Tucked into the heart of KATSEYE’s second EP Beautiful Chaos (dropped June 27, 2025), “Mean Girls” operates as the collection’s emotional anchor.
Don’t expect flashy choreography or elaborate sets here; the track arrived with just a simple visualiser, and honestly, that feels like the right call. This isn’t a song that needs bells and whistles.
What makes “Mean Girls” work is how it flips the script on a tired concept. Where you’d expect claws-out retaliation against playground bullies, the group opts for something far more radical: radical acceptance.
This aligns perfectly with member Manon’s explanation that the track is “kind of an homage to all the girls that have ever been called a ‘mean girl,'” adding that the message is about “killing them with kindness and love.”
The chorus opens its arms wide: “God bless the sweet girls… dream girls… queen girls… free girls… and yes, god bless even the mean girls.” Then comes the line that’s been lighting up social media: “God bless the T girls and all the in-between girls.”
It’s a move that transforms what could’ve been another revenge anthem into something that feels genuinely subversive. Rather than pointing fingers, they’re extending hands.
The production matches this generous spirit perfectly. You’ve got this pillowy synth foundation, percussion that barely disturbs the peace, and vocals that pass between members like they’re sharing secrets.
No one’s reaching for the rafters here; the power comes from the mellow feel of the track. Each member gets room to breathe, to add their own subtle flourishes without stepping on anyone else’s moment.
You can hear why it sits neatly alongside the brighter “Gnarly,” “Gabriela,” and “Gameboy” on Beautiful Chaos while offering a different temperature.
Behind the scenes, you’ve got a seasoned team: Justin Tranter, Amanda “Kiddo” Ibáñez, Sam Homaee, and Daniel Crean handled the writing duties, with Homaee and Crean producing.
Bart Schoudel managed vocal production, Alex Ghenea took care of mixing, Chris Gehringer mastered it, and John Hanes provided engineering support.
The fan response has been telling. Instead of treating it as a sing-along banger, people are sharing those inclusive lyrics like personal motifs, turning the chorus into something closer to affirmation than entertainment.
Look, if you showed up expecting a festival-ready dance explosion, this might leave you cold. But if you’re after something that actually says something that dares to suggest maybe we could all just be a little kinder to each other, then “Mean Girls” hits the mark.