The first time I listened to Lisa’s song “Born Again,” featuring Doja Cat & RAYE, three words came to my mind: intense, charismatic, and soulful.

When Lisa first announced that she was collaborating with RAYE and Doja Cat, I was shocked but intrigued. Lisa displays her growth as an artist not only through experimentation with the music—straying away from general K-pop production—but also through her work with international artists. Having already been amazed by “New Woman” (her successful collaboration with Rosalía), my expectations for the song and music video were high, so I am glad that “Born Again” didn’t disappoint.

Image Credit: Lisa, Lloud, RCA Records from Wikimedia Commons

Opening with the definition: Born Again: The birth of the New Woman, a reference to Lisa’s previous song, the four-minute-long music video starts with this transformation. This leads to a picture of a tree, fire, and rock; "Born Again" appears on the screen in Korean, Thai, English, and Spanish.

Lisa begins the song in a black, classic-style outfit. The color theme follows a dark, classic aesthetic, almost like a funeral for the girls they used to be. The music video is divided into different parts or storylines, transitioning from "PART I" into "PART II."

In PART II, Doja Cat appears, surrounded by flames introduced in the opening scene. The transition from PART I to PART II is genius, as PART I contains all three artists together, reflecting or celebrating the death of their old selves. In PART II, they embrace destruction, evolution, and change that comes with growth, symbolized by the flames.

Image: 티비텐 from Wikimedia Commons

In PART III, Lisa appears on the tree while RAYE enters near the end with her scene continuing into PART IV, where she is covered in white flowers, possibly white camellias. These flowers symbolize purity, love, and admiration, perhaps a reflection of the self-love Lisa has found.

If white camellias, the flowers also add historical meaning as during the early 20th century, suffragettes who fought for women’s empowerment and wore the flowers as symbols of their movement. The inclusion of white camellias gives Lisa’s music video a more layered approach, not only sharing her own story of transformation but also acknowledging and celebrating the women before her who fought for freedom and self-expression.

Lastly, PART V shows Lisa, Doja Cat, and RAYE walking together, now dressed in white, symbolizing rebirth. The recurring symbols—fire, the tree, and the blooming flowers—tie together the story of transformation and growth.

It's not just a song, but an experience. Lisa delivers “Born Again” as a powerful fusion of music, symbolism, and visuals, creating an emotional story of growth and change.

Lisa's “Born Again” feels like a visual and thematic continuation of “New Woman;” after “New Woman” spoke to empowerment and embracing one's femininity, “Born Again” takes another step, a reflection on growth and transformation, each cycle leading to self-reinvention. It invites fire, rebirth, and a journey of self-discovery, not just through the music videos but through Lisa weaving a tale of identity, resilience, and breaking free from expectations. “New Woman” saw Lisa stepping into a new era of artistic control, and “Born Again” cemented her evolution into an artist who is fully aware of her power and influence.

After the release of “Born Again,” fans, including myself, wait with anticipation for her next album Alter Ego, which will include the songs “Rockstar,” “New Woman,” “Moonlit Floor (Kiss Me),” and 9 more Tracks. Alter Ego will be released on February 28. Beyond music, Lisa will also make her acting debut in The White Lotus Season 3, adding another project for her fans to look out for. With both an album and an acting debut lined up, I am excited to see how Lisa brings her charisma and presence to the screen.