Film Director reacts to Rose's "On The Ground" for 13 minutes

Rose's On the Ground

[@lazerx1828]

Somi's last video was "What You Waiting For". The song is about Rosé's journey in BLACKPINK. In their Netflix documentary she said that since they became big she found it hard to find time to play music, which is when she feels everything "makes sense". She also started crying, thinking back at how she had to leave her family at a young age and move to S. Korea. ON THE GROUND shows us (and tells us) that she had reached the top, which is what she wanted, but still feels empty and sad. The first two-thirds of the video have a dark, destructive color palette. When she is on the swing it cuts between two people swinging; Rosé, the K-Pop star, and Roseanne, her younger self (Roseanne is her real name), who still had her dreams and innocence. The color palette then shifts to lighter colors, whites and pinks, and Rosé is able to reconnect with her younger self, becoming "grounded", and we see her smile for the first time. Now that she has found her way she can truly "ascend" to the heights of her celebrity, only this time as a fulfilled person, as she is now grounded in what's most important in her life (family, friends, her true self). Here's the "Making Of" if you're interested: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rZbblYlsfM9ratU (you can see where they filmed that flower field!)

[@OpinionatedMatt]

I don't know how much to add to what has already been said about the meaning of the song honestly but hey, let's write some more!! It is all centered on the dichotomy between the Rosé persona and the person which is Roseanne. Pursuing a career in Kpop she strived for perfection and pushed herself with the greed that comes from wanting to succeed and I personally take those black and white and superimposing shots as a way to portray the glamour aspects of her life as Rosé while the others in rundown places or devoid of people and life ones are to represent that there's actually no substance to that environment ("you find out that your GOLD IS PLASTIC"). Along the way she used success as a way to vindicate herself from all the hardships and hurful moments that she had to go through to get where she is now "I worked my whole life just to GET RIGHT just to be like LOOK AT ME I'M NEVER COMING DOWN", to get that sense of achievement that then springs out a sense of invulnerability to everything around her no matter where it comes from. And this sentiment is awesomely, if you ask me, represented by "big hat Rosé" with all the white Rosés on that stair that goes up in the sky so her appearing with a very wide God shot is to represent her position of power right now but in an environment where what seems to be probably never is (Roses are dead, love is fake). Then comes the "I worked my whole life just to get high just to realize EVERYTHING I NEED IS ON THE GROUND" which is the same to saying that she needs to get back to the basic and to Roseanne to find the values and substance to fuel her life as a human being and conversely after the "swing scene" (which is possibly to transition between persona and person? But also representing the calming effect of thinking about her past self is like going up and down on a swing?) Roseanne appears. To be honest it looks like Rosé is looking up to Roseanne quite literally since on the swing she's looking up and the first scene of Roseanne is shot from beneath her and then maintains that aura of innocence and idealization of her past pre-idol self which just had an incredible amount of love for music and for expressing herself. We come now to the point where Rosé and Roseanne reconcile, as if Rosé needed to realise that Roseanne is valid too, that while she had to be more to get more that version of herself, pure and imperfect (her just casually playing the piano as she did when she was younger), has a place in this world in and inside of her, that she can't just throw her away. It's very telling that it's Roseanne writing "Rosé" on the mirror as a testament to the decision and dreams and aspirations that came to her to pursue a career as an artist but in the following shot "Roseanne" appears as to claim that Rosé is still Roseanne so she can now ascend now (field of flowers) because she is one again, both Roseanne (soft palate colors, flowers) and Rosé (fierce look and makeup). P.S.: I've seen the bts video and that field of roses is completely fake, it was shot in a parking lot and she also had heaters on both side to prevent her from freezing, well not more than she did anyway.

[@forsummonerswar1366]

wow. nicely written :)

[@OpinionatedMatt]

@@forsummonerswar1366 Thank you! :)

[@amber-hc5tt]

the story is basically saying she’s worked her life to become an idol but what’s most important is what she started with. Mainly about staying grounded and remembering who she was before she became famous.

[@rangeramarilla7301]

missed you ✨ hope everything is great!

[@TheDavidfallon]

She writes Rosé on the mirror and it turns into Roseanne, her childhood, pre-stardom name. She's reconnecting with her younger self. Get as high (or as famous!) as you like, but stay grounded. Never forget where you came from. It's good advice... She's a superstar but also still such a typical genuine humble Melbourne girl from the suburbs - which is not a bad thing!

[@FolacticsFootball]

The last scene was a set. It was on the behind the scenes.

[@SeaDemon25]

some of the flowrs are real and then its extended with cgi or what ever they use, the sky too. There is a behind the scenes i think u would like to watch

[@ester.theasterbunny]

Paaaaaaaul! Its so great to see another video of yours, we missed u! I hope things are not too chaotic in life and that you’re able to creat more great content, be it work related or yt. Take care : )

[@minnowings]

Yay!! Another Paul reaction. I loved this M/V although the editing isn’t my fave personally- That ending set raises the score automatically for me though haha, and they really did make great use of the sets they had. Also I loved the scene where Roseanne was looking at herself. Hope you’re doing well!

[@Livingthroughthis_]

What i noticed that the scenes are quite similar to bp mvs (dddd, stay, ktl,lsg,aiiyl) and it makes sense because the song is about her career and how her emotions about music changed from predebute to now, its nice to see music related to the artist to this level the song felt personal esp when you hear her talk about it and mentioning her ideas in the documentary

[@toddbrown4255]

Thanks for the commentary captain obvious.

[@suanation4135]

❤

[@rye9758]

Missed u

[@YGlove21]

There is a Making Film behind the scenes for it! You should check it out and see the sets!

[@reveluvtiny]

i was hoping you would notice the blue line on the left side of the frame, i think its a nice touch trying to emulate the retro film aesthetic

[@nic_pac2605]

Hi Paul since you react to kpop music videos. I think it will be interesting for you to react/watch the kpop evolution documentary by KZbin Originals, especially the Making of a Kpop Music Videos. They discussed the process of making of a kpop music video from pre-prod, during prod and post. The music video in particular was by Everglow Dun Dun.

[@TheDavidfallon]

It's Jisoo in the MV for Lovesick Girls who runs at full tilt. Rose also swings on a chandelier in the MV for Du du du du du. Jisoo swings on a swing outside a theatre in the MV for Stay. Rose is in a flower garden in the MV for How You Like That? There's lots of fire and explosions in other BP vids. The references in this scenario are all to other BlackPink MVs.

[@OpinionatedMatt]

What did you think of the song itself tho?

[@milkenzi1]

Pls check out wayv's kick back :)

[@yorualin1081]

Please react to Yorushika NAUTILUS!

[@piakennedy987]

BeBoss TV's analysis of this video (kzbin.info/www/bejne/a5_JhZpqYrGoiNk) points out a lot of references that even Blinks would have missed. I wonder what you'd think of the video once you get the meaning & references in the song - whether the video direction & editing successfully convey the meaning & how you would have done it differently.