Dal Shabet again forced to change "Be Ambitious"

[nudecolors.livejournal.com]

Dal Shabet, who created a buzz with their “Marilyn Monroe” move in the “Look At My Legs” choreography, will be modifying the dance for performances on the networks KBS, SBS, and MBC.

Dal Shabet decided to follow the request of the KBS’ “Music Bank” production team and audience, and revise the dance for “Look At My Legs.” A source from Dal Shabet’s agency stated that the group was looking to give a change to the choreography and performance of the song anyway, so along with this input, they decided to modify the dance, as well as the outfit.

The “Marilyn Monroe” choreography point seems to be the move in question for the song, as the members pull open the top skirt layer of their outfit to reveal shorts underneath. It’s been called the “Marilyn Monroe” dance due to its inspiration from the famous scene from the movie “The Seven Year Itch” in which Marilyn Monroe’s skirt is blown upwards from the wind from a passing subway train.

Dal Shabet will perform the modified choreography for MBC’s “Music Core” and SBS’ “Inkigayo,” but will continue to show the “Marilyn Monroe” dance on cable channel music shows.

source: soompi

Comments

[sakura-holic.livejournal.com]

Some people think this song supports rape culture and all..... Could somebody tell me whether the lyrics in this song are bad or not cause I have read the lyrics and I am still confused as to what they are implying or what the song means??

[raphiael]

The viewpoint is that the song is saying the girls are showing their legs and bodies because they want to be paid attention to and have advances made on them.

"You always only hold my hand and let go, is that enough for you?
You don’t even kiss me, when are you gonna make a move?
....
Are you really a guy? Or are you just shy?
Look at my legs, they’re pretty, I wore a short skirt
Look as if you’re interested"

basically I dressed sexy, I have nice legs, a REAL man would do something about it, and a lot of people feel that this supports the notion that women who wear short skirts or other "provocative" clothing are in fact "asking for" such things.

not sure how I feel about it but that's what I've seen.

[sakura-holic.livejournal.com]

I see....
Even I don't know what to feel about this. Because if your going to get a person to notice you might as well go the normal way and get to know them and interact with them. I have never liked the idea of dressing up sexy just to attract a man but thats my opinion.
Thank you for the explanation :)

[cairistiona.livejournal.com]

The song is meant to be about a girl with her already-boyfriend so it's not about getting a new guy to notice her but the one she already has, which might make it a little better?

[sakura-holic.livejournal.com]

Oh so they are not talking about doing it for a random person!? I see.
Thank you too :)

[hushmydarling.livejournal.com]

tbh the intended meaning is to be confident in your body (and use it if you've got it).

I'd like to think its the opposite of rape culture - the thought that if you dress like that you deserve to get raped - because they're promoting being able to dress like that... but they kind of lost it by implying you should do it for men's attention.

SK's culture is very finding-a-mate based, so it's understandable that one of the most popular ways of implying using your body would be for finding that "good" partner. Not that I'm saying it's right, though.

[sakura-holic.livejournal.com]

Even I didn't like it that they implied that women should be sexy for a man. I mean Sexy is more about attitude than what you wear.
But could this count as objectification of women??

[hushmydarling.livejournal.com]

It is objectification of women, unfortunately. I love Dal Shabet, and sometimes people just have to understand that SK culture is really behind in terms of gender equality, but just like blackface and whatnot, we have to hold them accountable as they're holding back that equality viewpoint from the next generation. Gender inequality is a really interesting topic in SK because they really respect women there, but the respect is just in the wrong way. Respect your mothers and grandmothers because they raise your children for you, etc. etc. they're going to be by your side no matter what even if you cheat, etc. etc. Dramas are really good for seeing just how... different their viewpoint is (You're the Best, Lee Soon Shin is REALLY good because a lot of the younger characters AND the mom try to change their viewpoints throughout the drama and encounter resistance).

Girl's Day kind of made the same mistake with Female President (and again, a group I really like, ugh), but at least they focused on the attitude in the lyrics rather than the clothes and body.

[sakura-holic.livejournal.com]

Oh I understand now.
Thank you for the explanation and the Drama recommendation :)
I was wondering whether I shoud watch Your the Best, Lee Soon Shim or not..
( Going to go watch it now )

[opd-songbird.livejournal.com]

thank you for contributing to this topic in such a good manner!
omona needs more comments like this!

