What does the lack of English mean in Alien Stage?
Seriously—why is there English in some songs, but not others? Out of the entire discography only four songs are fully in Korean. Those four songs are "My Clematis", "Cure", "Wiege" and "Karma".
The answer seems rather obvious at first glance and is the answer I've seen while casually scrolling. The four songs are the couple songs, and the reason why they are fully in Korean is due to the fact that these are the only times the characters are truly honest on how they feel towards one another. They are performing for each other and not for an audience. It was cool detail and simple explaination.
Then "MirroR" started auto-playing. When I said out of the entire discography only those three songs lacked English, I meant the entire discography. I went back and checked through all the sub songs and, sure enough, they all included lyrics in another language. This threw a bit of a wrench into that original interpretation I had seen tossed around. There is no reason nor indication that the characters are being actively dishonest or performative during these songs.
Maybe the question isn't just why is there a lack of English, but also why is there even English (and Spanish in Till's case) in the first place?
The probable answer is simply that modern Kpop is hugely influenced by African American (and Latin to a lesser extent) music. Elements of Rap, R&B and Latin Pop can be seen all over modern Kpop. It's a very well known and documented thing. The globalization of Kpop has also led to more English being introduced into songs. The English is, therefore, more of a convention of the genre than anything story related. This is the likley metatexutal reason.
Now for the textual reason. I propose the exact opposite interpretation of the full Korean songs. I think it represents the characters lying to themselves and each other about the nature of their situations. Not out of any malice, but out of a genuine love for the other person. Not wanting their last moments together to be tainted by the complexities of their relationships.
Every romantic relationship in Alien Stage is built upon a fundamental misunderstanding of the other person. Mizi and Sua who each put the other on a pedastal while not addressing the flaws of the other. Till and Ivan who believe the other dislikes them, while they care. Luka and Hyuna who both yearn to control the relationship and infantalize/objectify the other. Yet as the saying goes "rose tinted glasses turn all the red flags into flags." Each of the couples' songs reflects this dichotomy.
"My Clematis" is both Sua and Mizi putting their heads in the sand for the sake of the other. The refusal to see the other as anything less than perfect in the final hour. Deification as a way to cope with the reality they both know is about to crash down on them. Sua who is planning on dying for Mizi without thinking about what Mizi wants. Mizi, who knows what Sua is planning but does not wish to acknowledge it. "Always by my side" until they weren't.
Now onto "Cure". It is stated in the artbook that the original IvanTill relationship was too close to the MiziSua dynamic, so the focus was shifted onto themes of obsession. Their relationship was one where any expression of emotions was seen as a positive thing. There is a constant talk in the song about "scars". The wish to be hurt, to be scared and marked by the one you love. To hurt is to love. This is their version of the comforting lie. The refusal to to acknowledge that they loved and hurt each other; that the love doesnt negate the hurt. This manifests physically in the infamous kiss scene where Ivan kisses and chokes Till. Literally both loving and hurting him at the same time. Something Till doesnt come to terms with until the "Scars" comic.
"Wiege" is a very interesting case. Out of the three main couple songs, this is the only one that is completly non-diagetic, outiside of the monologue. This means that it is the only song out of those three that is not sung in-universe at that moment. Every song in Alien Stage has non-diagetic elements to them, but this is the only one (outside of Karma) that has no indication that it is being sung in-universe. I hammer this point home as it would be a fair assumption that this song only exists to us the audience. However, we do have an implication that the song does actually exist, and when it could have been sung. In the Anakt Garden book it is stated that Hyuna composed a lullaby that became a hit among the kids of the Garden. We can safely assume this is "Wiege" and it wouldnt be a leap to assume that it is child Hyuna and Luka singing during the MV. This is their comforting lie. They emotionally stunted each other and as such are both stuck in the past. The choice of a lullaby is also telling as to this matter. It is something you'd sing to a child, using metaphor to avoid talking about "complicated subjects". It is infantalizing, it is both of them going "I know better, if only you had listened to me." It's a condesending form of love. Their refusal to see each other as equals deserving of respect and to see each other as anything more than children. It isnt until Hyuna is dead that Luka is forced to confront the past and look towards the future.
"Karma" is more or less a continuation of "My Clematis". Whereas "Cure" and "Wiege" are bookended with the illusion being shattered by the death (as shown by the lack of lyrics after), "My Clematis" continues after Sua dies. Mizi has the highest mental strength for better and worse, so this even doesnt shatter her illusion. She does actually grow in the time between the beggining and the end, as shown visually through her hair. That all crashes down even harder as Mizi loses Ivan, Till and Hyuna all in one fell swoop. To make it worse, Luka, who she sees the worst parts of herself in, lives. "Karma" is Mizi falling into a cynical view of the world. Her fragile god is dead, her friends are dead, her "antagonist" is alive. Nothing matters anymore. Might as well burn it all down so they can all be together. This is yet another comforting lie. The lie that there is nothing worth living for and that humanity is rotten at its core. It is an absolution to die in that fire. The literal illusion being the kids falling in the sky. Like in every other song, this illusion is also shattered. Not by a death, but by a chance at life. Till was still alive. This is where the lyrics finally cut out for Mizi, as she begs Issac to save her friend. The story ends with an act of love and hope being what breaks the final illusion.
That is why I believe that the lack of English is representative of a comforting illusion. An act of imperfect love. For as messy as the love between these characters was, it was love too.
(Part 2 on what the songs with English reveal about their characters...eventually.)
