In a new interview for Billboard, BLACKPINK chats about their history-making EP Square Up, and the meaning behind their “Ddu-Du Ddu-Du” music video. The interview is the girls’ first with the publication and comes after their massive success on the Billboard music charts, seeing the girls become the highest-charting K-pop girl group on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with “Ddu-Du Ddu-Du” and Billboard 200 chart with Square Up.
Comparing this album to their last, member Rosé says, “I feel like this time around, we’re going for a more stronger look. I think that’s portrayed mostly in the music video. We tried to pull of some looks that we wouldn’t have even imagined coming out with previously.”
Jennie adds that the members pushed themselves in their choreography as well, having included a dance break in their leading single, which is something they haven’t done before. She says, “We put a lot of effort into it and we’re so happy everybody’s enjoying it.”
The girls also discuss the message behind a particular scene in their “Ddu-Du Ddu-Du” music video, which shows Jisoo falling and attracting the attention of paparazzi, who aim their phones at her as if they were weapons. Jisoo says that the scene shows how “people can go crazy about the celebrity figures and how they will aim at the celebrities if they make mistakes.”
“We wanted to portray a scene that is interesting and meaningful to us,” she says.
With an estimate of 33.7 million views in its first 24 hours, the “Ddu-Du Ddu-Du” music video has achieved the highest 24-hour YouTube debut for a K-pop girl group to date. As of July 3, the video has surpassed 135 million views, on its track to becoming the fastest video by a K-pop girl group to achieve 200 million YouTube views.
In the rest of their interview for Billboard, the BLACKPINK members discuss their favorite “Ddu-Du Ddu-Du” music video outfits, favorite Square UP tracks and plans for the future.
“We would love to have any opportunities as we can to perform in front of you guys, not just in Korea, maybe one day in front of everyone around the world.”
Watch BLACKPINK’s full Billboard interview below.