Artist Statement
Ever since I started songwriting when I was 10, I found myself inspired by concept words, ideas, and feelings to fuel my work. Eventually, I found my way into pitching songs for K-pop groups, working with producers and other writers alike to help K-pop artists build their next big hit. Though the demo lyrics are often not the final version and many things get lost in translation, we are prompted to appeal to visual and sensory images to spark an interest or direction in the song. Essentially, we want those who listen to be able to imagine being in another world. In that sense, I’ve always tried my best to lead listeners down the rabbit hole and explore as many things as I can within a certain concept.
My particular job is called “toplining”, in which I write lyrics and melody over a pre-produced beat in order to complete a song to be commercially exploitable for whatever pop artist we’re writing for. “Wonderland” originally came to me as a few lyrics I had written in my notes, and when I was given this lead for a certain K-pop girl group (who recently had a very successful world tour), I found that my lyrics had fit with the sound of the track perfectly, and decided to put the two together.
I’ve also always been very fond of wordplay, double meanings, and many more, and often use them in my personal work. I think diction and word choice is very important, especially concerning pop songs, and I’m often my group’s go-to person for when they need lyric writing or demo vocals. When I decided to write “Wonderland”, I wanted to stay true to the story it’s based off of. Luckily, as a student at USC with access to the G. Edward Cassady, M.D., and Margaret Elizabeth Cassady, R.N., Lewis Carroll Collection, I had access to plenty of sources to pull inspiration from. For the type of song I was writing, the themes and concepts of “Wonderland” were exactly what I was looking for; playful, imaginative, whimsical.
To better explain my creative process and reasoning for certain diction in “Wonderland”, I’ve provided a lyric sheet below, along with credits for the song. I’ve listed not only references to Lewis Carroll’s work, but also certain styles he employed himself (with special emphasis on the use of double meanings and other word play). I also tried my best to pay attention to word choice during certain sections of the song, in correspondence to melodies or the flow of rap parts."Wonderland"
VERSE 1
Let me tell you a secret
There's somewhere that I know
I can take you sometime
No, I don't need a reason, ooh
Just keep it undercover
It's between you and I
I, I,
I been getting so lost in it
Feelin' like the world keeps spinning This way, that way, don't back Come and grab my hand
And we' 11 stay on track
That's right, yea right,
You like that sight?
Come and sit right here
Baby just hold tight
Take you to a new place tonight Keep you double taking
Don't close your eyes
PRE-CHORUS 1
You know it's true, true
So can I show you?
Baby just keep it hush
Do you understand?
Want one look, just ask
Through the looking glass
Don't trip, but fall in fast
Baby take my hand
CHORUS 1
I don’t care if it’s all fiction
Come and take a look and listen
Paradise is somewhere hidden ooh
I’m tryna fly like I might never land
Take you to WONDERLAND
POST-CHORUS 1
Ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh
Take you to WONDERLAND
Ooh , ooh
Fly like I might never land
Take you to WONDERLAND
VERSE 2
That spot no one else can know
Can you take me there? We can take it slow Mirror, mirror, what's that now?
I wanna hear that you’re down, down Take a sip, baby it ain’t tea
Garden roses, it’s all dream
Baby all I know is if you’re with me
This WONDERLAND could taste so sweet
PRE-CHORUS 2
You know it’s true, tue
So can I show you?
Baby just keep it hush
Do you understand?
Want one look, just ask
Through the looking glass
Don’t trip, but fall in fast
Baby take my hand
CHORUS 2
I don’t care if it’s all fiction
Come and take a look and listen
Paradise is somewhere hidden ooh
I’m tryna fly like I might never land Take you to WONDERLAND
POST-CHORUS 2
Ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh
Take you to WONDERLAND
Ooh , ooh
Fly like I might never land
Take you to WONDERLAND
BRIDGE
Fairy tales, some kind of fantasy
Make-believe and soon I know you’ll see I’ve been needing freedom
I need somebody like you
So you want the real truth?
Imma show you
Ooh, ooh
CHORUS 3
I don’t care if it’s all fiction
Come and take a look and listen
(come and take a listen baby) Paradise is somewhere hidden ooh
(somewhere hidden now)
I’m tryna fly like I might never land Take you to WONDERLAND
POST-CHORUS 3
Babe, you’re all I’m wanting, wanting, ooh Cause you’re all I want
Take you to WONDERLAND
Make believe and soon I know you’ll see Fly like I might never land
Take you to WONDERLAND
Lyric Notes: further explanation/reference
Referencing nonsense and absurdism "Cover" also meaning blankets; dreaming
Stuttering, also common ad-lib "aye, aye" "lost" meaning "confused" and "invested" Think spinning teacups, confusion Referencing "this way", "that way" signs
> "Ifyou don 1 know where you are going any road can take you there"
-from 'Alice in Wonderland' Lewis'works were very visually entertaining
Hold tight as in a hug or "brace yourself" "Double taking" also meaning interpreting
words with double meanings
Is anything in Wonderland "true"?
Irony; most of Wonderland is something that is difficult to comprehend
Sequel 'Through the Looking-Glass' Referencing falling down rabbit holes
> "trip" also meaning to act crazy/overreact
> ''fall in" also meaning to fall in love
The chorus references Wonderland itself, but also is applied to fictional stories and literary works in general. As a pop song, it also is in reference to the idea of love being deeper than surface level; a hidden paradise
“slow” contrasts urgency; White Rabbit Fairy tale and Looking Glass reference Rabbit holes, “down” meaning “agreeable” “tea” slang meaning “gossip”
Talking flowers, red roses, Wonderland being but a dream
Referencing the unicorn from ‘Through the Looking-Glass’, believing in six impossible things before breakfast