Hydroquinone Queen by DUCK THIEVES is an insight into the confusions and contradictions in the K-pop world. The danceable art rock merges with beauty standards in this track, which becomes quite a compelling comment on the pressure of idols needing to live up to ideals that are unreal.

The repetition “She is the best, CL’s the best” acts simultaneously as an eulogy and a critical evaluation of K-pop stars’ genius while hinting at the tedium underlying perfection. CL, one of the iconic figures of K-pop, mentioned metaphorically, was done because of the standards of beauty related to the industry, be it through the way of cosmetic procedures or enhancement. This is further driven home in the lines “Where d’yer get your lips? Where d’yer get your nose bridge?”-a question of whose pointedness the physical changes idols are mostly driven to, in order to fit the bill.

The repeated refrain “Hydroquinone queen” directly references the controversial skin-whitening chemical, symbolizing the industry’s fixations with flawless, fair beauty. Duck Thieves defines the idol as both “so serene” and “so pristine,” showing to be a faultless picture, yet also one that is meticulously-often problematically-constructed.

The song veers between the artist contrasting the glamorous public image of idols and the brutal realities they face. It’s those lines, like “Train all night, train all day, for no promises, no pay”, that really signal how much grueling, often thankless labor is involved in this business. Maybe it’s in the way she acts, maybe it’s the contract; the refrain insinuates the manipulation/controls built up by its demands, pointing out that perhaps the idols’ image is very little their own.

In the last few verses, he sends in his disappointment for being enslaved by them, admitting how much their talent and style have appealed to him while being aware of the forces of darkness and exploitation standing behind this success. These strong, final lines-“Let’s burn this business down”-are an appeal for revolution, against the system that cultivates these poisons.

Overall, “Hydroquinone Queen” is an admittedly audacious and poignantly cogent criticism towards the K-pop world, wrapped in a very catchy and infectious melody. Within “Hydroquinone Queen,” Duck Thieves crafts a complex narrative that subverts beauty standards, even while recognizing the power and allure of the stars caught up in the web of the industry’s demands.