What Is “Gnarly” by Katseye About? Is It Satire?

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Musician Chantel Nicole explains what “Gnarly” means and why it’s so polarizing

Co-authored by Chantel Nicole and Raven Minyard, BA

Last Updated: January 19, 2026 Fact Checked

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Lyric Analysis

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Is “Gnarly” satirical?

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Fan Reactions

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Song Versions

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Release & Background Info

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Other Song Analyses

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At the release of their new single “Gnarly,” K-pop group Katseye warned fans that they might be in for a shock. The song is extremely different from the group’s previous work, with absurd lyrics that left fans wondering if it was satirical or not. In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into the song’s lyrics and meaning, as well as fans’ mixed reactions. We also interviewed musician Chantel Nicole for insights on what makes the song so polarizing.

What does the Katseye song “Gnarly” mean?

Musician Chantel Nicole says “Gnarly” is about how performative and mass-produced everything is. It addresses the oversaturation of the pop music industry, using brainrot words, such as “lit” and “gang gang.” It also explores how the word “gnarly” can have different meanings, depending on one’s interpretation.

Section 1 of 6:

“Gnarly” by Katseye Lyric Analysis

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The song is about the different interpretations of the word “gnarly.” “Gnarly” opens with the spoken intro, “They could describe everything with one single word, you know?” The group then goes on to list different things that could be considered “gnarly,” including boba tea, Tesla, fried chicken, and partying in the Hollywood Hills. These things could all be good or bad depending on how you interpret the use of the word “gnarly.”^{[1]
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- In the catchy prechorus, the group repeatedly sings the word “gnarly” and the phrase “everything’s gnarly,” further showing how this word can be used for almost anything.
- In an interview with The Fader, Katseye member Manon said, “Gnarly can be a good thing or a bad thing in our minds. It’s kind of up for interpretation.”^{[2]
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- Member Lara added, “I think it’s good to know in the song, especially in the first verse, there are good gnarlies and there are bad gnarlies. They’re just like, yeah, whatever you interpret it as.”^{[3]
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Meet the wikiHow Expert

Chantel Nicole is a musician and popular music critic, with experience in the U.S. and Korean music industries. She has worked for multiple music labels as a publishing assistant, songwriter, and sync licensing assistant.
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It also includes different meanings for the word “gang.” In the second verse, Lara and Manon sing, “Oh, we’re in a session tonight, gang, gang / Oh, we’re going out tonight, gang gang / Oh my god, this song’s so lit, congratulations / Now you be like, ‘Gang’ / Gang, gang, gang, gang, gang.” Like “gnarly,” the word “gang” can have positive or negative connotations depending on the context. The group is trying to show listeners how easily our attention can get caught by repeated words over a good beat.
- This verse also ironically criticizes the song’s lyrics for being repetitive and not having a “deep” meaning.
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The singers feel confident and hype themselves up. In the chorus, Manon and Megan sing, “Hottie hottie, like a bag of Takis / I’m the sh*t, I’m the sh*t (Gnarly) / Obvi, obvi they be tryna copy / I’m the sh*t, I’m the sh*t.” Takis are rolled tortilla chips known for being spicy and flavorful, so by comparing themselves to this snack, the singers are showing off their confidence. They know they’re cool, so they’re not surprised that other people try to copy them.
- “No one knows why you’re saying ‘gnarly,’ but you're saying it, and that's what this song is about. It's like, you're gonna think it's cool anyway. I'm so much cooler than you, or I'm gnarlier than you,” says Nicole.^{[4]
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The song also takes a jab at consumerism. Even though the lyrics are a little brainrotty, “[the song] does have a deeper meaning,” says Nicole. “It’s about how performative and how mass-produced everything is.”^{[5]
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Chantel Nicole
Popular Music Critic and Musician

Expert Interview} In the third verse, Lara and Yoonchae sing, “Making beats for a boring, dumb b*tch / F*cking gnarly / Don’t talk to me / You’re gnarly, I’m not (Sh*t is gnarly) / Je-je-jealous of my mansion? Yeah, the view is f*cking gnarly.” Here, they’re likely criticizing the music companies that use musicians’ art to make money. They may also be taking a jab at haters who don’t like their music by implying those people have boring tastes.
- We also continue to see the different meanings of the word “gnarly” in this verse. The line “you’re gnarly” is calling someone gnarly in a bad way, while the mansion’s view is gnarly in a good way.

