omonatheydid | 5 Lulztastic Examples of Language Flubs in Kpop

bob-dabuilda.livejournal.com posting in

Nowadays, 3rd generation Kpop is known for broadening their audiences by singing in multiple languages to ~~make some coins~~ connect with fans around the world.
The average kpop group has at least one bilingual member to help with lyrics, communication, and shutting shit down. Many kpop groups switch *almost* seamlessly between languages due to hiring foreign songwriters to pen foreign lyrics.

However, kpop wasn't always this way. While learning another language is commendable and nobody should be looked down upon for making a mistake while learning, the results can sometimes be funny. Let's take a blast to the past...to the 2nd generation idols, when language training wasn't as strong as it is today.

1. Yoochun of DBSK/JYJ

While Yoochun spent several years in the United States and can communicate in English, that didn't stop him from committing this hilarious flub while promoting Purple Line back in 2008.

At 0:40 he says I really wanna touch myself. While he probably meant he wants to get in touch with his emotions, English slang would mean he wants to have some, well, alone bonding time.
~~Looks like it wasn't just himself he wanted to touch. Douche.~~

2.Kara

Kara was a girl group that entered the kpop scene in 2007, but didn't become big until 2009 with their hits "Pretty Girl" and "Mister". While Nicole was raised in California and Seungyeon briefly attended high school in New Jersey, this didn't stop them from releasing the spotty English bops "Rock U" in 2008 and "Pretty Girl" in 2009.

Rock U

The lyrics are a double dose of lol. Looks like there were two versions, one they were singing, and one that popped up on the screen.
What they were singing: Rock your bod say.
What the lyrics said on screen: Rock U body, I say.

Pretty Girl

Lyrics: If you wanna pretty, every wanna pretty.

While the lyrics are funny, the songs were jams and they ended up tightening their lyrics in later releases.

Zhang Liyin

The Chinese Songstress debuted under S.M. as a soloist in Korea in 2006 with a remake of Kelly Clarkson's Timeless. While her lyrics didn't have any flubs, she recounted in an interview how her mispronunciation of a Korean word led to an awkward situation.

"If you want to work in Korea, language fluency is a must. From learning Korean, a lot of funny misunderstandings have happened. One time, on a skiing trip, I asked someone, 'Do you know how to ski?' But instead, I said, 'Do you know how to kiss?' Because in Korean, "kiss" and "ski" sound very similar, I couldn't tell the difference then. Right after I asked, the boy automatically turned red."

Oops. I wonder if he ever answered the question.

4. Eli from Ukiss and Composer Ryan Jun

In 2011, U-Kiss's Eli tweeted to Ryan Jun, the composer to their song, Neverland, to express his gratitude. He stated that he loved Jun, but in a "no homo" way. He may have been dragged by fans, but karma came back within minutes when Jun, who does not speak English as a first language, tweeted back "Yes Homo".

Why is it lulzy: Eli trying hard to deny being gay, but Jun "confirming" it.

5. Zhang Yixing/Lay from Exo.

The only Chinese member of Exo, Zhang Yixing came to Korea in 2008 for training to debut in Exo in 2012, on of the last "2nd generation" idol groups. While he received lessons in Korean language and speaks it well, he admits he still lapses when speaking it. To this very day he still makes small mistakes, but that only makes his fans love him more.

Here is a video compilation of the goofs. Here he makes flubs in Korean, English, and his own native tongue Mandarin.

Do I need to write out why they're funny? Your favs could never.

Overall, I hope you enjoyed the list! Remember, this is not to mock those who do not speak certain languages fluently, as none of us speak every language perfectly. One of my old linguist professors said "language learners do not speak incorrectly; they're merely learning new language functions".

[Poll #2067425]
Sources:
Header photo from asianjunkie.Pertaining Yoochun:
Image from soompi SM's YouTube.Kara:Image from japanentnews.com. DSP Media's youtube 1, 2.Liyin: Image from herweibo. Original interview Sina. Translations by Wendy, while additional credits to article to day_dreamer @chocolyn. Posted on omona.Eli: Photo via kpopconcerts.com. ompna. Yixing: Image credit:hunlike. Mycutiedeer @youtube.

Feel free to discuss other idols who have made hilarious flubs, as well as your own pitfalls when speaking another language.