Just when we thought Rosé of BLACKPINK couldn’t get any cooler, her new hit "Apartment" featuring Bruno Mars has become an unexpected “no-no” for South Korea’s college exam season. Known for its catchy "Apartment, Apartment" chorus, the song is such an earworm that students prepping for the Suneung exams are officially “banning” it to keep their focus!
Released on October 18, "Apartment" hit the ground running, amassing over 100 million views within five days, and it’s been topping music and trending charts ever since. Fans everywhere—even in clubs abroad—are singing along, while pop icon Charlie Puth confessed he can’t get the tune out of his head! Naturally, the addictive melody has left students playfully warning each other to steer clear of “Apartment” to avoid any mid-study hum-along.
Joining other classics like SHINee’s "Ring Ding Dong" and aespa’s "Supernova," “Apartment” is now one of those must-avoid songs for students, even though everyone loves it! Experts suggest a little jazz or classical music to clear the mind if "Apartment" or other “banned” songs start looping in their heads.
Rosé, meanwhile, is riding high on the song’s success as she gears up for her first solo album Rosie—dropping December 6 and sure to bring more catchy tunes to brighten (and maybe distract) our days!