Blackpink’s Lisa has released her latest single Rockstar, taking the internet by storm and putting Bangkok back in the spotlight.
The Thai singer-dancer, whose full name is Lalisa Manobal, dropped her new track on 28 June, after weeks of anticipation. The English-language track is a collaboration between RCA Records and Lisa’s own entertainment agency LLOUD.
Rockstar‘s music video, which hit a million views in under 30 minutes into its release, pays tribute to Lisa’s Thai heritage.
Among other things, it features Bangkok’s Yaowarat district at night and emptied out – giving an almost dystopian, Cyberpunk vibe. Thai media reports say Lisa had compensated every single stall along the street to shut down during her period of filming.
Indeed, fans caught on to the fact that the streets of Yaowarat were featured on her video. One commented that “Yaowarat is on fire”, while others say this would be a great opportunity to promote Bangkok’s “soft power” by having visitors come to Yaowarat.
Another iconic location Lisa filmed at is the now-abandoned Oscar Theatre, located along Phetchaburi Soi 39. Lisa and her dancers – made up mostly of Thai performers – perform at the theatre’s lobby.
It is not the first time Lisa has paid homage to Thai culture through her music: in her debut solo single Lalisa, she is seen dressed in traditional Thai garb, at parts of the music video.
