Bad English in Kpop ... by artists who speak English

Bad Engrish in Asian music is not uncommon. In fact, bad English and Asian people generally go hand-in-hand.

But what bothers me most is when a Korean idol group promotes a song which has atrocious grammar and syntax (or just uses plain wrong English words) .... with an English speaker within the group.

This member is usually fluent as well as they have studied or grew up in an English (as the first language) speaking country (ie. America, Canada, etc...). To me, this does not make sense. Sometimes, Korean is their second language. So how can one royally fuck up in their first language?

For example (the name in brackets is the name of the person in the group who allegedly speaks English. Which is now put in question):

After School (Bekah) - "BANG"

 There is a lot wrong here.

"우리는!! Oh~ After!! School Up!!"

What does 'school up' mean? Is that the nerdy version of 'man up' ?

"T.R.Y. Do it now! ... T.R.Y. Pick it up!"

'Try do it now! Try pick it up!'. Did you mean: 'Try to do it now. Try to pick it up' ?

Looks like you girls just got school'd. (ohhhhh snap!)

 "So cool, So right, just so tasty. We bring it fast forward, the fellows go crazy"

Bekah. I love you so hard. You were one of my favourites before you were forced to graduate. But no. Even you know it in your heart that this was wrong. But I will give you the benefit of the doubt. You probably stood up for yourself and said, "Wtf is this shitty ass rap? How are we tasty? What does that last sentence even mean?!" and then got kicked the fuck out.

"To be raised for my life"

I actually cannot even fathom where they were trying to go with this one.

2NE1 (CL & Bom) - "Can't Nobody (ENGLISH VERSION)"

So this one is extra embarrassing because it is not even the Korean version I am critiquing. It is their ENGLISH version. From a group who has 2 members that speak English. In a 4 member group.

"Many style from A to Z"
Does this mean they are dressed in many styles ranging from A to Z?

"Dripped in shits you never heard"
lol. *insert 'dripped in shit' jokes*

"Haters can't never see me"
Okay so my street lingo isn't very good but, wouldn't this sound better if it were something like 'Haters can never see me' ? This is a prime example of double negatives making the situation more confusing.

"Asians we rise with the sun
Invasion, no mercy
Takeover"
This one is okay. I am just saying that this sounds like a threat.

"we thirsty"
lol. Way to point out the obvious.

(generally speaking though, 2NE1 is pretty good when using English)

San E - "Big Boy"

Look at San E. Trying to stay relevant after leaving JYP. Good for you. You deserved better treatment anyways, Eminine lol Eminem-sounding Korean man.

"I'm a big boy, make a big change. I'm a, I'm a big boy NEVER DON'T CRY. I'm a, I'm a big boy NEVER DON'T STOP" 

Wait a minute. Now, correct me if I am wrong. If one 'never doesn't cry', doesn't that double negative imply that he never stops crying? As with the second sentence, it would mean that he always stops whatever he is trying to accomplish. Sounds like a quitter to me!



f(x) (Krystal & Amber) - "Ice Cream"

 One commenter pointed out that "ice cream" sounds like "ass cream" here.

"You melt up my body and all my heart"
You might want to get that checked out.
Unless this is some dirty euphemism.

(to be fair, I had a hard time finding f(x) English flaws)

 

~*~*~

Take a lesson from people like G.NA and Ailee who can integrate their English proficiency effectively in their Korean songs without fucking it up.

(now, don't get me wrong. I understand that sometimes the producers and songwriters are the ones making the lyrics; so the artists have no real say in the writing. I am just saying that maybe someone [who knows that the lyrics in English are blatantly wrong] could heavily suggest a re-write in the lyrics so that it makes sense [and so that the group does not look so foolish to English speakers]. But maybe I am asking too much from slave-driven idols) 

List other offenders in the comment section below! Or send them to me however else you want to reach me. You know all the methods. I take payment in cash or cheque.

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