On October 11, Jennie unveiled her latest single “Mantra,”delivering an empowering message that encourages listeners to “Love yourself as you are.”Her aim with this catchy track is to uplift and energize her audience.
While the song features an infectious melody and a direct approach, Jennie brings a distinct flair by combining both singing and rap elements. Nevertheless, the track has sparked a range of reactions, with some critics highlighting its overly sensual visuals and polarizing musical style among fans.
Lackluster Lyrics
The review platform The Bias List assigned “Mantra”a modest rating of 4.75 out of 10. They observed that Jennie’s solo work is limited in both amount and artistic merit. They raised a compelling question, asking, “Has any K-pop act achieved the same level of success as BLACKPINK while primarily addressing such superficial topics in their music?”
Describing “Mantra,”Jennie states that it is “a vibrant and uplifting anthem that celebrates female empowerment and encourages women to exude confidence.”
However, similar to Lisa’s “Rockstar,””Mantra”has been critiqued for its lack of depth, focusing primarily on themes of beauty, lavish celebrations, and the artist’s glamorous lifestyle. Lyrics such as “This is a mantra for beautiful girls, bragging like this while just landing in L.A.”and “Beautiful girls in fancy cars, we know how to look out for each other, so no one gets lost”recur throughout the song.
Contentious Visuals
The music video for “Mantra”opens with a scene reminiscent of the 1998 film Rush Hour, showcasing a child singing along before transitioning to Jennie emerging from a vintage car to deliver her choreography.
The focus of the video is on sensuality, with Jennie’s performance highlighting her allure through striking outfits and captivating dance moves. With her blonde locks and bold wardrobe choices, she emphasizes her sexiness via suggestive choreography. Although this isn’t her first foray into a sultry image, this particular rendition is notably more daring.
However, her provocative visuals have ignited considerable debate. A discussion thread centered on Jennie’s revealing outfit included diverse opinions, with some viewers voicing their discontent with her fashion choices.
Some comments noted, “This isn’t new; she has always preferred this style,”while others remarked, “This might be trendy abroad, but it comes off as cheap and tacky.”Another viewer expressed concern, stating, “Jennie promotes the notion that beautiful women prioritize self-care, but her current image appears to contradict that message.”
Chart Success
Despite the controversies that surrounded its release, Jennie’s “Mantra”has achieved notable commercial success. The Korea Times reports that the single topped iTunes charts across 47 countries, including the United States. Additionally, the “Mantra”music video has gained significant popularity on YouTube, ranking among the top trending videos in both Korea and the U.S. Furthermore, on Melon, South Korea’s leading music streaming service, the song was listed at 15th as of 7 PM on October 12 (local time).
By the afternoon of October 12, “Mantra”reached a peak position of 2nd on Bugs and 10th on Genie on local streaming platforms. As Jennie continues to promote the track on various music shows, its rankings are expected to improve further.
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