On August 4th, pixie girl group A Pink treated their devoted fans to a special treat via their official YouTube channel; in celebration of the success of their 2nd full length album Pink Memory, a classicly cute MV for the song “Petal” was released. Being a casual A Pink fan myself, I tuned into “Petal” expecting it to be exactly what it is, an ardently-angelic article of the concept that preserved and bound A Pink to acclaim.
Meanwhile a conclusion I have reached on how some viewers feel about “Petal” is that the MV and song are rather lethargic, prosaic and far too uninspired. In my opinion, “Petal” was revealed solely in hopes of sharing with fans the gratitude felt for their support and love, and thus A Pink found strength in a concept they believed would best express their appreciation. In glossy gowns with a twinkle in their eyes and reticence on their lips, A Pink conveyed to their fans their forte encased in thankfulness.
Hence the song lyrics are generative in their maneuvering of the trials of girlhood; the cinematics are vivid and whimsical to a degree that frames the message the song attempts to deliver; and there is balance among the group as each member is given the chance to deliver her feelings in the way she is best at, whether visually or vocally. Quite evidently “Petal” in its entirety represents innocence and fervor, and A Pink skillfully utilize the innocence and fervor they embody to impart the idea that they will always seek simple and contrivance-free ways to thank their fans without abandoning who they are as a K-pop girl group.
The MV for “Petal” is a homage to impressionism and summer tide, a Monet-inspired piece with a group of pretty girls who promenade the waterfront threaded in. The water lilies on the blanket represent femininity, love and life, and the title of the song alludes to a small but meaningful fragment of that universality.
The musicality of “Petal” is just as classical as the MV setting with the mingling of a clean synth and piano melody interspersed with wispy undertones. When the electronic drum beat starts up, Bomi enters with her raspy vocals and is followed by Hayoung, who creates harmony with her neat and soft vocals. The bridge is unconventionally early as a neon-lipped Naeun introduces it and builds up for Namjoo and Chorong’s smooth synchronization. Lead vocalist Eunji looks radiant as she pours forth her mature falsetto, teasing with a rather cute chorus that runs along the lines of hesitance and coming to terms with whether she should confess her feelings to the one she loves.
It’s love, I’m thinking
Should I tell you or not?
Should I tell you or not?
Answer me, again today I’m thinking
The love in “Petal” seemingly gives off the impression of youthful fancy and trying to catch the eye of a handsome albeit oblivious older man. The nervous-to-confess outline is highly generic, but in this case, “Petal” contains a core mellowness and realism that is extremely relatable and straightforward. A Pink make it very easy to envision the angst and self-doubt involved in a first love through the lyrics while masking the negativity of the circumstance in the charming and sweet positivity they display in the MV.
The duality of love is taken in and transformed into an illustration that gives more weight to the happiness and cheerfulness it provides rather than the despair and anxiety. In a sense, A Pink recognize the traits of girlhood that give hope and allow one to find happiness in a fantastical romance without the risk of getting hurt. Eunji smiles over a confession letter while Naeun places a little kiss on a lucky coin, and Hayoung does well not to forgo actual feelings of loneliness that a fantastical romance may proffer — “Even when I’m looking at you I miss you, I shouldn’t do this but I can’t help it.”
In the end, the girls of A Pink bounce back after the disinclination and summarize the quintessence of their concept by coming at their fans in robes of a cuter femininity. The remarkable thing about this girl group is that their pure concept is not limited to one facet; rather the femininity they represent is limitless in the styles it can don. In Secret Garden they were the epitome of a yet-to-grow girlishness and immaturity; in Pink Blossom they personified the travails of a figurative teenage angst and explored the idea of first love; and in Pink LUV they adopted a bronzed and muted concept that emphasized the familiarities of womanhood. In this way A Pink’s cute concept is extremely versatile and showcases just how talented and ingenious they are as a girl group who does not stray from its origins.
“Petal” in other words is simply another side of that cuteness, but the levity it proclaims is one that is easily identifiable as original and spotless. Apink brought back the classical and gave it a contemporary twist with one intention in mind: to show their fans that from debut to present they are loyal and grateful and will continue to expand the diversity of their concept and show the K-pop scene just how skilled of a girl group they are.
Readers, what do you think of “Petal”?
Rating: 3/5
