Blackpink's Lisa reveals secret romance in solo track 'Dream'

Blackpink's Lisa has drawn significant attention by revealing that she infused her past romantic experiences into her solo song and even sought direct permission from the actual person involved before releasing the track. However, she has not disclosed the identity of the person in the song, leading to ongoing speculation among fans.

In her new documentary, "Always Lalisa," Lisa spoke about the reality of living as a K-pop star, where it is difficult to freely disclose one's private life, especially regarding dating. Lisa stated, "In K-pop culture, you cannot date," noting that if the fact that she is seeing someone were to be caught by paparazzi, it could impact her popularity.

She explained that although she had several relationships during her youth, she did not make them public. This was because she did not want her romantic life to negatively affect Blackpink's popularity. As she grew as a member of a global girl group, she was conscious of the fact that even her personal emotions and private life could be linked to the team's brand value.

The most eye-catching part was the story regarding "Dream," a track from her first full-length solo album "Alter Ego" released last year. Lisa revealed that this song was inspired by a relationship with a real person she met secretly in the past. In particular, she explained that before releasing the song, she contacted the individual directly to ask for permission to include her story in the music. It is reported that the person agreed to the release on the condition that fans would not be able to identify them.

"Dream" has been evaluated as a song that reveals relatively intimate emotions even within "Alter Ego." It sings of the emotions of reminiscing about a past relationship, longing for a person who can no longer be reached in reality, and wanting to meet them even if only in a dream. Along with the parts recalling specific moments from the past, the sentiment of asking if they can remain friends if they cannot be lovers led to interpretations at the time of release that the song was based on actual experiences.

Lisa also drew a line regarding the belief that fans have already identified the protagonist of the song. She laughed while suggesting that while fans think they have figured out the identity, it is actually not the case. As more clues are revealed, the fans' reasoning—believing they are getting closer to the truth—has itself become another form of content.

Because of this, some are recalling her past dating rumors, particularly the relationship with Frédéric Arnault, which has been steadily raised since 2023. Since 2023, Lisa has been embroiled in dating rumors after being spotted with Frédéric Arnault, the son of LVMH Chairman Bernard Arnault, on several occasions, but the two have never officially acknowledged being a couple. Even rumors of a breakup have been repeatedly raised this year, but this has also not been officially confirmed.

Therefore, it is unreasonable to conclude that the actual subject of "Dream" is Frédéric Arnault. What Lisa revealed in the documentary was the existence of a past secret romance, the creative background of the song, and the fact that she received the person's consent, not the identity of the individual. Rather, with her remarks suggesting that fans' speculations are incorrect, curiosity surrounding the narrative of the song has only grown.

"Always Lalisa" is a work that records approximately one year of time as Lisa expands her territory as an independent solo artist, separate from her activities with Blackpink. It captures not only the production process of her first studio album "Alter Ego" but also her challenges as an actress and the personal struggles she faced while living as a global star. "Alter Ego" is the first full-length album presented after Lisa left YG Entertainment to intensify her solo activities, and it is also a work that expands her musical identity and star image through characters symbolizing different personas.

In that sense, "Dream" holds more meaning than a simple breakup song. This is because it reveals the gap between the image of "Lisa" consumed on stage and the individual who loves, breaks up, and leaves those memories in music behind the scenes. Although the identity of whom she loved was never disclosed, the fact that she sought the actual partner's consent while turning her experience into art shows the intersection of a global star's private life and creative ethics.

"Always Lalisa" will have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on the 11th and will be shown in limited screenings at IMAX and select theaters worldwide starting October 12. It is scheduled to be released later via YouTube Premium.