It’s here now. The intentional building of a seamless bridge into Western pop has completed construction. From being “in your area”, to the billions of youtube views, to Coachella, to world topping singles. These were feats unheard of before Blackpink, and now as the vaunted members begin their solo endeavors.

Pre-planned and choreographed careers are a driving theme in Rosé’s “turn” at a solo offering. Stacked with innuendo of the emptiness from success and stardom, Rosé echoes the pain and sacrifice we’ve been hearing from American pop stars for decades now. But from a grim perspective in an industry that while growing in transparency is still controlling, demanding, and far behind in the kind of fairness and respect we’d expect.

The song presents itself initially as a softer acoustic ballad and it’s tough not to draw lines of inspiration to angst queen Tay Tay (even the country twang coming out in Rosé’s all-english vocals and her Kiwi-Aussie upbringing). The Michelle Branch guitar bridge pleasantly turns to EDM vibes of Kesha and Gaga with driving bassy synth instrumentals and ad-libbing with an added retro feel ala Annie Lennox in the last outtro. To not even mention the breathtaking vocal peak and high note Rosé hits with her breathy cadence at the 2:22 mark–my goodness girl her ‘ground’ is just a host of iconic inspiration.

Blackpink is/was a phenomenon and to bear witness to the solo careers of these women continuing to prosper after surviving the gauntlet of industry—‘inspiring’ is the smallest of words.