First we have Square One aka the beginning or first step. Blackpink's pre-debut teasers offer something different from what YG is known for. Something softer, cuter, more innocent.
And thus you have this expectation of something softer, this perception of Pink only to peel back the layer slightly and there's Black underneath. The Black in Blackpink’s loosely used "Black" and "Pink" concept is introduced through the confident, introductory dual tracks Whistle and Boombayah.
Beneath the Pink, there is Black
Enter Step Two: Square Two. Having been introduced to Blackpink through their tough, Black titles, Blackpink AGAIN breaks perception and expectations by releasing the softer, more vulnerable titles of Playing With Fire and Stay.
Beneath the Black, there is Pink.
Of the trilogy, I'd say Square Up's concept and meaning is definitely the most overlooked. While Square Up can be interpreted as simple fighting words, and the confrontational nature of Ddu-Du Ddu-Du lends to that, the album art and the album composition point to it meaning more than that. We've been given Black (Square One). We've been given Pink (Square Two). And now we're getting Depth. The album art abandons the slowly unveiled squares and instead depicts a cube. The Square has gone Up a dimension and Blackpink, for their first EP, offers a look into the complexity of group as Black, Pink, Black and Pink, and also none of the above while chiding the listener for their expectations. Each song represents one of the above in some way.
Ddu-Du Ddu-Du: While incorrectly considered by many to be Blackpink's "decline into I'm Pretty and Rich'" songs, D4 arguably offers the best introduction into Blackpink as a group and while also the title, the best choice as the first song of Square Up. They define themselves as indifferent to expectations and capable of presenting themselves however they want as it suits them, sometimes deceivingly.
Forever Young: While D4 offered the complexity of Blackpink, Forever Young juxtaposes it by instead showing the desire to be simply young, dumb, in love and carefree
Really: Blackpink fronts bravado while seeking reassurance from men that they know don't really deserve them
See U Later: Blackpink shows themselves to know their worth and able to turn away from toxic relationships without a 2nd thought
Square Up is probably the most thematically incohesive work in Blackpink's discography as each song outright contradicts another. It doesn't offer one solid view of Blackpink.
And in that way, I think it's their best representative work.
BlinkTaglist
