Pursuing a dream can feel both thrilling and exhausting at the same time. Blue Lips by CORTIS is an introspective song that captures this exact tension between wanting to cling onto something that makes you feel alive but also simultaneously wearing you down over time. 

CORTIS is a five-member K-Pop boy band whose five members–Martin, James, Juhoon, Seonghyeon, and Keonho–are deeply involved in all aspects of their creative work, from  songwriting and producing, choreography, and videography. Their band name originates from the phrase, “Colour Outside the Lines,” which emphasizes their determination to think freely, creatively, and authentically, defying what is traditionally accepted in the K-Pop industry.  

“Blue Lips,” written in 2022, particularly reflected the personal feelings of member Martin during his trainee days–a lonely period when he watched many of his friends drift away. In an interview with Weverse Magazine, he explained that he used the experience of being in cold pool water as a metaphor for that period in his life: staying in the water for so long that his lips turn blue.  

The verse that follows the first chorus especially resonated with me: 

Yeah, talking to the moon 

Dreams feel elusive, but what else do we got? 

This is what we choose 

The bitter and sweet of it both intertwine 

Shining through the gloom 

Nothing else to say, still racing life’s clock 

Wanna change the views 

I need something else and a new “Why” 

Blue flame getting put out 

These days getting too tired 

Inner child tryna sneak out 

Choosing to fly ’cause he can’t hide 

Every day, fighting for peace signs 

Roll with the waves like a seaside 

Chasing magic, but my feet tired 

Get to the end and hit rewind 

To me, this verse captures the complicated emotions that can come with pursuing a deep calling. “Dreams feel elusive” acknowledges the daunting nature of the journey, but “what else do we got?” shifts the perspective. Despite the fear and uncertainty, this is the path they have chosen. This is the “bitter and sweet” reality of a dream; they are not separate experiences, but rather, they intertwine. 

This tension continues throughout the verse. “Shining through the gloom” suggests perseverance even during challenging periods. There is excitement and hope in pursuing a dream, but the anxiety, loneliness, and exhaustion also co-exist here. “I need something else and a new ‘Why’” also implies a search for a deeper purpose and identity: when the original motivation begins to fade, there is a need to understand what makes continuing worthwhile. 

I also find the reference to the “inner child” meaningful. Despite the pressures of growing up  and pursuing a demanding path, there is still a part of us that wants to let go, run wild, and live carefree. “Choosing to fly ’cause he can’t hide” feels like a decision to keep moving forward despite fear because growth never happens in comfort alone. The final lines “Chasing magic, but my feet tired” and “Get to the end and hit rewind,” then brings the listener back to reality. They show that chasing your dreams can feel like being stuck in an endless, overwhelming loop. 

I strongly relate to this emotional conflict in my own life. I am still figuring out what direction I want to take and whether or not I am making the right choices for myself. Although having the freedom to choose my own path is exciting, the uncertainty about where it will lead is also terrifying. I am juggling in the space between fierce optimism and the unsettling anxiety of an unwritten future.  

That is what makes “Blue Lips” so deeply meaningful to me. It recognizes that hope and exhaustion can co-occur. Pursuing something you are passionate about does not make the struggle disappear, and feeling tired does not necessarily mean that the dream has lost its purpose. Sometimes, we can be grateful for the path we have chosen while still realizing how difficult it can be to stay afloat in the water.

Contributing Writer: Kathy Nguyen

Featured Image: Photo by David Boca from Pexels