Wonyoung Admits IVE Redefined The Word "Kitsch" For New Song And Finally Reveals What It Means

IVE officially made their comeback with “I AM” on April 10. The title track comes from their first full-length album, I’ve IVE, and continues the group’s streak of successful songs as it continues to top music charts.

(From left:) IVE’s Rei, Gaeul, Wonyoung, Yujin, Leeseo, and Liz | *@IVEstarship/Twitter*

Before releasing, “I AM,” the group dropped their pre-release single “Kitsch,” which also sits at the top of the charts.

The song’s confident lyrics declare the group’s trend-setting popularity, showing a new side to the rising rookie group.

Everyonе copies the way I dance
I pop up on your algorithm everyday
Can’t control how high it goes, it’s a crazy score
No one can expect this nineteen’s kitsch

— IVE’s translated “Kitsch” lyrics

While fans loved the song, many international fans found themselves asking what the word “kitsch” meant within the context of the song.

The word “kitsch” is defined as “something that appeals to popular or lowbrow taste and is often of poor quality,” which caused confusion as fans interpreted the lyrics.

That lyric is the ONLY issue I have with the song. It truly makes no sense at all.

— Joshua Pingley: Tropical Astrologer, Commentator (@joshuapingley) March 29, 2023

IVE is back. Rei with her pink hair is killing it. I still kinda need to figure out the "nineteen's kitsch" meaning 😅, but the rest of the lyrics are on point.https://t.co/fCDhQkS04W

— ✨ĖXØ🎠Baekhyun 🚂 Bambi 😏 (@Jana_exo_) March 27, 2023

so this is what kitsch meaning?? pic.twitter.com/wADyMTaQae

— I AM used to cry yeahh eeee (@annyeongzboss) March 20, 2023

Norwegian music artist Sofiloud, the song’s original writer, solved part of the mystery for fans when she confirmed the theory that the lyrics were originally “’90s B*tch,” not “nineteen’s kitsch.”

it’s confirmed nineteen’s kitsch is originally 90s bitch 😂 pic.twitter.com/Md0Dwq711L

— I AM jinnie (ᵔᴥᵔ) I AM D-DAY (@ivyujins) March 30, 2023

While the original meaning relieved some of the curiosity, IVE’s Wonyoung recently clarified how the word “kitsch” should be interpreted, giving fans their answer.

In a recent interview, Wonyoung explained that the group gave a new meaning to the word to fit the confident theme of their song.