Why You Can't Look Away From Blackpink

[@merafromyoutube]

Instead of the video I was planning for this week, please accept this other random video lol. Sorry in advance if my voice sounds strained, it’s been a long week.

[@hitahemdev5405]

It’s okay u do ur best

[@ItsJaeilTime]

Your voice sounds just fine. Thanks for the long video, take care of yourself. We love you !!!!!

[@edvaedan9161]

Accepted with pleasure.

[@almarae7010]

Hi Mera, I know this isn’t related to Blackpink but I wanted to recommend a song to you! Whatever by Keembo. Keembo is a duo with the former main vocalists of a second gen group named Spica. I don’t know when you got in to kpop but you do seem to be very well versed in the second generation so you might know of them. Keembo is not particularly popular but I would love to see them succeed. They have some of the best vocals I’ve seen in kpop in a long time. This song isn’t just a beautiful mix of their vocals but also a really fun song to listen to. It has very impressive mixing and I absolutely adore the instruments at play in this song. I would love to hear your thoughts on this song if you have a chance. PS I hope you are feeling better after everything that happened with your last video. ❤️❤️

[@multistanarchive6076]

This is a master piece.

[@babarrett1]

Jisoo: Mystical Vampire Jennie: Fashionable Hero Rosé: Romantic Diety Lisa: Bombastic Wild Card

[@pudding1255]

You mad lad you’ve done it

[@babarrett1]

@@pudding1255 lol Mera doesn’t call herself a blink but her amazing choice of words to describe the girls always makes me feel like she secretly is one. She came up with these terms.

[@pudding1255]

@@babarrett1 ikr?? I’ve always had a bit of a hyperfixation on aesthetics and i love her language, it’s so immersive!

[@pretendtheresaname9213]

@@babarrett1 I would guess she most probably was for a good year and a half then post AIIYL Blackpink happened and, like many debut fans, the appeal started to fade out and for 2 years and a half + or - you see yourself drifting away from this group you loved a lot. Ice Cream, for all it's repeated instrumental, and Lovesickgirls saved a lot of people from dropping the group entirely and now it just feels more comfortable to talk and openly like Blackpink in general, a lot of the problems are still there which is why I don't see her calling herself a blink on the short-term but who knows.

[@mara_q9979]

@@pretendtheresaname9213 so people get hate for openly liking BP? It's a crazy world out there...

[@surbhipradhan247]

Something about this video radiates 'Woke up in a cold sweat in the middle of the night with this idea' energy and I'm honestly here for it

[@merafromyoutube]

That is exactly what happened.

[@ijm1261]

@@merafromyoutube it's okay. We've all been there.

[@niniluv5246]

@@merafromyoutube i absolutely love your videos

[@khanttiks1420]

@@merafromyoutube what do you use to edit this video?

[@cjc363636]

That is so well said and insightful. And a wonderful essay came out of the sweats.

[@tucco2097]

I’m a 40 year old married man. I just mowed the grass, changed the oil in my wife’s car, and then correctly identified each BP members color palette.

[@whe832kso10]

LMAO

[@noone7304]

Good for you

[@kay6295]

Are you serious

[@tucco2097]

@@kay6295 yeah I’m serious. My wife got hooked on I-Land / enyhpen and I got hooked on black pink. At first it was teddys beats and Lisa and Jenny’s verses but then it became an appreciation for how genuine the girls are. Honestly as I’ve learned more about kpop it seems so many in the genre have an innocent soul and they speak so honestly and supportive of each other. It’s very refreshing. I surprised myself with the color pallet thing, but I guess I’ve seen enough of those videos where I’m a blink now.

[@LunaVioletta7]

Omg I love this! Your wife is lucky to have you :)

[@TaL87654]

yes yg sucks but no one does "members branding" as well as them. its the way each of the 4 has her own style, colours, brands and associations but they still look like a group when you put them together. g e n i u s

[@ellielouise9625]

I feel like from the second YG makes a group, they have them pre set up for solo careers and hence why they push the individuality which tbh is probably a very good thing long-term. BB, 2NE1, Winner and IKON all had this and now same for BP too

[@calhuh1232]

True

[@winterkrash]

I certainly agree with you. They all have distinct personalities and YG plays on this. But they compliment each other when in a group and thus they are still a homogenous unit. But sadly, I think this is the same reason why they have the most solo stans. Solo stans are ok as long as they are not toxic.

[@callyszt]

yes! they have such strong archetypes/personalities that are different but fit together so well, this also is what i think there is so much solo stans like they fit together as a group but sometimes they clash, the group members have each such stong personas that sometimes ppl just like one and ignore/hate the rest bc the rest are seen as less interesting or a competitor like for example the jennie vs lisa scheme, or maybe the archetypes of one member isn't rlly the most interesting one.

[@uiz__189]

IKR

[@sparklexnia]

Mera: I’m not beefing with yg today Me: 😔 Mera: we’re just gonna appreciate Blackpink Me: 😌

[@lia-gl3xn]

Lol

[@HBoyle]

I live for Mera's complete and utter disdain for YG the man and the company 🍿🍿

[@calhuh1232]

Lmao

[@sarahsavannah3960]

This comment ^ 😂

[@allahbless2278]

LMAO

[@sauleiwanderapfelstrudel]

this Video helped me realize why the solo mv always leaves me with a weird feeling: it's so cool toned. like it feels cold, like jennie should probably put on a sweater or something

[@merafromyoutube]

EXACTLY! It looks chilly!

[@fireflieer2422]

Ohhh that makes a lot of sense actually!

[@heejinators7342]

That’s what I thought, but I thought that was just me from the fact that it was prolly filmed October/November due to the December release, it’s cool to see I’m not the only one tho lol

[@lilkittykat3214]

to me, it fits the message of the video perfectly. she's sad because the man she loved broke her, but she still realizes that she doesn't need him and that she's still the GOAT. there are parts that are bright and celebratory, but if you've been through an intense breakup, the coolness makes sense.

