Music Video Review: “Lost” by RM: The Inside Out of K-pop

RM has returned to the K-pop industry with the unique, quirky, and thought-provoking music video “Lost”. Known for his love of eccentric and unorthodox contemporary art, the rapper applies this peculiar style distinctly in his recent music video. Through avant garde visualization, the piece expresses the difficulty of feeling “Lost” in one’s course of actions. Throughout the video, RM’s personas of Fear, Clumsiness, Vanity, and Apathy, are represented by human counterparts, who struggle to guide him through a maze of difficulties to a solution. 

The music video opens with a name tag stating “Inside RM’s Brain,” immediately signaling to the audience that this video reflects an internal experience. We are taken to an old-school television studio, where two hosts uncomfortably introduce RM and his new song “Lost”. Throughout the host’s introduction, they exchange poorly-timed glances, and emotions seem to be unclear. Initially, both hosts seem bored with the introduction. Suddenly, they erupt with excitement, only to quickly revert to quiet and awkward smiles. By the end of the interaction one host is entirely silent and smiling, while the other is serious and glaring down at the camera. This scene enforces a tone of confused feelings for the viewer as we follow this uneasy conversation, and are intentionally left unsure of how to react to the song. 

Following this unusual introduction, the scene shifts to the studio stage where RM stands in the middle of a maze. He looks confused, as various versions of himself begin to pop up in the maze and the studio. In a comedic style, one of the cameramen turns into RM, then one of the hosts, and even the studio-desk has RM’s head. Each of these RM-variants is staring at our original RM with judging and disappointed looks. It appears RM is conveying to his audience that he often feels disappointed in himself but doesn't understand why. 

We are later taken to an elevator, where RM rides with four other people, all of who wear name tags stating “RM”. Elevator buttons named “nowhere” or random numbers such as 12523222 are flashing and RM presses them all. The elevator breaks down, and this is where we first get the hint that these are all RM’s personas. One stares at the flashing lights with a huge smile on his face, indicating his dim-wittedness. The next person shakes and darts his eyes in a panicked manner, a clear representation of fear. One of the female personas is oblivious to the situation, and focuses on a handheld mirror instead The other female is stoic and apathetic, seemingly aware but unfazed by the sudden breakdown. These various versions of RM seem to represent all of the different feelings and ways he would want to react in a crisis. Being afraid, oblivious, or unemotional all seem appealing.

 

Throughout the video, we see the group navigating an office-maze and encountering situations that reinforce their respective personas. As they walk down the hallway of the office setting, we see our fearful character nervously checking the windows and furniture. Our clumsy personality thumps down the hallway with a less-than-graceful gait. We see Vanity as she flips her hair with no attention or regard to the things around her, while Apathy walks with purpose and intentionally does not take in any of her surroundings. Lastly, RM walks observantly through the hallway. More situations include our vain persona using her reflection to apply lipstick in the dark, our clumsy character messing with electrical wires, Fear hiding behind other personas, and Apathy’s straight face through every scenario. While each of these personas handles the situation differently, RM seems to always stand in the front, symbolizing that he leads the personas together and represents them all. 

Towards the end of the film, the personas discover a vent they are too fearful to climb into. A quick game of rock, paper, scissors, results in Apathy checking the vent. Apathy determines this is a safe route, and the personas stack on top of each other to form a human ladder out of the maze. This is allegorical to RM using all his different sides to reach a goal. Interestingly, at the top of the ladder, RM finds himself back on the stage where he started. He wears a bland expression that is nearly the exact same as his apathetic persona, who got him out. Perhaps this is indicative that RM has found being emotionless is the best solution to overcoming his adversity. Furthermore, he finds himself back where he started, suggesting the whole ordeal may repeat itself, with RM finding the energy to express nothing more than apathy. 

 

Overall, this music video is quite a unique and quirky visual for its era. RM exposes some of the deepest parts of himself through four other actors and a wild maze of scenes. His viewers get a personal inside understanding of how the musician views himself, and copes with the pressures of his life and career. The music video creates a powerful connection to fans, built through humor, honesty, and struggle.

Concept photo for the album Right Place, Wrong Person