LMK (Let Me Know) has been on my radar since I started listening to P-Pop songs. This song made me realize the broad scope of P-Pop since it is an authentic R&B hit, and this style was not to my liking. I could not pinpoint if LMK was the song that made me finally say yes to listening to R&B, but I enjoy this song’s slow tempo, fun lyrics, and memorable hook.
Its first impression on me is that it is an easy listen, and though there is depth in the lyrics, it is understandable and straightforward. At the same time, I love the nod to women and Filipinas, which is quite evident in P-Pop songs. With the image that CALISTA now promotes, it is not surprising that this is a direction that most of their future releases would follow through.
[lwptoc]
Lyrics and Message
The song starts strong with its chorus or refrain, which sums up the message of the music. It asks the singer’s lover what they have in their mind, reflecting the song’s title. There is some level of desperation, with the singer expressing feelings and wanting to know if the feelings are reciprocated. It is emphasized with the line Kahit anong ipilit ko, ikaw lang ang gusto, which shows some mental action done here before the singer tried to sum up the thought.
Yes, there is desperation, and yes, it might be off-putting to some conservative Filipinos. Still, as someone who came from a conservative background, I am thrilled when strong feminine convictions, especially about love and emotions, are rallied in popular culture. The desperation is not even complaining about not having love or not being with the subject of the song; it simply tries to clarify things and understand this person’s mind.
Sometimes, actors in a relationship would not be that vocal about their feelings, and this risks possible miscommunication, which I think is central to this song. The singer is, therefore, trying to clear this up yet show her heart by saying that the subject of love might also be thinking about her and that whatever she does, she only wants them.
The first verse then elaborates on this wonder or even confusion. What is she feeling? Is it love? It plays around with the subject of young love yet at the stage in which feelings are already established and need to be verified or confirmed. Here, we also see that the singer proudly exclaims that she wants to know if the person she is singing to has her, a young Filipina, inside their heart. I think the callout to a Filipina here is a statement that expressing love for someone is something that Filipinas should be proud to do.
The following lines involve some English words and formally introduce the listener to the fact that this is a multilingual song, something that I figure is essential in P-Pop songs. Calling her subject of love as fine, the singer wants confirmation that they are together.
I want to point out that the line, Baby, you and I, yeah, that’s right, we rhyme made me palpitate and get excited about this song. I think it was placed perfectly in its position and is heartfelt in its delivery. I know this might not be the first time this line was used in a song, but it was, ooh, so fine, I want to claim it as my own.
The first pre-chorus questions whether these feelings or expectations might be wrong. This concern is somewhat universal, and the singer here says she is trying to fight the feeling. However, the subject of love is the one that is being whispered, transitioning into the chorus, which again tries to ask the question of what is on their mind.
The second verse reiterates that the subject of love may not just be someone who is the recipient of the feelings but also looks good, melding expressions of emotional and physical attraction into the song. Then there is a use of hyperbole, saying that the singer’s only wish is to be with the one she loves and to be with them forever. A fitting use of this figure of speech, it mixes well with the other lyrics.
Next, the rap verse expands on the song’s thoughts, specifying and exemplifying how this love is felt and imagined. Telling them that she always fantasizes about their lips and thinks about them even in her dreams. This transitions to a goal that she would make that person fall for her. I was not that fond of rap before, but I wished this part was longer. But I still enjoyed every bit of this part.
The next pre-chorus shows that the song is written as an outlet for the feelings that are said to be so strong. Then, the singer returns to the chorus, asking the question that boggles her mind: Am I alone in this feeling, or are we on the same page?
The whole song emphasizes an independent and strong female figure akin to what modern female identity is understood. Though some may say this contradicts Filipino culture, history has told us that our culture has strong female leaders, with some communities thriving on matriarchal leadership.
Again, I am amazed that there is universality in the experience told in this song. Although I may have wanted a more elaborate story to bind the lyrics, they were done cohesively to support the song. It amazes me that this song does not have the word-by-word use of the lyrics, but the message is still there; the creativity is astounding. Also, knowing that CALISTA idols Anne and Dain penned the song together with Josh of VER5US is refreshing.
The number of paragraphs I wrote shows how I appreciate the songwriting here.
Musical Composition
Aside from the idols, the song is also co-produced by .cozy. I have yet to explore his work as of this writing, but I love the mixing of the music. The soft intro contrasted with the heavy base riff is so lovely to the ears, which ultimately made this song essential for me.
The contemporary R&B influence is so strong in the song, from the beats to the timbre of the voice used. It has a sultry backbeat, which makes it sound ‘sexy’ as soon as the first note hits your eardrum. The obvious, though, is that even though the song is R&B, it lacks heavy instrumentation and could even be considered minimalistic in its approach.
Looking back to the history of modern P-Pop, while most people often associate bubblegum pop with groups, R&B was quite a strong contender among its subgenres as more girl groups and boy groups grew in number. Its persistence in the P-Pop boom of 2024 through this CALISTA release shows that it will remain vital even as more groups try to excel in other subgenres, including rock and electronic pop.
A thing to emphasize is that while the lyrics might be light in some areas, the rhythm and melody of the song give an emotional touch, making you experience the yearning and desperation of the singer but not in a heavy crying way. It is enough to open up your emotions to the feelings, making you jive, internalize the lyrics, and understand the song’s message.
It also helps that you tend to move your body as you listen to the beat. I am not knowledgeable in R&B, but I think this is quite a newer take on the genre and has more soul. It resonates with the album’s name, FOUR – Finding Our Unique Rhythm, and while CALISTA might try other things in the future, I would say that this would stick to me as their unique rhythm, with the song screaming their name from the outset.
Performance and Visuals
The official CALISTA YouTube page calls this video a visualizer. As a newbie to modern pop, I think this blurs the difference between a music video and a visualizer, but it was nice nonetheless.
I said in the previous part that LMK sounds like modern R&B. Still, the visualizer offers us that they may have envisioned the songs as an homage to classic and old-school R&B. Some elements shown are a handheld camera, a cathode-ray tube television, a stereo radio, and several CDs on the table. It visually gives off the 90s to early 2000s vibes, yet I would still consider the song to be of a newer generation of R&B.
Throughout the song, the CALISTA girls are shown singing the lyrics while doing various poses, first with their simple white tops and jeans, followed by a more elaborate attire in the latter half of the video. It brings a casual atmosphere, showing that the song might be fun rather than a more emotional take on the feelings I emphasized above.
Considering that, I don’t think there is a disconnect between the lyrics and the video. I believe that one way to read this combination is that the song could be sung to the recipient in a fun and loving way of teasing, especially on acknowledging that feelings are reciprocated. Although there is no storytelling (that is, a linear narrative) in the video, the expressions of the idols might be teasing and playful, but they all look so beautiful in their attires.
The video feels youthful and refreshing. I understand that this was published months before the album was launched and that the visuals might have hidden away some possible hints that could show fans what they are planning for their EP. Overall, I liked the video and its fit for the song.
Personal Take
I love LMK (Let Me Know) more than I admit, even to myself. It made me remember other R&B songs that I might have tried to love before. It expanded my appreciation for different genres of music. It made me feel youthful because of the lyrics and its delivery.
When listening to the EP, LMK as the first song makes you understand that you’re listening to a CALISTA album. I would want more people to listen to this song. If they need a backgrounder of the group, LMK would be a great example of how the girls can make something simple into a meaningful narrative with emotional context that is relatable in a surprisingly seductive yet fun way.
What do you think? Do you agree with my take? How did the song make you feel? LMK hehe