Music (BTS)

If I have to describe my preference for music, I definitely cannot limit it to just one genre. Well the songs that I listen to are mostly Korean. Hence, this brings me to my point, Kpop. The reason I can't choose only one genre is the fact that Korean songs are not only pop, they are of different genres like Hip Hop, Ballads, Rap, R&B and Electronic etc. Typically, I listen to Korean Ballads, Kpop and Kdrama OSTs.

There are a handful of Korean artists that I listen to such as Bolbbalgan4/Bol4, AKMU, IU and Taeyeon. Kpop Bands/Groups like Gfriend, Astro and GOT7 etc. If I do song covers on Youtube, I usually opt for Kballads from solo artists. Whereas for dance covers, I would choose from Kpop Groups.

Okay. Lets get to the main content of this post. Based on the title, I am sure all of you would know what I am going to write about. YES!

💜 BTS 💜

I believe most of you have at least heard of BTS somewhere before. They are currently the biggest boyband in the world of Kpop. BTS is very popular and their international influence are getting larger each day. Due to the increasing popularity of BTS, people may label BTS as "mainstream" and "overhyped". However, I am not here to rant about their popularity and achievements or force you to become their fan. I just want to let you know the beauty and meaning of their music. 

First of all, I have to give a brief background about BTS. BTS stands for 방탄소년단 which is Bulletproof Boy Scouts or Beyond The Scene. The meaning of their group name is "to block out stereotypes, criticisms, and expectations that aim on adolescents like bullets". Whereas, the fandom name is ARMY which stands for Adorable Representative MC for Youth. These seven members of BTS started from the bottom with a small company (Big Hit Entertainment) with limited resources and opportunities. Since BTS is not from any of the Big 3 entertainment companies (SM, YG and JYP), they have to put in much more effort to spread their music and gain fans. It took 2 years just to win first place on a music broadcast show. Their perseverance of consistently improving and producing quality music and content took them to great heights in this saturated Kpop industry.

Looking beyond their visuals, BTS has a unique way of conveying and expressing their music. From the very beginning of debut to now, an intricate and complicated storyline is set in place. BTS started out with a bang "No More Dream" questioning the youths about their dreams and mentality of conforming to others expectations. This leads to their next title song "N.O" where it revolves around breaking the norm and peer pressure of studying for good grades. As one enters the youth phase, love would start to develop. BTS then started the "Youth Trilogy" era which focuses on the feelings experienced during growth. "Boy in Love" mainly expresses their feelings towards their crush. When one enters a relationship, some may experience less reciprocated love from the other party. BTS then conveys these feelings with the title song "Danger". Then comes "I Need You" where one experiences longing for the other party after the relationship has ended.

Afterwhich, BTS released the 'The Most Beautiful Moment In Life' series which mainly focuses on the difficulties experienced by youth ranging from failed relationships to having no direction in life. The title song "Run" depicts the youth running away from their problems. "Fire" expresses how youth respond to their problems by setting everything on fire and not caring about any consequences. "Dope" describes how BTS working hard for success compared to other youths who are wasting their life away. Then comes "Save me" which is basically a cry for help. BTS then ends this series with an epilogue "Young Forever" where it expresses the short and fleeting phase of youth where most are still trying to find their way and dream.

Where there is light, there is darkness. Temptations and bad influences will start to appear in life especially for youths who are lost in a maze and easily affected by their environment. With that, BTS started the 'Wings' era with each member having their own solo songs reflecting on particular issues. This varies from the influence of money and drinking to mistakes like accidental murder, lying and domestic abuse. This era was the era where BTS popularity skyrocketed. Mini short clips about each member was released one by one. These clips were not explained and left open-ended for the audience to interpret. Many ARMYs came out with different theories reflecting on various issues regarding mental health, death from suicide or accidents and connections between each member's story.

After facing all these so called bad influences and consequences. BTS released the 'You never walk alone' album. "Spring Day" depicts the longing for a lost friend which might be a consequence from the mistakes made during the 'Wings' era. On the other hand, "Not Today" encourages the youth to fight and survive against all odds.

Then comes a bigger era, the 'Love Yourself" series, where there are 4 albums 'Her', 'Wonder', 'Tear' and 'Answer'. The 'Her' album with the title song "DNA" expressing the feelings of new found love or destiny. 'Wonder' with the main song "Euphoria" revolving around the feeling of happiness and euphoria from experiencing love (either from friends, family or lovers). However the next mini-album 'Tear' with the title song "Fake Love" shows that this new found love was actually fake and not true. 'Answer' is the last album with "Epiphany" describing the realisation and importance of loving myself first. Other than the main storyline, there are other songs like "Idol"which shows how BTS respond to fame; "Mic Drop" is BTS response to haters and "Magic Shop" is an appreciation song for ARMY.

