I believe there are great songs out there with simple lyrics which merit derives from their music or style of delivery - either because the music lends new meaning to otherwise simple messages, or the lyrics serve as unobtrusive vehicles for the music. "Flamingo" by Kero Kero Bonito probably fits into that category. The meaning of the lyrics is very simple, but the unique music gives it a playfulness that, while not suggesting irony, does give a sense of self-awareness. Do you get what I mean? I have only gathered this from other people's opinions about music.
I have heard plenty of love songs that seem to only be about love because they have to. Do I really care about the romance of "Sticker" by NCT 127? I don't know. (Although most of the lyrics don't stick out to me because they're Korean, I certainly don't give a fuck about the English lines either.)
I find it impossible to believe that I am meant only to focus on the fast-paced instrumental of "Lipstick" from NCT 127's 2021 Japanese album "Loveholic", though. It's too lyrically dense for me to ignore what's being said.
In my opinion, "Loveholic" was not NCT's best work. "gimme gimme" is probably my least favorite 127 title track. It has none of the stupid charm of earlier Japanese track "Chain". It feels ridiculous. It feels Stray Kids. On first listen, I was also unimpressed by "Lipstick", about which I had heard some. Now I cannot imagine why I felt that way.
As of writing this, I haven't even read the translation, and yet I am sure this is probably one of the more explicitly sexual of 127's songs. It's not much, but I cannot help even comparing it to Taeyong's masochistic rap in "Baby Don't Like It".
"You are like an actress (woo), you have a shining status (uh-huh)
Girl, you dress to impress, I embrace you
I wanna get you in bed, ha!"
Like first of all what are we talking about. Second of all I am obsessed with the cheekiness of the lyrics paired with the very serious instrumental. I would expect a song like this to focus primarily on personal luxury, with romance taking the back seat (a la "Bad Alive" by WayV, which only really gets romantic in the bridge). But the Bentley is quickly forgotten here in favor of a woman's luscious lips and makeup skills - so the energetic music no longer represents the luxurious backdrop of a fling but the fling itself. Is it stupid that I find myself moved by such a picture of romance? That I am analyzing the relationship portrayed in a fucking NCT b-side?
I talk about this kind of love song like it's entirely foreign, which is ridiculous. There are a thousand other songs that fit this description, such as Sisqó's "Thong Song", another genuinely beautiful work. I just think these songs ought to be appreciated for the perspective they offer. Get serious about that lipstick, boys.
Highlights:
- The prechorus and bridge, which are some of the most static elements of K-pop songs, are sort of snoozefests - but the verses are really fun. I speak of "時には sweetie, 今度は cutie" and "無邪氣に girly, 今夜は sexy!" (the latter of which, contrary to what Genius writes, is definitely said by Yuta, not Haechan). I can't get those parts specifically out of my head.
- "狂わせる lipstick" - fuck yeah.
- If the rest of the song is all over the place, then the dance break is a mess. It's almost not sexy anymore. We get it. You really fuck with that lipstick.