Not in Love

“I saw your picture hanging on the back of my door. Won’t give you my heart, no one lives there anymore. And we were lovers, now we can’t be friends. Fascination ends, here we go again.” –Lee Min Ki, Not In Love (OST. Shut Up Flower Boy Band)

Aktor asal Korea Selatan, Lee Min Ki, merilis sebuah lagu berjudul “Not In Love” dalam single “Shut Up Flower Boy Band OST Part 1” pada tanggal 6 Februari 2012. Single ini merupakan bagian dari soundtrack serial drama yang dibintanginya pada tahun yang sama, “Shut Up Flower Boy Band”. “Not In Love” merupakan remake dari lagu berjudul sama yang pernah dipopulerkan oleh electronic band asal Kanada, Crystal Castles. “Not In Love” versi Crystal Castles dirilis dalam studio album kedua mereka, “Crystal Castles (II)” pada tanggal 24 Mei 2010. Crystal Castles kemudian merilis versi remix lagu ini dengan menampilkan pentolan rock band asal Inggris, The Cure, Robert Smith, sebagai single ketiga dari album kedua mereka pada tanggal 14 November 2010. “Not In Love” became Crystal Castles’ first worldwide charting single, as this song gave more focus on its electro-melody with simple yet deep-meaning lyrics.

“Not In Love” depicts the denial feeling of someone who has just broken up with his/her lover. Even though this song is sung in a man’s perspective, the meaning is actually general and not based on specific gender. Whether it’s a man or a woman, anyone who has ever separated with their lover must have experienced this feeling. After the break up, he feels that they can’t be even just as friends anymore, although her picture is still hanging on his door. After the separation, he thinks that the fascination also ends, that his heart is empty now, and he won’t give it to anyone again soon. To get hold of and control himself, he keeps telling himself that he’s not in love anymore. And he keeps telling himself that they’re not in love anymore. In the end, it’s all just a denial. Why can’t ex-lovers be friends? Because the fascination ends for just one side, while it still does exist in the other side.

Menarik sejarahnya ke belakang, versi original “Not In Love” adalah milik new-wave rock band asal Kanada, Platinum Blonde, yang merilis lagu ini pada bulan Oktober 1984. “Not In Love” merupakan single ketiga yang dirilis dari full-length album perdananya, “Standing in the Dark”. Album ini meraih Triple Platinum berkat kesuksesan penjualannya di Kanada, sekaligus meroketkan nama Platinum Blonde. Setelah melampaui berbagai generasi, “Not In Love” sanggup membuktikan bahwa lagu ini adalah lagu yang tak lekang oleh zaman. Meskipun terdapat perubahan aransemen musik dalam setiap versi remake yang dirilis, kesemua versi tersebut memiliki kekuatannya masing-masing tanpa mengurangi esensi lagu ini. I noted the big three version of “Not In Love”, those are the original by Platinum Blonde, 2010 remake by Crystal Castles featuring Robert Smith, and 2012 remake by Lee Min Ki.

I first acknowledged this song because of Lee Min Ki and his portrayal as a band vocalist on 2012 tvN’s drama series “Shut Up Flower Boy Band”. Versi ini menjadi bagian dari album “Shut Up Flower Boy Band: Original Sound Track” yang dirilis pada tanggal 22 Maret 2012. Lee Min Ki’s version of “Not In Love” is a semi-electropop rock song with more domination of band sound. Min Ki’s light voice blends so well with the song’s melody and rhythm. His English spelling is also considered well enough for this song. Meanwhile, Crystal Castles’ version, which is featuring Robert Smith, brings out more electronic sound-effects in this song. Smith’s smooth yet nasal voice gives perfection for this pop-rock song. As for the original version that was sung by Platinum Blonde, they called this song as a new-wave rock with a bit touch of electro-sound in it. I personally love the Lee Min Ki’s version more than the two others, because this version is more upbeat and gives more rock band sound with a very tiny bit of electronic. Hearing the Lee Min Ki’s version brings out excitement and spirits somehow. Well, I used to love something that original, but for me this cover-remake is really working.

“Cause it’s cold outside, when you coming home. Cause it’s hot inside, isn’t that enough?” –Lee Min Ki, Not In Love (OST. Shut Up Flower Boy Band)

* Ditulis sambil mendengarkan lagu “Not In Love” oleh Lee Min Ki, yang merupakan OST dari serial drama “Shut Up Flower Boy Band”.

“I saw your picture hanging on the back of my door
Won’t give you my heart, no one lives there anymore
And we were lovers, now we can’t be friends
Fascination ends, here we go again
Cause it’s cold outside, when you coming home
Cause it’s hot inside, isn’t that enough?

I’m not in love, I’m not in love
I’m not in love, I’m not in love

Could it be that time has taken it’s toll?
Won’t take you so far, I am in control
And we were lovers, now we can’t be friends
Fascination ends, here we go again
Cause it’s cold outside, when you coming home
Cause it’s hot inside, isn’t that enough?

I’m not in love, I’m not in love
I’m not in love, I’m not in love
We are not in love, we are not in love
We are not in love, we are not in love
We are not in love”