NewJeans Cool With You: Stunning Visuals and Secret Messages Explained

"Cool With You" by NewJeans captivated global audiences when it was released on July 21, 2023, as part of their second EP "Get Up." The UK garage and bedroom pop track, despite its brief 2:27 runtime, made a significant impact, peaking at number 22 on the Global 200 chart and securing the number 4 spot in Hong Kong.

Interestingly, the song's music video comes in two parts—Side A and Side B—both directed by Shin Wooseok and filmed in Barcelona, Spain. The "Cool With You" NewJeans story draws inspiration from the ancient Greek myth of Cupid and Psyche, specifically referencing François-Édouard Picot's 1817 painting "L'Amour et Psyché." Furthermore, the "Cool With You" NewJeans music video meaning deepens with appearances from acclaimed actors HoYeon Jung and Tony Leung, with Leung portraying the antagonist Aphrodite. The "Cool With You" NewJeans lyrics in English, coupled with the stunning visuals, earned the song critical acclaim, notably securing the ninth position on Time Out's list of the best songs of 2023.

The story behind 'Cool With You'

NewJeans' journey with "Cool With You" began in mid-2023, marking an important milestone in their rapidly growing discography. The song's creation and placement within their second EP showcases the group's distinctive sound and collaborative approach.

Release timeline and context

"Cool With You" officially dropped on July 21, 2023, through ADOR as part of NewJeans' second EP, "Get Up". However, fans received an early treat when the dual Side A and Side B music videos appeared on Hybe's YouTube channel two days before the song's streaming release. This strategic rollout followed "Super Shy," which had been released two weeks earlier.

This release strategy positioned "Cool With You" as one of three lead tracks for the EP, alongside "Super Shy" and "ETA". The EP also included three additional tracks: "New Jeans," "Get Up," and "ASAP", establishing an ambitious project where all five full songs received music videos.

Who wrote and produced the song?

The creation of "Cool With You" showcases NewJeans' collaborative approach to music-making. Group member Danielle contributed to the lyrics alongside Gigi, Kim Dong-hyun, Erika de Casier, and Fine Glindvad Jensen. This highlights the group's involvement in their creative process beyond just performing.

For composition, Park Jin-soo, Frankie Scoca, Erika de Casier, and Fine Glindvad Jensen combined their talents. The production was handled by FRNK and Frankie Scoca, with Park Jin-su also credited as a producer on some sources. This international collaboration brought diverse influences to the track.

How it fits into the 'Get Up' EP

As the fourth track on "Get Up", "Cool With You" perfectly embodies the EP's overall aesthetic, which draws from R&B and dance styles including UK garage, drum and bass, Baltimore, and Jersey club.

The song stands out with its UK garage rhythm foundation that showcases NewJeans' distinctive vocals. Their falsetto performances create a restrained tone that complements the sophisticated garage/house rhythm inspired by late 90s pop. Though brief at just over two minutes, the track delivers a complete experience.

Lyrically, "Cool With You" aligns with the EP's themes around friendship and love. In the song, NewJeans candidly express feelings toward a partner while remaining unconcerned about others' opinions, reflecting the authentic voice that has helped the group become "one of the biggest names in K-pop".

Breaking down the music video (Side A and B)

Director Wooseok Shin crafted the dual music videos for "Cool With You" as a cohesive narrative that reimagines ancient mythology through a modern lens. The videos, designated as Side A and Side B, unfold a story that captivates viewers with both its visual splendor and symbolic depth.

Setting and visual style

Shot in Barcelona, Spain, both videos feature stunning cinematography that establishes a dreamlike atmosphere. Side A utilizes muted colors and soft lighting to emphasize the protagonist's invisibility, creating a sense of isolation. Throughout the video, the visual style shifts between reality and fantasy, particularly evident in scenes where Jung Hoyeon moves unnoticed among crowds. Side B, conversely, employs warmer tones and more intimate framing once Hoyeon becomes visible, significantly altering the emotional tone of the story.

Cupid and Psyche: the myth retold

The "cool with you newjeans story" cleverly reimagines the Greek myth of Cupid and Psyche with a gender reversal. In Side A, this connection is explicitly established when Danielle presents François-Édouard Picot's 1817 painting "L'Amour et Psyché" to museum visitors. This painting depicts the tale of forbidden love between the god Eros (Cupid) and the mortal Psyche. Essentially, the music video transforms this narrative by casting Hoyeon as Cupid/Eros, who traditionally helped humans fall in love but remained invisible to them.

Tony Leung and HoYeon Jung's roles

Jung Hoyeon portrays Cupid with subtle emotional depth, initially appearing as an invisible entity who connects people romantically but longs for love herself. In Side B, she transitions to human form, finally visible to her love interest portrayed by Micol Vela. Tony Leung makes a brief yet powerful appearance in Side B as the antagonist – interpreted as Aphrodite/Venus, who interferes with the love story out of jealousy. Interestingly, Leung reportedly declined payment for his cameo, calling it "a small gift for my fans in Korea."