[@laroseschudeuki196]

It actually was really cold... From the bts of her mv, you could see her shivering while filming

[@secrets5870]

don’t worry about talking for too long, it’s the most entertaining thing ever

[@tired_axolotl1152]

unrrelated but pie in your pfp is such a mood

[@secrets5870]

@@tired_axolotl1152 ikr me every day

[@sm9800]

Literally

[@nomeolvides8423]

i just wanted to say that i'm the 1000th like 😚

[@secrets5870]

@@nomeolvides8423 yayy thx :)

[@ronniejones3719]

I think that part of the reason that blackpink is so popular in the western market is because of the way each member is marketed as a unique individual with a distinct style. In the west, solo artists are more common than groups, and when there are groups, they generally don't exceed five members. This seems indicative of general cultural attitudes. In Korea, there is more focus on the collective, and in the USA the focus is on the individual. So it makes sense that a group like blackpink is so internationally popular. It has only four members, and each member is allotted a specific image or persona, distinguishing each from the other.

[@1ia802]

probably the reason why theres so many solo stans as well

[@lilkittykat3214]

the key aspect to western culture is individuality - you can see this in everything, from how the government functions even to transportation. That's why, during COVID, most things targeting mask wearing and vaccinations focused so heavily on "protecting yourself", rather than protecting the community.

[@1ia802]

@@lilkittykat3214 that actually makes quite a lot of sense

[@marga3719]

In the kpop niche yes. But they are not popular with the locals in the US.

[@gtothedmuthafucka1657]

@@lilkittykat3214 well, this explains why Asian countries have dealt with the virus much better than U.S.

[@Alejandro-ch6mj]

It's honestly scary how well balanced blackpink is and no wonder why they are where they are now, it's because of small things like this that we don't know but we subconsciously realize. blackpink themselves almost feel like the north, south, east, west; the 4 pillars of something bigger. Like they are insanely perfect to the point of almost looking mythical.

[@luvmeday]

YES

[@mayuhmetal]

“Black pink 4 way intersection” Jennie meant that! No matter how un-into them I get, black pink keeps me coming back

[@mariemarilynbp9865]

You described it on point! And I 200% agree on the un-subconscious part here that ALL of the viewers feel deeply when they see blackpink for the first time no matter if you love them or not, heck no matter if you know or never seen them before. And indeed, all of this seems mythical...

[@SimgoonArtPod]

Same!! I always get confused when i hear some fans say oh if x member left there would be no BP..and it kinda annoys me just like solo stans' logic.. Each of them complete the other one like Yin Yang and the fact that blackpink has no official leader, emphasises this statement even more.

[@reisatee5504]

I know this video is all about visuals, but I think the fact that Jisoo's voice is much lower than Rosé's helps establish her elegant and mature feel, in contrast to Rosé's light voice and soft aesthetic.

[@gtothedmuthafucka1657]

Absolutely true. Visuals + audio together is the final product, which helps to distinct between both of them so well

[@Death_by_Kim_Yoohyeon]

Facts

[@faizashaikh-h2p]

yeah though the same things even their voice blends with thier aesthetics which creates an overall

[@blossomyguri_]

Trueeeee

[@spiceyhotpot]

Agreed, something about that made Jisoo my bias.

[@itsokam]

"Jennie is the sun in blackpink's solar system" *mind blown *

[@cjc363636]

Yeah, that's a great line. And observation.

[@NaeKhen]

And Jisoo's the Moon, Rosé is Venus and Lisa is Mars. Blackpink galaxy lmao

[@NaeKhen]

@@ijustwannabehappier-v4973 what was the point of this comment? Do you think you've convinced me to unstan?

[@kiri896]

the thing about them is that even after ive lost my interest in kpop, i could never fully take my eyes off of blackpink. ive never seen a group with so much dynamic & individuality while still perfectly blending with each other. like- say for example how their voices are so easily recognizable & different yet still being complementary towards each other, to an extent where a blackpink song won't feel like a blackpink song without hearing one of their voices. im probably not making any sense but im just trying to get my point across😭 it's easy to find a kpop group with members that blend and perfectly compliment each other but it's rare to find one that simultaneously does this along with EACH member being associated with an almost completely different vibe and concept. like.. no wonder they're often stapled to the word "iconic" (sorry for the rambling, but this video really just further enlightened what i felt about bp & i got carried away lmao)

[@Nawalsamer04]

Exactly

[@squishytan7]

This is what I want to say! Each member in blackpink got such an aura for themselves which makes me excited for their comebacks. Even if I'm not a fan of their music, their songs just get into my head somehow

[@sarahshell3989]

🙌🏼

[@lesbiangoddess290]

This is why I cant look away. I'm such a big fan of them both individually and together.

[@ltvxl2881]

EXACTLY. I absolutely love the fact that their voices are so easily recognizable, which makes them have their own character. Every member from bp shines on their own✨

[@teekay534]

Yooooo I was sitting here thinking to myself, "I've never personally noticed unique styles for any of the members but I'm interested to see where this leads," and then the colour pallette quiz rolled up in the first few minutes and I BAM I nailed all 4??? I guess that's the proof that even if I never consciously noticed it, mera is definitely on to something!

[@whe832kso10]

yes same I was so shocked I got the colour palette quiz correct!

[@LaeliaViviana]

@@whe832kso10 me too

[@cjc363636]

I missed 2, got 2. But the thing that I really perked up for is the individual cinematography.

[@Valentineatelier]

Mera, you’re such an intellect, it kills me. I wish wish WISH, i had money to pay you to do analysis’ on a variety of things. I’m sure your english teachers in high school had a field day with your essays and book reports. Like, i could and would listen to you talk about paint drying because you would make it interesting. Please never stop what you’re doing.

