On the 25th, the Malaysian Ministry of Health analyzed the lyrics of the duet “APT” by Rosé and Bruno Mars. through their official Facebook account, asking, “Have you heard the catchy song ‘Apartment, Apartment’?”
The health authorities have specifically reported the lines, “Kiss face, kiss face. Sent to your phone but I’m tryna kiss your lips for real,” AND “Turn this apartment into a club. I’m talking about drinking, dancing, smoking, doing weird things, partying all night.
They expressed concern that using the term “apartment” in a seductive context contradicts Eastern cultural values. They warned that frequent use of the song as background music in social media videos could inadvertently become part of everyday life, allowing children to memorize the lyrics without understanding their message.
The ministry stressed the need for parents, educators and communities to be more cautious and sensitive to the increasingly unfiltered influence of Western culture.
Malaysia, where Islam is the state religion and 60% of the population is Muslim, has a cultural context in which alcohol is strictly prohibited among Muslims, regardless of sect.
While some agree with health authorities that the songs are becoming increasingly inappropriate, most locals have reacted with disbelief. Comments on the post included sentiments like: “People just want to enjoy the tune. Should we just live in caves?” and “Anyone taking this issue seriously should get a brain scan,” as reported by Singaporean entertainment media 8 Days.
On the other hand, some have alleged similarities between “APT”. and a 2013 song by Japanese singer Sawai Miku. However, industry experts have rejected these claims, explaining that the similarity lies in the chords that are widely used and prevalent in many musical genres. Unlike melody or rhythm, which might indicate a more intentional replication, chord progressions are often similar across numerous songs, making accusations of plagiarism unfounded.
Additionally, the AI-generated songs mimic “APT.” have emerged to reinforce these accusations, sparking further criticism. Netizens commented: “People just want to tear down success” AND, “These claims are baseless and mean-spirited.”
Since its release on October 18, “APT”. she has achieved numerous milestones, including being the first Korean female soloist to top the US Spotify chart and leading the global Spotify Daily Top Songs chart. The pre-release single adds to the anticipation for Rosé’s full solo album, out on December 6th.
Source: Nate
