BLACKPINK’s Rosé’s “APT.” Considered Off-Limits for Students Due to Emotional Distraction Concerns
According to Yonhap News on October 27, Na Mo (18), a high school senior, is making an effort to avoid listening to the song. With its catchy melody and repeated use of the word “Apartment,” the song has captivated listeners globally but has become a source of anxiety for students. He worries the melody will play in his mind during exams, causing distractions.
“Forbidden songs” refer to tracks with highly addictive lyrics and melodies that can easily linger in the mind, disrupting concentration. SHINee’s “Ring Ding Dong,” with its endlessly repeating chorus, is a famous example. Other popular choices include SS501’s “U R Man,” Red Velvet’s “Dumb Dumb,” and even children’s songs like “Baby Shark,” along with catchy advertisement jingles.
On online communities, it has become a common prank to post “forbidden songs” as clickbait, which sometimes leads to accounts being blocked. One user shared, “I accidentally heard a forbidden song online, and now it’s stuck in my head! How do I stop it?”
This repetitive music effect is known as the “earworm phenomenon.” While it can have a positive relaxing effect on most people, it can disrupt focus for exam students. Professor Lim Myung-ho from Dankook University’s Department of Psychology explained, “Our psychology is more fragile than we think, so hearing simple, repetitive tunes can easily lead to emotional distraction. Youths, especially, are vulnerable to the ‘earworm phenomenon.’”
He advised, “Listening to calming classical music, doing light meditation and breathing exercises, or stretching can ease anxious minds. Finding a pre-exam routine that works well during mock tests is also a great way to manage stress.”
Released on October 18, “APT.” topped domestic music charts like Melon and Genie immediately after its release, while also taking the #1 spot on Spotify’s Global and U.S. daily charts and hitting #1 on iTunes’ “Top Songs” chart in 40 regions.
Notably, Rosé made history as the first Korean female solo artist to top both the U.S. Spotify chart and the Global Spotify Daily Top Songs chart. In just five days, by the afternoon of October 23, the music video for “APT.” had surpassed 100 million views.
The song draws inspiration from the popular “Apartment Game” in Korea. Rosé explained, “The ‘Apartment Game’ is one of my favorite games—simple, fun, and perfect for livening up the mood. One night in the studio, I introduced it to the staff, and as we all enjoyed playing it together, the idea for the song was born. Bruno Mars then joined in the process, and together we completed the track.”
“APT.” has taken social media, YouTube and short-form video channels by storm. Alongside the song’s success, the “Apartment Game” itself is trending among global K-pop fans, who are sharing challenge videos of themselves playing the game. K-pop stars like BTS’s J-Hope, IVE’s An Yujin, LE SSERAFIM’s Kazuha and Kim Chaewon have also posted videos performing the choreography, adding to the buzz.
Source: Daum