[@ky5797]

same same

[@internationalmusicacademy2895]

#

[@bonk3800]

well said, this is an Entire Mood

[@aintnobodylikeu]

i agree. i dont even stan blackpink but i sat down and watched all 35 mins and 34 secs of this video because i just HAD to hear what she had to say. and i dont regret it :D

[@zm1197]

Honestly I like want to hear what she has to say about every kpop group I've ever known because I wonder what intellectual thing she will see

[@aria4356]

jennie's red is def a brand the started on mv but it goes through her brand deals. her samsung solo deal is the red version of the smartphone that was all over south korea, same thing with the make up brand shes the muse of, hera (ugh) had their red lipstick campaign being called "jennie red"

[@sync_pinks]

and yet, she says she doesn't wear red just like how she said she 'can' eat chips without making a sound...😭😂

[@aria4356]

@@sync_pinks she’s so annoying 😭

[@calhuh1232]

@@sync_pinks 😂😂

[@whe832kso10]

wait why is Hera “ugh” /gen?

[@nazraislam4307]

*the* hera one uggghhhh

[@ardvaaaaaark]

Lisa is prob the definition of "organized chaos".

[@lyannefayemalig-on1616]

true tho

[@khushivora3946]

another reason why i think that jisoo's shadow motif works so well for her is because she's pegged as the most 'traditional' and mature of the members, and traditional east asian aesthetics involve a heavy use of shadow and darkness. so there's also a sense of traditional serenity that comes out with her scenes as well that works will with her role/marketing as the mature one.

[@ness6069]

I think mysterious is the right word she is a very private person it fits her personality Jisoo also give me mystical vibes

[@whe832kso10]

would love to see her solo being dark and gothic and emotional with her rich deep voice (like the video said), just a thought tho

[@samcarmen]

regardless of what you think about blackpink, we all have to admit that they have some of the best MVs in kpop. it's like watching a movie every comeback from Boombayah and Whistle to HYLT, Ice Cream, and Lovesick Girls

[@toxoplasmagondi]

they're like cartoon characters, like the powerpuff girls, bratz or winx club, where each girl has her own distinctive style and vibe. i really like it, it's one of the things that i first noticed about them. also "a lot of what i personally love about blackpink rises and sets with jennie" so true bestie. i grew out of them a long time ago but i don't think i'll ever get over jennie.

[@gtothedmuthafucka1657]

Same. Different personalities and how they bounce off of each other deliciously is what got me into BLACKPINK in the first place, into the whole kpop too And yes, I agree with you on Jennie. Although I'm Lisa biased, Jennie is my safe place, she's my home😥

[@taniak4509]

I started out being a Jennie bias and got over that and now Lisa is my bias and rosé bias wrecker!!! Ngl a lot of it came from the fact that everyone started calling her lazy 😔

[@ms1748]

@@taniak4509 that means you’re weak

[@Zipzeboo]

@@taniak4509 You love her because of her talent or for what other people says.... it's very clear why you choose lisa and rose ... lisa because everyone praise her all the time even with her mistakes and rose don't get that much criticism

[@taniak4509]

@@ms1748 lol that has nothing to do with someone being weak wtf?? Many people have changed biases and if I had lisa as my bias then and now it was Jennie you'd congratulate me. Just say you're jealous of Lisa's talent and leave 🤣

[@manikantasrao7868]

These 4 girls have the X-factor which makes it almost impossible to not fall in love with them. People may HATE YG, the amount of music they release, they may even hate the music itself, but there is something about these girls which keeps you hooked.

[@kendalm550]

Totally agree

[@nm9688]

I agree. I am not fond of BP's music (it's more like a guilty pleasure) but they are very charismatic girls. They remind me of the Junji Ito character "Tomie" especially Jennie (without the man killing part of course lol)

[@DanasGoneCrazy]

Agreed. Even as someone who's never been a huge fan of Blackpink, there's something about these girls that always catches my attention...

[@str3brry]

@@nm9688 I’m currently reading Tomie and that’s a really cool comparison because it’s like no matter how much you think they’ve gone away they always come back bigger and better And it’s like you know How Tomie drives men crazy to the point of murder it’s like BLACKPINK drives people wild to the point where they can’t look away

[@dream.5708]

Thats EXACTLY how it is with me. Not fan of their music but a fan of the girls

[@irina-ex8wg]

Finally someone praising Blackpink instead of hoping on the 'WhY yOu ShOuld UnStAn bLaCkPinK' train. Thank you Mera, hope you're doing better 💙💛

[@iemgroot9855]

True she also made a Blackpink critisism video buy that video is the best constructive criticism I have ever heard. Everything is reasonable and is the correct. Unlike some youtubers who make this for clout

[@eem8736]

You forgot the 'AnD WhY yOu ShOulD tOo'

[@irina-ex8wg]

@@eem8736 omg the actual absolute worse

[@roseseatencandles8570]

@@eem8736 omg.. I cackled when I first saw those titles like.. THEY MUST BE JOKING😂

[@randomperson-ti2tg]

That era is back in 2019. Move on 🥱

[@leahelena7938]

Now i want jisoo's solo to have a vampire storyline

[@lesbiangoddess290]

Oh it better. I would just die

[@Wonyse11297]

The fact she just described Jisoo's solo before it was even planned💀💀💀

[@wasi8048]

And the Sailor Moon reference regarding Jennie. The fact that Jennie used Sailor Moon as her single cover for You & Me. 😭😭

[@Cholmes-lf5kd]

@@wasi8048she has a sharp eye.🤣👏

[@odgykins]

FINALLY a freaking video about Blackpink that's overwhelming positive.

[@rooo358]

Watching this it really struck me how they play with the four elements in this: Rosé is air, light and ethereal, Jennie is fire, passionate and warm, Jisoo is earth, mature, stable and supportive, and Lisa is water, unpredictable, both playful and powerful. It also makes me understand why when I first became a blink I used to think Jisoo was underplayed, but now I realise she's always been there, but there's a subtlety to her which comes from that earth identity, like a quiet strength that doesn't need to pop in your face like fire and water do, and it's incredibly important for balancing out the rest of the group. All of it works so well.

[@learn.relearn.unlearn.1387]

I saw Jennie when I was eating in a Korean restaurant and I've never listened to BP ever in my life. But my god, my jaw dropped and I really glanced at my husband coz I was just speechless watching this lady take my breath away lol. Whenever I look at Jennie, I feel really empowered.

