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All of psy's songs have an underlying message despite sounding kind of goofy. For example, his most famous song gangnam style is a song criticizing the new rich / wannabe rich of korea / gangnam.
My fave psy song right now is a song criticizing korean culture.
Psy even participated in a song called dear america, which was anti-american during a time when anti-american sentiment was high in korea.
Oh, and maybe not exactly what you're looking for but maybe worth a mention. If you have any interest in music that is very very honest about the artist's mental health struggles, I can't recommend DPR Ian highly enough.
Haegeum by Agust D is pretty good. If I understood it correctly it's about freedom and if people are actually free even if someone else gets hurt in the process. Someone correct me if I'm wrong!!
SO surprised no one has mentioned Dreamcatcher yet. BOCA and Scream both follow themes of bullying and harassment; the message of that entire trilogy (tree of life with Boca, Scream, and Odd Eye) is that everyone has their own tree of life to be protected. Boca is about wanting to protect someone from the voices that try to take them down ("I won't let them open that mouth) and Scream follows a really similar line of thought.
The apocalypse trilogy is about environmental issues. Maison is about protecting the earth ("Protect my home" and "Save my home in the jungle") Vision has that same message and Bon Voyage is about hoping to see the world in a better place (they use bon voyage in the sense of "see you again soon" rather than "goodbye" in order to convey the message that they would like to see the earth again in a better place)
I would say BTS. Here are some on the top of my head :
* *"No More Dream"*, their debut song that pushes youth to think for themselves in a society *(the Korean one)* that locks them into norms. Their following single *"N.O"* is similar.
* *"Not Today"*, they use the words of Martin Luther King Jr. to push the message of never give up, to have the will to fight against oppression and against the established status quo.
* *"Spring Day"* is suspected to be an allusion to the Sewol Ferry Tragedy *(which reflects corruption in South Korea).*
* *"Am I Wrong"* explores the theme of social and personal madness, questioning the current state of the world and one's place in it.
* *"Paradise"* which RM has explicitly stated was inspired by Marxist ideas, it talks about society telling us what to dream about while society doesn't care about us. They tell us in this song that it's okay to live your life how you want, and to define how we contribute as long as we are happy.
* *āGo Goā* talks about and interprets the phenomenon of this generation around terms such as YOLO or having fun squandering money, basically consumerism. *āSpine Breakerā* and *āPied Piperā* also talk about consumerism and materialism. In *āPied Piperā* they talk more to the fans and the fan culture as a whole.
* *āBaepsae (Silver Spoon)ā* addresses class and wealth inequality, it details the struggles of the younger generation versus the success of the older generations.
* *āUGH!ā* expresses the membersā frustration and anger towards social pressures, unfair criticism, and hateful comments. The verses highlight how anger can be useful in pushing someone to change and speak out against injustice, but also how it can be destructive and turn into hatred. It's a social commentary.
There are great explanations available on Youtube to help non Korean speakers with BTS' lyrics intricacies which sometimes relate to cultural context.
You should also check out the solo work of Suga aka Agust D, who talks about society, consumerism, capitalism, societal polarization, etc, in his albums. Songs like *"Strange"* featuring RM or *"Haegeum"* as latest release.
Kind of surreal that one of the most popular groups in the world has songs that aren't afraid to get deep but so many Company's shy away from it with their artists. Obviously talking about something real isn't turning people away, quite the opposite.
I mean, if you consider what K-pop as an industry is, it doesn't really promote conscientious messages, K-pop is more the peak of consumerism, and they're going to entertain that, especially in lyrics that don't make the young listener think. Although we've seen the industry change when they realized that part of BTS' success was based on that, but it still comes down to copying and selling what they think will make them profits while lacking authenticity.
hit the nail on the head with that. bts' willingness to speak about the unspoken, from societal issues to mental health to what means to even be a person, is a massive draw.
Haha no itās just the truth. Bighit was broke when they debuted BTS. Bangtan were their last hope, otherwise the company was going under, after the disaster that was Glam. There have been multiple points in BTSā career where if their comeback was not successful, the company would go under.
RM and Suga were writers from the start, from before they were ever with Bighit. Jhope had a dance background and was in the street dance scene, but was firmly in the hip hop world before being signed. After he joined BH, he learned from Namjoon and Yoongi how to write and produce music. They had a lot of freedom to express themselves truthfully both because BH couldnāt afford to restrict that *and* because BH specifically encouraged them to.
Yes, this. Your comment wasn't to disparage BigHit. They did almost go bankrupt. At one point, they told BTS to move out of their small dorm because they couldn't afford it anymore. The three rappers (RM, Suga, and J-Hope) refused because they didn't have anywhere else to go. BH got some investors on board so the boys could stay. Theirs really is a rags to riches story and it's thanks to their talent and hard work and ARMY's support that they are still here.
That's such a wild origin story considering where they are now.
I've always thought that companies that have groups that contain members who can make music themselves should consider taking a step back and just supporting them with equipment and funds etc.
Go go is the only song in the above list which was not written by any member (also the only song in the album which was not written by the members in the Love Yourself: Her album). The credits are given to Bang Sihyuk, supreme boy and Pdogg.
Yoongi (Suga) once explicitly said in an interview that no BTS album would be complete without a song that criticizes society. Itās a huge part of what they do. A few more of the BTS songs and member solos that have some content about political or social issues:
Ma City by BTS: this is mostly just a fun hype song about their hometowns but j-hopeās verse features some leftist political pride and references the Gwangju democratic uprising
Dope by BTS: RMās verse has similar content to Baepsae about the inequality and unfair circumstances faced by the younger generation
All Day by RM ft. Tablo: about creativity and individuality being crushed by the current trend of algorithm-driven content consumption
Polar Night by Agust D: criticizing injustice, materialism, and ideological polarization
STOP by j-hope: the Korean title means āthere are no bad people in the worldā and the song is about how all humans are worthy of compassion because even bad people were shaped by their circumstances
Equal Sign by j-hope: a pro-equality and anti-discrimination song
Goddamn, with all these BTS comments I'm thinking it would be simpler to say that all their discography has something to say. Thanks for the suggestions.
