In 2022, many Kpop girl groups have introduced extremely memorable lyrics to their songs, and 6 notable mentions have been compiled in no particular order.
1. aespa’s “Illusion” (Girls)
Written by Itor (La La La Studio)
Composed by G’harah ‘PK’ Degeddingseze, Patricia “Tricia
Arranged by Battani, Steve Octave
“Don’t be scared, I’m here”
“Illusion” is not a song that explains the world view of aespa, but it still seems to have the virtue of a world view song.
In many ways, “Illusion” seems as if it would fit as an OST for Netflix’s original cyberpunk animation. It makes listeners imagine the landscape and story of a certain world where traditions and the future intersect.
2. New Jeans’s “Cookie” (New Jeans)
Written by Gigi, Ylva Dimberg
Composed by Jinsu Park, Ylva Dimberg
Arranged by Jinsu Park
“Made a little cookie. Pick your poison, it’s on me. I’ll melt your heart away”
This song’s interpretation is largely based on two facts. The first is that songs and idols are not necessities (drinks, songs), unlike food, clothing and shelter. The second is that people become interested in these “non-essential things”, and as a result, if they become virtuous, their lives in reality can be dangerous.
Some people use the time they should study to watch live cams or shorts videos, some people spend money for living expenses to buy goods and albums, and their already thin wallets get thinner.
It is known that the amount of time, effort, and money spent in the above situations is not insignificant, but when an idol that can bewitch one appears, a “crisis” occurs. Even so, the reason people are willing to fall into this crisis is because there is sweet fun (cookie) given by this dangerous existence (idol).
In this perspective, the theme of “Cookie” becomes “I will make you a fan of us. This may ruin your ‘current life’ (real life).” It’s literally a “poison” that “melts your heart’.
3. IVE’s “After LIKE” (After LIKE)
Written by Seo Ji Eum
Composed by Ryan S.Jhun, Anders Nilsen, Andrè Jensen, Iselin Solheim, F. Perren, D. Fekaris
Arranged by Ryan S.Jhun, Anders Nilsen, AVIN, SLAY
“You know what my strength is? It’s that I’m honest.”
“After LIKE” is remembered as an artistic yet fun song, and there are two main reasons why this song is fun.
The first is that IVE has built a narcissistic character well through “Eleven” and “Love Dive”. The second is that this “narcissistic character” is both an exploding lovely heart and a very insensitive listener. These two things create synergy, so one can laugh while listening to IVE.
The song lyrics read “Don’t ask me again”, “Don’t try to doubt what I just said”, and “”You know what my strength is? It’s that I’m honest.“, but in reality the listener is suspicious and has no idea what it is. “Like” is hard for the listener to understand, so IVE has to use a stronger word, but since they are a narcissist, they can’t do that again. They therefore mix up the spelling order of LOVE, and come up with the expression “After LIKE” to say they are making their own compromises.
4. LE SSERAFIM’s “Impurities” (ANTIFRAGILE)
Written by Score (13), Megatone (13), Jonah Hall, danke (la la studio), Bang Si Hyuk, Heo Yun Jin, Daniel ‘Obi’ Klein, Charli Taft, Kim Chae Ah (153/Jombas), Maggie Szabo, Hayes Kramer, BLVSH, JARO, and Noh PN.
Composed by Score (13), Megatone (13), Jonna Hall, danke (la la studio), Bang Si Hyuk, Heo Yun Jin, Daniel ‘Obi’ Klein, Charlie Taft, and Kim Chae Ah (153)
“Solid opacity full of scars
So natural beautiful”
“Impurities” is one of the theme songs of “Crimson Heart,” the adventure story created by HYBE about girls leaving the familiar control city of “Refugia” and going beyond the barrier that no one has crossed to “Unknown,” an unfamiliar magical land with blue fireflies.
However, you don’t have to know the backstory to enjoy this song. It’s an attractive song with high musical perfection and performance, regardless of the world view. The same goes for the lyrics.
“Impurities” is a song that highlights the desire for what you aim for and the wounds you get in the process of obtaining it.
5. (G)I-DLE’s “Nxde” (I love).
Written by Jeon Soyeon.
Composed by Jeon Soyeon, Poptime, Kako.
Rearranged by Poptime, Kako, Jeon Soyeon.
“I’m born nude. It’s you who got a dirty mind”.
Looking back on the era of 2nd and 3rd gen girl groups, the phrase “girl groups are popular” was not used only as a compliment. Because there were people who meant that girl groups have “public recognition”, but there is no “fandom power,” and “female idols do not make as much money as male idols”.
However, the presence of “popularity” means that there is “representation,” and it cannot be evaluated only with visible sales. Popular songs represent a certain era, a certain season, a certain moment, a certain person, and a certain emotion.
(G)I-DLE‘s “Nxde” is also such a song. The song conveys the message, “Human beings are originally born nude, and they are not born sexy. The reason why you see me as obscene is because you have a dirty mind (not my problem).” It’s song that represents women’s position on the uncomfortable views surrounding them.
“How did girl groups’ heyday come again?” There are many analyses on this, but one outstanding opinion is, “There may be a difference between the high and low points, but girl groups have never lost their representativeness.” And (G)I-DLE’s “Nxde” has remained a good example of making this idea stronger.
6. KARA’s “WHEN I MOVE” (MOVE AGAIN)
Written by Adrienne Ben Haim, Anton Göransson, Isabella Sjostrand, Brandon “B Ham” Hamlin, Y0UNG, Kang Ji Young, Boa Kim, Nicole
Composed by Adrienne Ben Haim, Anton Göransson, Isabella Sjostrand, Brandon “B Ham” Hamlin, Kang Ji Young, Boa Kim
Arranged by Adrienne Ben Haim, Anton Göransson, Isabella Sjostrand, Brandon “B Ham” Hamlin
“A flower is blooming on the asphalt”.
The song “WHEN I MOVE” tells the story of KARA themselves, who began to move again. The lyrics that caught listeners’ attention in this song are “A flower is blooming on the asphalt.” There is no sentence that expresses KARA better than this line.
The beginning of the asphalt, far from the flower path, the recognition built without any hardship, the fandom gathered in the influence of their charm, hardship and effort, and a life reversal scenario that explodes when enough energy is gathered.
The writers’ evaluation of KARA is that they are one of the teams representing the golden era of girl groups during the 2nd gen of k-pop, so they are glad to see KARA’s reunion.
Source: Daum.