Last but not least, BTS then releases the latest album 'Map of the Soul: Persona' which expresses their feelings of finding themselves. This album is more personal for BTS where most of their songs are dedicated to ARMY.

What sets BTS different from other artists is the intricate story telling, hidden meanings/ interpretations and purposeful lyrics. Most of their songs are self-composed/written/produced. These beautiful melodies are accompanied with amazing visual representation (music videos, short films, prologues and epilogues) and highly synchronised/emotional dance choreography. As a youth myself, I can relate to their music very well as the problems that I facing is quite similar. Moreover, their meaningful lyrics and stories speaks to me and brings out a light in me. Their music gave me the strength, motivation and inspiration to move forward in life and chase after my dreams.

Oof... this is a very long post. All in all, this is just my personal opinion and feelings about BTS music. I might not be accurate about their storyline and the meaning of each song/album. How I wish I could understand Korean so I could appreciate the Korean lyrics better as the English translated lyrics might not carry the original complete meaning. Even though their songs are mostly in Korean, I believe that music could transcend language.

If you have not listened to BTS before, you could give them a try! Whether you like it or not, I respect your choice and music preference :)

Thank you for reading until here! <3

P.S. Those in 'name' are album titles while "name" are title songs.

Each member wearing outfits of different era/album starting from left to right

Meaningful BTS Lyric Quotes

• The dawn right before the sunrise is the darkest - 해가 뜨기 전 새벽이 가장 어두우니까 (BTS - Tomorrow)
• If it’s for you, I can act strong even when it hurts - 널 위해서라면 난 아파도 강한 척 할 수가 있었어 (BTS - Fake Love)
• Even when I fall and hurt myself. I keep running toward my dream - 넘어져 다치고 아파도 끝없이 달리네 꿈을 향해 (BTS - Young Forever)
• If you seem like you're going to crash, step harder, kid - 부딪힐 것 같으면 더 세게 밟아 임마 (BTS Suga - Nevermind)
• I’m the one I should love in this world. Me, who shines, my precious soul. - 빛나는 나를 소중한 내 영혼을 (BTS Jin - Epiphany)
• Days when you hate that you’re you. Days when you wanna disappear. Let’s make a door in your heart - 내가 나인 게 싫은 날, 영영 사라지고 싶은 날. 문을 하나 만들자 너의 맘 속에다 (BTS - Magic Shop)
• I want you to be your light, baby. You should be your light. I want you to be your night, baby. You could be your night (BTS Jimin - Promise)
• Gonna breathe a little slower. Cuz my life and my rap, they're usually too fast - 조금만 느리게 숨쉴래. 평소엔 내 삶도 내 랩도 너무 빠르니까. (BTS RM - Forever Rain)
• The world will never know how sad I am. My pain is water and oil that can't mix - 세상은 절대로 몰라. 내가 얼마나 슬픈지를. 내 아픔은 섞일 수 없는 물과 기름 (BTS - Whalien 52)
• Even if I'm slow I will walk with my own feet. Because I know this path is mine to take - 좀 느려도 내 발로 걷겠어. 이 길이 분명 나의 길이니까 (BTS - Lost)
• It's okay come on when I say one two three, forget it. Erase all sad memories. Hold my hand and smile - 괜찮아 자 하나 둘 셋 하면 잊어. 슬픈 기억 모두 지워. 내 손을 잡고 웃어 (BTS - Two! Three!)
• Where there is hope, there are trials - 희만기 이는 고세 반드시 시려니 이네 (BTS - Sea)
• In a sigh, lots of worries are hiding. Stop thinking about it, You already know it all. In the middle of the road, in the moment you want to give up. Shout out louder. So what, what, what. - 한숨 그 안에 많은 걱정이 숨어있네. 고민 그만해 너는 이미 다 알고 있지. 이 길의 중간에 포기하고 싶은 순간에. 더 크게 소리질러봐 (BTS - So What)
• The me of yesterday, the me of today, the me of tomorrow (I'm learning how to love myself). Every last one of them is me - 어제의 나 오늘의 나 내일의 나 (I'm learning how to love myself) 빠짐없이 남김없이 모두 다 나 (BTS - Love Myself)
• 'Who am I' the question I had my whole life. The question which I probably won't find an answer to my whole life - 나는 내 인생을 모두 요구해왔다. 어쩌면 평생 동안 내 문제에 대한 해결책을 찾을 수 없습니다 (BTS RM - Persona)
• The later the night gets, the brighter the starlight - 밤이 깊을수록 더 빛나는 별빛 (BTS - Mikrokosmos)