Hi everyone, first of all thank you for all the kind comments and compliments on the video! But I’ve seen some questions about whether I’m planning to do videos on the other solos and I want to clarify that while I’m incredibly honored that people would like to see my take on the other songs too, I haven’t been planning on it, and most likely won’t. Honestly i get the appeal of a larger commentary on the project, but there's a lot about the solos in terms of content and symbolism that's even lost on me. Maybe if I have a sudden breakthrough with one of them i might try something, but there’s a certain standard of quality I hold myself to, that I’m not confident I can reach with some of the other solos, not because there’s anything wrong with those projects, but because dissecting/analyzing them has been more difficult for me. Part of the appeal of begin was that it was accessible to approach in a stand alone manner, while also being the perfect project to showcase the core elements/ethos of the underground idol project and onlyoneof as a whole. In my opinion It's kind of the gravitational center of the project, so I knew that if I were to discuss onlyoneof and their queer themes on my channel, I wanted to make begin the centerpiece. Along with that, it was the solo I connected the most with on an emotional level so I felt confident about my interpretations of the song and sharing those. Long story short, im not planning on diving into all the solos as of now. Hence no promises. But hypothetically, if i suddenly have the time and a change of heart for 1 or more solos i might try my hand at it, videos on them would probably be less elaborate though.

A lovely video. One thing that's always rubbed me wrong is how fast people are to assume that they're all heterosexual (and cisgender for that matter) and that doing queer content is just for money. As idols they cannot officially come out. There are likely plenty of idols who are queer and active currently. The attention and care and love they have shown openly queer fans is immeasurable. I love them so dearly for it and am forever thankful for the underground idol series

@nbucwa6621

6 ай бұрын

This part. As fans we shouldn't be pressuring queer idols to come out knowing that they will face backlash we won't ever even know. All we should be doing is holding space for them to do what is best for themselves. I see a lot of stans who act like assuming idols are gay is bad as if assuming idols are straight is a neutral, unbiased opinion but it's not. Assuming someone's straight isn't superior to assuming they are gay. The real neutral point is accepting them regardless of either or any identity.

This song is really for the queer kids in societies that still treat their queerness as a sin or a mental illness. Its patient, its as much of a song for yoojung himself as it is for kb. A lot of western media especially treats accepting yourself and being loud and proud about your identity as the final goal, sometimes even the initial step. I never felt that represented my experience with queerness.. in the country and society I'm in, being out is something i wouldn't wish even upon my worst enemy. That's what makes begin so special to me. It's a very personal and vulnerable song. It hasn't demonised the queer experience, nor glorified it. It just is. It's you, its me, its yoojung in this mv. It has more to do with how queer people feel inside, not how they are being externally. Its grounded and honest. At the end of the day, your opinion and how comfortable you are with yourself is what matters, when the world around you wants to beat you down and tell you how wrong you are.. thats when self protection and preservation is what matters. Thank you for the analysis 💗

@lou2766

11 ай бұрын

hit the nail on the head!

@Ca-yr2rz

10 ай бұрын

This comment is so important

OnlyOneOf's presence feels like an earthquake. It's somewhere far away, under the ocean, but you can feel the lithospheric plates shifting, feel the wave. And even if nothing collapses loudly, the earth changes. Thank you for this video 🦁💜

@elishatea

11 ай бұрын

This is such a great way to word it! I remember when Libido dropped and a lot of people dismissed it as queer baiting or fan service, but since then they've only become more explicit in their queer theming. While their songs since then haven't received the same kind of attention as Libido, it's very neat that the group is able to simply exist and put out these works without major backlash. It's unfortunate that they likely won't become a powerhouse group that everybody knows, but they work they're doing seems to be foundational for normalizing queer storytelling and representation in KPop and other Korean media without it being fetishized.

