First debut song MAMA by K-pop band called EXO shows concern about netiquette issues around the world by having a phrase that is asking his mama(mother) why this world have changed so far. This could deliver magnificent and horrific mood as the style of the song carries growling(one skill commonly used for rock musics, using inner part of throat to make scratchy sound) and opera-liked singing skills.
EXO commonly use metaphors such as “smart prison”, which is metaphor that illustrating people who use their most of time like a prisoner who cannot do other activities instead, and using mobile phones(also known as ‘smart’ phone) all the time. Also he uses phrase “anonymous mask” for people who hides themselves with nicknames on social media, curse other people behind their nickname as people cannot recognise who is who. Author repeats some of the lyrics to emphasise what he opinion he wills to deliver to audience, such as repeating the first and the last stanza of the song. The author’s hope for people to communicate face by face not through internet or social media, and saying issues accruing because of social media is “careless, heartless and mindless”, and keep saying in a metaphor that communications and relationships are not game or war.
As this song is the first song sang by new K-pop group, which was unique and interesting to the listeners, because normal singers usually like to sing about their love stories or happy mood lyrics, but EXO talks about an issue going around the world instead of that, which could have been huge damage for them as this song did not went as familiar as other K-pop songs, but it was such a great opportunity for them to talk about social issues.
Korean Lyrics - EXO MAMA
Careless careless
Shoot anonymous anonymous
Heartless mindless
No one who care about me
잃어버린 채 외면하는 것 같아
참을 수밖에 없어
눈을 감지만
마마 이젠 내게 대답해줘
왜 사람들이 달라졌는지
아름다운 시절이라는게
존재하긴 했는지
이제 더는 사랑하는 법도 잊었고
배려하는 맘도 잃었고
등을 돌린 채로 살아가기 바쁜걸
익명의 가면에 감췄던 살의 가득한 질시
끝을 봐도 배고픈 듯한
이젠 만족해?
우린 더 이상 눈을 마주 하지 않을까
소통하지 않을까
사랑하지 않을까
아픈 현실에
다시 눈물이 흘러
바꿀 수 있다고 바꾸면 된다고
말해요 마마 마마
언젠가부터 우린
스마트한 감옥에 자발적으로 갇혀
0과 1로 만든 디지털에
내 인격을 맡겨
거긴 생명도 감정도 따듯함도 없고
언어 쓰레기만
나뒹구는 삭막한 벌판
날이 갈수록 외로움만 더해져
우리가 인간일 수밖에 없는 건
상처 받는 것
만나고 손을 잡고
느끼며 함께 울고 웃고
닮아가고 서로 연결돼
돌이키고 싶다면
우린 더 이상 눈을 마주 하지 않을까
소통하지 않을까
사랑하지 않을까
아픈 현실에
다시 눈물이 흘러
바꿀 수 있다고 바꾸면 된다고
말해요 마마 마마
Turnback!
죽고 죽이고 싸우고 외치고
이건 전쟁이 아니야
도와줘요 마마마마 마마마마
Turn back
깨닫게 마마마마 마마마마
Rolling back
박고 치고 편을 나누고 싸우고
이건 게임도 아니야
도와줘요 마마마마 마마마마
Turn back
Yeah-
Careless careless (마마)
Shoot anonymous anonymous(마마)
Heartless mindless(마마)
No one who care about me(마마)
삶에 허락된 축복받은
날들에 감사하고
매일 새로운 인연들을 만들고
깨져버린 마음에
보다 기쁜 사랑을 모두 함께
웃을 수 있다면
우린 더 이상 눈을 마주 하지 않을까
소통하지 않을까 사랑하지 않을까
아픈 현실에 다시 눈물이 흘러
바꿀 수 있다고 바꾸면 된다고
말해요 마마 마마
Careless careless Shoot anonymous anonymous
Heartless mindless No one who care about me
English translated lyrics
Careless, careless.
Shoot anonymous, anonymous.
Heartless, mindless.
No one. who care about me?
I guess I have no choice but to tolerate who was lost outside
Even though I close my eyes
MAMA! Answer me, why did the people change
Did they notice the existence of that time
I have forgotten how to just hear, love and care, no longer but lost
Turning their backs while working while living
Full of envy behing that anonymous mask
Even after seeing the end, you’re still full with hunger
Are you satisfied now?
Wouldn’t we face our eyes anymore?
Wouldn’t we communicate? Wouldn’t we love?
Tearing up to the reality that hurts
Say MAMA if you can change it, say MAMA
From a day we were behind the bars of a smart prison voluntarily
0 & 1 were used digitally to make my personality
There is no life, feelings and warmth over there, there is only trashy language
There’s a wilderness of a self-desolated one
Lonliness increases as days go by
As human beings we can only be hurt. Yeah-
Laugh, cry all together, holding hands meeting that feeling
Each resemble and connect to each other
If you ever want to recover.
Wouldn’t we face our eyes anymore?
Wouldn’t we communicate? Wouldn’t we love?
Tearing up to the reality that hurts
Say MAMA if you can change it, say MAMA
Turnback!
Die, kill, shout the fight. This is not a war
MAMA MAMA MAMA MAMA Help me to Turn back
MAMA MAMA MAMA MAMA Aware of Rolling back
Getting hit and back, sharing sides, this is not even a game
MAMA MAMA MAMA MAMA Help me to Turn back
Yeah-
Careless, careless. (MAMA) Shoot anonymous, anonymous. (MAMA)
Heartless, mindless. (MAMA) No one. Who care about me? (MAMA)
I’m grateful to be allowed to live in this blessed days
Every day creating new ties
Sharing good love with everyone rather than shattered hearts
If you can still smile
Wouldn’t we face our eyes anymore?
Wouldn’t we communicate? Wouldn’t we love?
Tearing up to the reality that hurts
Say MAMA if you can change it, say MAMA
Careless, careless. Shoot anonymous, anonymous.
Heartless, mindless. No one. Who care about me?