Section 2 of 6:

Is “Gnarly” satirical?

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Most fans interpret “Gnarly” as satire. While the song is up for interpretation, most people who’ve listened to “Gnarly” agree that it’s ironic and satirical. The song intentionally uses absurd, repetitive, and somewhat cringey lyrics and visuals to mock pop culture’s use of buzzwords. Many see it as a form of meta-commentary on the entertainment industry, as it uses the word “gnarly” as a placeholder with several contradictory meanings.
- In fact, Alice Longyu Gao (the songwriter of “Gnarly”) is known for writing in a “very satirical and pastiche” way, says Nicole.^{[6]
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- Some argue that the song is not satirical because the group Katseye was formed on a reality TV show funded by one of the largest global record labels, and therefore, the things they are supposedly satirizing could also be said about them.

Section 3 of 6:

“Gnarly” Fan Reactions

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Katseye fans have had mixed reactions to the song. “Gnarly” was super polarizing when it first came out because it contrasted with Katseye’s previous music. Their debut single “Touch” was “very sweet and gentle”, and they were “singing in hushed, whispered tones,” says Nicole. “Gnarly,” on the other hand, is “in your face, crunchy, hyper pop.” If you’re someone who’s listening to really chill pop music, you’re like, “What the actual F is happening?” It’s also “ridiculous lyrically,” continues Nicole.^{[7]
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Chantel Nicole
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- Some listeners have criticized the mention of the controversial Tesla brand. However, those who enjoy the song appreciate its satirical, catchy lyrics, and many fans agree that they can’t get the song out of their head and that the lyrics have become their new “vocal stims.^{[8]
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- Celebrities like Renee Rapp, Sofia Wylie, Camila Mendes, and K-pop idols from TXT and BOYNEXTDOOR have shown their support for the song.
- Many fans who initially disliked the song came around after they continued listening to it. In this TikTok, user @feyipoo dances to the song with the caption “Me 3 days after saying gnarly is the worst song I’ve ever heard.”
- TikTok creator Marc Sebastian posted a video about the song, saying, “God forbid we have a little fun with music these days. It’s not even giving ‘if you get it, you get it.’ For me, it’s giving ‘if you don’t get it, I don’t care.’”
- “I think if you like Sophie, Charlie XCX’s Brat, hyper pop, or K-Pop, you'll definitely like it,” says Nicole. “I could totally hear this song on some type of soundtrack or commercial for something, but I don't think a lot of people would be like, oh my god, this is like a pop perfection song.”^{[9]
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Section 4 of 6:

Why are there two versions of the song?

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Katseye released an explicit and clean version of the song. Musicians often release a clean version of songs with explicit language so they can be played on the radio and be enjoyed by a broader audience. “Gnarly” and other K-pop songs also remove brand names in the clean versions. This is because Korean music shows, like Show! Music Core and Music Bank, have rules around product advertising.^{[10]
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- For example, the clean version of “Gnarly” replaces “Tesla” with “robotics” and “I’m the sh*t” with “I’m legit.”
- A lot of fans seem to prefer the clean version, but of course, this is up to personal preference.

Section 5 of 6:

“Gnarly” Release & Background Info

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“Gnarly” was released on April 30, 2025. It was the lead single for Katseye’s second extended play, Beautiful Chaos (2025). Though it initially received a polarizing response from fans, it earned the group their first entries on the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK singles chart.^{[11]
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- “Gnarly” was first announced on April 23, and a teaser was released on April 29.
- The accompanying music video, directed by Cody Critcheloe, was also released on April 30.
- Ever wondered which Katseye member you’re most like? Take our Katseye quiz to find out!
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Gnarly was written by Alice Longyu Gao. Alice Longyu Gao performed an early demo of “Gnarly” that Andrew Taggart (member of The Chainsmokers) posted on TikTok in April 2023. Gao stated that her inspiration came from her “gnarly” experiences with boba tea, fried chicken, and other interests.^{[12]
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Chantel Nicole
Popular Music Critic and Musician

Expert Interview} As a non-native English speaker, Gao said she was “always on the lookout to expand her vocabulary” and was “amused and surprised by the excessive usage of this word by some basic bros.”^{[13]
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- Tim Randolph, Kyle Buckley, Jacob Kasher Hindlin, and Madison Love also co-wrote the song.
- “Gnarly” was produced by Buckley, “Hitman” Bang, and Slow Rabbit.