[Re-post from English Tips 4 U on Twitter]
Hello, fellas!
How familiar are you with K-Pop songs? I have noticed a trend where a lot of K-Pop songs are using English titles or a Korean title with a different English title in parenthesis. For example: '서원을 말해봐' or Genie by SNSD (Girls' Generation). The sentence '서원을 말해봐' which means tell me your wish has a different title in English called Genie. K-Pop are trying to expand the market internationally, thus, English song title is effective to garner the attention of overseas people. Most overseas listeners of K-Pop cannot type the Korean alphabet, so with the English title, people can easily find the song and the MV (Music Video). Not only an English title, but some of popular K-Pop songs are using idiomatic expression in English too.
Here are some idiom in K-Pop song titles:
- One of a Kind
Meaning: the only item of a particular type.
(Song by G-Dragon, 2012)
Example: Jinyoung is a leader of popular boy-group who has produced more than 160 songs. He is absolutely one of a kind. - Blood, Sweat, and Tears
Meaning: a lot of efforts and suffering.
(Song by BTS, 2016)
Example: Namjoon produces the song with blood, sweat and tears to make them well-known internationally. - Born with a Silver Spoon
Meaning: to be in a high social class or be rich from birth.
(Inspired from Silver Spoon by BTS, 2015)
Example: Taehyung was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He earned his success through hard-work. - Spine Breaker
Meaning: someone who demands the parents to always buy fancy things so s/he could keep up with expensive trends.
(Song by BTS, 2014)
Example: Jin is such a spine breaker. He wears fancy shoes after begging his mother for buying them for him. - Home Run
Meaning: a highly successful achievement.
(Song by GOT7, 2016)
Example: After starring a drama called Dream High 2, Jaebum and Jinyoung scored a home run and they debuted in a popular boy-group. - Mental Breakdown
Meaning: the state of being overwhelmed by a situation that one's cannot handle.
(Inspired from MTBD by CL, 2014)
Example: Chaelin almost had a mental breakdown because she thought that she had lost the shoes given by Rihanna. - Lion-Hearted
Meaning: exceptionally courageous or brave.
(Inspired from Lion Heart by SNSD, 2015)
Example: Hyoyeon is lion-hearted. She dances with cute concept in a group but she dares to perform a ballroom dance alone. - Play with Fire
Meaning: to do something that could cause a great trouble later.
(Song by BLACKPINK, 2016)
Example: Jennie is playing with fire because she does not wear a helmet while driving the motorcycle. - Play Russian Roulette
Meaning: to take big risks, in a way which is very dangerous.
(Song by Red Velvet, 2016)
Example: Yeri is playing Russian roulette by pursuing her career in the entertainment industry since 12 years old. - Lovey-Dovey
Meaning: to express affection in an extravagantly sentimental way.
(Song by T-Ara, 2011)
Example: there is a lovey-dovey couple at Kirin Art School. They are Jiyeon and Jaebum whom are always holding hands together.
That wraps up our session, fellas! See you on another interesting session.
☺☺☺
