Director Reacts - LAY - 'Kai Tian' MV

[@画师-o8g]

This MV is conceptually inspired by the ancient Chinese mythological figure Pangu. In the beginning of creation, the heavens and the earth were in chaos, connected together. Pangu awakened from this chaos and used an axe to separate the heavens and the earth. His body then transformed into nature-his eyes became the sun and the moon, his body became mountains and rivers, his blood turned into flowing rivers, and so on. LAY is dedicated to promoting Chinese traditional culture. In the MV, the sound similar to a horn is the suona, a traditional Chinese instrument. The sound of the suona has strong penetrating power and emotional appeal, making it one of China’s most representative ethnic wind instruments. The drums used in the MV originated from northern China, particularly the Shaanxi region, and are a long-standing traditional folk dance instrument. The highly futuristic cosmic lion in the MV, the blue one, represents a "waking lion" from Chinese folk art-specifically the southern style of lion dance. The lion dances in a lively manner, and if you visit Chinatown during the Chinese New Year, you'll likely see lion and dragon dances. Of course, the lion in the MV has been given a technological twist because LAY likes to blend traditional cultural elements with modern technology in his works. In the MV, there’s a tree formed by LAY, which is inspired by the mythical Fusang tree. This tree represents the "tree of the sun," drawing energy and nourishing the earth. LAY’s dream is to take M-pop to the world. He created the concept of M-pop, so he compares himself to Pangu, who separated the heavens and the earth. As an artist, he founded his own company to cultivate a new generation of artists like him to continue pursuing this dream. Thus, he is willing to transform into the Fusang tree to nourish others. I’m glad you can appreciate his love for traditional culture. As the lyrics say, language has no limits; everyone is complex and has different cultural backgrounds. Thank you for watching his video and for sharing with me in witnessing his journey to take M-pop and Chinese culture to the world

[@Varzio]

Thank you for all the info, that was very appreciated!

[@nkl22nkl22]

Wow, I love your explanation!!! 💜💜💜

[@1oldcrow350]

and this is why I come back to the comment sections-thank you for all this information

[@melodyli5765]

Lay came up with the phrase "Daqi Daqi Tei" when he first heard the beat (or when he record the demo), later on he couldnt find a better phrase so he kept it as :Daqi Daqi Tei", and it means something like "abracadabra", the magic word

[@liagreen2614]

He used at least 3 traditional instruments in this song: Suona (Chinese Horn); Khoomei (Mongolian Tuvan Throat singing); Chinese Waist Drum from the North

[@deborahscott8162]

All of Lay’s MVs have been outstanding both traditional and contemporary 🔥 Bravo 👏🏿 to Lay👏🏿

[@MelindaYml]

Lay always makes the most creative and expensive MVs. I love how Lay incorporated the "suona" (traditional chinese horn) in the background. It really brings the song up to another level with its unique loud sound. Lay is really an amazingly talented music producer

[@R0VERKAI]

He is a living legend.

[@HyperactiveSloth79]

The way you talk about how much you love artists with such strong national and cultural pride, along with your musical and vocal tastes, cinematic appreciation, and several other things really makes it feel like a crime that you haven't experienced Alfy Rev yet.

[@Dangel1087]

Our China King. The amount of time, money and passion he puts into his MV is just insane. You should definitely listen to Vinida Weng's MV (especially her latest music video trilogy), she is also a Chinese singer and part of Lay's D.N.A.Cypher MV. Her music videos are also visually incredible.

[@exoswife7961]

Lay Zhang is really creative 🔥

[@chiayeeheah8068]

Really appreciate your take on Lay's pride of his national identity, really spot on!

[@kimia_b.r]

I always say. He's ART. definitely meaning of Art.

[@sebaek7723]

he's literally THE ARTIST

[@HyperactiveSloth79]

That dance section leading to the kaleidoscope effect just blew me away! Such a work of art!

