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The members of BLACKPINK are enjoying their solo careers. Recently, with the single "APT.", Rosé brought a fresh and rare energy to her repertoire. Through solo songs like "On The Ground" and "Gone," Rosé is known for her feminine, gentle energy, along with her high and clear voice.
The surprise lies in this single, where the repetitive melody in the chorus "APT." recreates the joyful feeling of simple games played at a "drinking table," showcasing a playful and natural version of Rosé. The two global vocalists, Rosé and Bruno Mars, have an interesting vocal harmony, along with the lively main horn and drum sounds, thus depicting the atmosphere of summer fun, even though we are already in mid-October.
Rosé and Bruno Mars not only introduced a great song to the world but also offered an interesting perspective on Korean culture.
In English, APT stands for "apartment," a familiar word in modern life. Interestingly, APT is also a shortened version of "apateu" in Korean – a word with a similar meaning to "apartment" in English. Furthermore, "apateu" (아파트) is the name of a popular drinking game in Korea, adding a cultural element to Black Pink's song.
“APT.” is a clever wordplay with two incredibly interesting layers of meaning. The first layer talks about love, where a couple exchanges words of affection and dates at an apartment. But it doesn't just stop at romance; the song also has another layer of meaning revolving around a game!
Fresh, modern music that suits current tastes serves as a stepping stone to the success of this collaboration.
Right from the start with ROSÉ's lines "Random game" and "Game start," the song hints at something more than just dating; it also suggests they're inviting each other to play the super popular Korean game "apateu."
A drinking game among young Koreans.
According to Korea Boo, drinking culture is very prevalent in South Korea, especially among office workers. Gatherings with friends or company parties are never without alcoholic beverages. South Korea mandates that only adults are allowed to drink alcohol. Therefore, many people say their biggest wish upon reaching adulthood (20 years old in Korea) is to drink. For Koreans, drinking is not just about getting drunk; it's also an interesting cultural experience.
Korean drinking culture is well-known, from movies to music.
There's a famous saying in Korea: "When you drink with many people, your sadness and worries are transformed into happiness and joy." In the past, people usually gathered and drank alcohol on special occasions like holidays, but nowadays, Koreans drink at any event, on any day. The goal of these drinking parties is to build and foster good relationships, as well as to confide in and share feelings with each other.
The "Apartment game" is one of the activities that brings people together at parties. Through her management company, The Black Label, Rosé shared the meaning behind the song and her personal connection to the game: "'APT.' is actually my favorite drinking game that I often play with friends at home. It's simple, always brings smiles, and helps break the ice at any party."
She weaves together two layers of meaning to simultaneously connect with the international market she's targeting, while also pleasing the South Korean audience – a country with a high degree of ethnocentrism.
“One night in the studio, I taught my group how to play this game. Everyone loved it. Then I said we should turn it into a song… and when Bruno joined in, the rest was amazing!” Before the song was released, Rosé also shared videos on Instagram, showing her and Mars playing Apartment and teaching the male singer Korean, introducing Korean drinking culture to a global audience.
In the game "Apartment," players stack their hands on top of each other, and the game host calls out a number. Players then take turns removing their hands, starting from the bottom. If someone removes their hand and lands on the number called out by the host, or repeats a number that was called out, they must drink alcohol as a penalty.
A stepping stone to success in Rosé's next musical journey.
With "APT.", Rosé not only introduced a new song but also opened the door to exploring an interesting aspect of Korean youth culture. It can be said that Rosé skillfully incorporated cultural elements into her music. Choosing "Apartment Game" as the theme for a solo song not only showcased unique creativity but also helped Rosé connect more closely with her audience, especially those who love Korean culture. The images of friends gathering, the infectious laughter, and the lively atmosphere of the game were vividly recreated by Rosé through the melody and lyrics of "APT.".
“APT.” marks the K-pop star’s first release since she unveiled her 12-track album titled “rosie,” scheduled for release this December. It also marks Mars’ first debut since collaborating with Lady Gaga on the summer hit “Die With a Smile,” which peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Billboard Global 200 for seven weeks.