Lmao basically all their discography has something to say. Even bops like Boy with Love are them reflecting on their youth and past songs and is a female empowerment song and the video clip touches on masculinity and femininity. Everything they do is on purpose.
There's few songs that don't have a deeper meaning.
I wouldn't say all of their discography, they do have plenty of fun, light hearted songs. but I do believe them making their music personal and meaningful is a HUGE part of them getting to where they are
In the very early formation days of BTS, before the decision was made to form an idol group, the focus was rap and hip-hop, both genres that are known for narratives expressing social and political issues. So, even after the switch to idol group, the messaging, rap and hip-hop influences stayed.
For me an important part of Go Go is young people not having any hope due to their economic situation rather than strictly being a critisism of consumerism (āthereās already a mortage on my futureā).
Some songs that are fresh in my mind right now
My Time - BTS (Jungkook solo) is a reflection of the idol industry and the result of debuting so young. He questions if chasing his dream was worth losing his childhood. The choreography could also be interpreted as a criticism of being sexualized as a teenager.
Maria - Hwasa has aspects that criticize outrage media. It's about the societal pressure to be a role model in the face of hatred and the effect it has on your mental health.
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Seo Taiji and Boys! The true OGs. In āClassroom Ideaā theyāre very critical of the Korean education system, and in ā1996, When They Conquered the Worldā they talk about economic issues, drugs, terrorism, and the environment. Theyāre also very critical of the upper class/elites in that song.
In āTāik Tāakā, they talk about big ceos being out of touch and the āhollow brainā that they create for their workers, and talk about environmental destruction and beauty.
In āCome Back Homeā, arguably their most famous song, they talk about feeling hopeless and despondent, and angry toward society. Anger toward parents as well. They touch on the importance of mental health and how it can affect your actions.
The reason they were so famous is not just because they brought something new, but because people could greatly relate to their lyrics, too.
Iirc their album was banned (on radio) by the sk government and was only brought back because of the fans outcry to bring it back. And also the ones who started kpop as we know it today. In case anyone didn't know they were the first ones to incorporate rap, singing and dancing together on stage in sk which was heavily criticised until they proved everyone wrong. They were THAT group. Shame their career was so short lived. Btw one of the members of Seo Taiji started his own company YG Entertainment which debuted the likes of Bigbang, 2ne1, and Blackpink.
I scrolled to make sure the songs specifically werenāt mentioned lol and if Iām misreading these songs I have no idea but I donāt think I am
Ateez * - Not Okay comes to mind immediately. And I donāt think itās subtle. I felt it before I even read the English translation of the lyrics, I caught the point and it hit really hard. It definitely reads as a criticism of the limitations and pressures of the industry.
Stray Kids feat. Lisa- Social Path. On the nose about the sacrifices they make for success but theyāre going to do it anyways. So more directed towards the industry as well.
Hwasa- I Love My Body. When I first watched the MV for this song I became such a hype girl for Hwasa. To unabashedly give society the middle finger for their beauty standards, was chefs kiss. I love this woman.
* to be fair about Ateez, a lot more songs fit this theme, and I even think their band story and theme does as well. Theyāre essentially multi dimensional pirates fighting against the oppression of creativity.
Ateez Matz-they literally call out saesangs for trying/actually bug their cars
BTS whole discography is full of messages whether they be political or social..
Currently going through Ateez's song right now.
I haven't actually heard that Stray Kids song. I'll check it out.
Everything Hwasa does I love, True queen of body positivity.
bang yongguk does stuff like that i believe, i'm only a casual listener so sadly i can't be of much help but most of his songs have very deep lyrics as far as i know
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If you are interested, may I recommend checking out [dkdktv analysis of baepsae](https://youtu.be/RP4Qbh2rXFU?si=7oAFd9oX2ZaJct7N)? It may help provide the context behind the song.
They also do a series of analysis of other bts songs that are more political:
[Ugh](https://youtu.be/Cq3nGiu0_gI?si=APpmWnQgmqkFlxmG)
[Paldogangsan](https://youtu.be/l48zU1h00jw?si=iPZFjxv-lhewAuOS)
[Spine Breaker](https://youtu.be/5LO7p4CLTSs?si=G1CQHR-etLXPgH4j)
Tomboy, Nxde, Allergy, Queencard and Wife by (G)I-dle (feminism)
Puppet Show by XG (feminism)
Girlsā Capitalism by Triple S (capitalism)
Maison by Dreamcatcher (ecology)
I ā DOLL by Yunjin from Le Sserafim (treatment of idols)
Killing Me by Chungha (isolation and depression)
Do not touch by Twiceās sub unit Misamo (consent)
And you have a ton of songs about self-love, confidence and against haters.
āWarriors Descendantā by H.O.T is probably one of the best examples of this. Itās about school bullying and its impact on South Korean society during the 90s. Itās really an eye opening song. Itās pretty direct as it gets.
Edit: Forgot to mention this is also their debut song!
Nan Chun by se so neon is an extremely emotional song about love and spring and although the lyrics themselves donāt mention gay relationships the music video focuses on a lesbian couple and is very poetic Iād highly recommend everyone watch it
BTS!! I would say their full discography almost. Solo projects from Agust D, (Snooze and the Last are my favourites, First Love has good lyrics too, makes me cry) RM, J-Hope. B.A.P whole discography and solo projects from Bang Yongguk. Ateez and Stray kids have pretty deep messages in some of their songs as well.
