MUSE

Budung's song 'MUSE' delves into the complex and often dark relationship between an artist and their muse. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the desire to possess and control something beautiful and inspiring. The opening lines, '빛나는 건 가져야지 / 예쁘게 담긴 새빨간 알약처럼,' suggest a longing to capture and internalize something that shines brightly, much like swallowing a red pill that becomes part of oneself. This metaphor indicates a desire to make the muse an intrinsic part of the artist's being, to the point where it becomes indistinguishable from their own identity.

The song also explores the theme of visibility and recognition. The lines '눈이 시리게 빛나 / 언제나 높이 오른 단상 위 너는' describe the muse as something that shines so brightly it can be seen from afar, even more so than the artist themselves. This creates a sense of envy and a need to control the muse's visibility, encapsulated in the metaphor of locking the muse in a spotlight, '잠겨버린 spotlight이 너를 / 인형처럼 시간 안에 넣고 문을 닫아.' This imagery suggests a desire to freeze the muse in time, to keep it eternally beautiful and under the artist's control.

However, the repeated refrain '사실, 널 사랑하지 않아' reveals a darker truth. Despite the apparent admiration and desire to possess the muse, the artist confesses that they do not truly love it. This admission adds a layer of complexity to the song, suggesting that the relationship between the artist and their muse is more about control and possession than genuine affection. The muse is a means to an end, a tool for the artist's own expression and recognition, rather than an entity to be loved for its own sake.