Body fixation can only end badly

SINGAPORE - After listening to Hyomin's song Nice Body, the first thought that came to mind was: Man, am I glad my only child is a boy! My three-year-old son happens to be a huge fan of T-ara - the gorgeous K-pop sextet of which Hyomin is a member - and he's had endless fun dancing to their sprightly ditties like Bo Beep Bo Beep, Roly Poly, and Number Nine.

Catchy, infectious and filled with punchy hooks, T-ara's tunes are also winners because of their simple, inane lyrics. (Number Nine contains the lines: "Only you can make me laugh/ Only you can make me cry/ You are my Tuxedo Mask"). Ironically, it is precisely the lyrics of Hyomin's Nice Body that made me frown.

What if I had a K-pop fanatic daughter ready to worship her idols' words?

Would she be inspired to starve herself to look especially slim, which is what Hyomin advocates in Nice Body?

Not just a song

I can see some of you saying that it's okay, it's just a song.

Well, it's NOT okay. Crash diets are dangerous.

Do you want your children to have the false impression that love is only for the thin? (A terrible impression we all know is untrue.)

More girls - of all ages - should know that there are men who adore women with curves, women who are healthy and happy.

The consequences of poor self-image is well known. Should we put up with those who put forward ideas that could start feelings of insecurity over physical image? Insecurity that can start the downward spiral of low self-esteem, eating disorders, depression... The list goes on.

Given that Hyomin is a role model to legions of youngsters, her solo debut is, sadly, disappointing and ill-considered.

T-ara remains my son's favourite pop group, but don't bet on me including Nice Body on our YouTube favourites playlist. He might be a boy, but that doesn't mean he should live in Hyomin's realm of superficiality.

Nice body lyrics

Translated lyrics from a few verses of Nice Body:

All girls want to show some skin 
All girls go on a diet at least once 
All girls want to be loved 
A prince of my dreams will appear for sure

(Not eating what I want to) 
I will be strong 
(I will endure through the pain) 
I will become pretty 
I will fall in love, I will show everyone 
I will change 
You do deserve it

My body is a nice nice body 
Long legs, sexy waist 
(Give me love, give me love, give me love)

My body is a nice nice body 
Everyone is shocked, everyone falls for me 
Now no one can look down on me

Source: www.kpoplyrics.net

 
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