Allergy (song)

"Allergy"
Song by (G)I-dle
from the album I Feel
Language	Korean English
Released	May 15, 2023 (2023-05-15)
Label	Cube Kakao M
Composer(s)	Soyeon PopTime Daily Likey
Lyricist(s)	Soyeon
Music video
"Allergy" on YouTube

"Allergy" (Korean: 알러지) is a song recorded by South Korean girl group (G)I-dle. It is the second track on the group's sixth extended play, I Feel (2023), which will be released on May 15, 2023, through Cube and Kakao M. The track was written, composed, and arranged by Soyeon with additional composition and arrangement handled by PopTime, Daily, and Likey. The song expresses the double meaning of wanting to love themselves while they resent themself by comparing themselves to others.

Background and promotion

On May 4, 2023, Cube Entertainment officially released a part of the soundtrack for "Allergy" through 'Spoiler Alert: Soyeon' through their official SNS. The video displays Soyeon spending her time in a "lethargic and boring way," she then turns on her laptop and "reads the lecture page titled 'How to be a queen'." She then transforms into "a new liberation zone," after she pressed the register button, the video ends afterward." Prior to its release, on May 9, 2023, Cube uploaded individual teaser photos on their social media accounts showing five people and five colors in different places and confirming the song's release date to be May 10.

Music and lyrics

"Allergy" includes two lyrical references: Shuhua's verses "I also want to dance 'Hype Boy' " playing on the lyric NewJeans' "Hype Boy" and "But on the screen, I'd look like tomboy" from their 2022 hit single "Tomboy".

Critical reception

Lee Ye-ju of Kyunghyang Shinmun describes the song as "honest" as it "emphasized the relative deprivation the speaker felt through social media." Writing for Asian Junkie, IATFB calling the song "a pop-rock romp that throws us back to the early-00s, keeping a straightforward momentum and going for anthemic melodies in the chorus" and calling it "a quality, energy-lifting song and a great table-setter for [I Feel] what's to come. The writer also noted the track's similarity to 2NE1's "Ugly", commenting that "in terms of sound ("Ugly" was synthier) and lyrical content (the same, "Allergy" is just modernized)". Leisure Byte reviewer Hrishita Das, describes the song "speak volumes about how women's empowerment is portrayed in the media during present times. Women are expected to look pretty, wear the trendiest clothes and display confidence every step of the way. Moreover, having a 'perfect' body is a must to look and feel like a 'Queen'. The ones who do not go the extra mile to 'serve' looks are humiliated and treated like an outcast."

Music video

On May 10, 2023, Cube released the music video for "Allergy", through (G)I-dle's official YouTube channel. This video recorded 5 million views in less than 24 hours after being released on YouTube, and reaction videos of foreign fans who watched the music video are being produced and uploaded.

Synopsis

The video was described to be a critique of social media culture and how it can influence people's lives. In the video it showed two sides: a woman who is perfect but feels that their lives are empty and hollow, and another who craves to look like them and live their fantasy lives. However, the 'perfect' one tries to forget their problems by spending money and socializing with the elite class, they are still held down by their own insecurities created inside their minds. The video stars Soyeon, as the female protagonist, and Miyeon, Minnie, Yuqi, and Shuhua as popular girls in school who set out to give Soyeon a makeover. The video begins with Soyeon feeling trapped in an appearance complex - looking in the mirror and making a dissatisfied expression. The daily life of Miyeon, Minnie, Yuqi, and Shuhua, who spend a splendid day, is illuminated in turn, and the story of Soyeon admiring them unfolds, giving the feeling of watching a high-teen movie. On another hand, a few members try to cope with the negative and mean comments on social media that ultimately affects their mental health. Towards the end of the video, Soyeon was ready to go under the knife in order to change her looks to fit in with her friends.

Reception

Kang Kyung-yoon writing for SBS Entertainment News regarded the video "A story with a clear theme was completed with a 3-4 minute song, and the scene spreading around the world through a complete music video is very meaningful. In this process, the language barrier is not felt at all." IATFB of Asian Junkie opined that the video's combination of theme and music video is "good as any comeback, seemingly set at a 00s teen movie and providing visually striking cues at every corner to help reinforce their messaging and helping to ultimately enhance the "Allergy" experience. Leisure Byte's Hrishita Das noted the vibrant costumes and make-up used in the video that adds the "elegance" of the music video. "The colour pink is thoroughly used to display a more feminine perspective and visual the cliched appeal" and praised the group's music video, camera work in vivid locations that makes the music video stand out more.