K-Song Review: Kiss and Make Up by BLACKPINK and Dua Lipa

Riya Rawat, Noida, Uttar Pradesh

Kiss and Make Up is a song by English singer Dua Lipa and South Korean girl group BLACKPINK. Written by Dua Lipa, it was released on 19 October 2018 through Warner Bros. Records. It was included on the set list of Blackpink’s In Your Area World Tour (2018–2020). The Korean group received worldwide appreciation for their compatibility in both English and Korean lyrics and vocals. The song became an instant hit after its release, charting within the top 40 of 19 countries including topping the charts in Malaysia and Singapore. Also, it reached number 36 on the UK Singles Chart and number 75 on South Korea’s Gaon Digital Chart. 

Overall Theme

The song amplifies the story of a girl who is so in love with a boy that after all the mistakes that he makes, she wants to forgive him and move on. The girl, depicted by BLACKPINK members appears to be a frustrated, and conqueror of one-sided love. The song also talks about the lover girl and how she will fight against the world for her lover despite their differences. The music video kicks off with some serious uplifting beats, one where one just wants to dance while listening to it. The opening verse is sung by Dua Lipa with fierce vocals. Lipa through her lyrics sounds sad and frustrated, complaining about how she hasn’t had the chance to talk with her beloved lover boy and how that makes her depressed. She tells the world how she is in panic mode because she is losing control over her lover. She keeps repeating the same things, but her lover doesn’t give her any attention that she seeks. However, the song lyrics denote that even after such differences the girl is optimistic about the love, that one day she will receive it back and that it’s too precious to let go.

Pre-chorus is sung by BLACKPINK’s ROSÉ and Dua Lipa. Together they have such magical synchronisation with the vocals and lyrics. The pre-chorus gives out the message of how the lover girl thinks that the boy is about to break up and she wants to use this as an opportunity to kiss and make up one last time. It depicts that the girl knows that a breakup will happen, but she wants to stop it from happening through physical attraction rather than solving the differences. The chorus similarly amplifies the message that the girl wants to save the relationship with her lover through physical attraction rather than bridging the communication gap between them. Verse two is sung by JENNIE and JISOO in Korean. They both claim how after all the conflicts the lover is still with them, not leaving. They are sure that a breakup will happen between them one day and delaying it won’t make things better. While LISA so magically sings along with the other members throughout the chorus part.

Why You Should Listen to This Song

Kiss and Make Up is a song that can uplift anybody’s mood within seconds with its beautiful rhythmic beats. Even those who won’t connect with the song through its lyrics would definitely add this song to their playlists because of the electropop and EDM elements in it and those who are suffering through similar situations, will definitely see a flashback of their lovers while listening to this song.

Overall Verdict

Although there is no official music video of this song, there are quite a number of versions released by Dua Lipa’s and BLACKPINK’s labels. The Korean girl group and American singer have performed live in concerts worldwide wherein they also mix some gorgeous and crisp dance-pop choreography. With the Korean wave reaching Western countries, an adaption from Korean lyrics to English lyrics has opened a world full of opportunities for Korean artists such as BLACKPINK. Now I can really sing, not hum the tunes, a Korean artist’s song without any difficulties or learning a new language altogether!

You can listen to the song here:

Did you hear the song yet? How was it? Tell us about your past experiences with situations like this! Let us know all about it in the comment section below!