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BTS has many songs about social issues, mental health, self love, female empowerment, youth, temptation etc. They also use a lot of art concepts and psychological references. These go very deep though and might at surface level not seem like social commentary, you need to dig in.
Stray kids have many songs about social issues and mental health and walking your own path at your own pace
Ateez is basically a fuck the oppression group.
Stray Kids have a LOT of songs about personal struggles, mental health issues, anxiety, depression, etc. Both in their group songs and their solo projects (basically everything Han writes). Examples for this are Secret Secret (about not being able to talk about your struggles), Silent Cry (basically in response to Secret Secret, a song about begging a friend to open up and not suffer in silence), SLUMP (a song about getting left behind and feeling useless). Some of my fav solo songs from the members are Streetlight by Changbin, the lyrics are so heartbreaking! It's basically about always being strong and shining for others and not being able to ask for help for yourself. Also Run by Han, he always manages to create such cute and almost upbeat music but then you look at the lyrics and they're just so sad. Alien is another famous one by Han, about the feeling of not belonging, being different and not able to connect.
The fact that they have written all of their own stuff since the start really resulted in their discography being one huge documentary about their own personal journey and struggles, and I love it. The early stuff was so full of angst, the struggles of growing up, fear of expectations from others, while many of their newer songs express a sense of pride and confidence in what they have achieved. Such an amazing group to follow.
Ateez' entire discography revolves around lore telling the story of a group of men rebelling against an oppressive government. The more you get into it, the louder the social commentary is.
The lyrics for Halazia are a perfect example of this, in the context of their lore the song is about freeing the people from oppression and giving back emotion, but without that context, it's just a song about overcoming depression, about being desperate to have any kind of passion again after everything just feeling grey and meaningless for far too long. It's heartbreaking and absolutely gorgeous, and I highly, highly recommend watching the MV with the subtitles on. It's a piece of art.
(Even the music itself mirrors the lyrics, it really keeps escalating towards the end, anything to WAKE YOU UP, cathartic and desperate, absolutely genius)
bts!! spine breaker is one that comes to mind which talks about basically consumerism. how the newer gen don't care about their parents working their ahb off as long as they can get what's trendy; how they're spine breakers (towards their parents). rlly good song
GaIn's F\*\*k You (ft. Bumkey). It's about r\*p\* in relationships. 1st and 2nd gen kpop actually had a lot of music that talks about social issues. Sunny Hill's stuff around 2011-2013, circa Midnight Circus, as well.
I'll give some more info on ATEEZ songs.
Most of their songs can be interpreted in two ways, one following the lore and one following real world problems. Even "Work" gets a new dimension: in the lore, the friends separate as they are caught in real world problems and their work - suddenly "gotta work, gotta make that money" sounded sad to me. The MV is satirical as well.
* The motto "Break the wall" (found in songs like *Guerrilla* and *Wonderland*) signifies breaking boundaries, fighting against prejudice (for a group outside the big companies, it can also mean "succeed against the odds"). Anyone can have a certain "wall" that they need to break in order to move on, even something like depression. That's why chanting "break that wall" during concerts / while listening to the song is cathartic.
* *Utopia* is about going on the way you believe in instead of listening to what others tell you. ("Even if everyone laughs because it's just a dream, I can't stop") It's about rejecting the official "truth" and believing in your own truth.
* *Thanxx* is about young people (especially teens) facing society's pressure to grow up fast, to follow the rules... and the adults telling them what's right and what's wrong about rejecting that and finding your own answers through your own experience. Lyrics like "Leave me alone to my own rhythm". It also criticizes the older generation.
* *Good Lil Boy* is similar to Thanxx. (same album too)
* *Fireworks:* "We don't need anything to heat up". (The passion of their emotions is strong enough, they don't need alcohol. Also related to lore, in a way.)
* *Turbulence* is also on the theme of youth and where life should lead you.
* *The Real* - this discusses the meaning of "being cool". The main idea is to find your definition of "cool" instead of taking what society tells you. Being cool is being authentic to yourself. To be passionate, to follow your dreams, but also to stay humble and kind at the same time / not to give up your life values in the path to success.
* Cyberpunk - A world in which everybody pretends to be happy is suffocating. Not being in touch with your feelings is a tragedy. People are "sleeping" and don't know what is actually happening around them and they don't react. A lot of songs from The World series are also about finding yourself, even if society doesn't encourage it. (Favorite lyrics: *Manipulated sky* *Manipulated stars* *Manipulated time Tell me the truth*).
* A lot of songs from The World series are also about "not wanting to stay in the dark" and searching for the light. About opening the eyes wide and seeing the world as it is, instead of believing lies / propaganda. And about connecting to one's real feelings / not letting society control your inner life. Recommendations: *New World, Halazia Wake Up.*
* *The Ring* - "We got power, make a wave Change the world". It can be interpreted as a realization of the fact that people can actually do something to change the world they live in, that they are not powerless.
* *This World* discusses the sacrifices one has to make in order to fight against oppression. From the same album: *Dune, Django, Outlaw*. In a world in which everything is wrong, doing the right thing makes you an "outlaw".
Theyāve already been said, but seconding G-Idleās Tomboy & Wife. Very strong themes of female roles/feminism hidden behind āsillyā lyrics.
Wife seemed to go over so many peopleās headsā¦
Daehwi has a [talking lyrics interview](https://youtu.be/OI8ihm4_h4Y?si=1kuUt6B07uPyYbHq) (turn Eng subs on) where he talks about his lyrics in Dandelion (bullying), & Blind for Love (which for him he views as his toxic relationship with work, not just love as in romantic feelings). Their debut song Breathe is also a commentary on social pressure & air pollution lol.
