MUSIC

K-POP AND THE POLITICS OF SPEAKING OUT

The sneaky music videos of NCT 127

By Yuquin Lin

Here are the guys

Could there be anything more worthless than a K-Pop video, probably in my mind and yours these walking song advertisements are one of the most dispensable pieces of non-art you could possibly encounter. In the eyes of most people who do not know K-Pop, K-Pop music videos are all about young boys and girls wearing gorgeous clothes, singing and dancing in colorful backgrounds, and looking sad or happy for no apparent reason. The content of the singing is always young love, without too much of a demand for emotional engagement of any kind. But, I'm going to tell you that not only are K-Pop videos complex artistic creations, but also, and this is the important point, they make political and social statements that people would be afraid to make in any other forum.

NCT 127 is a 10-member boy group and is part of the SM Entertainment’s NCT assemblage. They released their first single, “Firetruck,” in 2016, and have rapidly gained a sizable following. As a group leaning heavily toward hip-hop, their music is full of charismatic swagger. ‘Simon Says”, released on November 22nd, 2018, is the lead single off of Regulate, a repackaging of NCT 127’s first full-length album, Regular-Irregular.

Let's take a look at our friends again

Bass-heavy beats, layered production, and a swaggering machismo have become hallmarks of NCT 127's discography, and “Simon Says” has all of that in spades. It's a commanding hip-hop track begins with a sample taken from Maori haka. Layered, squelching synths and distorted, repeated phrases guide the chorus’ insanely addictive hook. With sprightly bass beats driving much of the track, the members taunt haters with exaggerated verses and raps, effectively turning the new single into a seemingly autobiographical clapback at NCT 127’s naysayers who “think you know it all.”

Simon Says is a children’s game based on the skills of obedience and cooperation with the ‘leader.‘ In NCT 127’s rendition of the game in their song, the leader represents society’s expectations, making sure that everyone stays quiet and obedient. But instead of becoming blind followers, NCT 127 asks their listeners to embrace their authentic selves, the exact opposite of the game Simon Says.

A kid's game?

Throughout the music video, the 10 members of NCT 127 serve as rebels who are considered “ Real Vibe Killers ”, breaking themselves off from the game of obedience, which is funny, ironic, or brave considering how much control the production companies have over K-Pop groups. Instead, they embrace the hardships of going it alone.

The music video for "Simon Says" uses an extremely artistic approach to express the rebellious theme that the song wants to convey. It’s not just the gorgeous dancing, but also the way the video uses lighting, scenery, interesting props to highlight the song’s plea for individuality. The MV starts with a black-and-white scene which makes people feel depressed and nervous. All the members walk in a circle wearing masks, as if being controlled by some unseen power. They take off their masks and the lights begin to change to green, both in the wash and the background. Unlike before, they seem relaxed, but also ready for rebellion and resistance. As the song reaches the climax of the chorus, the lighting changes to a more piercing red. The visual impact on the audience is intense. Red represents danger, as well as arrogance and fearlessness. Unlike the song, the video is explicit about the need for rebellion.

The Mask walk

The change of lighting not only matches the change in perspective of the music video, but also matches the lyrics. When the light turns green, the guys sing: “Don't be afraid, the only person who can stop you is only yourself ”. When they’re red, the guys sing: “ Do not misunderstand, let us break the rules today ”. Later in the song, they sing: “ Open your eyes, wake up, and fall deeply into this moment.'' The background turns into an intertwined purple and white, reminiscent of the sky and a sense of the sacred. The music video message is deeply coordinated, a coding of color and music.

Red tells us the guys might be in some trouble

In the final moments of the video, the camera zooms in on the scattered masks. All the members of NCT 127 step on the masks they wore at the start, as if they are getting rid of their false selves and finding their real selves. At the same time, the lights in this scene change from white to blue and finally back to red again. This seems a warning, suggesting that the resistance is not over. It’s an image both of rebellion, revolution, and wariness and definitely not what you expect from a K-Pop boy band.

When you reflect on the whole piece, you start to think of the details and how sharp they are. There’s a red Lamborghini whose license plate number is “ 111111.” 11/11/11 is associated with the concept of spiritual awakening, suggesting that this is a new age of enlightenment, the beginning of a revolution. As the members lean against the car, you can’t help thinking of the power of a Lamroghini and the energy of their performance as twin forces against conformity.

Using purple and white, they ask for their audience to open their eyes

There’s also the image of a large round table littered with microphones. It’s all reminiscent of the negotiating tables that appear at international conferences. As the members sing and debate around the round table, you can feel them getting ready to antagonize the “ god ” Simon. At the same time, the piled up microphones mimic the discarded masks at the beginning of the video: here the members of this boy band are not only awake and enlightened, but also ready to change the balance of power. The scene is dimly lit and looks solemn, but the gorgeous costumes and messy microphones promise a different world. And that is why a simple song becomes a complex video of a revolution.

So many details above show that Simon Says is a very good and great composition. Unlike other K-pop songs about love, it has its own strong values that make it stand out from the crowd. In my opinion, Simon Says is not only one of the best works of NCT 127, but also one of the best works of K-pop songs. As K-pop music whose main fans and targets are teenagers and young adults, the presence of songs like Simon's is priceless. It brings positive guidance to young people around the world, and calls on everyone not to get lost in online public opinion, sober their minds, and be brave to be themselves.

©Yuquin Lin and the CCA Arts Review