One of (G)I-DLE’s biggest strengths is their ability to be hands-on with the creative process of their works. Not only do they showcase their talents through polished performances, but they also express themselves through lyrics that convey their own thoughts and messages to listeners around the world. Notably, (G)I-DLE’s producer line– Soyeon, Minnie, and Yuqi–can be seen throughout the credits of the fifth mini-album due to their participation in composing and writing lyrics.This time around, the title track saw the quintet in a new musical color, sampling the aria “Habanera” from Bizet’s opera Carmen as they star in a burlesque-inspired music video straight out of Moulin Rouge with various pop culture references. The classical music sample paired with the vintage-looking music video further emphasize the clear concept for this newest body of work by the girl group.

The most apparent reference (G)I-DLE used in both their music video and lyrics is the blonde bombshell Marilyn Monroe–this might explain why the five members all rocked blonde hair for this era! Many knew Marilyn Monroe as a sex symbol of her time, but not a lot of people are aware that she was also an advocate for civil rights and spoke out about the unfair treatment and sexual harrassment women receive in the workplace. Her beauty and sex appeal were more talked about than her intellect and impact on society. By referencing Monroe, (G)I-DLE shares the amazing and eye-opening message of how women and their intelligence are often diminished by society and brought down to only their beauty and bodies. The beginning of the song contains lyrics with the phrase, “yeppi yeppi,” which is Korean slang based on the word “pretty” (yeppuda). As people in a vanity-based industry, the idols reflect on the stigma that they are only worth their beauty and are constantly scrutinized for it, especially female idols. In the music video, the girls can be seen visually referencing Monroe by rocking versions of many of her iconic looks, including Minnie in a pink dress from “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” and Yuqi in the iconic white dress from The Seven Year Itch. 

Another witty pop culture reference used to comment on this social issue is of Banksy and the Love is in the Bin art auction. The destruction of the painting was a sign of rejection to the commercialization of art and how people buy art just to use it as a status symbol. Likewise, (G)I-DLE wants to criticize the objectification of women. The word “nude” can be perceived as provocative and explicit, but as said by leader and rapper Soyeon in their media showcase, “People may think isn’t it (the word ‘nude’) too explicit? But when I thought of the word ‘nude,’ I thought of my true self, not an undressed version of me.” The ending line, “I’m born nude/You’ve got a dirty mind/Rude,” ultimately criticizes the oversexualization of women and that women aren’t prompted to be sexualized by merely existing in their natural state. Leaving aside the prejudices and stigma that society has put on women, (G)I-DLE empowers women to embrace their true worth.

B-Sides: The Progressions of Love

The rest of the mini-album contains tracks of various genres, such as pop, rock, indie pop, and hip-hop. Recommended by the girls themselves, when listening to the album backwards from “DARK (X-file)” up to “Nxde,” you can see the progression from complete desolation to self-love. “DARK (X-file)” has mysterious and dark vibes that talk about falling into someone deep and is reminiscent of their previous title track “Oh my god.” With an old school sound like the album’s title track, the light and upbeat melody in “Sculpture” contrasts its self-deprecating lyrics about changing yourself for someone you love: “I'll become whatever you want me to be/It’s okay, I’m your sculpture.” “Reset” is the mini-album’s only ballad, with lyrics about believing that love is the only thing that cannot be achieved even with great effort. Mellow yet captivating, “Change” is about the ups and downs of life and how it’s unavoidable. The five girls show beautiful vocal colors that make this track a standout, personally. “LOVE” is a soft rock song with melodic electric guitar riffs and a catchy chorus. The song seemingly talks about breaking up with an ex but ends up with the beautiful realization that the only real love is with oneself: “Thank you for helping me find real love/My love is (Guess who?)/That's me, she's my love.” 

Going from toxic love, as demonstrated by “DARK (X-file)” and “Sculpture,” to slowly letting go through “Change” and “Reset,” and ultimately reaching a point of learning to fall in love with yourself instead in “LOVE” and “Nxde,” (G)I-DLE has established yet another solid body of work that is cohesive in its storyline and messages while also displaying their willingness to explore different sounds and concepts. 

Check out the “Nxde” music video below and listen to (G)I-DLE’s fifth mini album I love through Spotify and Apple Music!

Edited by Rashelle B.