[@multistanarchive6076]

YG truly invest in everything they do. Imagine the camera works, the colors, the styles, the distinction of every members and more. Kudos to this Channel. This is the best analysis ever.

[@areyoukirringmeirriyaa]

built personas or not, i feel like blackpink has such a special bond that’s evident wheter it’s on or off camera and it works for their group performances. they may not be one of the most syncronized groups but they STAND OUT. it’s not about coming from yg, but having different personalities that all shine through their songs and stages. there’s a moment when each of them gets the attention of the audience. their “i’m a strong ass bitch” vibe is so attractive.

[@beatm6948]

Like 2NE1, another big gg under YG, theyre *there* whenever theyre there. Definitely a presence.

[@sammiat]

I totally agree, they embody their badass concept so well

[@Vengurl09]

@@beatm6948 more than 2ne1 actually and this is coming from a blackjack

[@sanupasarkar5719]

@@Vengurl09 thank you so much! Blackpink got so much hate from blackjacks that I used to hate that fandom.

[@purpleteardropss]

@@Vengurl09 as much as i love blackpink 2ne1 got it better for me

[@prdm9290]

Jisoo totally comes off as a mysterious royal. She just has that vibes of privacy, tradition, and off-limits. She might come off as funny and cheerful but she actually does not share anything about herself especially about her family just like a very private person. I agree with Jennie as being the sun of BP's solar system. Its like she's the first to come to your mind when you hear the word BLACKPINK. She is like the gateway for us to be able to get to know the other members of BP despite her being labelled as YG's princess. She is the "heroine" of every teenage girls because of she is so into fashion which teenage girls like and she shows drive and determination in reaching your goals. Rosé is always serene, peaceful, calm, fantastical(like someone who came from out from a story of magic and fantasy) and just ethereal for me. Its so ironic because she is so down-to-earth, humble, and approachable in reality but she always has that unattainable aura in her. Like you want to be friends with her because she is just so cheerful and nice but somehow you find yourself shy and scared to be her friend because you might not be deserving to be called as one. She always seeks for the light, truth and peace which also might be because she came from a family of lawyers. And I always associate her with fantasy creatures like deities, goddesses, elves, fairies and princesses. Lisa is always the chaos. Like the maknae she is, she just exudes what a youth usually is. A chaotic, risk taker, always on the go, easy-go-lucky. But you know that there is strength and bravery there shown in her color palettes. She might be very childish at times but she shows courage and never backs down to anything.

[@phoebe6533]

“We’ll talk about ITZY another day” 😮😱

[@user-xr1er7jn2j]

YES @mera PLEASE DO

[@shinryujinanswermycalls6648]

i need a video about my other ults ITZY NEXT PLEASE🥺

[@number1soobinstan]

@@mustymilk the people above you: 🕺🕺

[@baemonsterOT7]

@@mustymilk no one cares about you 🙂.

[@user-xr1er7jn2j]

@@mustymilk obviously we do😭if we didn't we wouldn't be so excited about an itzy video. you can just say YOU don't care about itzy, and leave.

[@MansariTV]

I’m actually so impressed and like shocked about how I’ve never noticed ANY of these details! Like it makes me appreciate the directors and stuff A LOT more. No wonder BP has such different and special individuality. You’re so amazing for educating us all and noticing this all and explaining it so well.

[@pretendtheresaname9213]

As someone who knows nothing about fashion, I sometimes think Jisoo feels like an SM idol lost in YG. She has that natural, a bit somber korean look to her, wears gowns and makes them look traditional and classy as opposed to ”flashy and modern”, which is what the other members of BP evoke, specially Jennie, who's always regarded as fitting both a very korean and a very western look. Edit: 21:22 lmao

[@reyxx777]

omg this is exactly wut i think

[@crunchygowon3681]

Jisoo is the princess that every royalcore obsessed person wants to be

[@dream.5708]

@@crunchygowon3681 exactly

[@thek-nerd3143]

That makes sense and it makes Jisoo feel so special in YG

[@shinryujinanswermycalls6648]

i heard many people saying jisoo resembles an SM idol maybe SM thought the same since they wanted to recruit her

[@c.9697]

I've never understood why Jisoo and Rosé were so attractive to me (as a non-blink), but the way you describe their styles clarified everything. Jisoo is like a heroine from a gothic novel, while Rosé comes straight from a fairytale. I love this contrast.

[@star-miubin]

Catherine Earnshaw and Princess Aurora. I like it.

[@Bonbon-lk9gv]

I see each member of Blackpink as 4 seasons of the year. Jisoo being winter, Jennie as autumn, Rose as spring, and Lisa as summer. Even their voices/vocals and real-life personalities suit their dedicated seasons.

[@lorenigma4751]

As I was watching, I was struck by the idea that the four members’ cinematic styles could also be (somewhat) equated to the four elements, with Jisoo as water (mysterious, cool, dark, noble, and deep), Jennie as earth (strong, warm, connected to accessible human conventions like fashion, the axis of rotation or literally “center of gravity”), Rosé as air (ethereal, light, soft, unattainable), and Lisa as fire (bold, kinetic, bright, modern, and a little dangerous). You also note that Jisoo’s scenes actually explicitly use dark water, Rosé is frequently framed against air-e.g. “the float”-and that Lisa is often set against fire. While I didn’t see many associations with earth on Jennie’s part-I’ve not watched BP’s MVs much on my own, so there may be some-the fact that she is so central to their aesthetic and that, as you’ve noted and I’ve referenced, she provides the foundation for much of the framing of the group, can really speak to that. The subliminal associations that many of us have with these elements could also play a role in how we interpret their scenes, and in how satisfying we find their videos. Much as a resolved chord progression creates a reliably enjoyable listening experience, seeing all four elements represented can give us a sense of completion. Obviously just a theory, but I loved how you created this video and the organization brought this idea to mind. You’re a phenomenal media critic, Mera. Thank you for making me engage critically with works I wouldn’t have otherwise considered.

