Korean Music Discussion - Page 2345

The Boys in English makes absolutely perfect sense when you give it a chance. It's essentially about the relation to the evolution of sex in Korean media, and the releasing of traditional roles, morals, ethics, and values as pre-determined by SK Culture. We can see this straight from the beginning of the MV wherein Jessica is seen releasing the white dove seen below



Here the white dove represents exactly that; them releasing themselves from the traditionalist [read: purist] ideas set out by the general culture. This is heavily contrasted with the Black backdrop as well as the falling red petals (red most often used to create either a sense of violence, rage and frustration, or passion and love in relation to the context at hand)

Now the opening line I can tell you're looking at me I know what you see Any closer and you'll feel the heat. The heat in this line is suggestive of the negative media attention which will be garnered by an attempt at becoming more 'Westernised' and them stripping themselves of their traditional values which they know themselves will stir up controversy. Westernised because of the consistent and constant feminist movements which sees little exposure comparatively. How this actually happens is in relation to the very purist, negative look the media gives towards the use of sex. Porn is banned, people work incredibly long hours, and their morals look down on this idea of selling ones body, even expressing ones ideas and hopes if they don't meet the standard set by the hierarchical family trees. However, it has been becoming increasingly more popular in the past decades. This is fairly natural as they're a choked, restricted, prudish by nature; expressing ones natural human lust is looked down on. Breaking the rules becomes more popular and the more they're let to get away with, the more they want to break free from people's expectations of them.

The following line You don't have to pretend that you didn't notice me Every look will make it hard to breathe gives us the impression that they know they're stirring up controversy, they want to stir up controversy, and they like the attention.

The filler lines bring the boys out will come into play later.

The lines Soon as I step on the scene I know that they'll be watching me, watching me, I'mma be the hottest in this spot, There ain't no stopping me just goes to further this idea of sparking controversy, drawing attention, and breaking away from the traditional roles. The use of the slang imma and ain't are further suggestive of them dropping their SK morals and ethics in search of more westernised ideals.

The follow-up of I know life is a mystery, I'm gonna make history, I'm taking it from the start is suggestive of the idea of breaking the traditional roles. This primarily ties in with the earlier line bring the boys out which is repeated. It's the main stick. The idea of bringing the boys out suggests that in their eyes, the boys are no longer the dominant force in society as traditional roles have so often kept it. No longer are the women coming second to the men; instead, they are mere boys. They're beneath the girls, the dominatrixes if you will as evidenced by their leather-clad outfits and now it's their time to shine. This is also enforced by the use of high angle lighting which gives them the actual look of being in the 'spotlight'. All attention is on them. They're making history by completely shifting the roles in society, they're taking it from the start. It's a mystery. This is a huge jump in lifestyle and no-one knows how it will be received, interpreted, or pan out.

Now we break into what could be considered the chorus. Girls generation make you feel the heat. Heat. The fury, the passion in which they are asserting this new dominating role, message etc.
And we're doin' it, we can't be beat, B-Bring the boys out This shows their continuous attitude throughout the MV. They've established an assertive nature, they're aggressive and confident, both in their message and in themselves. They think they're the anything and everything and they're not gonna be held back by the 'men' of society any more.

This leads up to the rap segment beginning with I wanna dance right now, We can show 'em how the girls get down Rapping is used rather than singing because it partners well with the idea that the girls are breaking the boundaries and it ain't no boys club any more; It's their turf now as rap has always been a predominantly male dominated scene.
This goes to give an idea of how serious the girls are about their message. Males have always been the traditional warriors and protectors in society and in a very animalistic way, as the alpha males must be defeated in combat before a new alpha male can claim the thrones, the girls are again suggesting that they will take the fight to the boys, and beat them. At their own game.

Yes we go for more than zero, Number 1 everyone should know is again a suggestive line relating to the woman's place in a families hierarchy. Who came first? The dad. Then after him, the kids (always sons before daughters), and lastly the mothers. This has been the established idea for centuries at least. However, they're sick and tired of it. No longer are they going to stand by and be mistreated. They're the pants-wearers in the relationships, they sit at the head of the dinner table now.

Following this up is the line All the boys all the boys want my heart, Better know how to rock 'n' don't stop, Gee, We make you so hot, Girls' Generation we won't stop. This again suggests that the girls are now taking the dominant position in society. It's theirs, and we can either keep up with them and meet their requirements better know how to rock 'n' don't stop on their terms, under their conditions. They make us hot with fear, anxiety, rage, whatever irrational, male emotions they can associate and pretty much say' you can't stop us now'

It's not a fantasy, This is right for me, Livin' it like a star, Can't get the rest of me, I'mma be what I wanna be, This is deep in my heart This line is suggestive of it being real. This ain't no joke, the girls are here and they're taking over. They're the stars, it's their spotlight now. They'll do what they want, whether we like it or not. It's deep in their hearts, these are their believes. We may not agree with them but they will fight to the death to defend them.
Additionally a lot of the dancing in this sequence uses lots of sharp motions and thrusts, suggesting violent tendencies.

After this is just a follow up, repetition of their main views and goals. Sort of like the conclusion to an essay/speech/document.

tl;dr
Ain't that hard. Just gotta look at the context.
Sex is looked down on, we're breaking that barrier and reversing the roles of women and men in society. It's a feminist movement taken to extreme levels.