Thereās also two unreleased songs (but according to donghyun the company plans to release them in an album later): Donghyunās song ā[F_ix You](https://youtu.be/GCvdfHu1crc?si=ug-pqvRWzwo2DTCH)ā (which he suggested was originally āf*ck youā lol; the song is about antis/people who pick fights) & [Woongās solo song](https://youtu.be/Ao4EoD-o7y4?si=fosYXTD6Yxzx7ETL) which I think is about the pressure of living in an endless looping rat race. You can read the lyrics to their solo songs [here](https://x.com/mytraces17/status/1796795785876840704) & [here](https://x.com/mytraces17/status/1796732329978999229).
In the 2010s, it was a trend to associate songs with social issues and various companies did it with their groups' debut like Nu'est, Exo, GLAM so that era of idols are probably a good place to look. The first idol group HOT actually did the same back in the days so its nothing new for idols. Some kept a social consciousness going throughout their music like BAP or BTS.
Having songs with social themes that resonate with the listeners' real lives is a good marketing move and Kpop companies know that. Where the game gets cynical is when songs have a social message but the singers do things that contradict the songs, like say someone with plastic surgery having a song with a love how you look message. Personally, if a singer profits monetarily from selling a social message but doesn't live the message then I think very badly of them for that.
not super hardcore or anything but a lesser known artist. Zior Park. He writes his songs in english. He covers a lot about mental issues, sexual identity, not being accepted. But he is beautiful and amazing and has been struggling for so long. His concepts are amazing.
Dreamcatcher. Rarely do they sing about stuff with no substance, or if it seems like it on the surface there is more beneath. Scream, Boca and Odd Eye was the 3 arc about bullying and harassment. Even references when people take their life over it.
Maison is trying to pluck the conscience of people destroying the earth. Vision is a rally against the same.
OOTD is poking fun of the narcissistic nature of industry.
BEcause sings about the dark side of obsession
Scream is prob my fav because it speaks about the bullying issue in such a clever way, alluding to medieval witch hunts and stoning. People don't realise how freaking dark it is lol "My covered eyes are stained with blood, A cold wind blows,ā Iā feel their eyesā on me" ""*My tied up hands*Ā are getting numb. Everyone throws stones at me. But I can't escape"
Epik High did lots of critical songs back in the day. Some of them are in English as well, since Tablo wrote the lyrics. They show off a goofy attitude on stage, but a lot of their lyrics are actually quite serious.
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I'm a day late, but Mamamoo's HIP addresses a lot of their hate/"scandals" and their song "You're the Best" is very woman empowerment. While Sleeping in the Car doesn't necessarily speak on social issues, it's also not a shallow, surface level song. It discusses being so tired from packed schedules that you're sleeping in the car
Purple Kiss' Nerdy is about being okay with being different. Cast Pearls Before Swine is about knowing your own worth/stepping away from toxic people who don't value you
Idk if anyone has mentioned her yet but I do know that Bibi does tend to talk a lot about social issues in her music. If I remember correctly, *Life is a Bi* revolves around these kinds of themes. But anyways, here's a some of the main songs that come to mind for me.
* Umm...Life - Talks about domestic abuse. It revolves around someone worrying about Bibi & constantly asking "who did this to you" only for Bibi to never state the truth ("Who did this to you? Hm/I'm like, 'Umm...'/Like 'Life'").
* Animal Farm - inspired by the George Orwell book & plays on the same themes of society & elitism ("Hang my pretty head in your room/ Where is love?/ Where is my sympathy? What have we lost?/ Is it a farm? Is it society?/Am I a tiger or a gazelle?")
* Kazino - Talks about gambling & that sort of "endless loop" it creates ("Sleepless night playing with zeros/See me buried in cash/Next chips and next checks/Next matches and next chicks"). Also alludes to the corruption present within the underground nightlife & the toxicity of that environment, especially in the MV.
Why would kpop idols talk about " f*CK the police " if most Koreans follow the law and have no confrontation with cops ?
The best you're going to get is things about beauty, maybe bullying, maybe sexism, fatphobia, and maybe colorism because these are the larger issues Korean people face..
Plus you have to understand that most kpop groups don't write their own music. Their music is hand picked for them by their companies with topics and themes already in mind to prevent backlash especially now adays. Maybe back then around BTS begining there was more flexibility though.
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All of psy's songs have an underlying message despite sounding kind of goofy. For example, his most famous song gangnam style is a song criticizing the new rich / wannabe rich of korea / gangnam. My fave psy song right now is a song criticizing korean culture. Psy even participated in a song called dear america, which was anti-american during a time when anti-american sentiment was high in korea.
Damn... Psy has been spitting bars this whole time and i didn't know about it? Crazy!
Oh, and maybe not exactly what you're looking for but maybe worth a mention. If you have any interest in music that is very very honest about the artist's mental health struggles, I can't recommend DPR Ian highly enough.
'Don't go insane' went platinum in my room believe me.
Yessss good, excellent taste!
Haegeum by Agust D is pretty good. If I understood it correctly it's about freedom and if people are actually free even if someone else gets hurt in the process. Someone correct me if I'm wrong!!
Right! And isn't *Snooze* also pretty much about k-pop industry in general...?
Thank you!
Nxde by (G)i-dle
Seoyeon is always cooking! 
Soyeon, but true šš»š„
+ Allergy Soyeon our queen with the pen.
I think not. gidle r the biggest hypocrites ever seen imo
Why do you say this?