[@merafromyoutube]

I'm so glad you said this omg. This is exactly what I thought when writing the video. I couldn't find enough video evidence for Jennie = earth, so I left the whole thing out, but I tried to sneakily put it in for each of the other members. But she is the center of gravity, so there's that!

[@lorenigma4751]

Ah! I can’t believe you replied! I adore you. Yes, I actually kept thinking you were going to say something about it because you were so close to referencing it as a full concept, and so waited until the end to post my comment to make sure you weren’t explicitly making that argument in the text of the video. I did notice that Jennie has some green, but what I was really fascinated by is that she is definitely the member who is most closely associated with objects, money, and material goods. It seemed to me that rather than representing “Earth” as a planet, she represented things that were earth/ly/, or more accessible to the watcher or listener. Perhaps this has to do with her role as “a teenage girl’s hero.” In contrast to Jisoo and Rosé, who are supernatural and unattainable, and to Lisa, whose aesthetic is almost outlandish in its superb eccentricity, Jennie’s supposed to be more relatable and aspirational to the viewer. She is the entry point into BP’s aesthetic, and the ideal version of the self as defined by societal standards. The most important part of a superhero is the fact that they were once ordinary and have since elevated themselves. Jennie is earth because she /is/ the viewer, if the viewer were Jennie.

[@merafromyoutube]

Yes yes YES! Oh I LOVE this! Metal is a part of earth, and Jennie has a lot of metal references in her scenes (D4, KTL). She's a main character type, so Jennie is somewhat our world! Jennie grounds us.

[@lorenigma4751]

@@merafromyoutube Absolutely! And this seems to also serve for the connections between Jennie and Lisa, because while Lisa is associated with the messy, fiery, intense side of creation, Jennie is the polished final product. Both have some metal associations. Lisa is sparking circuitry. Jennie is chrome alloy.

[@monalisakindalisa8644]

Blackpink being praised and loved is something we don't see everyday I'm crying like a proud mother omg😭😭😭 I'm just going to watch this video so happily when I'm in the mood because it deserves to be fully studied and appreciated

[@saracooper3435]

wdym they arent praised they are the popularist kpop gg how are they not praised

[@bro-nu1bd]

@@saracooper3435 but nowadays they mostly receives critisism every single time by those unpopular opinions

[@Give_me_a_hammer]

Right

[@Liliananev]

@@bro-nu1bd so true bro so true

[@Periwinkle_mystique]

2023 and damn she predicted all their solo MV

[@Poison12012]

You could say Rosé’s shots are seen through Rosé coloured glasses. If anyone said it before I didn’t steal this dad joke. We twinning wave lengths.

[@Tarikkb]

I can’t help but think their fashion brands also played a part in these later “breaks “ because since YSL rose has been more edgy and effortlessly dark , jisoo’s dior brought out her more preppy and classic side , Lisa with Celine is more sleek and simple but in an elite cool effortless masculine way , only jennie doesn’t seem to be that effected by her brand Chanel but I think that’s because jennie always had her style Chanel just added a bit softness to that

[@areyoukirringmeirriyaa]

i think the uniqueness of each member? like I stan multiple groups but barely remember such strong characteristics for each of them. maybe it’s because of the promotion of their personas but they scream confidence, luxury, stage presence and they devour the rare stages they perform.

[@Hanna-og4jf]

some very small detail I've noticed is their nails matching their aesthetics. Lisa often has very funky and bright colors on her nails, Jennie's nails can be seen longer and more chic. Rosé's nails are simpler and shorter, where Jisoo's nails are either blank or not shown at all, because the frame captures her chest/waist and up.

[@JazminGarcia14]

Wow this truly explains why Jisoo's and Jennie's parts are always so fascinating to watch!!

[@aintnootherfan]

My God, this is such a masterpiece of a video, every time you upload, it's such a feast! The editing is crisp and well thought-out, your analyses are eye-opening, very fair and true. Your taste and intellect always come through your work. This has been such a joy to watch and listen to! I've literally been taking notes like I would at a lecture, thank you Mera, you are amazing!

[@merafromyoutube]

Thank you thank you thank you omg

[@JennieKimisGoodAteverything]

I Now know why SOLO has such Blue chill aesthetics with RED JENNIE defined while Lalisa MV has so MANY different scenes with literally all the colors and shades you can possibly find.

[@wanyusofzakaria1253]

Even after you dig deeper on each member's styles, personalities and habits from Blackpink House, 24/365 and live shows, you'll still see how extremely different they are from each other. It allows the viewers to identify who is who, but still when you see them as a group, it's a whole group and not just a puzzle. Music and dance united them in a beautiful way.

[@dzuhhh]

The explanations are just ✨ (i can't reach mera's level of vocabulary) . This proves Jennie is not biased or is the ONLY favourite member. Individually, these gjrls have unique traits, branding and personality that not just make them stand out but also makes them cohesive and effevtive as a group.

[@lakshmikrishnan6376]

I love how autocorrect changed jisoo to jesus. Very fitting

[@RohanKumaar]

She's God. Confirmed

[@herasean5720]

😭😂😂😂😂

[@magicshop3244]

This topic is actually really interesting in Blackpink. You should do BTS or Itzy next!

[@Death_by_Kim_Yoohyeon]

When she said Jennie's scenes are more Comic books superhero and high fashion instead of the princess like everybody seems to think, I thought to myself : YES!! I am not insane someone else sees that!!

[@chiquita.milenita]

I've never considered myself to be a huge Blackpink fan and I dislike their management and promotional cycles, but I always look forward to seeing what they release. But excluding their collaboration songs, I've always enjoyed and liked their discography. I feel like all of the descriptors that you've used to describe the cinematography can also be applied to their vocal styles: -Jisoo is on the deeper and lower end of the vocal spectrum, her voice is royal and starts the slow build-up in songs; -Rosé 'floats' as you put it with her high notes and the yearning style she sings with, she also stands out as this deity by having the most native (Australian) English accent while singing in either English or Korean; -Jennie is a sleek rapper and singer but also has a bite to the way she says her words, and while singing she breathily pushes them out; -Lisa, while having a set rap style, still plays around a bit with the flow and focuses more on swagger and her singing contrasts that. I'm looking forward to seeing how the next era, after this shift with The Album, will look like. I'd also be pretty interested to see if Lisa's, Jisoo's and Rosé's solo releases show development into their new style both musically and visually. A lovely video as always Mera!

