i-dle are one of those K-pop groups that actively reach out to global audiences and try to incorporate cultural touchstones they may not always be well-versed in. This has led to valid criticism in the past, though their music has leaned in a more generic direction the last few years. With new digital single Mono, they attempt an uplifting rallying cry in the vein of songs like Lady Gaga’s Born This Way or the Black Eyed Peas’ Where Is The Love (one of those songs being leagues better than the other, of course!). However, once again things land in a different way than intended… at least for fussy listeners like me.
I try very hard not to be political on this blog because The Bias List is meant to be an oasis from politics and my readers generally hate whenever I bring it up. And, one of the reasons I enjoy writing about K-pop as an English-language speaker is that I can choose to ignore the lyrics and focus solely on the music. That, of course, gets tricky when a song is recorded in English and pitched toward a global audience. That gets even trickier with a chorus like Mono’s. First, I want to acknowledge that the intent behind this song is laudable. Promoting peace and unity is always welcome and featuring non-binary rapper skaiwater adds credence to the song’s inclusive vibe. However, given the current climate in my home country I struggle with the “You’re from the right or from the left” lyric that kicks off each chorus. Presumably, this lyric attempts a double meaning: the left and right channels of a speaker and the left and right parties that exist in many political systems.
To give context to my reaction, the United States is currently under siege by “the right,” up to and including innocent people being shot and killed on the streets. So no, I don’t want to “play the whole world in mono” with “the right” at this moment in history. As far as I’m concerned, the right needs to look hard at themselves and decide if they truly want to stand for blatant cruelty and authoritarianism. Those still supporting current right wing policy are not “the same” as me. Maybe we were once the same, and hopefully we can be once again. But at this point in time, that feels like a naive idea to be bopping around to with a pop song.
I guess a more critical message wouldn’t sound as nice over the ultra-sanitized dancefloor production on Mono. So, what we’re left with is well-intentioned platitudes that come across as patronizing. To be clear, I don’t want to denigrate i-dle’s stance itself. In general, I believe that extending an olive branch is always the best approach, but when one side is offering a branch that has been sharpened into a weapon it would be foolish to assume you won’t be stabbed. I guess I’m simply tired of hearing how both sides of a system need to work toward unity when one side bears all the power and actively uses it to squash the other. I would love a civil discussion about the benefits of working together in spite of our differences. That discussion only ever seems to spawn from one side of the aisle.
For those who believe I’ve completely misread the intention of Mono by bringing politics into the equation, I’ll simply say that each of us brings context to any piece of art we experience. Of course, i-dle are not from America and have no obligation to represent that audience. They are not burdened by the assumption that any English-language material will or should be aimed at just one of the many English-speaking regions in the world. But, when you release a globally-minded song like this you do so understanding that the music will be seen through a variety of diverse lenses. As always, I can only speak to how I receive a song, knowing full well that my takeaways may not match others’ perception or experience.
Mono may inspire someone somewhere to make a powerful and positive change and I love it for that. But even taking personal thoughts out of the equation, I struggle to understand the core message we’re being asked to contend with. “Mono” is confusing symbolism given the song’s plea for the embrace of diversity. In audio terms, mono results in a central, focused sound. In visual terms, it’s kind of like “2D” to stereo’s “3D.” It seems like a track with Mono’s theme would urge listeners to “play the whole world in stereo” instead. I think the lyrics are trying to say that, despite differences of opinion, culture and sexuality, we all have a common thread of humanity that links us together and that connection can be harnessed with something as universal as music. But then, the song encourages listeners to dance to their “real vibe,” highlighting their uniqueness and loving themselves. It’s all a bit clunky and vague. Maybe the core message is simply: “whatever your demographic may be, please stream this song!”
I’m sure a number of you are screaming at this review and wishing I’d stop over-analyzing what’s meant to be a simple, good-natured pop song. And this, readers, is why I choose not to write about English-language pop music. I’d be insufferable! (even more so than usual) Simply as a piece of music, I find Mono fashionable but quite dull and flat. It’s certainly catchy, though the lyrics muddy the overall effect of the melody. Regardless, the rating below does not take into account those lyrics and I promise I won’t be framing my reviews this way on a regular basis.
Hooks
7
Production
8
Longevity
8
Bias
7
RATING
7.5