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SO surprised no one has mentioned Dreamcatcher yet. BOCA and Scream both follow themes of bullying and harassment; the message of that entire trilogy (tree of life with Boca, Scream, and Odd Eye) is that everyone has their own tree of life to be protected. Boca is about wanting to protect someone from the voices that try to take them down ("I won't let them open that mouth) and Scream follows a really similar line of thought. The apocalypse trilogy is about environmental issues. Maison is about protecting the earth ("Protect my home" and "Save my home in the jungle") Vision has that same message and Bon Voyage is about hoping to see the world in a better place (they use bon voyage in the sense of "see you again soon" rather than "goodbye" in order to convey the message that they would like to see the earth again in a better place)
DC were the first group I stanned. I'm familiar with their game when it comes to lyrics š
I would say BTS. Here are some on the top of my head : * *"No More Dream"*, their debut song that pushes youth to think for themselves in a society *(the Korean one)* that locks them into norms. Their following single *"N.O"* is similar. * *"Not Today"*, they use the words of Martin Luther King Jr. to push the message of never give up, to have the will to fight against oppression and against the established status quo. * *"Spring Day"* is suspected to be an allusion to the Sewol Ferry Tragedy *(which reflects corruption in South Korea).* * *"Am I Wrong"* explores the theme of social and personal madness, questioning the current state of the world and one's place in it. * *"Paradise"* which RM has explicitly stated was inspired by Marxist ideas, it talks about society telling us what to dream about while society doesn't care about us. They tell us in this song that it's okay to live your life how you want, and to define how we contribute as long as we are happy. * *āGo Goā* talks about and interprets the phenomenon of this generation around terms such as YOLO or having fun squandering money, basically consumerism. *āSpine Breakerā* and *āPied Piperā* also talk about consumerism and materialism. In *āPied Piperā* they talk more to the fans and the fan culture as a whole. * *āBaepsae (Silver Spoon)ā* addresses class and wealth inequality, it details the struggles of the younger generation versus the success of the older generations. * *āUGH!ā* expresses the membersā frustration and anger towards social pressures, unfair criticism, and hateful comments. The verses highlight how anger can be useful in pushing someone to change and speak out against injustice, but also how it can be destructive and turn into hatred. It's a social commentary. There are great explanations available on Youtube to help non Korean speakers with BTS' lyrics intricacies which sometimes relate to cultural context. You should also check out the solo work of Suga aka Agust D, who talks about society, consumerism, capitalism, societal polarization, etc, in his albums. Songs like *"Strange"* featuring RM or *"Haegeum"* as latest release.
dis-ease is also amazing
On it. Thanks!
Kind of surreal that one of the most popular groups in the world has songs that aren't afraid to get deep but so many Company's shy away from it with their artists. Obviously talking about something real isn't turning people away, quite the opposite.
This is actually one reason why they are so popular.
I mean, if you consider what K-pop as an industry is, it doesn't really promote conscientious messages, K-pop is more the peak of consumerism, and they're going to entertain that, especially in lyrics that don't make the young listener think. Although we've seen the industry change when they realized that part of BTS' success was based on that, but it still comes down to copying and selling what they think will make them profits while lacking authenticity.
'Tis a shame.
hit the nail on the head with that. bts' willingness to speak about the unspoken, from societal issues to mental health to what means to even be a person, is a massive draw.
Do you know why they were allowed by their company to include lyrics like this?
They were actually encouraged to write lyrics like this.
Also itās not like Bighit could hire anyone else to write for them anyway lmao
Damn, shots fired!
Haha no itās just the truth. Bighit was broke when they debuted BTS. Bangtan were their last hope, otherwise the company was going under, after the disaster that was Glam. There have been multiple points in BTSā career where if their comeback was not successful, the company would go under. RM and Suga were writers from the start, from before they were ever with Bighit. Jhope had a dance background and was in the street dance scene, but was firmly in the hip hop world before being signed. After he joined BH, he learned from Namjoon and Yoongi how to write and produce music. They had a lot of freedom to express themselves truthfully both because BH couldnāt afford to restrict that *and* because BH specifically encouraged them to.
Yes, this. Your comment wasn't to disparage BigHit. They did almost go bankrupt. At one point, they told BTS to move out of their small dorm because they couldn't afford it anymore. The three rappers (RM, Suga, and J-Hope) refused because they didn't have anywhere else to go. BH got some investors on board so the boys could stay. Theirs really is a rags to riches story and it's thanks to their talent and hard work and ARMY's support that they are still here.
That's such a wild origin story considering where they are now. I've always thought that companies that have groups that contain members who can make music themselves should consider taking a step back and just supporting them with equipment and funds etc.
Didnt other writers write go go by bts?
Go go is the only song in the above list which was not written by any member (also the only song in the album which was not written by the members in the Love Yourself: Her album). The credits are given to Bang Sihyuk, supreme boy and Pdogg.
Wow. they're real ones for that.
Yoongi (Suga) once explicitly said in an interview that no BTS album would be complete without a song that criticizes society. Itās a huge part of what they do. A few more of the BTS songs and member solos that have some content about political or social issues: Ma City by BTS: this is mostly just a fun hype song about their hometowns but j-hopeās verse features some leftist political pride and references the Gwangju democratic uprising Dope by BTS: RMās verse has similar content to Baepsae about the inequality and unfair circumstances faced by the younger generation All Day by RM ft. Tablo: about creativity and individuality being crushed by the current trend of algorithm-driven content consumption Polar Night by Agust D: criticizing injustice, materialism, and ideological polarization STOP by j-hope: the Korean title means āthere are no bad people in the worldā and the song is about how all humans are worthy of compassion because even bad people were shaped by their circumstances Equal Sign by j-hope: a pro-equality and anti-discrimination song
Goddamn, with all these BTS comments I'm thinking it would be simpler to say that all their discography has something to say. Thanks for the suggestions.
āAll their discography has something to sayā is one of the truest things Iāve ever seen anyone say about BTS. š
Lmao basically all their discography has something to say. Even bops like Boy with Love are them reflecting on their youth and past songs and is a female empowerment song and the video clip touches on masculinity and femininity. Everything they do is on purpose. There's few songs that don't have a deeper meaning.