[@kat-gz5ki]

I've always felt that Jisoo is the least Blackpink-y member, like her energy is quite different from the other members and the group's image in general - not in a bad way though. She has a very mature and elevated appearance and personality, I feel like if she had stronger vocals, she would fit really well into a group like Mamamoo

[@internationalmusicacademy2895]

#

[@milkyuuu6170]

I agree, though she completes the group with her personality and she adds more lively ness to the groups image. Her smart out of the box thinking is very good for Blackpink.

[@iemgroot9855]

I agree along with rosé but I think that's why Black is Lisa and Jennie and Pink is rosé and jisoo. You can see the pink concept aka lovesick girls how much jisoo and rosé shined especially rosé. While black Concept aka ktl where Jennie and Lisa shined This is what I think not to offend anyone

[@mimiworld1704]

I completely agree.

[@edvaedan9161]

She is part of the balance and has the biggest appeal in Korea. Especially in the beginning.

[@sophietessier8998]

I still have my theories that "kill this mv love" has a fairy tail concept: - Jennie: swan lake (represents the black swan and white swan and the broken heart of the white sign by the black sign) - Lisa: hansel and gretel (the candy store where she eats everything without being invited and does what she wants is like the sugar house that children eat) - jisoo: little mermaid (she has a setting with water and a mermaid look and this effect as if she was transforming) - rosé: cinderella (when she flees from the castle, not in coach but in the car, and she has only one shoe in the scene. she rushes on her old self that was at the ball, the one who drives is the one who returns to her old life of dosmetique which she hates therefore she's crying) then 2nd verse: - lisa and jennie play cinderella's evil stepsister (surrounded by jewels and showing off their phone like the spoiled evil sister) - rosé: cenderella again (after being attacked by her half-sisters and that's why she has a torn dress, and the 4 leaf clover represents that luck will turn and that she will be lucky and put on a new dress and go to the ball) -jisoo; Snow White (she plays Snow White who flees in a castle hunted by her evil queen stepmother whom she also plays for the final it is a reference to the nutcracker here is my take, a little wacky but I like it and it goes well with the theme of killing this love since fairy tail always favors the unspeakable and fast love, her love that she tries to kill / flee to see it for what it is not healthy and hurtful and it kinda go well with aesthetic you showcased in this video each fairy tail fit the girl concept.

[@rhea1671]

How dare you have such good vocabulary. Seriously though you’re commentary is unmatched.

[@IrisesAndViolets]

The description is everything Lmao

[@hridyanadappattel4400]

Copy pasting it here so that if they decide to change it we can still remark this master piece here "bleep blop blackpink description description cinema something something will edit later need nap now also american gods copy struck me so instead of my entire tangent on why yetide badaki deserves an emmy have like one shot of it lmao"

[@mara_q9979]

@@hridyanadappattel4400 smart idea

[@shrinikles]

She just amazes me everytime how intelligent she is...

[@bangtansquishy3142]

She’s a different breed 😩

[@shrinikles]

@@bangtansquishy3142 yeah😂

[@user-vm9xz4gz6q]

oh my god I'm so in love with the transitions between each member, especially from jisoo to Jennie

[@bangtansquishy3142]

Blackpink have one of the best production when it comes to music videos in kpop, like I know blinks always complain about how long it takes for comebacks but honestly with production like this I’ll take it 😭😭

[@juliamarostica3399]

this video is so brilliant that I've watched it twice now. I totally agree with you that On The Ground deliberately stays away from the "Rosé style" as you describe it, but I think it's interesting that while most of the OTG video rejects it, there is still a scene of her floating above a field of flowers, in a pink gown. thank you so much for making this!

[@nicopaduamusic]

And I feel like these aesthetics that they put onto them aren’t completely forced personas and really stem from what we see in their auras and personalities on reality shows. I’m not saying we know exactly what they’re like, but their reality shows are as close as we’ll get! Jennie quite literally is the untouchable fashion mogul. The main character in a world that revolves around her. Rose literally gives off unicorns and rainbow vibes. She will always greet her fans with a smile despite how inconvenient or creepy those fans are. Jisoo is really is mysterious. The toned down Miss Korea who is probably the most private out of all the members. She dresses relatively modestly for a kpop idol. She is a literal actress on the side. Literally has never had a scandal(or a legit one anyways). Just the girl who seems too good to be real? She has to be a vampire/alien. Lisa’s the risk taker. She’s probably the member who will most likely skydive out an airplane. She will do anything and everything she wants care free.

[@gaius5901]

The members themselves also have a huge say into their MV scenes. From their own individual concepts, scenes, styling, etc. So the outcome of what we see,, does come out very natural looking for them.

[@basiclush637]

@@gaius5901 I can see it in love sick girls where the girls are involved in everything . I cannot say about hylt . It seems like the director picked some and the girls chose whatever they liked

[@jmd0605]

Tbh I find it kind of...what's the word...polarizing(?) that yes, Jisoo is definitely the most private of the members, but I think that's simply the case visually, as in the other three share a lot of pictures/videos of their childhood. But if we talk about people who shares the most (not a LOT, but more compared to the other three) anecdotes, personal stories, and basically things fans think they're owed but are actually just a bonus treat, that's Jisoo. She's the one who interacts the most on Weverse and VLive+. And I do think that adds to the shadow, mysterious aesthetic she has

[@wikiwiki398]

I like the way lisa doesn’t have ONE style, it shows her versatility 💕💕

[@bangtansquishy3142]

Every time I watch D4, it NEVER fails to amaze me how absolutely incredible the sets, the scenes, the fashion etc were, like how much money are y’all making; wire a girl up 😭😭