As a gay male in a highly homophobic town, the first time I watched this MV I was shocked, it was the day it came out and for that entire day I couldnt stop thinking about it- Then that night I cried, it seriously meant so much to me. It still does. When I need to cry I watch the series, and there we go! Its just so meaningful- Its really what made OnlyOneOf one of my ults again, they couldnt get up there after my ult bias left the group and then begin was released and suddenly they shot up the list xD But Im so so happy you covered this song, you explained everything perfectly and it means so much to see this

I literally got chewed out in an IG comment the other day by someone insisting that OOO is "horrible" and "queerbaiting" and was told that "if you're not queer you don't get a fxcking opinion" despite my first ever heartbreak being another girl 👁👄👁 (as if you have to have rainbow flags in your bio and look unconventional to be gay, bisexual, trans, etc.) ANYWAYS what I'm trying to get at is that this is very nice to see after that interaction. So many people say they want lgbt representation in kpop, but OOO gives it to them and it's "queerbaiting". Despite NONE of the members ever disclosing their sexualities so some of them could very well be gay or bisexual. Sorry, i didn't mean to rant, i just really appreciate this video and will cite it in my next crappy encounter with an uninformed rage-filled dummy 😅

@18becbec

11 ай бұрын

I feel you!! It's also important to note that that distorted definition of queerbaiting ("queer art is only legit if it comes from a queer artist") is rooted in privilege. Maybe that's a reasonable standard to have in a context where people can come out without it destroying their livelihood... but that's not the context for idols. Basically that definition requires that, in any environment which isn't accepting of queer people, either a) queer artists have to come out and tank their career, in which case it's much harder for them to make and distribute art at all, OR b) no one's allowed to make art with queer themes and contribute to changing the culture. Yeah, both those options sound great 😒 So yeah, I don't really care if every single member of OOO is straight and cis (though I think that's statistically unlikely). They're risking their careers to change the narrative and connect with LGBTQ+ people earnestly, and I think that's amazing and important. And the songs slap!!

"That's what keeps us from being lonely - finding solace in ourselves in a world that isn't ready to do that for us yet" - this perfectly summarized my feelings toward OnlyOneOf's art and my experience of being in the fandom. Listening to you voice what I've felt about begin since day one was exactly like that, too. I'm just continually amazed by how unifying being a queer lyOn can be, because we all feel these things toward their art in some way, and when someone actually puts it into words and lets the rest of us know, it makes us realize we're not alone in this, there are others who were affected just as deeply. Amazing video, absolutely worth the wait, thank you for sharing your heart with us.

@lou2766

11 ай бұрын

thank you for highlighting that part. It was may favorite line in the script while making it. Im glad it resonated with you too💛

i think this is an incredibly thoughtful analysis and i can tell how much the song means to you and how much time and effort you've put in to comment on begin in a way that does it justice. as someone who hasn't been a lyon throughout onlyoneof's entire career, i also appreciate hearing how your perspective has changed on earlier works as onlyoneof has gradually become more and more overt with their queer storytelling. i think that, as a queer person, it's easy to dismiss when you spot something that feels queer in a space where you're very much not expecting it. as you said, i think we tend to look at things through those queer goggles and that can sometimes make you think you're finding representation or a narrative that isn't actually there. so i really do love that you mentioned how going back and allowing yourself to view these things through that queer lens again completely changes the experience and makes you realise how present these themes have been throughout onlyoneof's career, albeit less obviously so as they are now.

@lou2766

11 ай бұрын

🥺🥺 Thank you for watching and this incredibly thoughtful comment

I consciously avoid most love songs, no matter the group, but I've found a happy place with OOO's work. I was very hungry for queer themes in KPOP.

this is so beautifully done! thank you so much for portraying and describing begin the way you did for the world to see because i would never be able to do it like that, but this is what it deserves! an incredible tribute to an incredible song 🤍

This is absolutely beautiful, wow. You've just perfectly synthesized why the queerness that OOO depicts feels so deeply real and relatable to queer people. I've always had a hard time connecting with the bubblegum "I'm here and I'm queer and isn't everything just so wonderful" messaging of so many mainstream commercial pieces of media. I can't help but feel those movies are made for straight people, as if to say "See gay people are okay, right?". But OOO do a wonderful thing of illustrating that no, everything is not wonderful, but we exist as authentically as we can in a world that in many places wishes for us to not exist at all. We are not some ultra-glamorous force, impervious to the homophobia that constantly surrounds us, but instead just people, learning and growing constantly and wishing for a world that would learn and grow as well.