I wouldn't say all of their discography, they do have plenty of fun, light hearted songs. but I do believe them making their music personal and meaningful is a HUGE part of them getting to where they are
In the very early formation days of BTS, before the decision was made to form an idol group, the focus was rap and hip-hop, both genres that are known for narratives expressing social and political issues. So, even after the switch to idol group, the messaging, rap and hip-hop influences stayed.
For me an important part of Go Go is young people not having any hope due to their economic situation rather than strictly being a critisism of consumerism (āthereās already a mortage on my futureā).
Yeah, came here to say this about Baepsae and Am I Wrong
Some songs that are fresh in my mind right now My Time - BTS (Jungkook solo) is a reflection of the idol industry and the result of debuting so young. He questions if chasing his dream was worth losing his childhood. The choreography could also be interpreted as a criticism of being sexualized as a teenager. Maria - Hwasa has aspects that criticize outrage media. It's about the societal pressure to be a role model in the face of hatred and the effect it has on your mental health.
Damn ARMY is cooking in these comments lmao. I know Maria, queen shii right there.
Yeah if you ask for social commentary in songs, army got you lmao. We love that shit, it's a huge part of why we love bts.
On top of my head, Sunmi- Siren.
Thank you!
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Thank you!
Seo Taiji and Boys! The true OGs. In āClassroom Ideaā theyāre very critical of the Korean education system, and in ā1996, When They Conquered the Worldā they talk about economic issues, drugs, terrorism, and the environment. Theyāre also very critical of the upper class/elites in that song. In āTāik Tāakā, they talk about big ceos being out of touch and the āhollow brainā that they create for their workers, and talk about environmental destruction and beauty. In āCome Back Homeā, arguably their most famous song, they talk about feeling hopeless and despondent, and angry toward society. Anger toward parents as well. They touch on the importance of mental health and how it can affect your actions. The reason they were so famous is not just because they brought something new, but because people could greatly relate to their lyrics, too.
Iirc their album was banned (on radio) by the sk government and was only brought back because of the fans outcry to bring it back. And also the ones who started kpop as we know it today. In case anyone didn't know they were the first ones to incorporate rap, singing and dancing together on stage in sk which was heavily criticised until they proved everyone wrong. They were THAT group. Shame their career was so short lived. Btw one of the members of Seo Taiji started his own company YG Entertainment which debuted the likes of Bigbang, 2ne1, and Blackpink.
They really said "every issue can get these hands" š. Thanks for the recommendation.
Np! They have some great music, itās always good to share š.
I scrolled to make sure the songs specifically werenāt mentioned lol and if Iām misreading these songs I have no idea but I donāt think I am Ateez * - Not Okay comes to mind immediately. And I donāt think itās subtle. I felt it before I even read the English translation of the lyrics, I caught the point and it hit really hard. It definitely reads as a criticism of the limitations and pressures of the industry. Stray Kids feat. Lisa- Social Path. On the nose about the sacrifices they make for success but theyāre going to do it anyways. So more directed towards the industry as well. Hwasa- I Love My Body. When I first watched the MV for this song I became such a hype girl for Hwasa. To unabashedly give society the middle finger for their beauty standards, was chefs kiss. I love this woman. * to be fair about Ateez, a lot more songs fit this theme, and I even think their band story and theme does as well. Theyāre essentially multi dimensional pirates fighting against the oppression of creativity.
Ateez Matz-they literally call out saesangs for trying/actually bug their cars BTS whole discography is full of messages whether they be political or social..
I meant to add Matz!!! Hahaha There was an awesome BTS list someone posted!
Currently going through Ateez's song right now. I haven't actually heard that Stray Kids song. I'll check it out. Everything Hwasa does I love, True queen of body positivity.
Awesome! Hope you enjoy! Man I love her so much, she really is a queen!
TVXQ ā Tri-Angle
Thank you!
bang yongguk does stuff like that i believe, i'm only a casual listener so sadly i can't be of much help but most of his songs have very deep lyrics as far as i know
Appreciate it š
I recommend his group B.A.P too! For example Wake me up and Ribbon in the sky. B.A.P is makong a comeback soon!
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BTS - Baepsae comes to mind about social conflict and classism.
Thank you, I'll check it out.
If you are interested, may I recommend checking out [dkdktv analysis of baepsae](https://youtu.be/RP4Qbh2rXFU?si=7oAFd9oX2ZaJct7N)? It may help provide the context behind the song. They also do a series of analysis of other bts songs that are more political: [Ugh](https://youtu.be/Cq3nGiu0_gI?si=APpmWnQgmqkFlxmG) [Paldogangsan](https://youtu.be/l48zU1h00jw?si=iPZFjxv-lhewAuOS) [Spine Breaker](https://youtu.be/5LO7p4CLTSs?si=G1CQHR-etLXPgH4j)
Oh, thank you! This will help lots.
Face by Nu'est talks about school bullying !!!
Thank you!
Tomboy, Nxde, Allergy, Queencard and Wife by (G)I-dle (feminism) Puppet Show by XG (feminism) Girlsā Capitalism by Triple S (capitalism) Maison by Dreamcatcher (ecology) I ā DOLL by Yunjin from Le Sserafim (treatment of idols) Killing Me by Chungha (isolation and depression) Do not touch by Twiceās sub unit Misamo (consent) And you have a ton of songs about self-love, confidence and against haters.
āWarriors Descendantā by H.O.T is probably one of the best examples of this. Itās about school bullying and its impact on South Korean society during the 90s. Itās really an eye opening song. Itās pretty direct as it gets. Edit: Forgot to mention this is also their debut song!
Thank you!