[hushmydarling.livejournal.com]

why thank you!

[10135.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Female President is a much better song than Be Ambitious, imo. The lyrics speak to me better, I guess. Maybe because of how it progresses? It's like, why do I feel like a baby? I shouldn't feel like this. Females should do things first too! Haha.

[cairistiona.livejournal.com]

A popular viewpoint I've seen recently is the song is actually satire for the view women should dress like that for men (saying how ridiculous it is), but I think it may just be a hopeful and fanciful idea...

[hushmydarling.livejournal.com]

As much as I wished that was the truth (I love Dal Shabet, they're my biggest guilty pleasure in kpop I think), it's more likely they're just ignorant and don't understand why it's bad. ):

[cairistiona.livejournal.com]

I wish it were true as well, that would make a fantastic message in pop. It would actually kind of be empowering because it would be all "look at what these guys think we need to do to get their attention but we don't need it". But sadly I think it may be a while before we get something like that. And you may be right and they just didn't understand.

And they're my #2 girl group, don't worry about them being a guilty pleasure! They're almost perfect.

[illustratedd.livejournal.com]

what do you mean 'almost perfect'?! you wanna tussle?!

(cute icon btw)

[cairistiona.livejournal.com]

They don't have Sojin in their group so they're only 99.9% perfect. :P

Thanks! I love her. <3

[pikapika217.livejournal.com]

for me the most important part about the context of this song was that they were singing/performing it to their boyfriends instead of just taking anyone that will have them as I think there's a world a difference between saying 'I'm sexy, notice & have sex with me' in a general way vs. saying to someone that they are already have committed themselves to. This is them saying 'I like you and I want to take our relationship to the next level - HINT HINT HINT'

[10135.livejournal.com]

Lyrics wise (I found these at kpoplyrics.net so if they are wrong, my apologies): "Are you really a guy?" implying that the person is not who they identify as they are because they don't want to do a certain thing. "You're making a girl say this first" Implying that it's awkward if a woman initiates it first. "(...)Stop saving it" Pressuring someone to do the act. "You can have all of my heart" this right here just rang a bell at me because it's as if the relationship or love is not fully there just because of the fact that something isn't initiated. "At this rate, a different guy might steal me" lol what? I just don't even know. Possession? Women are not toys... I just... yeah this lyric. "I'm starting to doubt you" as what? as a human? Idek with this lyric either.

There are plenty of the lyrics that are problematic. Looking at what others have commented is important too!

raphiael mentions the short skirts/pants. The fact that wearing such a thing in itself would mean that they are trying to be sexy or inviting is a problem itself.

Though someone did mention that it was their boyfriends in the video, not a random person, trying to make it better, it really isn't. It just limits women to feeling sexy or wanting to advance being accepted in only a relationship, which is not so good.

Overall, the message of the song is 'i want to advance to the next level' which is a step up for a womans group I guess? I mean, at least trying? Slowly, slowly getting somewhere? I am way too positive, lol.

[sakura-holic.livejournal.com]

Oh thank you for the explanation :)
It's absolutely okay to be positive.
But it's just that, like you pointed out, I couldn't understand what some of the lyrics where trying to imply. ( But now I have understood them since everyone explained it to me )
There are so many meanings you can derive from the lyrics.
But this song has it's positive and negative sides I guess.

[achan123.livejournal.com]

but they have already performed it so many times...why now? O_o

[feel-my-mind.livejournal.com]

Considering they already performed it, I don't get.

Rather have them change the lyrics. (Even the catchy thing ended up on ipod)

[uguukawaii.livejournal.com]

idgi + i love the old choreo but if they were uncomfortable i guess change it but idk i dont like the idea of making stuff more pure ever rly lol

[cairistiona.livejournal.com]

I love the dance, I do it all the time with an imaginary openable-skirt. :( But I guess if they were already going to change it there's little harm.
Though why now?
And what are they going to change it to?
Also no Mnet?

[illustratedd.livejournal.com]

i love the monroe dance :( stupid men ruining everything.

[lazmy.livejournal.com]

I was excited for this dance at first but it wasn't executed well. There are issues with opening and closing the skirts in each performance. Some of the skirts they've been using recently haven't been the right material (like it's really stiff) so it just looks dumb.