On March 12, Rosé, the main vocalist of K-pop band Blackpink, released her solo debut album “R” along with a music video for the lead single, “On The Ground.”
“On The Ground” is a stark contrast from the flashiness of Blackpink’s group songs, like “Kill This Love” or “How You Like That,” while maintaining the EDM-inspired pop feeling that the quartet is known for. While not as intricate as many expected, Rosé’s incredible vocals and deep lyrics make up for the song’s lack of complexity. Perhaps most strikingly, the song is released in English, not Korean.
To contrast the lighthearted and upbeat track, Rosé shares emotional lyrics that describe her journey to become the world-famous idol she is today in “On The Ground.” In the chorus, she sings, “I worked my whole life just to get high / Just to realise that everything I need is on the ground.” Even though this lyric could reflect on the unique and intense journey of training to be an idol in the Korean music industry, the message is universal in that any material rewards of success fall short compared to ordinary things like friends and family, happiness, and health.
Personally, although I enjoyed listening to the song, I find it very basic. Although Rosé’s voice shines throughout the song, especially given the minimal use of instrumentals, the simplicity of the song is the main highlight for me. Even though electronic music is my favorite genre, there’s nothing about “On The Ground” that especially stands out. Overall, I would give it 4 stars out of 5.