[@m20047]

i’ve always noticed this! i find it so clever that the 2 members of the vocal line always contrast each other and the 2 rappers have polar opposite aesthetics too it’s what makes blackpinks members stand out so much and is why there is so much solo stans

[@tasfianafi6578]

"While Jisoo is the child of the night, Jennie is the child of the spotlight" You're officially my new favourite youtuber😍

[@Boonies]

Whoever is their director or planner is genius with their roles in the group down to their color palettes. Also you said everything correctly and just eye opening

[@wasumoto457]

I legit watch this video over and over for the script composition, it’s poetic, it’s informative, it’s personal I love it soo much I just love how you highlight and emphasise features and details so well it’s beautifully written

[@samcarmen]

Jisoo exemplifies the black part of blackpink. Her deep voice and her color palette

[@luw5244]

According to brand Archetypes, Jisoo is the magician Jennie is the royal Rose is the lover Lisa is the outlaw. Out of the best, Lisa is my favorite!

[@gracie1989]

I'm having such a stressful day with assignments and stuff but as soon as I got the notification, it cheered me up. I haven't watched the video yet but I'm going to turn in these assignments as soon as possible and watch the video to de-stress. mera, I hope you're taking care of yourself and have a nice day♡

[@gracie1989]

just finished watching the video and as someone who literally got into kpop because of Blackpink, I wholeheartedly agree with everything you just mentioned. The thing about Blackpink is that the audience sees themselves in blackpink. There are so many different personalities in blackpink that people can resonate with, same as Itzy. All of the members bring their own dish to the dinner table and act as a solid unit. This video was a whole treat for someone who loves talking about how a scene was shot, camera angles, and costume design. A quick appreciation for the editing in this video. I love how you introduced each member and the way you framed your words. This video was the upgraded version of everything I love about Blackpink ( the one you made in 2019). Have a wonderful day

[@_c.a.t__]

I really like that Rosé and Jisoo contrast eachother and Jennie and Lisa contrast eachother. if you watch their performances you can see that Lisa and Jennie are both very powerful dancers but Lisa has a more masculine vibe while Jennie has a more feminine vibe. this shows the contrast between the two but they also complement eachother as they are both powerful dancers. Jisoo and Rose also contrast eachother in performances. Both Jisoo and Rose have this goddess like energy when performing but Jisoo keeps it more subtle. She shows mystery. On the other hand Rose expresses and shows the audience her goddess energy. The members contrast eachother while also complementing eachother and it brings unity. I find that their music videos are really good at showing this. Their music videos seem to accentuate the presence they have on stage. While they all have their unique styles they contrast and complement eachother in a way I don't see with many other groups.

[@goodmorning70]

I did absolutely nothing while watching this,,,, I just stared and gasped and realised everything that you're talking about. Just holy shit dude this is so incredible I utterly love this kind of analysis ESPECIALLY colour and aesthetic analysis

[@violets.and.violets]

Mera: talks about Rosé floating Also Mera: doesn’t mention On The Ground floating scene

[@chikahoshi]

It’s been a while since I’ve watched this video essay, but it’s still one of my favorites for blackpink. :)

[@nevoeiro640]

When I think of Jisoo, I immediately think of the color purple. She wears a lot of clothing in this spectrum both in performances and in MVs. Almost every blink knows that purple is her favorite color, on special occasions she gets purple flowers, she's already dyed her hair purple, if you see her Instagram, you'll notice that she wears purple accessories. The cool thing is that purple represents ambition, elegance, but also loneliness. Jisoo's BP figure embodies all of this, it's kind of enigmatic. Jisoo is outgoing, lively, but the people who work with her emphasize the part that she is focused, respectful and resilient, it makes me think that Jisoo is more serious than she is on camera, more responsible, that's why that she gets so much respect from the girls at BP.

[@ThunderJams]

This is such a well done essay! I've always adored how BlackPink so effortlessly gives each member their own atmosphere whilst still keeping cohesion within the group, you explained that super well. I like that it even transfers into the music too (or rather, the music influences their visual styles?): Rosé is paired with soft acoustics, her pastel palette fits perfectly with that vibe. Jennie's piercing supermodel superhero vibe totally works with her raps, which always felt so sharp and poised, especially in D4, whereas Lisa's raps feel less elegant but more approachable and playful. And Jisoo's deeper palette and aesthetic matches the almost... sinister sections she will get in the songs? Like her "shh" in Whistle, or her pre-chorus parts in D4? And I think that melding of styles in Lovesick Girls is so correct, and we see the brightening of Jisoo's style with that warm high note in the bridge... I love it! I love how you emphasised how distinct each member of the group is and how that all coallesses together as a unit. And I loved the flashy editing with the colours and codes for each member, that was so fun. I would love to hear this type of discussion with other groups too! You briefly mentioned ITZY and I can absolutely see that comparison: they are both very fashionably poised groups and there is a huge emphasis on the cinematography there too (that was my main takeaway from MITM). Ryujin will be paired with sharp camera movements on her moves (like her shoulder dance in Wannabe or her little "catch me if you can ha ha!" in MITM), I feel like Lia is paired with more bounce and contrasting colours (thinking of her bright red dress in Icy) and Chaeryeong will have softer scenes than the rest (I feel like Dalla Dalla gave her a much more vibrant yet warm palette compared to the other members scenes, which felt more industrial)? I'm not an expert on all this, that was just my speculatory opinion, but I absolutely loved this video! What a cool analysis of something so subtle, shows so much more thought behind the surface than you would think!

