After the K-POP megastar girl group BLACKPINK set of to their adventure out of YG Entertainment to explore their solo career paths while still being a group under YG Entertainment, the world has witness the girls’ music taste which is quite different from the music which they released from 2016-2023 as BLACKPINK.
On September 30th, Jennie officially announced her new single song’s name (Mantra) and release date (October 11, 2024) with a flirty teaser video of the song showcasing a snippet of Jennie having fun with the girls. The song upon release received 14.4 Million views within 24 hours and trended #1 worldwide with 1.76 Million likes making “MANTRA” the most viewed MV by a Koreon soloist within that time frame in 2024.
Another remarkable point to note about “MANTRA” is that it was released on the same day as the International Girls’ Day (October 11) which makes the song fill its concept of being
Another remarkable point to note about “MANTRA” is that it was released on the same day as the International Girls’ Day (October 11) which makes the song fill its concept of being sassy, confident and unapologetically bold. "MANTRA" speaks to self-love and empowerment, embodying the ethos of a "pretty girl" who isn't afraid to flaunt her worth or set her own terms.
Amid the hype and excitement, the title of the song was not as well received as the song by a section of netizens who have accused Jennie of cultural appropriation as “Mantra” is a Sanskrit term. The netizens express disappointment as the term derived from sanskrit has a deeper meaning and has respectable values in the Hindu culture.
One person commented “BP Jennie used the “mantra” title for her song with this type of lyrics..she is basically insulting hindu and Buddhist…and it’s impossible she doesn’t know what “mantra” means?”- (@JUNG_Rihope_RD7) on October 2, 2024 and another said, “The word “mantra” has literally nothing to do with the lyrics she wrote and it is disrespectful….It’s a Sanskrit word which is related to Hindus….You’ve disrespected our Lord Ganesha before and now this?? Who do you think you actually are????” (@Kimjiinu) on October 1, 2024. However, Jennie’s fans came out in her support and commented, “yk what's funny, Jennie probably saw that culture appropriation tweet about her using the word 'mantra' and decided to put a billboard right in the capital of India, like that's IT GIRL behavior” Due to this ongoing controversy, BLACKPINK’s past controversy around “HOW YOU LIKE THAT” music video resurfaced. It was released in 2020 and the viewers noticed the idol of the Hindu God Ganesha on the floor and a member of the group, Lisa, was rapping sitting on a throne. After being accused of insulting the religion, the music video was edited and the idol was removed. In light of the recent controversy, the owner of the song, Jennie has yet to release an official statement regarding “MANTRA.” Fans are divided, with some urging her to address the concerns raised, while others emphasize the importance of artistic expression. As discussions continue, the impact of cultural sensitivity in the global music industry remains a hot topic.
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