Thank you for your wonderful thoughts. Begin was such a meaningful release and marked the beginning of something really special for OnlyOneOf. I think seeing the overt queer themes in that project was as you said, expected but not expected. Like in a lot of media, for me it’s a sigh of relief when queer themes that were presumed subtextual become legitimised. It means we can give ourselves permission to analyse things with a queer lens without feeling like we shouldn’t. Watching videos from lyOns seeing OOO perform their songs and wave lyOns’ flags makes me very proud of them as a group. I think videos like yours show that the connection between OOO, their music and their fans is something really special. And I hope that they continue to release interesting music that can be dissected like this.

I couldn't say enough about this project as a whole and each song in general. Since the underground idol was released, I never stopped thinking about the stories they wanted to tell us, the symbolism, the message. I love how they managed to portray three different and realistic stories, and every time you can notice yet new details in the videos or lyrics. This was really interesting to watch, thank you for such a deep analysis and sharing your thoughts!

is it just me, or does this lyric make anyone else think he's saying blast and burn the doors off the 'closet' and in turn living freely? Feels like gravity 넌 점점 끌어당겨 날 Think I'm fallin' 여전히 통제를 못해 더 더 너를 원해, baby 아픈 상처들은 burn it all the doors (Burn it all the doors) [Chorus] And now begin, begin, begin (Ooh, ooh) Begin with that blast (Ooh, ooh) Let me take you take you Take you take you take you there 모든 것의 시작인 저 점에 그 어떤 편견들로부터 자유로울 때 (Freedom will begin) We can begin, begin, begin Begin again, again

VERY WELL DONE 💪 they're my favorite group ever, them creating a safe place for queer people is something I really appreciate

Oh my. You've put into words exactly why Begin is so so so special to me. The entire ui project is, of course, but Begin has always been...I don't even know. It's embedded in my heart in a different way, I guess? It just means so much to me for so many reasons, and I'm so grateful for this video giving voice to many of them!

I've already left a comment here, but i wanted to point out that i related to @12:10 at such a personal level and i love that you've added this new perspective for me in a song that is already so close to my heart. Despite being mostly at peace with my sexuality, like yoojung, i too use my singleness as a safety net. Ever since i was young, i told myself i just wasnt interested in romantic relationships, but as i grow older i realise its always been a way of protecting myself from the inevitable rejection and issues that will arise for me as a queer woman. I hope everyone who's in begin yoojung's shoes free themselves of every prejudice and escape the bounds of the 'city' thats keeping them from being their true selves❤

@lou2766

11 ай бұрын

Thank you, I’m glad you resonated with it! Likewise as comfortable as I am with myself, once you’re in a relationship the stakes of social pressures simply get higher because you are now also responsible towards and for someone else’, to whatever extent that is ofc. As I watched begin and be free I just kept thinking “even when they get together u can see yoojung thinking. He no longer has only himself to look out for and protect, but also a lover who trusts him”. Not to say that’s a dealbreaker in their story, nor the only reading of those scenes, it’s subjective ofcourse. but for me it helps explain why their story doesn’t end in all smiles either. Exploring queerness, no matter how accustomed you might feel to your own, together with someone else will always bring its own challenges. In that way begin is as much of a song sung towards kb as to yoojung himself in the lore I think.

One thing that really gets me about this song is the choreography. It has moments that really show Yoojung's mental state in the song. He dances with KB but during the breakdown he literally breaks down, beating KB's back in what seems to be emotional agony before KB walks off stage.

This is such an amazing video on the Begin MV! I am to this day completely obsessed with he underground idol project, and every time I rewatch the videos I start sobbing. As a queer person in a country where I could be killed for being completely out, its always bittersweet to see queer representation in media. Im obviously happy that people get to be out and proud, but I just wish that I could dress how I feel, date whoever I want to without judgement. Seeing Begin was the first time I saw my feelings portrayed accurately. I was finally seen and that allowed me to accept who I am. I just want to love someone and be loved in return, and my identity is just a part of me. I love OOO so much and I hope they know that they have really helped me and many others as well. Edit: I've finished the video and am now struggling not to cry.