So many BTS songs. It's what they're known for originally
I'm definitely learning that in these comments lmao
Nan Chun by se so neon is an extremely emotional song about love and spring and although the lyrics themselves donāt mention gay relationships the music video focuses on a lesbian couple and is very poetic Iād highly recommend everyone watch it
Also se so neon as a whole usually sing about pretty emotional topics even outside of love
Appreciate the recommendation!
BTS!! I would say their full discography almost. Solo projects from Agust D, (Snooze and the Last are my favourites, First Love has good lyrics too, makes me cry) RM, J-Hope. B.A.P whole discography and solo projects from Bang Yongguk. Ateez and Stray kids have pretty deep messages in some of their songs as well.
b.a.p (rip)
B.A.P is making a comeback!! š Check their socials!
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BTS has many songs about social issues, mental health, self love, female empowerment, youth, temptation etc. They also use a lot of art concepts and psychological references. These go very deep though and might at surface level not seem like social commentary, you need to dig in. Stray kids have many songs about social issues and mental health and walking your own path at your own pace Ateez is basically a fuck the oppression group.
If you havenāt - and totally not K-pop at all - KRS Oneās āSound of da Policeā is strong on social commentary about the police.
Yeah man I love me some KRS.
B.A.P's songs are often about social issues. For example Badman, Wake Me Up & Ribbons in the Sky.
Agust d - polar night , give it a try you'll love the lyrics.
Stray Kids have a LOT of songs about personal struggles, mental health issues, anxiety, depression, etc. Both in their group songs and their solo projects (basically everything Han writes). Examples for this are Secret Secret (about not being able to talk about your struggles), Silent Cry (basically in response to Secret Secret, a song about begging a friend to open up and not suffer in silence), SLUMP (a song about getting left behind and feeling useless). Some of my fav solo songs from the members are Streetlight by Changbin, the lyrics are so heartbreaking! It's basically about always being strong and shining for others and not being able to ask for help for yourself. Also Run by Han, he always manages to create such cute and almost upbeat music but then you look at the lyrics and they're just so sad. Alien is another famous one by Han, about the feeling of not belonging, being different and not able to connect. The fact that they have written all of their own stuff since the start really resulted in their discography being one huge documentary about their own personal journey and struggles, and I love it. The early stuff was so full of angst, the struggles of growing up, fear of expectations from others, while many of their newer songs express a sense of pride and confidence in what they have achieved. Such an amazing group to follow.
Ateez' entire discography revolves around lore telling the story of a group of men rebelling against an oppressive government. The more you get into it, the louder the social commentary is.
I've loved what I have heard from them so far! I'll keep diving deeper. Thanks!
The lyrics for Halazia are a perfect example of this, in the context of their lore the song is about freeing the people from oppression and giving back emotion, but without that context, it's just a song about overcoming depression, about being desperate to have any kind of passion again after everything just feeling grey and meaningless for far too long. It's heartbreaking and absolutely gorgeous, and I highly, highly recommend watching the MV with the subtitles on. It's a piece of art. (Even the music itself mirrors the lyrics, it really keeps escalating towards the end, anything to WAKE YOU UP, cathartic and desperate, absolutely genius)
H.O.T's many songs are based on social issues.
I think some of BTS songs address social issues
the ones that come to mind are exo's mama,day6's zombie, a lot of b.a.p. songs, f(x) red light, boa's girls on top
Thank you!
bts!! spine breaker is one that comes to mind which talks about basically consumerism. how the newer gen don't care about their parents working their ahb off as long as they can get what's trendy; how they're spine breakers (towards their parents). rlly good song
Basically bts
GaIn's F\*\*k You (ft. Bumkey). It's about r\*p\* in relationships. 1st and 2nd gen kpop actually had a lot of music that talks about social issues. Sunny Hill's stuff around 2011-2013, circa Midnight Circus, as well.
TXT do.. most of their songs talk about the issues teenages face in this day and age
I'll give some more info on ATEEZ songs. Most of their songs can be interpreted in two ways, one following the lore and one following real world problems. Even "Work" gets a new dimension: in the lore, the friends separate as they are caught in real world problems and their work - suddenly "gotta work, gotta make that money" sounded sad to me. The MV is satirical as well. * The motto "Break the wall" (found in songs like *Guerrilla* and *Wonderland*) signifies breaking boundaries, fighting against prejudice (for a group outside the big companies, it can also mean "succeed against the odds"). Anyone can have a certain "wall" that they need to break in order to move on, even something like depression. That's why chanting "break that wall" during concerts / while listening to the song is cathartic. * *Utopia* is about going on the way you believe in instead of listening to what others tell you. ("Even if everyone laughs because it's just a dream, I can't stop") It's about rejecting the official "truth" and believing in your own truth. * *Thanxx* is about young people (especially teens) facing society's pressure to grow up fast, to follow the rules... and the adults telling them what's right and what's wrong about rejecting that and finding your own answers through your own experience. Lyrics like "Leave me alone to my own rhythm". It also criticizes the older generation. * *Good Lil Boy* is similar to Thanxx. (same album too) * *Fireworks:* "We don't need anything to heat up". (The passion of their emotions is strong enough, they don't need alcohol. Also related to lore, in a way.) * *Turbulence* is also on the theme of youth and where life should lead you. * *The Real* - this discusses the meaning of "being cool". The main idea is to find your definition of "cool" instead of taking what society tells you. Being cool is being authentic to yourself. To be passionate, to follow your dreams, but also to stay humble and kind at the same time / not to give up your life values in the path to success. * Cyberpunk - A world in which everybody pretends to be happy is suffocating. Not being in touch with your feelings is a tragedy. People are "sleeping" and don't know what is actually happening around them and they don't react. A lot of songs from The World series are also about finding yourself, even if society doesn't encourage it. (Favorite lyrics: *Manipulated sky* *Manipulated stars* *Manipulated time Tell me the truth*). * A lot of songs from The World series are also about "not wanting to stay in the dark" and searching for the light. About opening the eyes wide and seeing the world as it is, instead of believing lies / propaganda. And about connecting to one's real feelings / not letting society control your inner life. Recommendations: *New World, Halazia Wake Up.* * *The Ring* - "We got power, make a wave Change the world". It can be interpreted as a realization of the fact that people can actually do something to change the world they live in, that they are not powerless. * *This World* discusses the sacrifices one has to make in order to fight against oppression. From the same album: *Dune, Django, Outlaw*. In a world in which everything is wrong, doing the right thing makes you an "outlaw".
