��Ga In - 'Hawwah'



Ga In has always flaunted the sexy concept. She doesn't just wear the sexy concept as a gesture to attract more views and sales. We know from her previous release "Bloom" that she believes that sex is a beautiful thing and she's not afraid to show it through her music. Still, even after her sexy releases in the past, Ga In has us in absolute shock with her latest MV for "Paradise Lost" off her album intriguingly titled 'Hawwah.' Ga In isn't just sexual here, she's outright challenging philosophies--specifically that of Christianity.�

SEE ALSO: Netizens have mixed reactions to EXO's Baekhyun holding his own birthday cafe events for 'profit'

My mouth was agape while watching the MV for the pretty typical reasons: the leotard, the leg spread, the floor-humping, the butt-swaying, and of course the pipe. The pipe�that leaks onto Ga In's lips is a definite reference to oral sex.�Girl groups have been amping up the sexy lately, teasing us with peeks at their cleavage and close-ups of their derrieres. But I don't think Ga In's sexual moves are any cheap trick only meant to shock us. For "Paradise Lost," Ga In is not here to collect views and sales with the wag of her rear.

Right from the title, Ga In gives us a lot to unpack. "Paradise Lost" alludes to a Christian epic poem written by a 17th century English poet John Milton. Before you complain that I'm being an English major nerd digging in too deep--hear me out. The original poem is a retelling of the biblical story of Adam and Eve and says that the paradise they lost is Eden when God banned them from the garden. Ga In seems to challenge this notion as she asks in her chorus:

"Anyone looking for the paradise lost?
Something good like sweet honey.
Maybe I am that, your diamond lost.
Something good you want crazily."

According to Ga In, it's not innocence that humanity lost the day they were condemned by God, but her, the "diamond lost." Or more specifically, humanity lost "something good [they] want crazily"; as Ga In sways her hips sensually to that line, I can't help but think she is referring to the sexual experience. Instead of heaven, the garden, or innocence, Ga In claims that humanity has lost their sexual freedom ever since God's condemnation.�

The MV visuals seem to support the theory that there's some kind of discussion between Christianity and sexuality in this song. It opens by flashing the album's tracklist at us, showing that there's a clear theme of temptation and condemnation: "Apple," "Paradise Lost," "The First Temptation," "Two Women," "Guilty." The MV then shows us 'Paradise Lost' written in neon lights similar to what you'd find in a red light district, but then pans into an organ playing in a blue-carpeted room, Ga In basking before it, and a small green snake. Organs are usually associated with churches and snakes with Satan. The juxtaposition of the two comes to me as no coincidence.

The two points where it becomes clear Ga In is actually challenging Christianity is when she sings in English. When she says, "I feel, I'm real / where are you right now? / I'm almost paradise," it sounds as if she is beckoning her listener to come with her to experience paradise--the sexual kind, not the kind you find in heaven. She then expands on that in the bridge, saying also in English, "They're making up a story so that they can control you and me." According to Ga In, there is a force holding her and the listener back from their paradise with a "story." Considering all the other hints Ga In has laid out for us so far, I think it's clear who "they" are and what the "story" is they're telling.�

Ga In makes a very bold attack against a pretty dominant religion in South Korea. And, while I find it refreshing to see a sexual song that's not just about being sexy and I'm impressed at the level of artistry in the MV itself, I don't think the ominous tone of her song will really persuade most of the population to listen to her point more than it will just turn them away. Her song "Bloom," for example, was light, upbeat, friendly, and was convincing when it showed that sex could be a beautiful act of love. "Paradise Lost" will most likely receive the same reaction Narsha's "Bbiribbabba" did: people accusing it of Satanism and dismissing it as evil.�

The sinister tone of the song is actually a bit off-putting for me, but I do appreciate how everything comes together. I like how the organs and the stuttering instrumentals create the dark atmosphere to the song. Ga In has a hypnotic singing voice that she skillfully uses to swoon listeners under her husky spell. I love her elongated "Pleases" and how her overlaid vocals give her a powerful sound during the chorus. Her muted way of talking during the bridge was chill-inducing. My only complaint about this MV would be the men who randomly appear at the very end. While the image of naked men writhing behind Ga In makes for an interesting image, it also confuses me; I wish the men were shown throughout the MV a bit more, or that there were more hints leading up to their appearance so that their meaning could be a bit clearer.�



As for the rest of her album, 'hawwah'--Hebrew for 'Eve'--Ga In continues to talk about sex in her spellbinding way. Although Ga In claims that "Apple (feat. Jay Park)" is a song more about greed than it is about lust, the lyrics definitely make you think more of the latter. Jay Park's rap especially makes the sex talk really blatant as he says suggestively, "go slow girl you're movin' too fast / we cannot do this here," and, "Have a bite or not? Woo, be patient."�

But like Ga In says, "It's a song that's not completely explicit, but rather expresses the racy feeling well." "Apple" is upbeat and fun with a jazz twist to it. It definitely takes a lighter approach to sex than "Paradise Lost," and with its "Don't, don't, don't, don't, don't, do, do, do, do's" and Ga In's coy�"How about a bite?" the song expresses the sexual tension in a cute, playful way. It's the perfect song for the spring and summer season with Ga In's sultry, "Ooohs," adding that extra cherry on top.�

Ga In dabbles with different sounds. While she gets intense in her high-energy "Free Will (feat. Dok2)," complete with the faint 'James Bond' theme playing in the background, her voices goes really low and aggressive for "The First Temptation" before going high-pitched and desperate for "Two Women."�

My favorite track aside from the two title tracks, however, would have to be "Guilty." Although the beat sounds like a "Truth or Dare�2.0" (which is a "Blurred Lines 2.0," which itself is a "Got to Give it Up 2.0"), it's definitely a different, darker song than the first. The way Ga In's words seem to just spill as she quickly sings, "The mark below your lips is pretty," and how the piano trickles throughout the song conjure images of a quick spider. The instrumentals during the chorus grab me like a hook and Ga In's siren-like ad lib at the 2:30 mark reels me in.�

Overall, I give this album a round of applause for its clear theme and organization. While I can't say whether I agree or disagree, as someone who used to be religious myself, I appreciate that she uses music as a medium to actually provoke discussion, good music at that.