‘GANADARA’ Review: Jay Park and IU’s Alphabet Song

On March 11, Jay Park unveiled his new single “GANADARA” featuring the artist IU. “GANADARA” marks the first single from Park’s new label More Vision, which he established earlier this month after stepping down as CEO of AOMG and H1gher Music, labels he founded in 2013 and 2017, respectively. Alongside his new label, “GANADARA” inaugurates the next chapter of Park’s career.

A bubbly R&B duet between two lovers, “GANADARA” is sung from the perspective of each lover who struggles to communicate with the other due to a language barrier. Fittingly, its title takes from the first four consonants of the Korean alphabet. Much like the ABC song, “ganadara” is often sung by kids when learning Korean. At first listen, “GANADARA” may sound like some kind of incantation along the lines of abracadabra — not quite, but not too far off either. “Ganadara” marks the beginning of a learning process, or as connoted here, love, a feeling no less than magical. By reciting the letters, Jay Park hopes to learn more about his lover and her language.

The other lover is played by IU, a Korean singer-songwriter and actress. Both Park and IU debuted in 2008 and have grown into giants of K-pop in the last decade. Because they dominate different sectors of K-pop, many were pleasantly surprised by the way that the unexpected collaboration hinged at R&B. The piece is also just in time for White Day, a romantic holiday celebrated in Asia on March 14.

In contrast to Jay Park’s usual repertoire heavily rooted in repetitive trap beats, tender lyricism is at the heart of “GANADARA.” Following a brief guitar intro, Jay Park starts out with a melodic rap line, showcasing the softer side of his vocal range. Slow and relaxed, the underlying beat creates a comfortable landing field for Park’s signature vocal licks and runs. The first verse contains the frustrations of one lover for not being able to put his feelings into words in a language he is unfamiliar with: “Even translators don’t help,” he sings.

The chorus, consisting of seven-syllable chants, is distinct and easy to follow, just as any alphabet song. The upbeat and catchy chorus then melts into the mellower second verse featuring IU, who offers words of reaffirmation after hearing her lover’s linguistic insecurities. IU’s airy vocal quality adds to her reassuring tone as she sings “Even if it isn’t perfect, / Don’t worry, I think I know how you feel.” While the verses themselves are repetitive in melody and lyrics, many lines return with a slight syncopation and melodic variations that diversify the sound. As a result, the song maintains both its sing-along and impromptu qualities.

One of the most refreshing elements of the song is its playfulness, which was enhanced by the music video that accompanied its release. Comic and light-hearted, the video consists of a story within a story showing the behind the scenes of Jay Park and IU’s collaboration. The skit brings to life the chemistry between the two artists and has garnered heated attention on social media. Additionally, the song is studded by amusing ad-libs, including IU’s real laughter that was left in the recording post-production.

Beyond just language barriers, larger themes of communication and empathy thread the piece and provide food for thought on relationships in general. Connection, romantic or not, takes more than spoken words; some emotions transcend language. In a sense, love itself is like learning a language: it requires all parties to take on a learner’s mindset, wipe away all preconceptions, and start from the very basics — namely, the ABC's, or “GANADARA.”

—Staff writer Bella Kim can be reached at bella.kim@thecrimson.com.