And today it’s time for another soloist: YENA.

With “Hate Rodrigo,” Yena teamed up with i-dle’s Yuqi for a song that caused quite a bit of confusion when it was released. Despite the title, this track is not an attack — it’s actually a playful, exaggerated tribute to Olivia Rodrigo, channeling chaotic emotions, teenage mood swings, and pop-punk energy.

Unfortunately, that nuance was widely misunderstood, especially outside of the Korean context. But if you look closely at the lyrics, the song is clearly about emotional whiplash, not hatred.

These lines capture that perfectly:

“따분해, 오늘 기분 미끄럼틀 탔어

아냐 뭔가? 재미있는 일이 생길 것 같아”

“I’m bored — my mood went down a slide today.

No, wait… I think something fun is about to happen.”

—

🎢 오늘 기분 미끄럼틀 탔어 – “My mood went down a slide today”

• 기분 → mood

• 미끄럼틀 → playground slide

• 타다 → to ride

💡 Meaning:

This is a very visual metaphor. A slide goes down fast, just like emotions dropping suddenly for no clear reason. It perfectly captures impulsive, youthful feelings.

—

😑 따분해 – “I’m bored”

• 따분하다 → to be bored, dull

💡 Nuance:

This isn’t calm boredom. It’s restless, impatient boredom — the kind that wants something to happen right now.

—

🤨 아냐 뭔가? – “No, wait… something?”

• 아냐 → no

• 뭔가 → something

💡 Interpretation:

This sudden self-interruption is key. The mood flips instantly — from dull to curious, from flat to expectant.

—

✨ 재미있는 일이 생길 것 같아 – “I think something fun will happen”

• 재미있는 → fun, interesting

• 일이 생기다 → something happens

• -것 같아 → I think / it feels like

💡 Emotion:

This line turns everything around. It’s optimism sneaking back in — even without a reason.

—

✨ Why “Hate Rodrigo” Makes Sense

“Hate Rodrigo” is exaggerated, theatrical, and self-aware. It mirrors the emotional chaos of pop-punk storytelling — loving something so much that it feels overwhelming.

Yena isn’t rejecting Olivia Rodrigo’s energy — she’s playing with it. Amplifying it. Turning it into her own version of pop chaos.

Once you read the lyrics this way, the song stops being controversial and starts being exactly what it is: fun, messy, and unapologetically emotional.

💭 Did you ever change your mood five times in one afternoon?

Drop a 🎢💜 below.