LE SSERAFIM’s SPAGHETTI has drawn attention for both its playful title track and its B-side, Pearlies (My oyster is the world). The disco-pop song is surprisingly emotional for such a sassy title track. While SPAGHETTI is a witty diss to their haters, Pearlies is more reflective and emotional.
Pearls Formed Through Hardship
The symbolism in Pearlies is clear. Pearls are born from irritation and pressure inside an oyster. The song frames hardship as a stepping stone towards growth.
“When my roof collapsed that day
My whole world vanished like a lie
Tell me what is real, tell me what is true
Please stop, this April storm
Through my shaken sight, your horizon grew clear (horizon)
That’s when it was, that promise, I wanted to protect you forеver”
“Even when I can’t see ahead, up tempo
Held my mind tight just to survive (ah-huh)
At the tunnel’s end where the dark fades
My measure of life never changes (ah-ah-ah)
Hurt like a bitch but baby, we’re alive (yeah-eh)
Rocks on my neck and they’re one of a kind (yeah-eh)
Pearls in my mind, worth more than diamonds, yeah-eh-eh”
Group member Yunjin said the song is a message to their fans, FEARNOT, whom she calls their “oysters.” The line “My oyster is the world” is the idea that with the support of their fans, the group already has everything they need. The song isn’t just a love letter to FEARNOT. It acts as a personal release as the lyrics hint to the hardships the girls faced back in 2024.
The Shadow of Controversy
The intensity of the hate LE SSERAFIM received is regarded as one of the worst hate trains in K-pop.
The girls have always faced criticism over the live vocals. It got worse following the live encores they did on Korean music shows as their song EASY scored multiple wins early 2024.
When they performed at Coachella April 2024, the hate had reached a fever pitch. Reactions were split. Those who attended the event in-person loved their set. Some even declared the girls as one of the highlights from the festival. However, those who watched the live stream accused the girls of serving weak vocals, lacking stamina, or over performing.
The comments Min Hee-Jin, former CEO of ADOR made didn’t help. At the start of her feud with HYBE, Min Hee-Jin accused the company of delaying NewJeans’ debut by having LE SSERAFIM debut first back in 2022. She painted a picture of LE SSERAFIM being a favorite of founder and Chairman Bang Si-Hyuk. That they were getting special privileges that other artists in HYBE (specifically her artist NewJeans) weren’t getting. The criticism was so bad that comments were disabled on the group’s social media accounts for about a year.
While LE SSERAFIM was not managed by Min, the disputes between HYBE and her cast a shadow over the group. It linked them to controversies outside their control. Pearlies touches on these hardships. Lines about surviving “dark tunnels” and coming out “alive” can be read as reflecting the stress of that period.
From Criticism to Growth
After a period of intense scrutiny, a lot of the hate has died down. The group has been getting more love for their performance skills. They’ve been praised for working to improve their singing. The lyrics in Pearlies are about overcoming external challenges as it is about the internal growth of the members. Even in the face of relentless criticism, the group persevered until they could find joy in performing for the ones who still support them.
Pearlies is a mirror held up to one of the most tumultuous chapters in LE SSERAFIM’s career. The song illustrates how the group endured public scrutiny and personal challenges. Ultimately, it’s a song of survival and resilience. It’s about the power a loyal fandom can have when you need it the most. Pearlies is proof that beauty often emerges from pressure. That at last, LE SSERAFIM has arrived at a place of strength and perspective.
