Jackson Wang’s ‘GBAD’ is a powerful artistic statement on the importance of boundary-setting as a key to personal growth and self-respect
Jackson Wang for ‘GBAD.’ Photo: courtesy of the artist’s representative.
Global pop superstar and K-pop icon Jackson Wang, has released his new single “GBAD” off his much-awaited album Magic Man 2 which is due to come out later this year. The release follows the album’s lead single, “High Alone,” pondering feelings of loneliness, melancholy, and self-harm while establishing Magic Man 2’s sensitive themes.
“GBAD,” unlike “High Alone,” is not about the fragile mind or human tendencies. Instead, it’s an empowering statement of self-assertion, going against social norms and the emotional and personal impact of valuing self-respect and well-being.
According to a press release, with ‘GBAD’ Jackson “sheds his people-pleasing tendencies” because, as he explains in the song, setting boundaries is sometimes a necessary act of growth. The song encourages putting yourself first, even if others criticize or misunderstand you. This is reflected by lines like “Life is great/Just gotta be a d*ck sometimes/You only live once/Just gotta be a d*ck sometimes.” And I believe Jackson Wang’s artistic exploration of such experiences aligns with a broader cultural conversation about self-care, mental health awareness, and the need to build relationships with others—the fans, his listeners, and viewers.
“GBAD” is an alt R&B track featuring Jackson’s distinct voice over a relaxed jazz arrangement. The song’s accompanying music video is melancholy but artistically evokes this sense of a dark comedy. It opens in an inviting hamlet where Magic Man, Jackson’s alter ego, plays a hired hand who is repeatedly called for help in tricky circumstances, but is rarely acknowledged. Thus, there are lingering feelings of being unnoticed and underappreciated; it’s a direct reference to Jackson’s personal experiences, where he has often had to cope with expectations— “to show up for others.”
“GBAD” is, at its core, a caustic satire on the social influences that frequently inhibit boundary-setting, particularly in popular culture. It encapsulates everything Jackson told us during our previous interview with him. At the time, referring to Magic Man, he stated what also lies at the heart of “GBAD,” “I felt like I was living in a box because I was trying to please a lot of different elements around me […] I just felt like, you know what? You can’t have everything in life. You can’t have everybody just love you [as] you [are]—there are people who are going to hate, and I still feel appreciated and blessed […] I just want to be real to myself, [tell myself] that it’s okay. I want to be honest with my audience, making sure that if you support me, you support the real me. I might not be perfect; you might not relate to my stuff, but I assure you that this is the real me.”