[@HaleyTheeHalien]

James Choe designed and created the space animal seen at mark 0:59. According to him it's a Lion that is "honoring the tradition of the Chinese Lion Dance with a classic look while also making it epic and fresh." "I envisioned the Lion as a guardian that resides neither in the physical nor the spiritual world, but in the liminal space between them. This transitional plane is where the spiritual world undergoes a metamorphosis, manifesting and contributing to the continuous creation and evolution of our physical world. Our KaiTian Lion oversees this process. The Lion has existed for millions of years, evolving alongside the ancient cliffs of China and embodying their spirit in its physical form."

[@ThisRoscoe]

Awesome info!!

[@HaleyTheeHalien]

​@@ThisRoscoe Thanks (: I thought it was worth a share. I was determined to figure out what he was since he's so epic!

[@HaleyTheeHalien]

@fantastic2993 Thank you very much for the extra info! Yes, Lay is a legend when it comes to composing, directing, and producing his music and MVs! Choe was tapped to mastermind the Lion for/by Lay and (at least according to his Instagram post) dreamed up the background story and concept for him. Lay is amazing at pulling together incredible talent to further his vision and create phenomenal works of art! Do you know if it is true that this project took 5 years to create? I've seen a few posts claiming it took 3 years on the song and 2 years on the MV, but haven't been able to validate that.

[@Ca-yr2rz]

Wow thank you for the info, guys!!

[@HaleyTheeHalien]

​@@Ca-yr2rzyou can mostly thank @fantastic2993 but you're so welcome (: Lay's stuff is always a deep drive

[@yayanaaa]

LAY is amazing, as always.. He puts so much efforts to everything

[@SciFiAmazon]

I'm gobsmacked. Had my mouth open in shock the whole time, First time hearing him, It wont be the last either . 😱

[@KWExploretheworld]

Love how you really appreciated Lay’s work. To add more context to the song, the mythology of Pangu separating the heaven and earth (i.e. being the first one creating the world) is a metaphor of he himself being the first one creating mixed-mandarin pop.

[@1oldcrow350]

Love this man's work. The mix of tradition and modern to highlight M-pop and bring it to the world. His productions are always just epic.

[@desmondehoppie4758]

What you said about Cultural Pride makes perfect sense. The word " Muddy" when you describe America is accurate. The Pride should be in valuing the uniqueness of a "Melting Pot" that no other country can boast. Where it gets Muddy is not valuing all that make up the melting pot. Tearing down some while elevating others destroys the intrinsic nature of a " Melting Pot?". America's strength lies in its diversity, but unfortunately, many have yet to realize that fact. When that value is appreciated and actualized, it will truly be " America The Beautiful". That will be something that inspires Pride.

[@ChiVa_Yas]

it just can be on continuously repeat in the background and everything is fine ... purely art. Thank you for this passionate reaction, loved it!

[@johnmp5329]

Lay❤

[@Raeray440]

Yess Thanks for this reaction!! He always makes mini movies for music videos 😅🤭🤣

[@westendjill]

I think you’re spot on about Lay’s national pride. Super impressed that you picked up the traditional Chinese instruments too. Great video!

[@VanessaSantos087]

Lay nunca decepciona

[@sebaek7723]

Thank you for appreciating his works

[@lilackpop]

Lay é incrível está sempre me surpreendendo 👑❤️

[@kimia_b.r]

Yess.our man, Lay, is here ❤️‍🔥

[@MsTristen12]

That’s one way to create a universe ❤❤❤❤ masterpiece

[@IAmRandomlyInOrder]

This MV has SO MUCH you can/could unpack. The mix of cultural/history references and the use CGI to emulate AI (which is [their] current push). The use of a PanGu like figure to represent the change from year of the Dragon to that of the Snake. This would be a fun Fireball Friday dissection!! and I am miffed that I missed you reacting live. 😠

[@babyjanefajardo7431]

That's so expensive really masterpiece

[@RachaelColf]

Yaayy!!! When I first saw this I thought roscoe is gonna love it!!!!

