Release Date
November 12, 2021
Genre
Label
Composers / Lyricists
Mich Hansen, Jeppe London Bilsby, Lauritz Emil Christiansen, Brooke Tomlinson, Alma Gudmundsdottir, Dahyun
Participating Members
About the Song
《CRUEL》 is a sharp and emotionally controlled pop track by TWICE that explores the quiet aftermath of love once warmth has faded into distance. Released in 2021 on the album Formula of Love: O+T=<3 under JYP Entertainment, the song captures a moment where detachment becomes a form of self-protection rather than cruelty. Composed by Mich Hansen, Jeppe London Bilsby, Lauritz Emil Christiansen, Brooke Tomlinson, and Alma Gudmundsdóttir, with lyrics written by Dahyun of TWICE, the track blends restrained melodies with cool, deliberate pacing. Rather than dramatizing heartbreak, 《CRUEL》 focuses on emotional distance, clarity, and the strength it takes to stop giving when love no longer gives back.
[FULL LYRICS – ROMANIZATION & ENGLISH ONLY]
jeo meol-ri EO-REO-BUT-EUN du-reul sa-i
beot-eo-na-jil mot-ha-ni
oh nan jal ji-nae-go
neo-ui ye-cheuk-gwa-neun jeon-hyeo da-reun mo-seub-i-ra
but i’m just doing all the things that you do
hey you should put yourself in my shoes
like a FOOL
yeah i’m cruel
but i’m just doing all the things that you do
hey you should put yourself in my shoes
like a fool
yeah i’m cruel
EO-GEUT-NAN un-myeong kkeun-eo-jyeo beo-rin geol
heun-jeok-jo-cha tteo-nan geol
oh nan jal ji-nae-go
neo-ui ye-cheuk-gwa-neun jeon-hyeo da-reun mo-seub-i-ra
but i’m just doing all the things that you do
hey you should put yourself in my shoes
like a fool
yeah i’m cruel
but i’m just doing all the things that you do
hey you should put yourself in my shoes
like a fool
yeah i’m cruel
so cruel deom-deom-han pyo-jeong
i know i know it drives you MAD
so cruel gu-gyeo-jin ga-seum
i know it drives you CRAZY
but i’m just doing all the things that you do
hey you should put yourself in my shoes
like a fool
yeah i’m cruel
but i’m just doing all the things that you do
hey you should put yourself in my shoes
like a fool
yeah i’m cruel
The lyrics describe emotional detachment that comes after being hurt, where distance becomes a form of self-protection rather than malice. The speaker mirrors the other person’s behavior, exposing the imbalance and forcing reflection. What looks like cruelty is actually boundaries taking shape, turning pain into control and emotional clarity into quiet strength.
