The multinational group CatsEye, produced by Bang Si Hyuk, chairman of HYBE, has come under fire for including suggestive moans resembling sounds of sexual activity in their latest track ‘Gnarly’. Released on April 30th as part of their second EP, ‘Beautiful Chaos’, the song features these sounds at both the intro and midway points. The controversial use of explicit vocal effects has sparked heated debate among listeners and the wider K-pop community.
‘Gnarly’ is categorized within the hyperpop dance genre, known for aggressive and experimental sounds. The song boasts a collaborative production and composition lineup including Chinese-American hyperpop artist Alice Longyu Gao, Pink Slip, Slow Rabbit, and notably Bang Si Hyuk himself, also known by his producer alias ‘Hitman Bang’. Interestingly, the original demo version of ‘Gnarly’ included laughter sounds in parts where the final song now features female moans. Pink Slip, one of the composers, openly expressed pride in including these sounds, controversially claiming the track would not have been a hit without them.
Amid widespread backlash, many social media users pointed out the presence of what they identified as pornographic audio samples in the song. Industry insiders believe Bang Si Hyuk was aware of these elements since he is officially credited as a composer and producer on the track, and typically producers grant final approval for music releases. Concerns have also been raised due to CatsEye’s lineup including the underage member Yoon Chae-do, born in 2007, further intensifying the controversy around the song’s provocative content.