The MV is beautiful. I've found a fantastic group! I saw Chungking Express when it first came out. I always jumped on all of Tony Leung's works. He, Chow Yun Fat and Leslie Cheung were among my husband and my favored actors.

And my endless love and appreciation for this song and music video somehow just grew even more!

you have no idea how much i was comforted and seen through the whole of the undergrOund idOl project,the only way i can describe it is surreal.it's just so relatable and similar to my experience being a queer teenager in the most hostile and anti queer society,it just visualized every part of my unconscious thoughts and escapes i have created in my mind to flee all the stress of discovering and understanding myself.Its like a warm hug that feels so reassuring and understanding even though some of the members might not be queer themselves and have not had the same experiences as me (or they have we don't know),i just love art and music and film so much and your videos of breaking down your thoughts are so well done i love them.

I’m a queer teen, and have been around kpop for a while. Definitely not as long as any of the others present in the comments or you yourself, but enough to know about the idol industry and what it takes to fit in/to succeed. And i have no words to describe the sheer significance of what onlyoneof is doing. Kpop is, among many things, an industry that feeds off of it’s shipping culture. something that has little to do with the actual relationship between members or how close they are. it’s all fun then. Actual queer undertakings though? No one wants that. Libido got people’s curiosity as it was their more bolder attempt (which their previous works were leading up to) but once that died down, no one cared anymore. But what ooo is doing, no matter how less people are there to witness it, will go down in history. They have laid a foundation, upon which now greater things can be built. I hope they are aware of this. Thank you so much for this masterful analysis of begin. I have now come to appreciate the song and mv (which was already my favorite from the ugi project) lots more. Keep up the great work. in case, you decide to make any more break down vids, I’ll definitely be here

i LOVEE THISSS. onlyoneof are my ults precisely bc of begin, i cried the moment i read the description. amazing analysis

Thought it was just me projecting my assessment onto several visuals in KPop videos. There is an underlying presentation of provocative "Queer" for lack of a better explanation, imagery among music groups in their earlier videos. However, it appears to me, the more successful a group becomes the less "Queer" overtones are presented in their videos/visuals. I'm a new fan of OnlyOneOf music and noticed differences from other KPop groups in their fashion, choreography, and visual engagement. Love the work you put into this analysis.

Oh how healing it is to see an analysis like this, thank you for this it really is so valuable as a trans queer filmmaker and OnlyOneOf fan

Seriously love them. I like their non typical kpop boy band.

I was especially pleased to see this in my feed this morning, since they've always been one of my favorite KPop bands; I love their artsy, high-concept music videos. And as an added bonus, these two guys are my biases in the group.

This was so well done and so beautiful. Thank you for making this on such a special day, the first anniversary of Begin ❤

Im really impressed by your analysis. It is so detailed. Begin was my personal favoraite along with be free as kb and yoojung showed contrasting emotions which have been beautifully portrayed..... thank u very much for this interpretation

I'm only halfway through this video, but just wanna say that you explained everything absolutely flawlessly. I have trouble with understanding metaphors and symbolism, whether it's the fault of my adhd or I'm just stupid idk, but this made the MV crystal clear for me! Begin is my favorite song of the undergrOund idOl project, but i rarely listen because it's just too emotional for me and i end up crying 😅 Ah, i can't wait to see what they have in store for their next comeback. OOO is truly a hidden gem in kpop...in the music industry in general, really. Thank you for taking the time and energy to make such a well thought out and well done video 😊

