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A kpop girl group named IVE recently came back with a song called Either Way. The song has a more melancholic feel as it is much slower than some of their other releases. The song upon further listening and examining the lyrics proves want to be melancholic as the song does not pick up in tempo. The visuals in the music video also lend to this idea as the shots are of the singers looking downtrodden and upset by something. The ending shot of the music video is of someone crying while smiling.
The reason I examine this music video and the song first is because I want to establish what the song means before I even begin to associate The Great Gatsby with it. The overall tone of the song alone reminds me of the book as the song does not come across as too bright or happy but rather introspective and reflective. The chorus finally offers some happiness as the singers reveal that even though they have faced so much hardship they can still face either way.
https://genius.com/Genius-english-translations-ive-either-way-english-translation-lyrics
I talk about the countless versions of me created from misunderstandings
Either Way – IVE English translation on Genius
All of them are ‘me’ in the end
This line comes before the chorus where the singers talk about being fine with whichever side they are interpreted as. They have been placed in the spotlight as kpop idols and are constantly criticized for everything they do. They want their fans to know that their mindset still remains strong and that “Either Way I’m good” as the chorus starts. However, it is hard to tell if they truly feel good about themselves in the face of hate as the music video has multiple shots of them crying and looking upset. The final shots indicate at the very least that they have come to terms with themselves.
The Great Gatsby also deals with the perception of the spotlight and attention. Gatsby hosts these elaborate parties but nobody really knows who he is. One partygoer remarks, “There’s something funny about a fellow that’ll do a thing like that,” said the other girl eagerly. “He doesn’t want any trouble with anybody” (Chapter 3) because Gatsby is elusive on these nights. People go to the parties for fun but don’t even really know why they are there. They do not make the effort to meet the host, they just want to party. Daisy comments on this when she finally goes to one of Gatsby’s parties, “‘Lots of people come who haven’t been invited,” she said suddenly. “That girl hadn’t been invited. They simply force their way in and he’s too polite to object'” (Chapter 6). The public has an idea of Gatsby but they have yet to even meet the man. Gatsby does not seem to be bothered too much by this though as he remains isolated from everyone else at his parties. He throws them for Daisy to come so when he finally gets the verdict about whether or not they had been worth it, he is downtrodden. Daisy did not enjoy the party, she found it to be offensive to her. Gatsby just complies with everything she says or wants.
He also has been talked about as a criminal. Tom believes that he is involved in crime because he thinks that Gatsby is “Some big bootlegger?” (Chapter 6). Daisy is told by Gatsby that he is a drugstore owner but Gatsby is involved with Meyer Wolfsheim, a crime boss. Nick does not want to believe that Gatsby is a criminal but he has his own understanding of it. Nick tells Gatsby that he thinks he is better than everyone else and remarks to himself, “It was the only compliment I ever gave him, because I disapproved of him from beginning to end” (Chapter 8). So Nick must have come to terms with Gatsby’s business somehow.
Nick seems to believe that he and Gatsby have formed some kind of friendship that no one else had with him because he says, “I found myself on Gatsby’s side, and alone” (Chapter 9). Nobody had ever taken the time or effort to get to know Gatsby better and Nick felt alone. Nick is the only one who tries to find out who Gatsby is.
Gatsby has all these different sides to him that people see. When he dies, there is no one at the funeral who supposedly knew him beyond, Nick, his father, someone random, and his butler. He kept to himself so much that the public never got to know him. He might not be like the singers of Either Way as he was not good. He did not enjoy his isolation or perception. However, he still faces them nonetheless.
Beyond just the lyrical and visual elements of the song, the tone of the song reminded me of The Great Gatsby as Gatsby was a kind of sad figure who never really got the one thing he wanted and the song has a sadder feel to it. While the song ends on a happier note, The Great Gatsby does not end as happily as the song. The song celebrates overcoming hardship and enjoying life. The Great Gatsby speaks more of the continual movement of life.
