The Menu Isn’t the Only Thing Worth a Michelin Star in Mark Lee’s “Golden Hour”

NCT’s Mark may be a multi-talented idol, but there’s something hidden under his mullet that only breaks free during the “Golden Hour,” but what is it? Get ready to eat because Chef Lee’s restaurant is now open for business. Hungry? Stop on by, but he’s only serving Michelin star eggs … and himself (his words, not ours). We're kidding, there isn't actually a restaurant, but wouldn't that be cool?

Instead, April 7 marks Good Friday, and it is a good Friday indeed when blessed with Mark's new single "Golden Hour" and a glorious second track that strips back the angst and leaves you with one ingredient: the instrumental. It’s a little pop, a lot of grunge, and completely composed by dress, Jane, ron, Sion, and Mark. Or is it Gordon Ramsay? 

Like something from Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares, Mark’s one goal is to cook an award-winning egg and feed the hungry, but there’s just one catch—he doesn’t know how to cook an egg. In fact, there isn’t even a restaurant or kitchen featured in the music video. Could this be the behind-the-scenes or after effects of bad quality food? Where humor meets eggs, here is the story of the episode that didn’t make it onto the show.

Once upon a time, there was a present. In it was a rock. A girl was starving, but all that the boy beside her had were eggs, which he didn’t know how to cook, not even open. He decided to crack the “spherical” egg on the rock, and watched as it bled. However, even upon being in a grim kitchen with a new pan and calling a professional chef, the egg could not be cooked. It was simply too runny. But why? Well, the boy had “never been hungry” before, so he had no use for food, let alone a kitchen.

That is until, he saw his reflection in the mirror and was attracted by his “Michelin” star features. He became a snack and was finally hungry (cue the rock music). He started throwing the eggs into the sky, but “seldom does the yellow ball explode,” as he was not hungry for food but people. He could not contain himself and ate the impatient girl, giving him the title of “a boy who finally cooked the golden hour.” The secret ingredient was her.

“But you know, we live in a world that constantly tries to take you away from you. Everyone is being everyone but themselves, here but not around. Wait, but what does that mean?” While you’re thinking about that, we’ll take a photo of the “Golden Hour.” Isn’t the sunset beautiful this evening? We should formulate a plan to see it before our time is up. Afterall, the sun won’t shine forever; that big yolk has to come crashing down one day.

There are many ways you can interpret this strange song, but we’ll tell you our theory. Everyone is average at everything, and it’s okay to call for help. But if you can’t take it anymore, if the eggs are liquidy, scrambled, or just breaking apart, look on the brightside: the “silver lining.” Slow down, build that skill, accept that you are unique (despite the copycats), and appreciate that you tried…

Or this is completely wrong and Mark is really just trying to stress that he cannot cook an egg. Afterall, you might produce a diss track too if Gordon Ramsay spat fire on your cooking skills, even if he was tricked to react by NCTzens.

But who’s egg do you prefer? Mark’s or Gordon Ramsay’s?

*Quoted/translated using the music video’s captions

Edited by Aleena Faisal