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K-Pop’s premiere girl group TWICE has taken over much of the world’s airwaves with a steady stream of glittery anthems about young love. The pan-Asian group (TWICE is comprised of nine women from Japan, Korea, and Taiwan) has built a large following in many parts of the world. So big, in fact, that the group will soon beat the record for the most viewed music video from a K-Pop group. But TWICE’s newest single, which dropped this week, may just send them into a new market: The United States.
On Monday, TWICE released the music video for, “What is Love?” The electro-pop song tells a universal story of a girl yearning to know what real love feels like after having only seen it portrayed in books and movies.
This ingenious video shows TWICE as they envision themselves in their bedroom TV screen, transforming into the lead characters of iconic romantic movies. Momo becomes Mia from La La Land, dancing in a yellow dress, while Sana and Jeongyeon reenact the infamous pottery scene from Ghost.
One day after its release, the viral “What is Love?” music video already has a staggering 20 million views. It’s currently trending at #3 in the United States (as well as number one in over 20 other countries).
I was immediately taken by the girls’ inventive reenactments of classic films, but I’d be lying if I said I understood every single reference. I mean, La Boum? That’s a deep cut.
First, watch the music video for “What is Love?” and see how many film references you can spot. Then, test your knowledge with this handy list. We’ll also tell you where you can stream each of these classic romantic movies, in case TWICE has inspired you to revisit the hopeful, yearning feeling that comes with watching sappy rom-coms before high school.
'The Princess Diaries' (2001)
Nayeon
TWICE’s Nayeon takes the television remote first, imagining herself in Anne Hathaway’s breakout role as the frumpy Mia Thermopolis. She starts the music video as the reserved, unaware heir to the throne of Genovia, and finishes it after completing her version of Hathaway’s iconic makeover scene.
'Ghost' (1990)
Jeongyeon
Next up is Jeongyeon, who changes the channel and is dropped into the sensual world of Jerry Zucker’s Ghost. Jeongyeon plays Molly (Demi Moore) complete with short-cropped jet black hair. Behind her sits Sana, playing Sam, (Patrick Swayze). She holds Jeongyeon/Moore in a tight embrace, before leaning in for a movie-moment kiss, which is promptly rejected.
'La Boum' (1980)
Mina
Popcorn in hand, Mina dreams of Paris in 1980. She delivers her lines as Vic Beretton (Sophie Marceau) from the vintage French comedy La Boum (“The Party”). She plays a teenager who is surprised at a party by a boy she likes (played by Dahyun).
'Pulp Fiction' (1994)
Sana
After playing Patrick Swayze, Sana switches to Uma Thurman in Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction. She recreates Thurman’s iconic, straight-faced dance scene as Mia Wallace, twisting next to Vincent Vega (John Travolta), expertly played by Tzuyu, whose slick black ponytail is the perfect attention to detail.
'Romeo and Juliet' (1996)
Tzuyu
Would an exploration of romantic movies be complete without Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo and Juliet? Luckily we don’t have to wait long to see Tzuyu transform from John Travolta into Claire Danes’ Juliet Capulet. She sports the same angel winged look that captivated Romeo (Leonardo DiCaprio, and now, an extremely handsome looking Jeongyeon) so completely.
'La La Land' (2016)
Momo
TWICE’s lead dancer Momo gives us the most modern reference in the bunch as she changes the channel to the award-winning movie-musical La La Land. She pictures herself in the role of Mia (Emma Stone), tap dancing in the street next to Sebastian (Ryan Gossling, but also Tzuyu, of course.)
'Love Letter' (1995)
Jihyo
TWICE’s leader Jihyo gives this music video its emotional punch as Hiroko Watanabe and Itsuki Fujii (Miho Nakayama) in the Japanese classic Love Letter. Donning Hiroko’s iconic red sweater, Jihyo runs through the snowy mountains and shouts out the bridge of the song just as Hiroko shouted to Itsuki in the film.
'Léon: The Professional' (1994)
Chaeyoung and Dahyun
One of Twice’s rappers, Chaeyoung, appears near the end of the video to play young Mathilde (Natalie Portman) from this mid-nineties French thriller. (Fun fact: Leon was Portman’s first feature film. She was cast as Mathilde at only 11 years old!). Then, fellow rapper Dahyun appears as the dangerous hitman Léon (Jean Reno), fully committing to the part by donning a beanie, rounded sunglasses, a houseplant, and faux five o’clock shadow.
Cody Schmitz is a filmmaker living in New York City. You can find his work at: youtube.com/c/codywyatt
