stolen moments.

A sense of tragic inevitability permeates the story. The protagonist recalls a "luna nova" (new moon) and the fading memory of a lover who left, leading to a desperate search through night and day. The relationship is framed as a "pity," a cycle of separation where the partner bids goodnight only to promise a meeting in the "next life." Despite this, the protagonist is consumed by the present moment, willing to embrace this "heaven allowed for a moment under the moonlight" to fill their emptiness.

The central theme of "criminal love" emerges as a voluntary surrender. The protagonist declares their hands are cuffed, accepting the illicit nature of their bond. It is a love that tastes intoxicating, described with a visceral "ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh." Even though they question if this repeated heartbreak is their destiny, they refuse to hide anymore. They seek to be drenched in the light of their lover found in the darkness, valuing this connection above all logic and instinct. Ultimately, they accept the "madness" and the risk of being forgotten again, choosing to embrace this forbidden, criminal love for just one more night.

"CRIMINAL LOVE" was released on July 31, 2023, as the second original soundtrack (OST) for the HYBE webtoon DARK MOON: THE BLOOD ALTAR. The song serves as a musical extension of the webtoon's narrative, which stars the members of ENHYPEN as vampire characters. It follows their previous OST for the series, "One In A Billion," released in 2022.

The track was produced and written by a team of international and Korean creators, including Anton Eriksson, danke (lalala studio), Fernstream, Joseph Feinstein, Kang Eun Jeong, Kim In Hyung, and Lee Yi Jin. This collaboration resulted in a sound that blends Western pop sensibilities with K-Pop's emotive storytelling.

Notably, the song was later included in ENHYPEN's special album MEMORABILIA, released in May 2024. The group performed "CRIMINAL LOVE" during their FATE world tour, where the choreography—featuring handcuff-like hand movements—became a viral sensation among fans, further cementing the song's popularity despite it being a non-album single at the time of its initial release.

Rhyme Scheme: The song utilizes a mix of AABB and ABAB structures, common in K-Pop, but relies heavily on slant rhymes and assonance in the English hooks to create flow (e.g., "logic" / "watch it" / "stop it"). The repetition of the vowel sound "ooh" in the post-chorus acts as a melodic rhyme that transcends language.

Rhythm and Pacing: The track is set in a mid-tempo 4/4 meter. The rhythm is syncopated, particularly in the vocal delivery of the verses, mirroring the "madness" and instability of the relationship. The chorus has a driving, repetitive cadence ("Criminal love, love") that mimics a heartbeat or a marching destiny. The phrasing "Hours like minutes" is delivered with a rushing tempo, sonically representing the distortion of time mentioned in the lyrics.

Musical Techniques: The production employs a minimalist, atmospheric R&B soundscape that creates a sense of space and tension. The track utilizes filtered, "hazy" vocal processing in the verses to mimic a dreamlike or intoxicated state, contrasting with clearer, punchier vocals in the chorus. A distinctive feature is the use of heavy, industrial-sounding percussion hits (resembling heavy knocks or gunshots) in the chorus, which adds a physical weight to the beat, emphasizing the "criminal" impact of the love. The bridge builds tension through a melodic shift before resolving back into the hypnotic hook.

Literary Techniques: The lyrics use oxymorons like "heaven allowed for a moment" within a "dark night" to highlight the contrast between joy and danger. Irony is present in the acceptance of a "criminal" status as something desirable. The use of rhetorical questions ("Is even breaking up a repeated fate?") underscores the characters' helplessness against their destiny.

"CRIMINAL LOVE" holds a unique position in ENHYPEN's discography as a "cult classic" that transcended its status as a webtoon OST. Despite not being a primary album title track upon release, it garnered significant attention for its high production value and the group's performance during their FATE world tour.

The song deepened the connection between the K-Pop group and their fictional Dark Moon universe, serving as a prime example of successful transmedia storytelling in the industry. Fans (ENGENEs) widely regard it as "title track material," and its choreography is frequently covered on social media platforms like TikTok. Its eventual inclusion in the MEMORABILIA special album acknowledges its lasting popularity and demand from the fanbase.

The lyrics of "CRIMINAL LOVE" are dense with gothic and romantic imagery that reinforces its dark fantasy themes:

• Criminal / Handcuffs: The central metaphor of the song. The phrase "Got my hands cuffed" and the title itself symbolize a love that is forbidden, inescapable, and perhaps morally ambiguous. It suggests that loving this person is a crime against the natural order or societal rules, yet the protagonist submits to the "arrest" willingly.
• Ghost Town: Represents the isolation of the lovers. They exist in a space emptied of others, highlighting that their world has shrunk down to just the two of them, or that they belong to a dead/immortal realm separate from the living.
• Luna Nova (New Moon): This astronomical phase represents total darkness, a time when the moon is invisible. It symbolizes the secrecy of their meetings and the darkness that defines their existence as vampires or outcasts.
• Next Life: Recurring mentions of "meet me next life" allude to the concept of reincarnation and the cycle of tragedy. It suggests that their love is not just for now, but an eternal, perhaps cursed, recurrence.
• Logic vs. Instinct: The line "jump over logic" represents the surrender of rationality to primal desire, a common trope in vampire fiction where bloodlust and love intertwine.

"Criminal love": The title phrase is repeated as a hook, serving as the song's thematic anchor. Its repetition reinforces the inescapable identity of their relationship.

"Got my hands cuffed": This visual motif appears in the chorus and is mirrored in the choreography. It signifies total surrender and lack of agency.

"Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh": A melodic motif in the post-chorus that expresses the inarticulate, visceral pleasure/pain of the relationship. It serves as an emotional release where words fail.

"Meet me next life": A narrative motif that establishes the lore of reincarnation, reminding the listener that this story spans beyond the current moment.