Monster by Red Velvet – IRENE & SEULGI Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Shadow in Harmony
Lyrics
평범치 않아
One, two, five to seven
난 어둠 속의 dancer
온몸 뚝뚝 꺾어
침대 가까이 갈게
무시무시하게
네 심장을 훔쳐 지배해
하나의 조명 왜 그림자는 둘이야?
내 속에 다른 게 눈을 뜬 것 같아
I’m a little monster 날 겁내
널 괴롭혀 내 꿈만 꾸게 해
난 춤 추고 놀래 가위눌린 너의
그 몸 위에 주문을 걸면
I’m a little monster
I’m a little monster
차가운 땅
잿더미에서 일어났어
황혼에서 새벽
난 여전히 존재해
이 광기가 싫지 않아
즐기고 있는 걸
넌 벗어날 수 없어
도망가지를 마 다쳐
너를 구원하고 도로 약 올리고
Oh 난 완벽하고 다시 엉망인 걸
I’m a little monster 날 겁내
널 괴롭혀 내 꿈만 꾸게 해
난 춤 추고 놀래 가위눌린 너의
그 몸 위에 주문을 걸면
I’m a little monster
I’m a little monster
봐 난 그냥 놀고 있어
나쁜 의도 없어
작지만 위험한 날
누가 거부하겠어
빨간 동이 틀 시간이야
이제 안심한 넌
꿈에서 나오려 해
But monster lives forever
I’m a little monster 날 겁내 (oh oh oh)
널 괴롭혀 내 꿈만 꾸게 해 (oh oh oh)
난 춤 추고 놀래 가위눌린 너의
그 몸 위에 주문을 걸면
I’m a little monster
I’m a little monster
I’m a little monster
Beneath the layers of pulsating beats and harmonious melodies lies a tale spun with threads pulled from the darker corners of our minds. Red Velvet’s subunit IRENE & SEULGI, known for their vibrant visuals and impeccable vocals, navigate a compelling narrative in their haunting track ‘Monster’—a song that delves into the duality of the self and the recognition of one’s inner demons.
In a dance with the metaphorical and literal, ‘Monster’ orchestrates an eerie yet captivating exploration of the many facets within us. As listeners, we are invited into a realm where the night embraces shadows cast by a lone light—twisted, multifaceted, and inescapably alluring.
Dancing with Darkness: A Sinuous Symphony
The track’s hypnotic opener, ‘내 움직임은 특이해 평범치 않아’ (‘My movements are unique, not ordinary’), sets the tone for a journey unlike any other. IRENE & SEULGI personify a creature that moves with rhythmical, almost unnatural precision—a visual metamorphosis channeled through dance. The nonconformity in their motion mirrors the enigmatic nature of their inner ‘monster,’ challenging the listener’s perceptions of normativity in self-expression.
‘난 어둠 속의 dancer’, they admit, owning their identity as a dancer in the shadows. The nocturnal setting of their performance space hints at the unseen and the mysterious, a place where the real and the fantastical dance on the knife’s edge of reality.
The Haunting Duality: Unveiling the Shadow Self
‘하나의 조명 왜 그림자는 둘이야?’ (‘Why does a single light cast two shadows?’) raises a chilling question that ripples through the song. IRENE & SEULGI confront the existence of an ‘other’ within, a twin presence awakened within the caverns of their psyche. This line reflects the universal human experience of grappling with the multifaceted nature of our identities, where the darkness within is just as much a part of us as the light.
The portrayal of this duality, a construct closely associated with the likes of Jungian archetypes, elevates ‘Monster’ from a simple pop song to a philosophical canvas, painting the complexities of the human condition with a pop culture brush.
A Powerful Spell: Charm and Control
As the chorus descends, ‘I’m a little monster 날 겁내’ (‘I’m a little monster, be afraid’), the song weaves a narrative of enchantment and dominance. The ‘monster’ they embody isn’t just content to lurk; it wants to haunt, to commandeer the dreams and consciousness of its object, casting a ‘spell’ upon their very form.
‘I’m a little monster’ is both an admission and a warning—acknowledging the destructive potential that exists in bitesize form. Despite the whimsical admission of their size, the recurring line insists on a menacing presence, powerful enough to leave an ineradicable mark on the listener’s imagination.
Twilight Resurrection: Rising from Ash
정처 없이 조용히 몰래 다가가 깊숙이 네게 빠져들지 (I sneak up on you silently, deeply falling into you). Monster continues its sonic storytelling with ‘차가운 땅 잿더미에서 일어났어’ (‘I rose from cold ground, from ashes’), the imagery of rebirth is as potent as it is intriguing. The lyric situates the monster’s origin within the cycle of destruction and rebirth, suggesting a timeless existence.
It’s in the space between dusk and dawn that IRENE & SEULGI’s monster claims its immortality, existing in perpetual twilight—a metaphor for the fluid, ever-changing nature of our internal struggles and the persistent existence of our inner monsters.
Our Nighttime Terrors: The Everlasting Dream
The song carries us into its climax as the ‘monster’ contemplates its own reality, ‘봐 난 그냥 놀고 있어 나쁜 의도 없어’ (‘Look, I’m just playing, no bad intentions’), acknowledging its mischievous nature without malice. The playfulness in their tone underscores a disarming realization; our demons are not always malevolent—they can be guides, teachers, or simply parts of ourselves that we must learn to dance with.
As the daylight closes in and dreams begin to wake, ‘But monster lives forever’—a profound reminder that the creatures we’ve danced with through the night don’t simply vanish at dawn. Instead, they live on within us, forever part of the intricate choreography of our being.
