Subtle Hints

My 10vely Ten (pun totally intended) released Paint Me Naked today, and I’m very sure NCTzens, WayZenNis, Supporters and 10velies are mad proud of him!

So here’s my 10 favourite (pun totally intended, again) mentions of the song/MV!

1. The lyrics start off with “they say we should fall in line”, i.e. how people are always defining the social norms - rules to follow, how to behave, and what is expected of them. At the start, Ten listens to what is presumed these “norms” through his headphone, albeit his slightly annoyed face. Here, he throws away the headphone and show us how he express himself. How he dance. Who he truly is.

2. Again, he is confident to be doing what is uncommon. Walking on a dining table and being the only one defying the dress code for the somewhat formal setting, that is so Ten.

3. He is ready to be painted naked, i.e. letting you see his most truest form. Ten is so expressive through his dance, his music, his art, just him and what he says and what he thinks. It shows on his face. There is no filter. He’s at his most beautiful form and there’s nothing to hide.

4. Adding this here cos I just love the transition in his facial expression and mood.

5. Why is he on a busy road with moving vehicles? A road symbolises one’s life journey / the path one takes in life. Seems like our Ten is always taking risks in life. Ten is always saying how he is limitless and he believes there are limitless possibilities in life. You go, brother. I’m rooting for you!

6. Oh I wish there was more feature on the hoverboard (Dreamies can teach you, Ten, though I know you’ll ace it given your damn stability). I love the cameraworks here too, and Ten’s signature sassy face.

7. Dude, I’m always a fan of Ten’s little doodles, and I love how he’s leaving his artsy handprints in the MV itself. I recently bought a shirt designed by Ten, and I’m so proud of it. So proud of him!

8. The colour white represents purity / innocence like the birth of a newborn. A naked baby in his truest form. Did you also notice his jacket is painted with his little doodles and what stood out for me are those little daisies, and daisies too, symbolise purity and innocence. My thoughts on why Ten is pouring white paint on an already coloured painting is that he wants a rebirth / reform of something. He is giving birth to his own new self (again, away from what is already prescribed by societal norms). Only when something is painted white, can he give it new colours.

9. He chose these 6 colours. Raining over him. He is painting over. This is him. He runs, it’s his freedom. His smile, his happiest self. Oh and I love how the last chorus peaks up its climax (did I mention Ten’s vocals are heavenly when he did the doubling).

10. The ending, the ending, hands down. How did he strip off that jacket perfectly as though it is part of the choreography? Ten, only. Just Ten being Ten.

Thank you Ten, for always working hard. Giving us your best. For sharing your creativity, talent and art with us. Thank you for always showing us nothing is impossible and we can be limitless too. Thank you for telling us to be ourselves cos we are already beautiful. You’re beautiful too.

Please give Paint Me Naked lots of love, people! It’s a bop alright, and the whole MV is just aesthetically pleasing to look at. But what resonates most with me are the lyrics, the underlying meaning and some symbolism used in the MV.

Now I’m excited to see him perform this live in the music shows lined up this week! Go go Ten, we are rooting for you!

GROWING PAINS