BIBI’s “Animal Farm” & Oppression in the Music Industry
Many of us are familiar with the story of Animal Farm. A group of animals rebelled against their master and drove him off the farm. A system known as “animalism” was put into place to ensure that all animals were treated equally. A group of pigs who were considered the “smartest” of the animals was appointed the leaders, and ultimately became power-hungry and oppressed the animals just as their master did. These events were inspired by the Russian Revolution of 1917, in which the monarchy was overthrown by the revolutionaries and was replaced with a socialist form of government. However, it was not long before leaders such as Stalin became power-crazed and took advantage of the people as well.
Major recurrent themes in Animal Farm include class struggle or antagonism, power dynamics, and inequality. Although these themes were discussed in the context of the political turmoil of the Russian Revolution and the aftermath of World War II, George Orwell’s novel became a source of inspiration for works in numerous and diverse fields, including music. In the song I am discussing today, a few of these themes are further explored through the lens of an artist working in the music industry.
South Korean singer-songwriter, BIBI, recently released a new single called “Animal Farm”, a suspenseful, yet melancholic tune that talks about the consequences of being subjected to those in positions of power. One may consider the music video more surprising than the lyrics, as it is jam-packed with blood and gore, and is reminiscent of a typical Quentin Tarantino film. I was immediately intrigued by the concept and decided I wanted to break down the lyrics, which are in Korean, for English-speaking audiences such as myself.
And so we begin.
As the music video starts, the camera pans onto BIBI, who is kneeling down on a table with an apple in her mouth, much like a roasted pig. Surrounding her are men with white masks, patiently waiting to dine. Roasted pig is considered a delicacy in many countries, and is typically afforded by the wealthy and affluent. Around her, glasses of champagne and luxurious dishes are being served to the guests.
Verse #1 - Hypocrisy
Words of sin Masks of hypocrisy Overflowing in the ballroom Champagne popping Wine and bread The dance of stuffed pigs
My first thought is that BIBI is commenting on how she is the center of attention for many powerful men in the music industry. These men are masked, implying that they probably work behind the scenes unlike her. Although these men consider her (the roasted pig) a “delicacy”, they are also taking advantage of her by “feeding” on her. Perhaps BIBI has dealt with issues of being objectified as a female artist in the industry and feels as if her work is valued less than her physical appearance.
The image of champagne is analogous to the image of whiskey in Animal Farm and represents corruption. One of the commandments of animalism was that no animal would be allowed to consume alcohol, yet after gaining power, the pigs felt they could break the rule by drinking whiskey. In the context of the entertainment industry, this could be alluding to the fact that many record labels and music producers have the final call on the work an artist ultimately releases – that is, which works the label believes will be most profitable for them. In most cases, the artist is forced to accept these decisions or risk getting fired by their record label.
Welcome, well done Shameless friends of mine Who’s next Hang my pretty head in your room Where is love? Where is my sympathy? What have we lost? Is it a farm? Is it society? Am I a tiger or a gazelle?
BIBI addresses how people shamelessly use her for their own gain. She questions the lack of sympathy her so-called “friends” have for her and draws attention to the destruction their actions have caused. My assumption is that, once BIBI realized these people were taking advantage of her for personal gains, she cut ties with them. This obviously had negative consequences. I found her question about whether the world is a farm or society particularly interesting. In an ideal society, people are thought to live alongside each other in peace and harmony, while relationships are built on trust and community. On a farm, however, animals are raised in a structured environment and are only kept and nurtured until they are discarded for food - much like record labels that only keep an artist for as long as they are profitable. In BIBI’s view, the lines between these two extremes are blurring. Soon enough, will artists just be treated like farm animals that can be discarded?
Pre-chorus- Hidden Struggles
“It might be pretty, it might be beautiful…This might be right, this might be justice,” BIBI says in the post-chorus. From the outside, BIBI’s situation, like many artists, might seem positive. After all, she is in the spotlight, goes on concert tours, and is constantly meeting famous people. What could be so bad about her life? What many people are not aware of, however, is the oppression many artists like herself face behind the scenes in the music industry - that beyond the smiles and cheers, there are struggles unknown to us listeners.
Chorus- Revenge
Suddenly, the music video takes a dark turn. BIBI picks up a long sword, jumps onto the table, and slashes the neck of the man sitting at the head of it. One by one, she kills off the rest of the men in the dining room. Finally, she stops at a glass showcase with an electric guitar inside. She shoots it open with a gun, takes out the guitar, and begins playing an epic solo in her bloody white dress – surrounded by the countless dead bodies of the men she killed.
But I, sing to death the song of lies Dance along to death the dance of the devils The center of the grand feast Under the big guillotine To whom does the rolling head belong
By going along with the demands of those in power, BIBI is contributing to the very thing she despises. The fact that she has limited control over her creative work and expression makes her feel like she is not her own person, and has lost a sense of her identity. I believe the electric guitar symbolizes her desire to break free from the restraints of the industry and find her own voice.
I thought it was very creative of BIBI to draw inspiration from Animal Farm in the process of creating this song and music video. It goes to show that more than 80 years later, Orwell’s story remains relevant in modern society. Unfortunately, this also means that issues of power dynamics and inequality are also still pervasive in society and across cultures and industries. Who would have imagined that the message of Animal Farm, an allegory of the 1917 Russian Revolution could be so perfectly encapsulated in a South Korean song released in 2022? I admire BIBI’s courage to come to terms with some serious issues she has experienced, and through highly creative means too.
do u think like in college hannibal was already eating people but not a very good cook yet. 20-something hannibal like cooking up some instant ramen and tossing some Man Chunks in there. slicing up his man and putting him between two slices of white bread
“read the books” no <3 i create my own canon in my head based on what i personally find the funniest and what i find funniest is hannibal making ramen with people meat