[@Balake1235]

Been waiting for a LAY reaction! He’s soooooo talented!! ❤

[@SadRaviolii]

This mv brings a Falling in Reverse type of quality where you’re just sitting there absolutely gobsmacked that the greatness on screen

[@kyungsoosings2362]

Bravo for an honest outlook. You should check out DNA CYPHER MV. Lay has his own label, Chromosome Entertainment, where he will bring Chinese artists to the forefront....the mv features some young and popular artists in China where we would never know about otherwise....you would enjoy that mv. And Lay always features the signature Dragon, which represents his power...very important cultural symbol.

[@jessiejin478]

Wow, this is so powerful! Love it!

[@anabellahallabrin8048]

2:43 "Taking China To The World". HE JSED TBAT IN LIT!. IS THAT A REFERENCE? LOL 😭❤

[@Isl3066]

Lay is always outstanding

[@Layexosy]

Lay zhang is a Legend king

[@jgroots6494]

Lay is a goat..!!!. Our China KING 👑

[@MsTristen12]

I’m One of those people who have not seen him before Love it ❤

[@yixing9769]

Yixing said that "daqi daqi tei" doesn't mean anything, he just liked the sound of it

[@Ca-yr2rz]

The mv's shot at your pause in the end was amazing jajaja Your commentary about usa's identity makes a lot of sense. I think the mix of disconexion between the identities that form the country and individualistic behavior, make a deeper atomized cultural landscape. There're other cultures that are individualistic, like Japan, or that are very mixed, like Latinoamérica, but both regions still have a strong sense of identity.

[@MSTJ0109]

WOWWWWW!!!!!!!!

[@AishaWin]

❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

[@Communism1949]

You should check out another Lay’d MV “Veil”

[@orchidmsc]

Oh wow. I'm one of the ones that's not seen his videos. That intro took me back to exo's 2014-ish videos.

[@Raeray440]

you should watch Lit it's iconic and he has so many others too. He did a tribute song to EXO and EXO-L as well he recorded a conversation between himself and the other members in the beginning of the song and i was bawling my eyes out.

[@BB21-d5r]

Definitely check out more there crazy since you like this you should check out his mv lit it’s like part 1 of this insane and my own suggestion veil. 😊

[@Raeray440]

@BB21-d5r omg yes Veil that was like a movie too.

[@nkl22nkl22]

@@Raeray440 Yes 酒 (Jiu, literally meaning wine or alcohol, it has the same pronunciation as 9 in Chinese). The lyrics are so touching...

[@MsTristen12]

Australia is muddy too - makes sense - lots of people from lots of different origins Rather than pure bred we are a bitsa - bits of this and that But yes - no national food/ dress / culture ❤

[@eolalia_]

Оmg fire❤️💥

[@TamaraPanera]

💜💜

[@mickymarquez1303]

That's my bias ladies and gentlemen... Proud Exo-L and Xingmi Of course

[@rkdo9554]

I badly want him to reunite with EXO and incorporate this kind of Mv and music. I would be the happiest fangirl ever!

[@Zoe-vt8po]

I've always felt that C-pop has more depth than K-pop

[@ladynidragon]

There is Texans.

[@BB21-d5r]

You have to react to lay veil mv

[@Klmathieu007]

Can you look into some Thai pop pls. Like 4mix, LYKN, or project.jasper or others pls.

[@ThisRoscoe]

LYKN coming soon. 👍

[@aniya6422]

more EXO plzzz 🔥🔥

[@alicewaria6215]

I agree with you. Ancestry we lived with culture but the english side lost it along the way. Daqi Daqi means big environment/atmosphere.

[@Trzbne]

45 seconds until we saw your tongue! This is how good this MV and music is! I am glad you reviewed it :-) Your opinion counts God, I like when a lyric is so complex that I needd a dictionary for it No need to be jelaous, this national identity comes with a price: they suppress other nationalities within their border e.g. Uyghurs