Throwback: Luna’s “Free Somebody” is the Best of Both Worlds

One piece of K-pop trivia that is often thrown around is the tale of how Luna auditioned for SM as a dancer. The juxtaposition of this factoid wit…

The SB Mixtape, 05/22/2019: Coping With Horrendous Disappointment

2019 has let me down. Yes, the entire year. We're not even halfway through but I am already fed up with everything. It's not even that 2019 has been w…

The SB Mixtape: 4/10/2019, The Anti-Anxiety Edition

I am, full confession, a very anxious person. My default setting is to expect the worst possible outcome for everything. Normally, I cope with this by…

Music & Lyrics: Butterfly

The butterfly is present throughout all societies, with most civilizations granting it a meaning. These associations have been passed on to the cu…

Is Jennie Being Lazy?

Black Pink’s situation is complex: the group debuted in 2016, and despite their huge popularity, they have only released nine songs in total. Jenn…

The Submerged Meanings of Bathtubs in K-pop MVs

You might have noticed a common, albeit peculiar, trope in many K-pop MVs: the presence of a bathtub. They come in various sizes, shapes, and fill…

Music & Lyrics: Monsters Among Us

It is a universal truth that people are scared of monsters. The specifics might change, given place and time, but deep down, we’re all afraid of t…

The SB Mixtape, 9/25/2018: K-pop On Broadway

I've always had a soft spot for musicals. They're the thing I go to when I want to feel larger than life; when I want music that doesn't just get in my…

The SB Mixtape, 9/1/2018: Ode to the House of Jack

No, this isn't what kids nowadays are throwing a blanket term of EDM over. It's not what people call "future bass." We're going all the way back to whe…

Music and Lyrics: The Metamorphosis of a Butterfly

Butterflies are powerful and deep symbols of transformation and change. The butterfly represents hope, life, endurance, and is even seen as a symbol of…