“How You Like That” is an iconic song by the South Korean girl group BLACKPINK, released on June 26, 2020. It served as the lead single for their highly anticipated debut Korean-language studio album, “THE ALBUM.”
Here’s a breakdown of what makes “How You Like That” so significant:
1. Musical Style & Production
- Genre: A powerful blend of K-pop, hip-hop, trap, and EDM.
- Sound: It’s characterized by its hard-hitting beats, dynamic tempo changes, an anthemic chorus, and a prominent “drop” that is signature to BLACKPINK’s sound. The song builds tension effectively, exploding into its energetic chorus.
- Producers: Teddy Park, R. Tee, and 24, with lyrics written by Teddy Park and Danny Chung.
2. Lyrical Themes
- The song carries a powerful message of resilience, confidence, and overcoming adversity.
- It speaks to rising stronger after facing difficulties, finding hope in the darkest times, and defiantly declaring one’s strength. Phrases like “Now look at you, now look at me” and “When you want it, you get it” emphasize self-empowerment.
3. Music Video (MV)
- Visual Spectacle: The music video for “How You Like That” is renowned for its high production value, elaborate sets, stunning visuals, and intricate choreography.
- Key Elements: It features multiple opulent and diverse settings, including a grand hall, a surreal forest, a snow-covered landscape, and a scene with the members performing in the rain.
- Fashion: BLACKPINK’s fashion in the MV was a major talking point, featuring a blend of high-fashion streetwear, avant-garde pieces, and modern interpretations of traditional Korean hanbok.
- Impact: The MV is visually arresting and perfectly complements the song’s fierce and empowering theme.
4. Global Impact & Achievements
- YouTube Records: “How You Like That” shattered multiple YouTube records upon its release:
- Most viewed YouTube video in 24 hours by a K-Pop group (86.3 million views).
- Fastest music video to reach 100 million views (in approximately 32 hours).
- It continued to break records for the fastest to reach 200M, 300M, 400M, 500M, 600M, 700M, 800M, 900M, 1 billion, 1.1 billion, 1.2 billion, 1.3 billion, and 1.4 billion views, cementing BLACKPINK’s status as YouTube queens.
- Chart Performance:
- Dominated South Korean charts, achieving a “Perfect All-Kill” on the Instiz iChart.
- It debuted at No. 33 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it the highest-charting song by a K-pop girl group at the time.
- It topped the iTunes charts in over 60 countries and performed exceptionally well on global streaming platforms.
- Awards:
- Won the prestigious “Song of the Year” (Daesang) at the 2020 Melon Music Awards (MMA) and Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA).
- Won the “Song of Summer” award at the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards, becoming the first K-Pop act to do so.
5. Cultural Significance
- “How You Like That” further solidified BLACKPINK’s position as a global music phenomenon and a leader in the K-pop industry.
- It showcased their continued growth in sound, visual artistry, and international appeal, setting the stage for the massive success of “THE ALBUM” later that year.
- The song and its music video became a cultural touchstone, influencing trends in fashion, dance, and music worldwide.
In essence, “How You Like That” is not just a song; it’s a statement of power, resilience, and global impact from one of the world’s biggest girl groups.