The transition from Side A to Side B

The narrative shift between videos occurs when Hoyeon's character decides to abandon her divine role. Side A concludes with her symbolically shedding her clothes, representing her sacrifice of immortality for love. Consequently, Side B begins with her now visible to humans and able to form a relationship with her beloved. The NewJeans members appear throughout both videos as angels or muses, silently observing and empathizing with Hoyeon's journey. The story ultimately turns bittersweet when Leung's character causes Hoyeon to become invisible again, leading to the heartbreaking scene where her lover no longer sees her.

Symbolism and hidden meanings

Beneath the surface narrative of the "Cool With You" music videos lies a rich tapestry of symbols and hidden meanings that elevate the storytelling beyond its visual beauty.

Cupid's invisibility and emotional distance

The invisibility of Jung Hoyeon's character serves as a powerful metaphor for emotional disconnection. As Cupid, she orchestrates love for others yet remains detached from experiencing it herself. Her job of connecting couples becomes "a mechanical task that loses its meaning," portraying the paradox of being surrounded by love yet unable to participate in it. Indeed, her invisibility symbolizes how those who facilitate love often remain unseen and unappreciated.

The painting 'L'Amour et Psyché' and its role

François-Édouard Picot's 1817 painting functions as both narrative device and foreshadowing element. The artwork depicts Cupid leaving Psyche's side before dawn, keeping his divine identity secret. In the music video, this painting becomes the turning point where Cupid discovers her own capacity for love. Subsequently, it serves as a premonition of her fate – highlighting how even divine beings must struggle to understand their feelings.

Aphrodite's interference and modern parallels

Tony Leung embodies Aphrodite/Venus with "skeptical and ominous" energy, representing jealousy and authority that restricts love. His character casts a spell making Cupid invisible again and causing her beloved to forget her. Hence, this interference parallels modern societal constraints on relationships – particularly fitting for idols who "are expected to portray romantic ideals but are never allowed to actually pursue it for themselves."

What the angels represent

NewJeans members portray guardian angels throughout both videos, functioning similarly to a Greek chorus – observing the story without directly participating. In essence, they "represent the Muse – the symbol of the arts in mythological narrative." Their presence bridges the gap between divine and human worlds, as they can see Cupid while remaining connected to the mortal realm.

How love is portrayed as both seen and unseen

Throughout the narrative, love exists in dual states – visible and invisible. The central message suggests that "even the Goddess of Love has to struggle to understand her feelings." Most powerfully, Cupid can only truly experience love after giving up her divine powers and becoming human, illustrating how authentic connection requires vulnerability and sacrifice.

Reception and fan response

Following its July 2023 release, "Cool With You" made a significant impact in both music charts and cultural conversations, with its striking visuals playing a central role in the song's reception.

Critical acclaim and chart performance

"Cool With You" earned critical recognition for its musical innovation, notably securing the ninth position on Time Out's list of the best songs of 2023. Music critics identified the track as "firmly rooted in UK garage" with impressive "individual runs and beautifully layered harmonies" throughout.

Internationally, the song achieved remarkable chart success, reaching number 22 on the Billboard Global 200. Additionally, it performed strongly in Asian markets, peaking at number 4 in Hong Kong and Singapore, number 6 in Taiwan, and number 14 in South Korea. The track also made appearances on Western charts, reaching number 40 in Australia, number 57 in Canada, and number 93 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Fan theories and interpretations

The dual music videos sparked extensive discussions across social media platforms and online communities. On TheQoo, Korean netizens developed detailed interpretations of the mythological elements, with one popular theory explaining: "She (Jung Ho Yeon) follows a woman throughout the day and connects her to the perfect man when he shows up". Many fans identified Jung Ho Yeon's character as Eros/Cupid, with NewJeans members representing guardian angels.

On Reddit, viewers compared the story to "The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue" and shared enthusiastic reactions: "This is so unique... after watching both I think I got the gist of it but I need to rewatch them more to fully decipher it". Further interpretations suggested the videos offered commentary on how "idols are expected to portray romantic ideals but are never allowed to actually pursue it for themselves".

How the visuals enhanced the song's popularity

The high-production quality and star-studded cast undoubtedly boosted the song's appeal. Tony Leung's appearance was considered "a HUGE get for NewJeans," especially given that he reportedly participated without payment, calling it "a small gift for my fans in Korea".

Furthermore, the artistic direction received widespread praise, with fans describing the videos as "GORGEOUS" and noting "the aesthetic cinema have sparked discussions on various online communities and social media platforms". This visual storytelling approach created a multi-layered experience that encouraged repeated viewing, as evidenced by comments like "I'm probably gonna be replying back to it because I feel like there's missing parts".