This is so insightful and beautiful (both content and editing), thank you for making it! I especially loved the end of your conclusion: "Begin doesn't pretend that accepting yourself and being proud is the final step. It's not saying being queer in an oppressive environment is easy. Nor is it pushing you to publicly come out for your pride, like so many other media objects have done, which could be a dangerous attitude to have in many places around the world. But despite all that, Begin has and emphasises hope, and I can't help but feel seen, comforted and happy whenever that message reaches me." Couldn't have put it better myself. I think that really sums up why OnlyOneOf means so much to me - it takes real bravery and commitment to make this kind of queer content in their cultural and industry context. That's also why I so firmly reject arguments that they're queerbaiting on the basis that none of them is (out as) queer. We KNOW from the vanishingly few examples of out LGBTQ+ people in Korean entertainment, especially idols, that coming out is not viable right now if you want to continue your career. Even if every single member of OOO is straight and cis, they're pushing for more acceptance. It's exactly what happened in eg the US media context - representations of queerness from people who weren't or didn't seem to be queer, to help humanise LGBTQ+ people and create an environment where they might finally feel safe to be themselves openly. It's an important, even necessary step - to borrow the title, it's somewhere to begin.

Wow I actually teared up a little while watching this video. Great analysis! I struggle with putting into words why Begin resonates with me so much, but this video pretty much sums it up.

ohhhh, your video is so beautiful.

i got chills from the conclusion.. this is so well said

This was a great analysis of the song, I totally interpreted it in the same way. For many personal reasons, Begin has always resonated with me deeply but I can barely listen to it or watch it because it always makes me cry. Yoojung's character to me looks assured in his queerness and like a strong individual in general, but there's something deeply lonely about the story. I think it's mostly me projecting my feelings onto his character, but It just has an air of solitude and isolation to it.

I CAN BE HAPPY AGAIN 😍 Thank you sooo much for your videos 💞(They’re also really helpful for me to practice my English 🫶)

this is so beautifully done. i wished i had the words to say how much i loved watching this video. begin and the underground idol project is so special and personal to many of us and you explained exactly that. i remember reading your reddit post about begin when i first got into onlyoneof and loved it. as i watched your video analysis, i couldn't stop smiling, thinking, you understand it, onlyoneof understand it. this is most beautiful and thoughtful love letter. i could tell how much you love begin and onlyoneof. happy begin anniversary day!! 💛

@lou2766

11 ай бұрын

thank you so much for remembering and the nice words. It means a lot

such an amazing video💓 I still remember the first time I saw begin, the emotions I felt in that moment, so powerful, it felt like a big ray of hope and pride❤️ I'm so grateful of the constant support and love they put into their work. the whole analysis of the video made me tear up tbh, I didn't know it had so many symbolisms in it. thank you for this video💛

this was such a beautiful take on this mv!! and is a great vid to any ooo antis! :D you are great with words

Also i am so happy to see you upload again!!! Sorry for the comment spam, i just really love your videos 😭

absolutely loved yor video! it made me see new details within the story even though i thought i had everything figured out. ooo created such a welcoming and safe environment for me that, i feel licky to have found a community that understands and loves them just as much ❤

This is so well done, would love breakdowns on the other mvs!!!

This was so well written it was incredible. We need more videos like this!!

Oh God!!! This is beautiful ❤️ Thank you for this video. Begin is my favorite song in the undergrOund idOl series 💕

Thank you for this incredible analysis! Your videos are so thoughtfully put together and you come across as wonderfully well spoken. Hearing your takes really gives us a greater appreciation of OOO’s artistry and I thank you for it❤️

i’ve been struggling to put into words how incredible this mv is and you described how i feel perfectly thank you for this. there isn’t enough content on here surrounding ooo and seeing such thoughtful analysis make me beyond happy :)

I love how you discuss this work with how your own experience relates to the characters' feelings. This song means so much to me as it first helped me accept my first queer crush and gave me the courage to ask her out. I relate so much to the hesitance to come out due to society but this song feels so comforting toward working towards it. My favorite parts are the first verse and chorus as they feel like advice while the rest feels like my pov. I would play it every morning while getting ready for my day, making me feel empowered and ready to face the world. This analysis gave me an even deeper understanding and appreciation of this materpeice. You have officially gained a subscriber as your videos are all so well thought out and detailed and about my ult group.

beautiful, absolutely beautiful 👏thank you so much for this video💖

you never miss, seriously, I love your analysis on the song and mv

Wow this is so well done :) please tell me you are gonna do all the underground idol mvs

@lou2766

11 ай бұрын

Im not planning on it but thank you for enjoying!