[@pinklemonade1115]

Blackpink’s music videos will always be one of my favorites, every member gets to shine

[@maddy6713]

this is the most high-quality kpop youtube channel ever holy hell

[@shrutisambhavi9396]

chaeyoung is my bias but I literally got goosebumps when you talked about jennie i- the power she holds is irsurmountable

[@ohnoanshu]

you have no idea how badly i needed this video rn while drowning in blackpink hate aaah oh btw mera, im so happy you're growing, I've seen your name on other kpop yt channels as well xD

[@kaushikidhupar2954]

I think yg deserves some appreciation for this the way they planned the every member's aesthetic is wow also the members play it into perfection. But it possess another problem of too manufactured which is also reflected in their character they play , the indiviidual fashion brands they are part of and even the variety shows the make appearance in . Great video btw you are really smart and articulate. Very few try to look in depth of minor and significant details

[@sapphicscandals]

OK first of all, love the LOTR references. Every time I see either Cate Blanchet or Liv Tyler my mind sort of short circuits because they were both my like OG on screen crushes. My mom loves the movies so we watched them a lot when I was a kid and sometimes I would make her fast-forward to the scenes with Galadriel or Arwen and then replay them cause I just couldn't be bothered with some 40 minute long magical cross country dudes trip. Second thing; it never occurred to me that the reason I love Jisoo's scenes so much, besides her being my bias, is because I'm so drawn to the aesthetics they utilise. I love the gothic, old world motifs and the overall royal and vampiric aura she exudes in her shots. They suit her so beautifully. The wealth of emotion and mysticism in her eyes paired with the way she carries herself makes you feel like there's a millennia's worth of stories she could tell. An amazing video as always Mera❤️

[@kijanka7760]

this kind of videos make me wanna study the film making no joke

[@aly8950]

Lisa gives me chills every time she’s on camera because she has a way of demanding your attention. She’s so versatile, fun and unpredictable and I can see mv producers having fun showing off her versatility on camera.

[@sukriti7213]

I keep coming back to this video every few months to watch it again. Bro I never would've noticed this shit myself lmao, she puts everything so well into words. It honestly makes me falls in love with the girls again even if I've pretty much grown out of kpop. Just reminds me what I love about each of the members.

[@prabhatgautam7888]

As a person who is interested in learning filmmaking, I have to say that your videos are an absolute goldmine.

[@Nanahaosaki]

For some reason, yg artists and groups have always been appealing to me. Their aura and presence is so enticing and makes you notice them. I think I got hooked on BLACKPINK because of how they contrast each other. They are both individually and as a group super dynamic. BLACKPINK members all have different ways of executing their parts in songs and when they are all assembled it's beautiful. The cinematics is never too much but never too insufficient and is exceedingly fascinating. Their parts all fit them so well from lyrics and aesthetics to hair colours.

[@shubhitewari4283]

im not even kidding, there's something diff about bp that just draws your attention. Sometimes I just wanna be them.

[@ItsJaeilTime]

Mera being the Queen she is and dropping another half an hour long video about one of my ex-ults. We stan.

[@guisas123]

Is that a thing "ex-ult"? I mean, I'm asking because if it's not your ult anymore, I guess it never was in the first place, right? I mean, you can call it ex-bias, cause you're totally allowed to like one group and not liking it anymore, but an ultimate group it's a totally different story. There is only one ult. How your "crème de la crème" group is not your favorite anymore?

[@mara_q9979]

@@guisas123 lmao creme de la creme. I can't ahahaha

[@ItsJaeilTime]

@@guisas123 nah, I used to be high-key attached (read obsessed) about Black Pink before. They are the group that got me into Kpop and I used to love them a lot. But nowadays I like other groups (as in Itzy, Treasure and Loona) a lot more than them so they're my ex-ults? And who are you to decide if an ult group can only be one or whatever though? If I can come up to liking a group less and another more that's completely my decision. So yeah, BP used to be my ults and they aren't anymore hence the term "ex-ults", what's for you might not be for someone else :v Hopefully it answered your question.

[@ItsJaeilTime]

@@mustymilk lol

[@alexlefay]

Jisoo is now officially my bias in 🖤BLΛƆKPIИK💗

[@inlovewithlifeflowers]

The way you are on point i- I've always imagined certain colors when I was thinking about specific blackpink members and you just summarised everything in a video. Queen

[@liv_ngy]

Thank you for your work. It shows that Blackpink's concept is more deep than many people would thought.

[@beexrice]

ROSÉ LITERALLY HAS THE LESBIAN FLAG COLORS I- 16:35

[@mostlyikhlas]

that’s what I said LMAO and the fact that she’s only shipped with female idols😭

[@toxoplasmagondi]

@@mostlyikhlas fr? besides chaelisa, i've only seen her shipped with male idols (tragic btw)

[@mostlyikhlas]

@@toxoplasmagondi yeah and they’ll be those weird blinks who ship her with jimin but besides that she’s only shipped with female idols

[@lunavb1wp]

that’s the first thing i thought of 😭

[@kbyeforgrande4555]

@@toxoplasmagondi she’s shipped with joy from rv, some girl called suzy and lisa mostly

[@omarsoliman6430]

I am a longtime blink. I gotta say,... I think you're onto something here. All of your descriptions seem right on the mark. You are definitely right on about Jennie. I think she is the main character. And I also think there is much more to her than people give her credit for. Your overall summation is outstanding!!

[@reflexivedude]

This is one of the best K-Pop videos I have ever seen. I wish you'd get more praise for this

[@superkingcowbaby7733]

I don't know if im the only one notices this but blackpink mvs have some inspiration from greek mythology.

[@itsokam]

I will never be able to watch bp mvs without noticing all the little details mera explained in this video WOW JUST WOW

[@emilyann4504]

This is interestingly educational. Glad i came across your vid... It feels like each members scenes and palettes resembles their vocal tones. Like Jisoo's deep tones matches with the mysterious aesthetic, Rosé's bright voice and the lights in her scenes, Jennie's girl crush vocal with the badass and intense feels from her scenes, Lisa's playful rap being highlighted with various colors in her scenes

[@stelliferousoofer9044]

Lisa - Everywhere (she's always leading you somewhere) Rosé - Nowhere Jisoo - Everywhere and Nowhere. Hidden. Jennie - Now you see her, now you don't. (Hero & elite theme) That just comes to my mind while watching this video. Basically they all have their own edge and they're opposites yet they amazingly synchronize.

[@freakinstien4486]

The transitions between each member in this video was perfection

[@slehbencheikh2950]

"somewhere between sailor moon and buffy" that's just genius