Reaction to Sexualized Quartz, The Banger of a song with Rolling Quartz’s ripper “Victory”.

Since the first reaction I did of their song “Fearless“, Rolling Quartz has rocketed to one of my favorite rock bands from the lands of Asia. Specifically they’re in pole position with Nemophila! I’ve dug in, figured out who these magnificent women are and how they’re bringing these fierce shows. They’ve got an absolutely great presence, great range of musical skills, and the singer just brings it every time I’ve seen any video of theirs!

Ok, let’s dig into this latest rocketship they’ve brought to the world!

Jayoung’s song reflects a deep and personal narrative about the multifaceted challenges faced by bands (more so, I’d bet for Korean bands) as they navigate the music industry and tour internationally. The song highlights themes of overcoming adversity and maintaining integrity in the face of objectification and cultural differences.

In the Korean music industry, and globally, artists, especially female artists, often face intense scrutiny and objectification. This sexualization is prevalent in how they are marketed, with a strong emphasis on appearance, fashion, and appeal rather than solely on their musical talent. This phenomenon can be even more pronounced for K-pop and rock bands, where visual aesthetics play a significant role in their branding.

In Korea, the entertainment industry has a rigorous and often harsh system where idols are expected to adhere to strict beauty standards and present a polished, often idealized image. This can lead to a form of sexualization where artists are seen as commodities to be consumed, rather than individuals with their own identities and artistic voices.

When Korean bands tour in Western countries, they encounter a different but equally challenging landscape. Western audiences might bring their own preconceptions and stereotypes about Asian artists, which can include exoticism and fetishization. The perception of Asian musicians in the West can sometimes reduce their identity to mere stereotypes, overshadowing their artistry and contributions to music.

I bring up all this, and posted a few collected pictures of the band members, to draw emphasis to this next section.

Lyrics and Themes

In Jayoung’s song, she begins with the line “Everyone wants fantasy,” which suggests the audience’s desire to see performers in a certain light, often disconnected from reality. This can be interpreted as a commentary on how both Eastern and Western audiences create idealized, often unrealistic images of artists.

“Villain or hero” indicates the dichotomy artists often face, being cast into roles that may not align with their true selves. This can represent the struggle between maintaining an authentic image and conforming to industry or cultural expectations.

“Over the line” speaks to the moments when boundaries are crossed, be it personal, professional, or cultural. This line captures the experiences of feeling exploited or objectified, a common issue for many artists, especially when performing in unfamiliar cultural contexts.

Despite these challenges, the song celebrates resilience and victory. Jayoung’s message is one of empowerment, illustrating how she, and by extension, other artists, navigate and overcome the difficulties posed by constant challenges. The triumph is in maintaining authenticity and strength, despite the pressures to conform or the exploitation faced on the journey.

Jayoung’s song is a powerful narrative about the realities of being a musician, particularly a Korean artist, in a global industry that often prioritizes fantasy and appearance over genuine artistry. Her experiences and lyrics offer a nuanced view of the ongoing battle against objectification and the victory found in staying true to oneself amidst it all.

All in all, a stellar song with – when you dig into those words – something that really hits you and makes you think twice about the world the artist lives in, must live in, in order to simply be a musician.

Musicianship

The guitars, bass, and drums on this song are the perfection of throttle up rock, with a touch of metal for the icing on this cake!

But, I’m going to leave this topic at the moment and I’ll have the elaboration on the musicians themselves in upcoming reviews – as I’m assuming we’ll get to see new songs from them soon – for every single one of the band members.

In the meantime, here are some collected lyrics and attempts at translating – which I might have butchered – of Victory.

