The Perfect Comeback: Why ‘I Choose You’ Is f5ve’s Most Resonant Track Yet
Written by Sharon Hamza
Ketchup to my French fry, the sugar to pop… oh my f5ve.
On November 14th the Japanese girl group f5ve released SEQUENCE 01.5, the deluxe version of their debut album, SEQUENCE 01. Although there was only a six-month gap between the two releases, for the fans it felt more like an exhale they’d been holding in for months.
Following their rebrand in 2024, f5ve has stood out for their sonic experimentation and strong visual identity. Songs like“ Underground”,“ UFO”, and“ Sugar Free Venom” received attention for pushing the boundaries of their sound, weaving electro-pop eccentricity with a quirky online presence that attracted many loyal fans, eagerly waiting for the next project.
However, after the release of SEQUENCE 01, the usually chronically online and digitally engaged groups went quiet. Their social media, once rapid-fire, slowed. Their vibrant YouTube output dwindled, followed by rumours of internal shakeups, the departure of a key social media manager and even disbandment.
Though long-time fans who’ve followed f5ve since their SG5 days in 2023 were familiar with long stretches of uncertainty, this silence felt different. After such a successful rebrand, many hoped the group would continue building on their momentum rather than fade into another ambiguous pause. For others, the uncertainty overshadowed excitement for whatever might come next, if anything was coming at all.
This is why this latest comeback hit differently. At its core,“ I Choose You” is about finding someone in every lifetime and choosing them again and again. The imagery is romantic, but for a lot of us it reads something more like a promise. The single is a reaffirmation of the relationship between f5ve and the people who have followed them through every shift and reinvention.
“ I Choose You” immediately stands out in f5ve’s discography. Built on a garage-inspired instrumental, the song is reflective without being melancholy. Coupled with a stripped-back music video, the visuals are still colourful and vibrant, with the charm that fans have come to love so much from the girls.
The lyrics take on the tone of a love letter: Any life, any galaxy, I choose you every time. The emotional sincerity is unmistakable, and fans have connected with it instantly. Some say it feels like closure after months of anxiety, like a new chapter for f5ve.
As someone who’s followed f5ve since their rebrand,“ I Choose You” makes me feel hopeful for the future of f5ve. I have had the song on repeat since it dropped; matter-of-fact, the whole album has been on rotation, but this title track represents to me a unique shift.
A shift in the approach to fans and music that I really appreciate as a fan of f5ve, and a reminder that behind every polished performance, there are artists who are choosing their path, their fans, and their future with intention.
I chose f5ve in 2024, and it's great to know they chose me too.