@seaweedwithrice

8 ай бұрын

@@lou2766 aww would love to watch it if ever you decided to,, i really love this take on begin and the notes at the end !!

I loved this so much. Your OOO videos are all amazing.

Thank you for this spectacular video

I'm in love with your analyses! The way you explain all your points is so calm and well spoken, it's fun to listen and you found some great details. I absolutely enjoyed the Dora Maar analysis as well!!

I love your videos. This was tied together beautifully.

Thank you for this amazing video!❤

Absolutely adorable group of the sweetest natured individuals you could ever hope to meet. Their high intelligence and rapier sharp humour alongside these stunning videos are inspirational in every sense.

That was fascinating, thank you for your work !! I could listen to you talk about this group for hours ☺ I'm still waiting for the day that OOO takes over the world of KPOP :')

I love your analysis. Especially the end, to which I could relate so much as a queer person. I have been blamed of seeing things through those "rainbow glasses"... to finally realize at some point that the things that caught my attention were indeed queer! I was a fan of Katharine Hepburn, Jodie Foster, etc way before we started to know about them, for example. (Will I dare say that I'm an ARMY and hum... well BTS... well well... hush ok)

I had no idea about the movie but everything about it feels so in line with their work, it makes a lot of sense!

this was so beautifully made you described the way you everything perfectly I can tell how much it means to you. I appreciate begin in whole new way

I cried (again)

One of the reason I Stan onlyoneof other than their beautiful music

i love your video on this please please please continue for the other solo songs!

I loved listening to your interpretation of the mv. I loved it so much ❤

LOVE LOVE LOVE YOUR VIDEO OMG you verbalised all my thoughts and feelings on why begin particularly was so special to watch for the first time

this is such an amazing analysis, i already loved begin sm but this made me appreciate it on a whole other level!

TYSM THIS IS SUCH A LOVELY VID V___V we lyOns appreciate this smmm

A brilliant, insightful analysis! You opened my eyes to some things I hadn't seen before. Thank you!

All your videos are bangers, I want more pllllzzzzzzz

This video is so good, thank you for your work!!

beautiful video ❤

on that note, do you feel like making analysis vids on other solos and the project as a whole? i would love to see more

@lou2766

11 ай бұрын

First of all thank you for appreciating my work!! I'm very glad it resonated. And honestly i get the appeal of a larger commentary on the project, but there's a lot about the solos in terms of symbolism that's even lost on me. Maybe if I have a sudden breakthrough with one of them i might try something. But part of the appeal of begin was that it was accessible to approach in a stand alone manner, while also being the perfect project to showcase core elements of and the ethos of the underground idol project and onlyoneof as a whole. It's kind of the gravitational center of the project. So long story short, im not planning on diving into all the solos as of now. Hence no promises. But hypothetically, if i suddenly have a change of heart for 1 or more solos i might try my hand at it, videos on them would probably be less elaborate though. Edit: while none of this is particularly polished, elaborated on, or structured, I have compiled some things I noticed about underground idol or other ooo projects more casually in this thread on twitter > twitter.com/hyekoo/status/1597650117762301952?s=61&t=_mBOC8vpy4jmKOMdRcZrrA

@nia4584

11 ай бұрын

@@lou2766 ah totally! was just curious since i liked this vid and watched your previous analysis vids as well, thank you for compiling everything anyways! and thanks for the twt thread, i'll check it out too! im also wondering if any other ui solo is close to being as important to you as begin is? do you have the second fave?

@lou2766

11 ай бұрын

@@nia4584 hm i think perhaps beyond. Because of how closely linked it is to savanna, which is naturally core to them as a group. I think it approaches the savanna theme with more hope and resolve. I think it can be seen as a positively hopeful conclusion to the pain of alienation savanna experienced after thinking there was no place they could go. Edit: also its the song closest to my music taste haha, i love savanna n them revisiting the sound

@nia4584

11 ай бұрын

@@lou2766 funny coincidence here, beyond is my other favourite solo as well didn't even look into savanna's themes 🥲 okayyyyy

yesssss