Enjoy! 🤘🏻

Lyrics (Korean + English = the actual song itself)

Everyone wants fantasy 그 속에 깨어나
한계를 뛰어넘어 난 모든 걸 증명해내지
나도 잘 몰라 Villain or Hero
날 보고 기도해봐 되어줄게 너의 savior
 
We are goddess of Victory
꼬리를 자를 거면 지금이 딱 timing
Say Mayday 두 손 높이 들어
How are you feeling right now
 
Breathe in and breathe out
숨 가빠도 때가 올 때까진 계속 Non stop
Over the line Over the line
Let's burn it up now 3 2 1

Hit it and go up
Are you ready now
It's time to get up
 
Hit it and go up
Are you ready now
Victory is always mine
 
Who's our enemy
don't care just bet on me
시작부터가 Climax
I'll take it all

꿈 꿔왔던 것도 결국 나인걸
Fearless 그냥 즐겨봐
Show me what you got
 
breathe in and breathe out
숨 가빠도 때가 올 때까진 계속 Non stop
over the line over the line
Let's burn it up now
How are you feeling right now

어떤 누구의 말도 정답은 없는 걸
내 안을 울리는 유일한 그 말 하나면 돼
 
Hit it and go up
Are you ready now
It's time to get up

Hit it and go up
Are you ready now
Victory is always mine
 
Hit it and go up
Are you ready now
It's time to get up
 
Hit it and go up
Are you ready now
Victory is always mine

Lyrics Romanization – i.e. the way they *sound*

Everyone wants fantasy geu sog-e kkaeeona
hangyeleul ttwieoneom-eo nan modeun geol jeungmyeonghaenaeji
nado jal molla Villain or Hero
nal bogo gidohaebwa doeeojulge neoui savior

We are goddess of Victory
kkolileul jaleul geomyeon jigeum-i ttag timing
Say Mayday du son nop-i deul-eo
How are you feeling right now

Breathe in and breathe out
sum gappado ttaega ol ttaekkajin gyesog Non stop
Over the line Over the line
Let's burn it up now 3 2 1

Hit it and go up
Are you ready now
It's time to get up
 
Hit it and go up
Are you ready now
Victory is always mine
 
Who's our enemy
don't care just bet on me
sijagbuteoga Climax
I'll take it all

kkum kkwowassdeon geosdo gyeolgug naingeol
Fearless geunyang jeulgyeobwa
Show me what you got
 
breathe in and breathe out
sum gappado ttaega ol ttaekkajin gyesog Non stop
over the line over the line
Let's burn it up now

eotteon nuguui maldo jeongdab-eun eobsneun geol
nae an-eul ullineun yuilhan geu mal hanamyeon dwae
 
Hit it and go up
Are you ready now
It's time to get up

Hit it and go up
Are you ready now
Victory is always mine
 
Hit it and go up
Are you ready now
It's time to get up
 
Hit it and go up
Are you ready now
Victory is always mine

Translation to English (theoretical, it might be off kilter just slightly)

Everyone wants fantasy and wake up in it
Pushing the limits, I prove everything
I don’t know either, Villain or Hero
Look at me and pray, I will be your savior

We are goddess of Victory
If you're going to cut off your tail, now is the perfect time
Say Mayday, raise your hands high
How are you feeling right now

Breathe in and breathe out
Even if I'm out of breath, I'll continue to non stop until the time comes
Over the line Over the line
Let's burn it up now 3 2 1

Hit it and go up
Are you ready now
It's time to get up

Hit it and go up
Are you ready now
Victory is always mine

Who's our enemy
don't care just bet on me
Climax from the beginning
I'll take it all

In the end, it was me who dreamed
Fearless, just enjoy it
Show me what you got

breathe in and breathe out
Even if I'm out of breath, I'll continue to non stop until the time comes
over the line over the line
Let's burn it up now
How are you feeling right now

There is no right answer to what anyone says
All you need is that one word that makes me cry

Hit it and go up
Are you ready now
It's time to get up

Hit it and go up
Are you ready now
Victory is always mine

Hit it and go up
Are you ready now
It's time to get up

Hit it and go up
Are you ready now
Victory is always mine

Just as some glorious Rolling Quartz lagniappe, check out this live show in NYC @ the Mercury Lounge. God damn I’d have loved to catch that show!