TWICE's song 'What Is Love?' explores the theme of curiosity and yearning to understand the emotion of love as depicted in popular culture. The lyrics are penned by J.Y. Park and depict the members of TWICE expressing their wonderment about what the feeling of love is truly like. They refer to how love is shown in movies, books, and dramas, and how they long to experience it themselves firsthand. The song conveys a sense of innocent desire and the anticipation of love that they have only learned about secondhand through various media.
The emotional journey of 'What Is Love?' begins with an innocent curiosity about love. The members of TWICE have seen love portrayed in films and literature, and they express a longing to understand this mysterious emotion. They are filled with questions, daydreams, and the exhilaration that accompanies the idea of experiencing love. Their hearts flutter with excitement at the notion, reflecting a youthful and pure yearning.
As the song progresses, there is a sense of eager anticipation. The members of TWICE fantasize about when love will finally come their way, contemplating the kind of person they will fall for and when their story will begin. There's a deep yearning in their voices, a heartfelt desire to know when they too will feel the sweetness of love that they've heard is like candy, or that makes you feel like you're flying.
Amidst the dreaming and yearning, there's also a hint of trepidation. The members confess that the intensity of their own imaginations makes them feel like their hearts might burst. They recognize the potential vulnerability that comes with falling in love, acknowledging that it could be overwhelming to the point of tears when it does happen. This layer of uncertainty adds depth to their emotional journey.
Towards the end, their journey is filled with determination and readiness. The refrain 'I wanna know' echoes as a mantra through the song, capturing the drive to discover love for themselves. Despite not knowing when or where they'll find it, there's confidence in their premonition that when love does arrive, it will be wondrous, even surpassing the love stories they've witnessed in media.
"사랑을 느껴 (Feel love)"
This quote expresses the members' longing to feel love as something tangible and real, not just as an abstract concept observed in media.
"언젠간 내게도 이런 일이 실제로 일어날까 (Will it ever happen to me?)"
The members question whether they'll get to experience the kind of love stories they've seen, highlighting their anticipation and hope.
"사탕처럼 달콤하다는데 (They say it's sweet like candy)"
Here, they comment on the commonly depicted sweetness of love in culture and their desire to taste that sweetness for themselves.
"I wanna know, know, know, know, what is love?"
The central line of the song echoes the overarching desire to understand love's true nature.