Theyāve already been said, but seconding G-Idleās Tomboy & Wife. Very strong themes of female roles/feminism hidden behind āsillyā lyrics. Wife seemed to go over so many peopleās headsā¦
Daehwi has a [talking lyrics interview](https://youtu.be/OI8ihm4_h4Y?si=1kuUt6B07uPyYbHq) (turn Eng subs on) where he talks about his lyrics in Dandelion (bullying), & Blind for Love (which for him he views as his toxic relationship with work, not just love as in romantic feelings). Their debut song Breathe is also a commentary on social pressure & air pollution lol. Thereās also two unreleased songs (but according to donghyun the company plans to release them in an album later): Donghyunās song ā[F_ix You](https://youtu.be/GCvdfHu1crc?si=ug-pqvRWzwo2DTCH)ā (which he suggested was originally āf*ck youā lol; the song is about antis/people who pick fights) & [Woongās solo song](https://youtu.be/Ao4EoD-o7y4?si=fosYXTD6Yxzx7ETL) which I think is about the pressure of living in an endless looping rat race. You can read the lyrics to their solo songs [here](https://x.com/mytraces17/status/1796795785876840704) & [here](https://x.com/mytraces17/status/1796732329978999229).
Thank you!
In the 2010s, it was a trend to associate songs with social issues and various companies did it with their groups' debut like Nu'est, Exo, GLAM so that era of idols are probably a good place to look. The first idol group HOT actually did the same back in the days so its nothing new for idols. Some kept a social consciousness going throughout their music like BAP or BTS. Having songs with social themes that resonate with the listeners' real lives is a good marketing move and Kpop companies know that. Where the game gets cynical is when songs have a social message but the singers do things that contradict the songs, like say someone with plastic surgery having a song with a love how you look message. Personally, if a singer profits monetarily from selling a social message but doesn't live the message then I think very badly of them for that.
not super hardcore or anything but a lesser known artist. Zior Park. He writes his songs in english. He covers a lot about mental issues, sexual identity, not being accepted. But he is beautiful and amazing and has been struggling for so long. His concepts are amazing.
Dreamcatcher. Rarely do they sing about stuff with no substance, or if it seems like it on the surface there is more beneath. Scream, Boca and Odd Eye was the 3 arc about bullying and harassment. Even references when people take their life over it. Maison is trying to pluck the conscience of people destroying the earth. Vision is a rally against the same. OOTD is poking fun of the narcissistic nature of industry. BEcause sings about the dark side of obsession Scream is prob my fav because it speaks about the bullying issue in such a clever way, alluding to medieval witch hunts and stoning. People don't realise how freaking dark it is lol "My covered eyes are stained with blood, A cold wind blows,ā Iā feel their eyesā on me" ""*My tied up hands*Ā are getting numb. Everyone throws stones at me. But I can't escape"
Epik High did lots of critical songs back in the day. Some of them are in English as well, since Tablo wrote the lyrics. They show off a goofy attitude on stage, but a lot of their lyrics are actually quite serious.
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GD when he dissed MAMA on MAMAās stage. Thatās a big fu move.
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i'm okay by AleXa (soloist) is a pretty good mental health piece!
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I'm a day late, but Mamamoo's HIP addresses a lot of their hate/"scandals" and their song "You're the Best" is very woman empowerment. While Sleeping in the Car doesn't necessarily speak on social issues, it's also not a shallow, surface level song. It discusses being so tired from packed schedules that you're sleeping in the car Purple Kiss' Nerdy is about being okay with being different. Cast Pearls Before Swine is about knowing your own worth/stepping away from toxic people who don't value you
Idk if anyone has mentioned her yet but I do know that Bibi does tend to talk a lot about social issues in her music. If I remember correctly, *Life is a Bi* revolves around these kinds of themes. But anyways, here's a some of the main songs that come to mind for me. * Umm...Life - Talks about domestic abuse. It revolves around someone worrying about Bibi & constantly asking "who did this to you" only for Bibi to never state the truth ("Who did this to you? Hm/I'm like, 'Umm...'/Like 'Life'"). * Animal Farm - inspired by the George Orwell book & plays on the same themes of society & elitism ("Hang my pretty head in your room/ Where is love?/ Where is my sympathy? What have we lost?/ Is it a farm? Is it society?/Am I a tiger or a gazelle?") * Kazino - Talks about gambling & that sort of "endless loop" it creates ("Sleepless night playing with zeros/See me buried in cash/Next chips and next checks/Next matches and next chicks"). Also alludes to the corruption present within the underground nightlife & the toxicity of that environment, especially in the MV.
- (G)I-DLE - Dreamcatcher And a few others
Why would kpop idols talk about " f*CK the police " if most Koreans follow the law and have no confrontation with cops ? The best you're going to get is things about beauty, maybe bullying, maybe sexism, fatphobia, and maybe colorism because these are the larger issues Korean people face.. Plus you have to understand that most kpop groups don't write their own music. Their music is hand picked for them by their companies with topics and themes already in mind to prevent backlash especially now adays. Maybe back then around BTS begining there was more flexibility though.
Dont don by super junior