SECRET'S JI EUN - DON'T LOOK AT ME LIKE THAT
SINGLE REVIEW
Ji Eun of Secret has just dropped her new MV and single, "Don't Look At Me Like That." Having released a slew of singles already, she's certainly no stranger to the solo schtick.
Those who have read my previous reviews probably know I'm not a big fan of ballads. However this song grabbed me. I like the way it starts out, her voice being the focus, spare of instrumentation. Gradually it builds momentum until we hit the chorus, sung powerfully and passionately to power chords. It ends quietly, with her last vocal stark against the silence. Her English is pretty fluent as well.
The song itself seems to be about people judging her about the way she loves, and she wants to be left alone. The relationship she refers to appears to be one that is not accepted by some people, whether it be interracial or homosexual in nature.
The song is certainly a well-crafted ballad with enough going on to keep interest up. I like the way it rises to a crescendo, and then falls back into a calmer, restrained mood; the insistent beat lets you know it's not going to stay restrained. She appears almost indignant during the chorus, and Ji Eun definitely has enough power in her pipes to carry this off. I also like the concept, not one we see at all in K-Pop, and a lot different from the "I love you/I want you/I miss you" themes that we hear so often. Well done.
MV REVIEW
The thing that first stuck out about this MV was the abandonment of the sexy concept. While not a great fan of it, since most often it's blatant and in your face and not at all erotic, I'd come to accept it. Here, Ji Eun takes an entirely different road.
Like f(x)'s "Red Light" and HA:TFELT's "Truth," the MV is pure symbolism. Once you know what the song is about, everything starts to make sense. She spends much of the video in chains, led into a darkened room. Elsewhere in the room, figures cavort about and party in masks. Then a curtain lifts, and there she is, chained up for display. The masked figures torment and taunt her until suddenly, flames rise up to burn them. She is left at the end with burnt masks laying on the floor, and tongues of flame still lick here and there around the scene.
I believe the chains represent feeling trapped, and the figures in masks are the people that judge and criticize her. Being presented like an objet d'art symbolizes feeling exposed as everyone halts to stare, and she can't stop them. The flames are her integrity and her passion, her convictions that take them down and shine through, staying true to herself no matter what. Obviously, this is merely my take on it based on the lyrics.
The MV is a visual feast. I've already raved about the song, so now I'm going to pimp the video. I love the way this looks: the darkened room, the chains, the almost funereal dress she wears, the masks on the villains, and of course the flames. Everything fits together extremely well. The scene changes are organic, not abrupt, and, similar to 'The Wizard Of Oz,' there's more color at the end. Kudos to the director.
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