myth, symbols and meanings: analysis of @blackpink's #HowYouLikeThat lyrics and music video

this is not about an ex-lover. this is not a continuation of killthislove. love was never mentioned even once in the lyrics.

this is for a person who does not like them, despises them, has ill-feelings against them. suggesting THAT PERSON are the antis and the haters

the song has 3 significant parts complemented by a well thought of music video:
1. the dark experience (not much dwelled upon since it's already in the past)
2. the overcoming of that experience
3. the battle (part which has the most symbolisms)

in the 1st part, the lyrics and scenes showed signs of being helpless at their lowest point. no matter how hard they reached out to THAT PERSON, that person still treated them bad. it was dark

jennie laid down on the ground with a crystal teardrop on her face. THAT PERSON made her cry.

jisoo, sat on a hole reaching her hand out with sins written all over her body. THAT PERSON labeled her with these words causing her damage as shown by the wound-like hole/wall

rosé was lost in the underground finding her way out. THAT PERSON tried to bury her alive as her eyes were still open when she was on her flower death bed

but she found the way out, wearing a burglar’s mask to indicate she's gone rogue. it's time to defy THAT PERSON

also to be noted, the contrast between the floral blindfold where you're only able to see darkness no matter how beautiful the flowers look like on the outside vs an unattractive plain black mask where you can actually see light*

the 2nd part emphasizes how they gracefully wear that experience. jennie fashionably puts on her tears not as a scar but as an accessory.

jisoo has thrown away and may even have burned the book where all the words on her body are now written as if it was already part of history

lisa's character didn't want to show her dark experience but her rap would tell you that THAT PERSON took advantage of her thinking she was plain and stupid - she isn't.

though it may displease THAT PERSON, she will now take what she rightfully deserves

both choruses lean towards the idea of power when they come together. like the 4 elements fire, air, earth and water, blackpink has always been 4 uniquely different girls strong, perfect and powerful when they combine

they ask THAT PERSON "ha how you like that?" and without even waiting for an answer they proceeded to say “dararatdat” and “bada-bing-bada boom”

some fancy way of saying ha ha ha blah blah blah. i don’t actually need to hear what you have to say. keep barking idc

the “repetitive” line where they say “look at you. now, look at me” reiterates their point that if THAT PERSON looks at themselves, they are still the same. no growth. while look at them girls being successful

THAT PERSON doesn’t like that but has to like that. it’s not a choice

in chorus 1, they give off a wild, strong and fierce vibe like some lioness queens of the jungle. while in chorus 2, they give the "we're cool" vibe (in jisoo's voice: so cool )

both scenes perfectly match the lyrics and choreo* to diss THAT PERSON of what they've become now

the 3rd part until the end has hylt's vision. it's not just about overcoming THAT PERSON anymore.

it's time to reveal themselves to the world after being kept in the dark for a long time. it's going to be a battle but they come prepared. bring out the boss, bitch

note the 4 significant symbols used in this part:
1. the nike of samothrace inspired sculpture - greek goddess of victory
2. "look up in the sky. it's a bird. it's a plane" (superman reference)
3. the trojan horse
4. hanbok

they represent nike the winged goddess of victory (tho they're sponsored by adidas lol jk)

even if they mentioned in the lyrics that their wings were already lost, those wings already became part of them. they will still fly. they will still win no matter what. they are victory

the lines “look up in the sky. it’s a Bird. it’s a Plane” was told by the characters in Superman because they wonder who/what they saw flying.

but in hylt, the last line “it’s Superman” was omitted to suggest that it isn’t him now but BlackPink that would cause people to wonder

they come bearing hylt both as a battlecry and a gift like the trojan horse from the greeks to represent the downfall of THAT PERSON’s superiority over them. also, to free themselves and make their presence known

if you will look closely, they are actually inside the horse

and if you look closer, people say the ceiling of the dome is a world map. true to their goal of being a global girl group*

they dance preparing for battle. when they come out, it will be their time to showcase themselves to the world.

the hanbok to represent K-Pop and Korea in general (people say lisa’s skirt is thai pattern. she's lived most of her life in korea but she's not forgotten her roots)

dumdumdumdururum sounds like drum rolls & doom. doom for THAT PERSON who doesn’t like them. victory drum rolls* for @blackpink once they get out of the horse, once HYLT is released,the battle will begin. will they win?the records will speak for themselves

the song ends with them doing a gesture of covering their mouths first before kissing goodbye. basically, telling THAT PERSON "shut up. mwah we have bigger plans now. goodbye!"

now hylt is released. the battle has begun. the records are already speaking. THAT PERSON will always be present in every anti capitalizing on every opportunity to drag the girls. but they can't stop them now. @blackpink will just keep on winning. victory!(list is getting longer)

following their music video, they gave highlight to the Lady Justice as background in their inkigayo performance. another mythology reference suggesting that they are really coming to get what belongs to them. it is just right. #hylt1stwin

the early part of the song relied on nature, namely air, earth, water and fire to set the mood of having recovered from darkness complete and ready for "battle"
while the latter part referenced on film, symbols and mythology to proclaim the "battle" of going global

even the happy birthday song has meaning
everything has meaning

music, film & literature are art. despite all the references used, to say it is still meaningless just obviously shows an intention to drag, refusal to appreciate, or just plain inability to understand

this is a repost with some modifications. i accidentally deleted the original one the * means additional parts pointed out by the others who read the original thread. decided it would be better to include them in this revision. thanks to those people @blackpink