“Step Back” isn’t the “gaslight, gatekeep, girlboss” anthem that we all wanted from the ‘GOT the Beat’.
On January 1, 2022, SM Entertainment’s newest supergroup project ‘GOT the Beat’ debuted with the track “Step Back” at the ‘SMTOWN Live 2022: SMCU EXPRESS @ KWANGYA’ free online concert. And while their stage was mind-blowing and truly of SM Entertainment’s quality, the song’s lyrics weren’t as amazing.
In fact, it drew in a lot of flak from fans who have expressed their love and excitement in seeing female idol icons, who shine in their own different ways, all in one group. The lyrics of ‘Step Back’ literally made these female idols take a step back from what they are trying to represent in the K-Pop industry. Like, just look at BoA and her song “Woman”, and Red Velvet’s “Queendom”. Yes, those are girl anthems we absolutely LOVE.
In short, ‘Step Back’ as an entire song is a narrative of a woman telling another to get away from her man. Take a look at the line, “step back, step back, silly girl”. Yup, very anti-feminist and gives off a very strong feeling of “being written by a man”.
And yes, it was written by a man—a misogynistic one at that.
Fans’ reactions to the lyrics were a bit mixed as well, while some have criticized it for “pitting women against each other just for a man”, some have said that “they would feel the same way if another girl was talking to their man.”
It didn’t have to be a girl power feminist anthem, sure, but it definitely didn’t have to be about putting down some “silly girl” for some lame ass man either
— K.Lo (@bossbaechu) January 1, 2022
was too distracted by the talent so i watched step back again to read the lyrics
cant believe sm set up got the beat to be a girl power anthem when the lyrics lowkey reek of misogyny 😭
— 에스프레소 (@aespresso_2) January 1, 2022
i’d tell a silly girl to step back too if she wanted my man too idk what to tell you https://t.co/4OesmTdhlN
— ً (@tweIveseven) January 1, 2022
“step back step back silly girl” 😭😭😭😭😭 they said pic.twitter.com/pkNFloSpZO
— maz (@ksgparks) January 1, 2022
Yall barely empower Girl Groups PERIOD to suddenly care about girl empowerment lyrics. If you don’t STEP BACK STEP BACK Silly Girl and enjoy this Cuntress music please. Y’all always tryna be woke when it don’t matter 😭
— 𝔾𝕆𝕋: 𝔹𝕒𝕕 𝔹𝕚𝕥𝕔𝕙𝕖𝕤? ⚡️ (@SideShowShit) January 1, 2022
I'm screaming tho isn't the concept of the group supposed to be bringing women together and they got the seven of them saying step back from their man and calling women silly girls 😭
— spiritual propulsion (@dalsogucci) January 1, 2022
step back’s lyrics are giving… pic.twitter.com/GgqLSdBHJv
— sandy freckle (@hyobvious) January 1, 2022
queendom step back pic.twitter.com/cNRhf3US4P
— sunn | top surgery d-2 (@seiyacidal) January 1, 2022
Step Back lyrics pic.twitter.com/PSrQiXatLn
— A🧠 (@fofequis) January 1, 2022
Step Back officialy out on streaming platforms tonight pic.twitter.com/Cuhe6iuLhK
— NOT Kim Taeyeon (@lesbianincel2) January 2, 2022
step back lyrics: pic.twitter.com/csY0MgfijG
— ☥ (@doIIable) January 1, 2022
wenseul must have felt really weird singing those lyrics after singing lyrics like Mosquito and Queendom.. the legit step back from feminism
— 🎗 cw our beloved summer (@_dumbdumb_) January 1, 2022
you all are so pathetic for blaming the GIRLS for the lyrics of step back instead of the producers and company.
— nav (@reneults) January 1, 2022
me pretending not to understand the step back lyrics pic.twitter.com/b6PpgQO2Fv
— bee (@taengab) January 1, 2022
so a lot of korean fans are mad about the step back lyrics and mostly blaming ryan jhun but how why do i see some of these people acting like it's girls fault? yall obviously being ageist too
— gianna (@intorevezkdlin) January 1, 2022
word on kr twt is ryan jhun wrote the lyrics for step back… well that sure explains some things
— 👻🌸 (@ultseul) January 1, 2022
GOT the beat Step Back review:
Vocals: YES
Visuals: YES
Performance: YES
Lyrics: NO— stay with u💗 (@irenebaechu_jh) January 1, 2022
step back is like song being sung by a group of teenage girls fighting over a man not knowing their own self worth im sorry the lyricist really did all these seven women dirty 😭
— gianna (@intorevezkdlin) January 1, 2022
What do you guys think? Did the producers did these seven amazing women dirty, or are fans reading into it too much?
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