By Rachael Lovette
After weeks of anticipation by Blinks and Selenators, the two worlds collided August 28th, the result - Ice Cream. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, South Korean girl group BLACKPINK released their latest song, Ice Cream, featuring Selena Gomez.
The Song
This song is anything but typical both in theory and in concept. Set to a nursery rhyme melody, Ice Cream follows verse, chorus, and post-chorus pattern, which is pretty rare in K-Pop songs. It’s much more light-hearted than BLACKPINK’s usual repertoire of hip-hop influenced hits but doesn’t fail to be sultry AF.
After Selena starts the song off, you are treated to Lisa busting out a rap verse – her specialty. This was surprising to me because rap verses usually don’t occur until the midway or endpoint of K-Pop songs, but I’m not complaining. Lisa then goes on to rap in between Jisoo, Jennie, and Rose’s verses, so it’s a much-welcomed update to what I’ve been accustomed to.
My favorite lyrics:
“Snowcone chilly
Get it free like Willy (Oh)
In the jeans like Billie
You be poppin' like a wheelie”
The Music Video
Who doesn’t love a candy-colored, confection dreamland? Ice Cream hit all the success factors. Insane production value, budget, incredible subjects, beautiful overall aesthetics, and design. Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa, Rose, and Selena served up playful, sultry, energy that you’d almost believe they were all filming it together in the same place. Unfortunately, due to pandemic-related restrictions, it wasn’t, however that didn’t detract from the final result.
The music video felt whimsical and does a fantastic job of not overstimulating you while keeping the perfect balance of intrigued and hypnotized both by the lyrics and visuals. It opens with snippets of the girls prancing around before immediately opening on Selena Gomez in her Ice Cream truck. Correct me if I am wrong, but is that an exterior thigh tattoo peeking out on Selena’s left side?
The song and the music video live up to the hype - with 170M views on YouTube and counting.
BLACKPINK will be releasing their debut studio album on October 2nd - stay tuned!
Rachael Lovette is an accounts executive specializing in no-BS articles for creatives, an advocate for model safety, and a pop culture buff. Check out her Instagram.