These Iconic K-Pop Lyrics Were Scrapped In Their English Versions & It Makes No Sense
The global spread of K-Pop has resulted in the emergence of a unique phenomenon: the translation and adaptation of Korean lyrics into English for international versions of popular songs. Often, these translations strive to maintain the song’s original meaning and sentiment while making it accessible to a broader audience.
However, there are instances where these English versions undergo significant lyrical alterations, departing from their original counterparts and leaving fans perplexed. Be it a necessary change to complete a rhyme or keep a similar rhythm, sometimes the new lyrics just don’t work out — here are 4 examples.
1. Red Velvet’s “Bad Boy”
Starting off with Red Velvet’s heart-stopping banger, “Bad Boy.” Irene‘s iconic intro of “who that who that who that boy” has always been a perfect kick-start to the song, fitting seamlessly with the group’s powerful persona. Imagine our surprise when the English version scrapped this fiery line for “who that who that who that is.”
Fans still haven’t gotten used to the line change, and we can tell whenever the girl group performs the track overseas as the crowd still loudly sings along to the original line.
220730 MIK Festival 🇬🇧
Who dat who dat who dat is#아이린 #IRENE #MIKFESTIVAL2022 pic.twitter.com/Ap52KxR9y2— мүвαε (@SoloBae91) August 1, 2022
2. NCT U’s “Make a Wish”
Moving on to NCT’s “Make a Wish,” another victim of the dreaded lyric change. We were used to vibing to “I can do this all dayyyyy, 서둘러 hit that line,” which was not only catchy but also encapsulated the song’s carpe diem spirit.
However, in the English version, it became “I can do this all niiiiight, girl you just my type.” It’s not that it’s a bad line, per se; it just doesn’t have that same punch that the original had.
3. TXT’s “Cat & Dog”
Third on our list is TXT’s “Cat & Dog.” The transformation from “Feel like Cinderella 내가 변해” to “I’m the one you can’t keep your, keep your paws off” definitely stripped the song of its fairy tale charm.
The original lyric was a beautiful metaphor that matched the song’s dreamy, ethereal vibe. The English version, while amusing, doesn’t quite capture that same magical essence.
4. NCT 127’s “Highway to Heaven”
Lastly, we have NCT 127’s “Highway to Heaven.” The original lyric “보여줄게 just hold my hand” was a tender invitation that pulled at our heartstrings, perfectly complementing the song’s ethereal and emotive undertones. However, the English version abruptly pivoted from this tender narrative, replacing the sweet sentiment with “Oh, she’s so bad I’ll make it last.”
This unexpected switch not only upended the song’s romantic trajectory but also introduced a tonal dissonance that seemed out of sync with the track’s original charm.
In conclusion, it’s fair to say that while translating lyrics from Korean to English, something often gets lost in the process. We get it, the goal is to appeal to a global audience. However, sometimes these changes can alter the song’s original vibe and meaning. At the end of the day, we love our K-Pop idols and their music, irrespective of the language. So, fans can’t help but wonder: why fix something if it’s not broken?
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