So its obvious by now that i’m a sucker for story telling, and honestly i need to explain how this video-lyrical connection really is a step above the rest from what I’ve seen.
Cool With You lyrically tells the story from the point of view of somebody falling in love with a person they know will not be theirs for long.
The lyrics explain this in a pretty straight-forward fashion.
The opening line “You know me like no other, even if I don’t way anything. See me like no other, and I think I like your point of view.” Shows the interaction of somebody who you idolize legitimatizing your feelings. I prefer the version of me that you see. This already shows the toxicity of where this love is coming from, being a bit more on the side of being reliant.
“You can come back any time, I don’t care what other people say. Please don’t go. Dreaming of each other” leads into “you may be on my mind every day. Baby, say you’re mine.” And a second iteration of this feeling. It shows that you are trying to keep this fleeting love, that seems to already have had a rocky past. This willingness to sacrifice not only your pride, but your image among your loved ones really shows the level of devotion that we’re coming from. “It feels…. Cool with you” explains why you are willing to sacrifice such high stakes. You feel so much better with this person, and the way that the chorus is sang, like a rollercoaster drop into an exciting beat is sort of the musical equivalent to how swept up in the emotion people get.
But love, especially unequal, doesnt last forever.
Verse 2 explains that now the love is ending. Now there’s a problem in the relationship that is causing a rift.
“For real, here, what kind if ending will you choose? Are you trying? Whats best?” Is sang in an upbeat way, but its a very simple breakdown of knowing somebody is falling out of love with you. Why aren’t they trying to be in love with me anymore?
This is followed by “when I’m with you, these words are hard to say and even if I don’t say it, will you cross the distance we’ve created? (Between us)” is now entering the desperation portion of being in love with somebody who doesn’t feel love in return. Now I know I love you as hard as I can, but do you even love me anymore at all? Are you still TRYING to love me?
“You know me like no other, see me like no other” being sang longingly mixed into the final chorus drives the nail into the coffin of this love ending. You’re already gone and now all I’m left with is wishing we were still together because I still love the me that you loved.
The video shows the story of this via Cupid (Hoyeon) falling in love with Psyche (Michal) (side A) and choosing to lose her powers (her self worth) and then Aphrodite (Tony Leung) taking that love away (side b) while NewJeans play the muses throughout the video, telling the story of their love via song.
Honestly the thought process that went into this video AFTER the lyrics were inspired by this greek myth is just so mind-blowing to me and the ability to tell the entire story in 8 minutes so well is the real feat.
Her (mhj) mind