Note: These thoughts are a continuation of CromaShin's most recent Mixx lore post. I highly recommend checking out these posts if you're new to the lore!
User u/pbbfft said this in the comments of that post:
"Finding it fascinating that COOL (Your rainbow) is a level-headed, less emotionally charged version of SPINNIN' ON IT, making me believe COOL takes place during a Blue Valentine Stage in one of their previous journey…."
"Now I'm wondering if the events from COOL leading to expérgo would foreshadow what happens after Blue Valentine – would the loop continue or would they finally break out of it. Would they be in a Midsummer Night's Dream all happy and bright or straight up horror ala Midsommar."
I think they're right! So, I went back and watched the COOL music video. Here are some elements that stood out to me:
- We open the music video with a focused shot on a cake, which we now know is featured prominently in all things Blue Valentine era.
- We see small emoticons of hearts over the members' head and in backgrounds, sometimes whole, half, or breaking. This seems reflective of the current love/hate theme.
- Much of their time in the music video is spent playing in a field, which is reminiscent of scenes in the Paradox of Love trailer, among other videos.
- Chorus lyrics: "So, why you playing it cool? The blurring blue in sight, let it all fall away, then let unfold all the colors. Now you can feel it, too. Close your eyes for a blink and awaken your spectrum. I will stay with you, with you, at last, after the long slumber, awaiting you is the rainbow."
- The lyrics of COOL all center around difficult, overlapping emotions and how the members are trying to deal with/move through them. We also see in the chorus that if one type of emotion is in the way (described as blue), the desired solution would be instead to look at a rainbow of emotions. Now, let's also look at the post-chorus lyrics…
- Post-chorus lyrics (translation is probably imperfect, but I think the gist will come across):
- Every time you wake up, your hеart close up even morе. Emotions are shimmering, scrap now: We know that the girls are woken from sleep by entering the Blue Valentine stage. This is the catalyst for how their hearts (and therefore IMPETUS) begin to change and become overwhelming, leading the engine to blow up.
- You don't have to look away. Do it, do it over, run along the thicker rainbow : We know time loops are involved. They're literally doing it over and over again, but maybe this time can be different if they stop metaphorically looking away from each other. By embracing their rainbow of collective emotions, looking directly at the wholeness of their feelings, they can come out on the other side and finally overcome the failures of the previous attempts.
- In other words, we can infer that they have to stop "playing cool" with each other to move forward. MIXXTOPIA, their destination, is a place that celebrates diversity and inclusion. To reach it, they have to also be able to accept the diversity of their collective feelings and experiences to grow their love for each other, salvage or replace the IMPETUS, and move to the next "stage."
Now, after watching COOL, I also went back to watch the official BV highlight medley. Here's how I think certain pieces tie in with COOL and what needs to come next for our girls:
- Blue Valentine: The video begins with eyes opening up (from sleep?) to a blue sky, throwing us back to the chorus of COOL. Many of the transitions between all of the following songs also take the shape of a blink, referencing this chorus line in COOL: "Close your eyes for a blink and awaken your spectrum."
- Spinnin' On It: We see shards of (what I believe to be) broken IMPETUS, which coalesces into a clear/white crystal after being wrapped up in a pink ribbon. I think it might be Sullyoon's IMPETUS, as described in the Fe304: FORWARD Highlight Medley.
- Phoenix: This fiery rock that becomes a black crystal could represent Lily's IMPETUS. As a phoenix is reborn from its own ashes, we can also take it that NMIXX will be reborn stronger together as a result of the Blue Valentine stage.
- Reality Hurts: We appear to be in some kind of engine or technology room, watching destruction occur outside as the ship shakes. Could this be the emotional perspective of Kyujin, our engineer? As one of the only two members who can remember past attempts and loops (the other being Sullyoon), it would make sense that this stage is particularly painful for her.
- Rico: Not sure here, but I would love to hear your thoughts! That said the greenery with thorns, the dragon fruit, and the Venus fly traps all definitely present contrast. Not only do we follow two fiery scenes with plant life, which should be relieving, but not everything about this particular imagery is necessarily reassuring.
- Game Face: As pointed out in this post by u/Pretend_Panda2530, it probably relates to bullseyes from the Paradox of Love… but Sullyoon's arrow is missing. Is it because she's the doctor who wants to do no harm, or because she has arguably been the loudest skeptic who does not want to take part anymore? Does the arrow flying through the rock symbolize some kind of breakthrough?
- Podium: Now we return to COOL. We have the image of a car riding along the rings of a planet, only these rings form a thick rainbow. Things aren't perfect yet, of course, as there are still fiery asteroid streaks flying through the sky, explosions, and another looming space ship/satellite/something overhead. But I don't think it's a coincidence this one was set with the lyrics, "It's not over until we are done." By this point, I think our girls will have found their new path forward, uncertain as it may be.
- Crush On You: We know love/hate is a central theme of this comeback, as is the color blue. Now, a "crush" isn't love, but it is the gateway to grow into love (or in this case, finding their love for each other once again). I think the pink here is also illustrating how they'll move out of their "blue" feelings about one another.
- Adore U: Does adoration sit somewhere between a "crush" and "love"? Is it the next step in their feelings? I think it's up for interpretation. Then again, we have the lyrics "all over again." As said in COOL, NMIXX will "do it, do it over again," just as a merry-go-round will forever spin in the same circles. But while the merry-go-round sits on the dusty ground, the ferris wheel—which also spins in the same circles—is in the sky, offering a new perspective.
- Shape of Love: Has NMIXX finally come out the other side, overcome conflicted feelings of hatred and embraced their love for one another again? After these trials, that love might look different, take different shapes, but it's still there… and that's what matters most. We also get another glimpse of the car on the rainbow rings, as well as other previous images.
- 0.0 remixes: We bring the cake(s) back into the equation. While we started with one big, blue cake that exploded like the MMU engine, we now have a rainbow of cakes, reflective of all sorts of experiences brought up throughout the video(s). It might be messy, but now there's plenty of room for everyone at the table, and plenty of food to go around. After all… all are welcome on the journey to MIXXTOPIA.
What do you think? Did I miss something, or do you have a different interpretation? Either way, I am sososososo excited for this album!
by Lazy-Impression2361