A new song by Lisa (Lisa Manoban) of the K-pop group Blackpink has recently made the K-pop world buzzing. The song, titled "Rockstar," blends contemporary R&B with hip-hop and marks Lisa's brilliant solo debut under her new label, LLOUD, after leaving YG Entertainment.
Shortly after its debut on June 28, "Rockstar" achieved remarkable success, racking up over 32.4 million views on YouTube in its first 24 hours. This number surpassed Taylor Swift's "Fortnight," which received 19.5 million views in the same time frame after its release a few months earlier.
In the music video, Lisa takes over the bustling streets of Chinatown Bangkok, Yaowarat, known for its vibrant nightlife with street food vendors and numerous eateries offering Chinese cuisine.
The music video not only showcases Lisa's singing and dancing prowess but also promotes Thailand's rich culture. Lisa's success with this song not only elevates her name but also enhances Thailand's international image through the strong presence of local culture in her work.
According to Thailand’s The Government Public Relations Department, the surge in the district's popularity has prompted the Thai government to extend promotions to surrounding areas such as Sampheng Market, Talat Noi, Song Wat Road, and Wang Burapha. These promotions are carried out through various social media platforms and annual events like the Chinese New Year and Vegetarian Festival.
TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatpaibool acknowledged the role of entertainment in promoting tourism, with the music video enhancing the country's image and attracting a wider audience. TAT plans to introduce new tourism activities to attract more visitors, while local businesses are being prepared to handle the increased tourist influx.
On another note, there is an interesting story behind the making of the music video. Lisa and her team made a significant decision to close off the entire Yaowarat area from 2 a.m. to 5 a.m. for three days in May to shoot the video.
To avoid disrupting local businesses, Lisa compensated each shop owner with 20,000 baht (around US$540) and even gave 1,000 baht to passersby. This compensation far exceeded the average monthly salary in Thailand.
