(G)I-dle is not your average K-pop girl group. Originally debuting in 2018 as a sextet, the self-producing group of five comprises members Minnie, Miyeon, Shuhua, Yuqi and their leader Soyeon. Queens of concepts and symbolism, (G)I-dle is directly involved in the creative processes of their music, with a “producer line” of Yuqi, Minnie, and Soyeon, who is the group’s primary songwriter and producer. Dip your toes into their groundbreaking discography with a sensorial feast of some of their most iconic title tracks and music videos.
Nxde (2022)
As visually captivating as the group’s music videos are, their true super power lies in strong concepts and even more powerful messaging. The Nxde music video is a cinematic masterpiece filled with cultural references that bolster the song’s unflinching commentary. The film begins with a graphic introducing its audience to a sensual spectacle of “ladies and lusty legends” before launching into Soyeon’s confrontational opening line: “Why do you think that ‘bout nude? ‘Cause your view’s so rude.” Viewers are instead forced to reflect on their understanding of nudity and perceptions of women. As the (G)I-dle girls sing of the enduring mistreatment of women in media, they appear on our screens as big-time movie stars, cabaret performers, art objects up for auction, and Marilyn Monroe, who is one of the biggest inspirations behind the group’s “I Love” EP. The Nxde wardrobe is cleverly curated too, filled with Chanel-inspired tweed sets, Mugler, and Jean Paul Gaultier—brands synonymous with female empowerment.
Oh My God (2020)
Exploring complex notions of love, temptation, and trust, Oh My God is an enchanting trap-infused pop masterpiece both sonically and visually. The unconventional title track features the members’ sultry vocals backgrounded with breathy whispers and eerie church bells, their voices climbing with burning passion before finally giving in to desire. The music video dives headfirst into themes of sin and purity, offering hauntingly beautiful scenes representative of love in its various forms.
Tomboy (2022)
In 2022, Y2K took the K-pop world by storm. From the abundance of low-rise denim, leg warmers and butterfly clips, to the music videos filled with clips reminiscent of early 2000’s teenage rom-coms, K-pop groups embraced the era in all its nostalgic glory. (G)I-dle was no exception. The unmistakably pop-punk Tomboy threw it back to the Avril Lavigne days of blaring electric guitar riffs, addictive drum beats and unapologetic sass. Eyes smoked to perfection and clad in a range of edgy red, pink and black ensembles, the five members scoff at the idea of fitting into the mould of a “blonde Barbie doll”, asserting instead that they’d much rather be themselves, regardless of love or what anyone else thinks.
Hwaa (2021)
Hwaa is a double entendre for ‘fire’ and ‘flower’, which share the same pronunciation in Korean. The song sends a message of strength and resilience, making figurative use of nature and the seasons to convey the emotional journey of heartbreak. Consumed by the desensitising cold of winter yet determined to melt it all away, let go of the pain and reach spring, the members of (G)I-dle croon with powerful resolve: “Get up, build a fire that is gonna dry the tears I’ve cried”. Traditional Korean instrumentals woven between moombahton beats lend the song a delicate, ethereal quality, one that the video accentuates with poetic sets, graceful choreography, and a trio of impactful looks: glamorous florals to symbolise spring, fiery red dresses of determination, and wistful white gowns paired with face chains.
Queencard (2023)
Returning once more to the magic of the 2000’s, (G)I-dle gave us a whole teenage coming-of-age chick-flick in three and a half minutes with Queencard. The song is the perfect ‘hot girl summer’ anthem, perpetuating a message of confidence, self-acceptance, and self-love. Despite the enduring importance of the song’s overarching theme, Queencard doesn’t take itself too seriously. Rocking a full wardrobe of enviable Y2K outfits courtesy of brands like Blumarine, Jaded London, Alessandra Rich and Diesel, the girls belt out lines like “My boob and booty’s hot”, unapologetically praising themselves before extending the flattery to everyone else. The video begins with Soyeon’s character heading into an operating room to undergo plastic surgery, but after persistent repetitions of “I’m a queencard” and partying the night away, she comes out victorious— untouched and at peace with herself.
Wife (2024)
(G)I-dle always keeps us on our toes. After continuing a streak of highly produced music videos, they took the K-pop world by surprise when they dropped this. Controversial for its seemingly nonsensical lyrics, Wife becomes incredibly straightforward when assessed alongside its music video. Against the backdrop of, well, nothing, the members are almost indiscernible in identical wigs and plain monochrome outfits typically unseen in K-pop. A little unserious, a little bit silly, it appears to comment on the social expectations of women that often expect them to diminish their individualities when becoming wives or mothers, which falls in line with the song’s cheeky pop mockery of the ideal wife who cooks, cleans, and satisfies (ahem, ahem). As the video plays on, we also slowly begin to realise that part of our growing discomfort comes from a surprising lack of lip syncing. Instead, the girls pull facial expressions and execute simple choreography, finally breaking their silence when they declare that, actually, they “don’t wanna wife, wife, wife”!
Lion (2019)
Undoubtedly one of the songs that cemented (G)I-dle’s reputation as a fearlessly empowered group of confident women is Lion, which was released just as the group started garnering more international attention. The commanding message behind the song is straightforward enough, with the members likening themselves to the Kings of the Jungle as they lead a fierce pack of dancers or dramatically ascend the steps of a grand palace in regal red gowns embellished with gold.
